Cocker Spaniel puppies are adorable bundles of wagging tails, soft eyes, and warm kisses that pull on your heartstrings, begging you to take them home. As difficult as this may be, the choice of adding a puppy to your family should not be made on the spur of the moment. Doing so has often resulted in the purchasing of a dog that does not meet the expectations of the new owners. Many times these dogs are often resold and some even may end up at the pound! This is not the fault of the puppy, but the uneducated owners .
Before buying a Cocker puppy, do your homework! Research the breed , gather information and make an informed decision. Each breed is developed for a specific function, and as a result, their personality and traits may not match your lifestyle. Your puppy is depending on you to care for, nurture, and love him or her for life!
If you have your heart set on a show dog, remember, first and foremost this puppy is your companion. If you intend to show your dog, you will want to find a pup that has the qualities that are necessary to be competitive in the conformation ring. Remember that until a puppy is full grown, no one, not even the breeder, can be sure that the puppy will mature to be your new champion! You will be buying what is called "show prospect" and if he continues to develop as expected, will grow up to fulfill his potential. Unfortunately, it can be common for conformation to change as the puppy develops, and some promising puppies don't quite develop according to their potential. When you buy a show puppy, make sure that you have a good show contract, which will guarantee replacement rights if this happens to be the case with your new puppy. Should you choose not to acquire a replacement, there are other wonderful options, such as obedience, tracking, agility, among others. It is important to remember that the true value of your puppy is the loving bond that you develop with him or her.
If you are looking for a pet puppy your new baby will not need to meet exact requirements of conformation and movement set forth in the breed standard. Good temperament, however, is one attribute that should never be sacrificed in the pet puppy, or any puppy for that matter! It is important that the family pet have a good, stable personality. The official AKC Standard states that the Cocker Spaniel must have a merry temperament!
Anyone who has ever brought home a sick puppy can tell you how frustrating and heartbreaking this can be. The whole happy, exciting experience quickly turns into your worst nightmare. Look at the puppy. Is he or she energetic? Happy? Eyes bright, ears, nose and coat clean? Or is he smelly, dandruffy, with eyes and nose runny, ears stinky and dirty? How does your breeder keep his or her dogs? Are they well fed and living conditions clean? Do the dogs show affection towards the breeder? Clues that suggest otherwise may indicate looking elsewhere. Are you shipping your puppy? Puppies that need to travel by air are required to have an examination and health certificate signed by a veterinarian.
Cocker Spaniels carry several hereditary defects. Responsible breeders put their money into their breeding programs and test their dogs for these defects and will have the paperwork to prove it! Be sure to have a health guarantee for your puppy! You should have 72 hours to change your mind for a full refund. You should have a health guarantee beyond that 72 hours.
When your puppy arrives at home, you should have several items ready and waiting. These include but are not limited to food and water bowls, supply of food that the breeder feeds and recommends, collar, leash, safe chew toys, crate, fenced yard. You need to have a safe place for your puppy to sleep and play. Make sure that you have a good veterinarian, and if not, your breeder will have suggestions for you. Cocker Spaniels require regular grooming! Your puppy should have had weekly haircuts since 3 weeks of age to make this lifelong necessity easier. Do your homework and find a reputable IPG certified master dog groomer before you need one. Planning ahead will make the transition much, much easier!
During your puppy's first year of life, he will be learning about that big, wide world around him! If his needs for love and care are met, the puppy will learn that the world is a safe and friendly place. Puppies learn by repetition, so be sure to be consistent and use lots of positive reinforcement during training.
Remember, cocker spaniels are social animals! They crave time with their family and will be your constant shadow. If you don't have time to spend with your puppy, please reconsider the decision to acquire a dog right now, and wait until the time is right. Make sure you plan to keep him for life, and that you are committed to him as strongly as he will be to you!