My Cocker is incredibly affectionate, docile, brilliant! He’s a wonderful dog. You really do have to take him out very often when you live in a flat, which is the case for me.
I have a question and it’s MY BIGGEST PROBLEM: I FIND HAIR EVERYWHERE (even in my bedroom which is kept shut and even in my bedroom wardrobes?? There’s hair even in my underwear; the hoover is clogged up, and my washing machine (which I’d only just bought) is already showing a red light, indicating that the filters are blocked (but they’re inaccessible because they're at the back of the machine)... Does anyone else have the same problem? And please, how do you manage? I clean the floors three times a day, I’ve had to throw away all my socks... It’s a total nightmare (partly because the building management only allows small dogs and I’ve had to take my Cocker to a very good rescue; I’m absolutely heartbroken, all I want to do is run and get him back, hold him tight and move out of here. But before that, I need to solve the hair problem because I’m already allergic to it and I can’t live surrounded by hair, it turns my stomach, it’s just awful)
Please, HELP ME. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR REPLIES
Translated from French
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1. Long-haired breeds need more grooming, but they’re actually less of a nuisance than short-haired ones. Mind you, tell your mum that no matter the dog, there’s going to be hair everywhere. Long hair forms little clumps, whereas short hair tends to get stuck right into the fibres of fabrics.
2. Fairly small, yeah.
3. They don't bark much, but it all depends on how they're trained. It’s a breed that tends to bark when they want to play, get your attention, or when they’re excited. If you encourage it in any way, they’ll definitely bark.
Mind you, you should also tell your mum that this breed isn't just a "couch potato". They were originally gundogs—they've always been family pets, but they need plenty of exercise to burn off energy. Cockers often have a bit of a bad reputation because, for a long time, they were taken on by people who didn't meet their needs and just treated them like indoor lapdogs.
They’re also very clever dogs who know exactly how to get their own way. I’m not sure how old you are, but everyone in your family will need to do their research on the breed, as these dogs need to be properly trained.
Hi there, I’d love to get a Cocker Spaniel but my mum has three criteria: shedding, being quite small, and not barking much. Is this the right dog for us?
I haven't made a final decision yet. @Misanthrope, you've got it all wrong! For a start, I'm allergic to everything and the fur was making me properly ill—is that any way to live? And won't the dog pick up on that too?
I haven't made a final decision yet. @Misanthrope, you've got it all wrong! For a start, I'm allergic to everything and the fur was making me properly ill—is that any way to live? And won't the dog pick up on that too?
So... are you not going to collect him then, and leave him with the volunteer?
(Sorry if that sounds a bit blunt, I don’t mean it as a criticism at all – I’m just genuinely curious to know how it all turned out! 😳)
Thanks everyone for your replies. I know now that Cockers shed all the time. I can finally make my decision thanks to all of you. And thanks to @kikaah: you’re right, they aren't allowed to do that, especially as my dog hasn’t done anything to justify that kind of reaction (he barked a few times and I quietened him down straight away; I even had to buy an anti-bark collar, but I took it off him after two days). And yes, I’m sure he’ll be adopted very quickly, especially since he’s gorgeous and such a great dog... That’s why I posted on the forum as quickly as I could. I’ve taken him to a rescue centre where the volunteers are wonderful with the dogs, including one volunteer who is mad about Cockers; her face just lit up when she saw my dog and it looks like she’s going to adopt him herself. I know that if I don’t take him back, my dog will be happy and well looked after, and I’ll have made a family very happy. Thanks again, everyone.
There was only ever one time I didn't have hair everywhere! That was the year I spent without a dog after losing two of them in the space of three months. I cried every single day and I would have given anything just to have dog hair all over the house again. As a former groomer, I can assure you that there are ways to limit the shedding. But honestly, if you can't stand the thought of dog hair in your home, you're probably better off not getting one. None of us here complain; it's just part and parcel of life with our companions. It even makes me smile now when I find a stray hair or two on my plate!
