If you have not yet decided which type of Cocker Spaniel you want, get further advice from experts and then choose carefully according to your desires and lifestyle. Have your home prepared for your new arrival, and begin your young companion's life with you as you mean to continue.
ADVICE ON WHERE TO BUY
VETERINARY CLINIC - Your local veterinary clinic is an excellent source of informed advice on what to look for in a healthy puppy. Dog training clubs will also likely be able to recommend specific breeders who can provide puppies and sometimes adults too.
ANIMAL RESCUE CENTERS - Dog shelters and rescue centers often have adult Cockers in need of new homes. These dogs may take some time to settle in to their new home, but can eventually make devoted companions. As with all "recycled" individuals, however, they may well harbor unexpected personality quirks.
DECIDING ON A PUPPY OR A DOG
Puppies are both appealing and exasperating. Acquiring a puppy means that you can mold its behaviour to fit your family's lifestyle. When viewing a litter, watch how the puppies behave, decide which sex you prefer, and select a puppy that seems bright, alert, and healthy. Be prepared to invest time and energy in initial house and obedience training. If this is too daunting, consider getting a trained adult Cocker.
SETTLING IN AT HOME
GETTING ACQUAINTED - Your new puppy is likely to feel disoriented when it first arrives in your home. Initially restrict it to just one room in the house. Offer it food, water, and a chewable toy, preferably in a crate. Provide soft bedding in one section for it to lie on and have an equal area of newspaper for toileting. If you have another pet, keep it in a separate room until your puppy is asleep.
FIRST NIGHT ALONE - The first night that your puppy is away from its mother and litter is the hardest. The crate will provide a safe "den", and with a little perseverance your puppy will settle down and sleep in it. Initially keep the crate in your bedroom and get up once each night for the first few weeks to take your puppy to relieve itself.
HEALTH CHECKS FOR YOUR NEW DOG
Arrange for your vet to examine your new Cocker, and make any purchase conditional on your vet's confirmation that the dog is healthy. It will be examined for signs or parasites, infection, malnutrition, and congenital or inherited diseases. The law states that if a puppy is not healthy at the time of sale, you are entitled to a refund or replacement.
For more info on choosing a dog click here
ADVICE ON WHERE TO BUY
VETERINARY CLINIC - Your local veterinary clinic is an excellent source of informed advice on what to look for in a healthy puppy. Dog training clubs will also likely be able to recommend specific breeders who can provide puppies and sometimes adults too.
ANIMAL RESCUE CENTERS - Dog shelters and rescue centers often have adult Cockers in need of new homes. These dogs may take some time to settle in to their new home, but can eventually make devoted companions. As with all "recycled" individuals, however, they may well harbor unexpected personality quirks.
DECIDING ON A PUPPY OR A DOG
Puppies are both appealing and exasperating. Acquiring a puppy means that you can mold its behaviour to fit your family's lifestyle. When viewing a litter, watch how the puppies behave, decide which sex you prefer, and select a puppy that seems bright, alert, and healthy. Be prepared to invest time and energy in initial house and obedience training. If this is too daunting, consider getting a trained adult Cocker.
SETTLING IN AT HOME
GETTING ACQUAINTED - Your new puppy is likely to feel disoriented when it first arrives in your home. Initially restrict it to just one room in the house. Offer it food, water, and a chewable toy, preferably in a crate. Provide soft bedding in one section for it to lie on and have an equal area of newspaper for toileting. If you have another pet, keep it in a separate room until your puppy is asleep.
FIRST NIGHT ALONE - The first night that your puppy is away from its mother and litter is the hardest. The crate will provide a safe "den", and with a little perseverance your puppy will settle down and sleep in it. Initially keep the crate in your bedroom and get up once each night for the first few weeks to take your puppy to relieve itself.
HEALTH CHECKS FOR YOUR NEW DOG
Arrange for your vet to examine your new Cocker, and make any purchase conditional on your vet's confirmation that the dog is healthy. It will be examined for signs or parasites, infection, malnutrition, and congenital or inherited diseases. The law states that if a puppy is not healthy at the time of sale, you are entitled to a refund or replacement.
For more info on choosing a dog click here
