Clearly I believe Cockers are a wonderful breed, and a well-bred or rescued cocker a JOY!

But they are not the perfect dog for Everyone, and a Cocker may not be right for you.

Here are some questions to ask *yourself* before you go get that puppy or dog.

How much time do you have to give to a dog?

Cockers are fairly high on the sociable scale - most *really* want to be with people. They aren't very independent, but dependant, like most spaniels. Dogs are pack animals - they want to be with their pack (you and family!). Please don't get a cocker if you are looking for an outside dog. If you don't like a dog following you around and always wanting to be in the same room as you - cockers aren't for you.

What is your work schedule like? Are you gone 10 hours a day? Are you able to come home for lunch or hire a petsitter to walk your dog during the day? Try to be realistic about your time. If you have a puppy waiting at home staying late at the office, or going out with friends after work can become trickier. You will have to make trade-offs, is this worth it to you?

Puppies require a lot more time than adults. If you really want a cocker, but know you don't have the time it requires to housebreak, train, prevent chewing, teach manners etc. to a puppy - please consider an
older dog.

All dogs need training! None of them are born knowing where it is okay to go, what is okay to chew, how to play nice, to come when called, etc. This takes time!

Do you anticipate any major life changes that will make it difficult to keep your dog?

If you rent, be aware how hard it can be to find rental housing that accepts pets. You will have to plan further ahead in your search for housing, expect to pay additional fees/deposits, and accept an older unit/house. One of the most common reasons for dogs be given up is "moving". Are the kids you are getting the dog for leaving for college soon? Are you planning on having children soon? Will you still
want the additional responsibility of a dog? Try to think about the 10-18 years you will be responsible for your dog, and think whether you will want a dog if your life changes. Of course you can't plan for every change, but consider what would/will happen.

What energy level are you looking for?

Cockers are sort of a medium on the energy scale - but this varies! There are couch potato cockers and wired bouncing-off the walls cockers. Talk to the breeder and find out how active the puppy/dog is. Many cockers mentally mature and settle down a bit around 1.5 year old, but this varies! They definitely make great hiking partners, and fetch is very useful for tiring them out! If you want a high-energy running
companion, or a dog that doesn't require you to move away from the TV/computer, cockers probably aren't for you.

Do you have children?

Many cockers are very good with children, but it is also important to consider if your child will be good with cockers. Toddlers will often hurt dogs without realizing that they are. Cockers often won't tolerate this. If you have high-energy kids, a cocker may not be the best choice. You have to give the dog/puppy
a place to get away from the kids (Parents - you know the feeling!). It is very important to commit to teaching your children to interact properly with the dog, and the dog to interact with the kids
(Recommended reading - Kilcommon's Childproofing Your Dog).

If you are getting a dog "for the kids" remember you are going to probably end up taking care of it! (Younger children aren't ready for the responsibility, older children often are involved in after-school
activities, and when they go off to college, the dog stays). Everybody in the family should want the dog.

Are you able to meet the costs of a dog?

All dogs need vet care, food, grooming, leashes, collars etc. What would you do if your dog had an emergency? Just as you plan for emergencies and expenses in other parts of your life, plan to have the resources to take care of your pet. An emergency vet hospital can turn your pet away if you can't pay! (Unlike human hospitals). Are you willing to spend less to have money to take care of your dog?

Do you like to brush/willing to pay to have your dog groomed every 6 weeks?

Cockers must be groomed regularly - they are on the high end of the grooming spectrum. You can do this yourself or have a groomer do it for you. But *grooming* is part of the package! If it is not done, painful mats will form and pull on the skin. You can decrease the frequency of groomer visits by having your cocker clipped closer, but it still needs to be done - a cocker in that abundant flowing show coat is bathed once a week and brush every other day. You can do it yourself - but it does require a bit of specialty equipment (not too cheap) and it is very helpful if you have someone show you how they groom their dogs. Some coats are worse about matting and picking up things than others.

Do you want a boy or a girl?

Honestly there is probably little difference in a neutered male or female, but everybody seems to have a preference! If you are getting a puppy from a breeder, be aware that there are more males available than females. Most breeders keep the pick female for themselves. If you want a female, you may have to wait longer. You might want to consider looking for personality over a specific sex.

What color do you want?

Cockers come in huge number of colors. Cockers are shown in 3 varieties (groups) - ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black), Black and Parti. The blacks don't compete against the parti colors, partis don't
compete against ASCOBs, etc.

Buff (silver to red), chocolate, and chocolate and tan are in the ASCOB variety.

Black and black and tan are in the black variety.

Parti is any of the above colors and white. Red and white, black and white and tri (black and tan and white) are the most common. In addition, there are three types of marking - open-marked (no splotches
of color in the white), ticked (small splotches of color in the white) and roan (color and white mixed in the white sections).

"Mismarks" are most simply described as an otherwise solid color with too much white or white in the wrong place, which would disqualify.

Of course the primary color of a parti consisting of ninety percent (90%) or more shall disqualify.

(Refer to the breed standard.)

Avoid anyone advertising "rare" colors of cocker! Any responsible breeder puts health and temperament before color (responsible breeders of less common colors don't try to sell their puppies based on the color they are!). Roans and sable (a color not allowed in the conformation ring under the AKC breed standard) are harder to find, and it is doubly important that you find a responsible breeder of these colors.

Color comes down to personal preference! Buffs are the most in demand, so you will probably have to wait longer if you want a buff from a breeder.