Runt Cocker Spaniel Puppy (for home and cruising)?

dom said:
Your sentiments regarding the runt are both admirable and touching. If he appears healthy and alert, and if you feel that magic bond, then why not go for it? I would. Being the runt means nothing from a character/ psychological perspective; he's just not the rugby player of the family :D
Click to expand...

This is the point: compared to his sister and remaining brother he wasn't alert or particularly responsive but seemed disoriented, so it was difficult to discern a clear bond. Maybe he'd be a late-developer, perhaps a poet rather than the rugby international of the family, but only love and time would tell...?

In the meantime, here's a really interesting article on runts on the website run by Pippa Middleton (two of who's excellent books I've read): https://thehappypuppysite.com/runt-of-the-litter/

While lots of the commentators are hugely positive about their own runts, many also describe significant lifelong problems - and I also suspect the seller of 'my' particular runt would have had little idea about giving him extra nurturing from birth onwards!
 
Last edited:
Babylon said:
This is the point: compared to his sister and remaining brother he wasn't alert or particularly responsive but seemed disoriented, so it was difficult to discern a clear bond. Maybe he'd be a late-developer, perhaps a poet rather than the rugby international of the family, but only love and time would tell...?

In the meantime, here's a really interesting article on runts on the website run by Pippa Middleton (two of who's excellent books I've read): https://thehappypuppysite.com/runt-of-the-litter/

While lots of the commentators are hugely positive about their own runts, many also describe significant lifelong problems - and I also suspect the seller of 'my' particular runt would have had little idea about giving him extra nurturing from birth onwards!
Click to expand...


Oh dear, a lack of alertness is a worry, as it may or may not signify a deep rooted problem. In which circumstances, the most course of action is probably to alert the RSPCA sharpish.

As you suggest the runt - an unhelpfully pejorative term I often think - does indeed require a suitable catch-up diet and it is imperative that this be administered in a timely manner. Rewarding the breeder to take on consequent problems doesn't feel right.

There's no 100% here; I rescued a vicious Rotty, ostensibly entirely unsuitable for family life, which before long she found a most pleasant alternative to dog-fighting. She lived happily ever after. By contrast, an ex-police GSD proved too unstable as his propensity to turn on his handler at times of stress was unmanageable. Sadly, he went back.
 
Last edited:
Rewarding the breeder to take on consequent problems doesn't feel right.

+ lots.

Maybe the breeder is ignorant rather than evil, but I wouldn't hesitate to sic the RSPCA on him. With a bit of luck, they'll be able to discern which and give suitable help rather than prosecution if the former.

It may be tough on the little guy, but not getting the breeder sorted out will be tough on generations of dogs to come.
 
Please consider rescuing rather than buying from a breeder. There are so many dogs in shelters that need homes. They might not be designer breeds but do need homes.

W.
 
I'm fed up!! - trying to edit my last two posts on the mobile site just deletes them!!

Will repost when I'm back at my laptop.
 
PilotWolf said:
Please consider rescuing rather than buying from a breeder. There are so many dogs in shelters that need homes. They might not be designer breeds but do need homes.

W.
Click to expand...

Indeed, we picked up a rescue puppy from Many Tears last Christmas. Ex Irish puppy farm but still only two years old. Needed a bath, a haircut and feeding up a bit. However, with lots of love and walks every day has turned out to be a great family pet. Having an older dog in the house to guide the puppy helped. Oh and yes the house visit was a hurdle and a bit of tongue biting required, but just play the game.

https://www.manytearsrescue.org/index.php
 
Last edited:
Now double fed-up: I saw a super pup this morning, healthy, relaxed etc, the last of the litter, told the guy's wife I'd take him, would call her husband to sort out the deposit when I got home (an hour's drive), but then had to stop and take a work call for an hour before going straight to another meeting. When I finally got home and called he said "my" pup was now sold! [bottom lip stuck out with sadness]

Never mind, there's another chappie (an hour's drive in yet another direction!) I'll go see this week...

PS Also spoke to the RSPCA.
 
Last edited:
My UK dog and one of my parent's. was from here - http://www.raystede.org/

Current pup came from here - http://www.noahs-bark.org/

This is a local charity that always needs help - we used to buy an extra tray of tinned dog food (the big 24/32 tins?) when we shopped, for them. They take the disabled and 'unadoptable' cats and dogs that no one else wants - https://www.dharmarescue.org/ it's run by a couple of older ladies who work tirelessly, I've volunteered my time but they've not taken me up on it yet. They were promised a new big premises where I was to build pens for all their animals to have their own space, for most this will be their forever home - then a canabis company offered more rent than they could afford and they lost it to a greedy landlord.

Remember that shelters are always greatful for old bedding, towels, etc. instead of throwing them out. Or do like we did an buy that extra can food and donate it.

W.
 
Last edited:
Babylon said:
Now double fed-up: I saw a super pup this morning, healthy, relaxed etc, the last of the litter, told the guy's wife I'd take him, would call her husband to sort out the deposit when I got home (an hour's drive), but then had to stop and take a work call for an hour before going straight to another meeting. When I finally got home and called he said "my" pup was now sold! [bottom lip stuck out with sadness]
Click to expand...

Unbelievably... he has become "my" pup again! I was just cooking supper when the guy called me back and apologised. He'd got his wires crossed with the wife and had agreed to sell it to a friend this afternoon, but once they were both home from stressful days on the road and sorted out the misunderstanding he honoured my agreement and stood down his friend - both professional shooting people - who completely understood.

Very chuffed. Will collect him in three weeks and looking forward to the whole socialisation and familiarisation thing... including a trip out to the boat in gentle weather. :)

Pup.jpg
 
Babylon said:
Unbelievably... he has become "my" pup again! I was just cooking supper when the guy called me back and apologised. He'd got his wires crossed with the wife and had agreed to sell it to a friend this afternoon, but once they were both home from stressful days on the road and sorted out the misunderstanding he honoured my agreement and stood down his friend - both professional shooting people - who completely understood.

Very chuffed. Will collect him in three weeks and looking forward to the whole socialisation and familiarisation thing... including a trip out to the boat in gentle weather. :)

View attachment 81464
Click to expand...

Glad your happy. It was similar with our rescue, they were giving him to an established couple who when they saw how upset we were not to get him gave him up to us, the first picture we have of us all together is him licking up our tears of joy.

Others please adopt don't shop.... Sorry to be a broken record.

PW.
 
Last edited:
If anyone ever has concerns over puppy breeders you could report them to HMRC as they tend to take a dim view of all that undisclosed income and can be quite attentive to the tax affairs of pup farms . Cocker spaniels make great boat dogs so long as you don't mind the dog hair and learn very quickly .
 
Babylon said:
Unbelievably...

... including a trip out to the boat in gentle weather. :)

View attachment 81464
Click to expand...

Congratulations!! ...... :encouragement: ... good luck and I hope it all works out for you both.

We didn't take our dog on a boat until she was about 5 ... but it turned out to be no problem at all. This is Hanna after a long day on board (she's a tibetan terrier) ....

IMG_9011.JPG
 
Great outcome for Babylon and some great pics there:

Here's wishing a great 2020 for all of our nautical canine friends! :D
 
Spyro said:
And beware of cocker rage.
Click to expand...

We had black cocker male from a pup and when he got into his (dog years) teens he was capable of attacking for no reason. That included my wife and myself. We tried most things, but he was getting dangerous. Most of the time he was a fantastic fun dog, but something would trigger him and his eyes went sort of red and whoosh an attack started. I have still got bite scars on my wrist from when he was hanging from my wrist suspended in the air. A long story short - eventually we came across a guy that loved the dog and we gave the dog to him after explain he had some the issues, so there were no surprises for him. He was an exceptional lover of dogs and a very good dog owner and we knew he would love the dog. Some months later and for no reason the dog attacked his wife whilst she was in the back seat of the car. Sadly the dog got taken to the vet and put down. A real shame as he was a fantastic pet, at least whilst he wasn't trying to rip my arm off.

A friend of my wife bought a black cocker male puppy after seeing our dog as a puppy. It eventually had the same issues and would take the hand off you for no reason. Fair play to her as she did keep the dog, but it was always a problem throughout it's life. I came across one other owner with a black cocker male with a very similar problem.

I am don't think a black male cocker would be on my list of companions for life on a boat!

For clarity the dogs referred to in the above were not working cockers.
 
I'm really sorry to hear that. It has to be that close overbreeding (for some show-line black Cockers in this case?) causes or exacerbates all sorts of inherent problems. A friend of mine in Devon had as a family pet the loveliest black working-line Cocker boy, and now has a delightful girl of the same but from a different source.

In the case of my new chocolate and grey-white pup, his mum is a working dog from Oxfordshire (owned by a couple with a proper shooting business), his dad is also working but from Cornwall - so the gene pool should be pretty wide even allowing for the common pedigree.

I'd add that before my current choice I did spend a lot of time looking for a possible working Cocker-something cross but found nothing suitable. A Cocker-Lab would have been good but perhaps bigger than I was after.
 
Hi

We have 2 working cockers 10 & 7 years and had them both from puppies.
They are the best and most adorable dogs you could wish for.

As long as they get a good walk once a week we have had no issuses with them.
Eldest one loves RIBs and sailing dinghies and hopefully once we get the big boat will love that too.

Enjoy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top