If you are thinking of getting a cocker spaniel as your first dog, you must have thought that cocker spaniels are good for first-time owners. Undoubtedly, cocker spaniels can be the best dog for novice dog owners. However, before that, you need to understand a few things related to cocker spaniel characteristics, pros and cons.
These dogs are more active and eager to please their owners. The cocker spaniels like to do more activities and hence if you don’t have time for your dog, it will affect their wellbeing. Hence, let us look at all the key considerations related to cocker spaniels.
Characteristics of Cocker Spaniels
To answer your question, are cocker spaniels good for first-time owners, you need to understand how they act and what they like to do. So, it is crucial to understand their characteristics. It will help you to decide whether cocker spaniels match your requirements or not. So, here are the major characteristics of cocker spaniels.
Traits of cocker spaniels
One of the main reasons why this breed is popular among dog owners is its adaptable nature. They can adapt quickly to any environment whether it is a big house with a yard or a small apartment. They are loyal, obedient, and eager to please their owners.
These dogs don’t bark much, hence they are ideal for people who have kids and elderly people at home. If you are living in a rented home, less barking is a plus point to avoid complaints from the neighbors. These dogs are joyful and always active.
Training of cocker spaniels
These dogs are always active and like to do something all the time. Hence, they need to undergo training. This helps to avoid them taking charge of everything. Sometimes these dogs can be tricky to train due to their resilience, but if you adopt positive training techniques, they can adapt to it quickly. Rather than force, these dogs listen and adapt to the positive training.
These dogs follow their instincts and hence it will be difficult to train them. But a skilled trainer with gentle technique can train them. This aspect will be a thing to consider when choosing cocker spaniels as a first-time owner.
Health issues of cocker spaniels
If you are not able to care for and groom your pet, consider not adopting cocker spaniels. They are generally healthy dogs but if they are not cared for properly, the chances of getting health issues are more. The ear infections are one of the common health problems we can see in this breed. Due to their long ears and long hair, it creates moisture inside the ears and it can become a growing field for bacteria.
Other health issues you can find in this breed are several eye conditions and deafness in an ear or both ears.
Pros and cons of cocker spaniels
Before considering cocker spaniels as a first-time owner it is a must to know about the pros and cons. So, here are the major pros and cons of cocker spaniels.
Pros
Adaptability
Cocker Spaniels easily get along with the surrounding environment. Due to this quality, many people adapt to cocker spaniels. They can easily adapt to different conditions and varieties of personalities quickly. With this adaptable nature, they are also kind, loyal, and friendly.
Even if they spot a stranger near them, they do not bark excessively. Hence they are a good choice to live in apartments and other smaller residence places.
Long lifespan
If owners care for their cocker spaniels and avoid common infections, they can live longer than other breeds. Usually, cocker spaniels last between 15 to 20 years.
Intelligence
Cocker Spaniels have a good brain power. They are intelligent and due to this, they are very good at hunting and other sports. They are always excited to learn new things. Other exceptional qualities of these dogs are their loyalty towards their owners and dedication to their work. Hence, they can be a good companion in the family environment and also a perfect dog for fieldwork.
Attractive coat
If they are groomed well, cocker spaniels get a smooth and silky coat. Due to this, cocker spaniels become a lot of fun to pet and groom. If you love this type of silky coat, you can try golden cocker spaniels.
Best companion for family
These dogs are adaptable, loyal, and have a friendly nature. Due to this, they are excellent options for family pets. They get along nicely with other pets, children, and elders.
Cons
Need a lot of exercise.
If you are lazy and like to stay at home, cocker spaniels are not the best option. These dogs need a lot of physical activities and always look to do something. The dog owners spend at least one or two hours daily to keep them entertained.
Unless they are physically exhausted they do not calm down. If not done exercises, they get bored, they try to do something and it could lead to engaging in destructive behavior.
Prone to health issues
Almost all cocker spaniels live long without any health issues. But they are prone to cocker spaniel common health issues such as ear infections, allergies, and other health issues. Their ears are floppy and long, and excess hair inside the ears can create infections. Hence, it is important to clean and pluck the ears periodically.
They do not prefer to be with noisy kids.
Cocker spaniels are highly energetic and it may lead to higher anxiety levels. If the kids at home are aggressive and play aggressively with the dogs, they also follow the same level of aggression and it can sometimes become a problem. They may without their knowledge hurt the kids.
Conclusion
We hope now you have the answers to the question: are cocker spaniels good for first-time owners? To summarize, if you have time for grooming and care, cocker spaniels are the best option for a family pet.
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