Good Family pets (Cocker Spaniels)

Member Name: jaybranlor

Product:	Cocker Spaniels
Date:	08/10/09 (114 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Freindly, loyal

Disadvantages: non

I have been an owner of a Tri coloured cocker spaniel for two years now, and have found that they make friendly and loyal family pets. As a new pup, being introduced to a new home it took a couple of months to get used to a routine, but as a new dog owner I would say much was the same for myself as well. Spaniels are people lovers, they love the company of familiar people around them, so a potential owner should be aware that these types of dogs, as with most will need a lot of your time and attention, being left alone for long periods of time isn't really ideal, so if no one is going to be at home with your dog for example if you work full time, seriously consider whether a spaniel (at this moment in time) is the best for you. It took a while for my young spaniel to realize that cushions, and sides of the beds were not it's own personal chew toys, but as it has got older it has matured a bit, and just goes for the letters now but, it's his own way of telling me as the owner to pay him some attention. Rawhide and a variety of chew toys keeps him occupied and away from things that he is not supposed to chew. Beware of giving them the cheap chew toys though, because no sooner as I gave my spaniel these types of toys were they in bits, in seconds. I found that Spaniels don't take well to car travelling even the shortest of trips, my spaniel has always been sick when travelling like this, so we hardly ever travel this way, and tend to favour lengthy, walks instead. My spaniel is a long haired spaniel, so with this type of dog, in total from bathing to brushing and drying him, it takes up to two hours. Brushing his coat daily is a must to prevent knotting and matting. With his long ears as well, care has to be taken to clean at least every other day because this breed of dog is prone to ear infections. Spaniels absolutely love their food, and sometimes with a treat here and there it is easy to over feed your spaniels, but caution has to be excerted as spaniels are also prone to heart problems, so it's best for your spaniel that you are careful about what he has to eat. From time to time, has his dizzy moments, where he will race up and down the living room at high speeds for about twenty seconds, and this I cannot explain! As a family pet, with a lot of affection to give, as long as they get as much time and attention back I would recommend spaniels as great pets.

Summary: Excellent