Runt Cocker Spaniel Puppy (for home and cruising)?

B

Babylon

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Jan 2008
Messages
4,401
Location
Solent
Visit site
So I'm keen to get a Cocker Spaniel puppy for both home and sailing, and went to see the remaining three pups of a litter today, where the seller owns the working-line mum and the show-line dad. The place was a mess, and the pups and their pen really stank. The mum looked slightly starved with ribs really showing and had a manky matted ear (and seemed desperate for me to give her some love!). Despite the guy saying he worked them, neither dog appeared to respond to any command of his or mine.

Of the two dog puppies (I don't want a bitch), one looked fairly robust but the other was clearly the runt - much smaller and seemed depressed and disoriented. They're just over eight weeks old so ready to go, and he wants £700 each (good/pedigree Cockers are being advertised for £800 to £1,000 - which is ridiculous).

My sensible side says to walk away, but I've got a notion to try and take the runt off him for less money, say £350. Not to get a bargain as such, but to nurture the poor little creature and hopefully bring him up to be a happy, healthy and emotionally-secure companion.

Am I mad?
 
Babylon said:
So I'm keen to get a Cocker Spaniel puppy for both home and sailing, and went to see the remaining three pups of a litter today, where the seller owns the working-line mum and the show-line dad. The place was a mess, and the pups and their pen really stank. The mum looked slightly starved with ribs really showing and had a manky matted ear (and seemed desperate for me to give her some love!). Despite the guy saying he worked them, neither dog appeared to respond to any command of his or mine.

Of the two dog puppies (I don't want a bitch), one looked fairly robust but the other was clearly the runt - much smaller and seemed depressed and disoriented. They're just over eight weeks old so ready to go, and he wants £700 each (good/pedigree Cockers are being advertised for £800 to £1,000 - which is ridiculous).

My sensible side says to walk away, but I've got a notion to try and take the runt off him for less money, say £350. Not to get a bargain as such, but to nurture the poor little creature and hopefully bring him up to be a happy, healthy and emotionally-secure companion.

Am I mad?
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan BUT get the RSPCA in after you have saved the runt. I understand they can be quite quick to “solve” problem dog issues?
 
Heckler said:
Young relative went to a rescue centre, had to be visited by a jobsworth to check if they were suitable, rude jobsworth!
Click to expand...

When I adopted in the UK the rescue sent a 'jobs worth' on a home visit to check fencing and suitability. She was a school mistress type with a clipboard. When she saw we were genuine her whole attitude changed to being like grandma. Most rescues are dedicated and care about where the animal is going and want to know it's safe and suitable - remember the animal has probably been through enough in its life and they just want to make sure that's not repeated. When we adopted here they just took what we wrote on the adoption form as being true - it was but they didn't know that based on anything other than trust. He is laid pressed into me as I type. He snores badly but I love that he feels safe enough to sleep that deeply.

My ex's sister ( not the current estranged wife), breed dogs. Their place was just like what the OP is posting. I think they were springers too so would be interested by pm where this place is. I reported them to the RSPCA anonymously for the sake of family relations. Nothing changed in the next 2 odd years. I felt most sorry for the mutt that lived in their house and was treated as a toy by their demonic kids.


We had a springer as kids and the same ex had a cocker - they're high sometime very high energy dogs so not sure how it'd work on a boat. Hers would charge around the house, lose control on the kitchen floor being varnished cork, slide into the cabinets and then repeat and repeat and repeat..

Please rescue - even if it's this runt - don't support puppy breeders.

W.
 
Last edited:
I would be very careful about buying a runt, ok so you are not going to use the dog for working, never the less a dog should be bold, keen and eager, if it is not, you could have a lot of problems in training, they can be encouraged with kindness, but one wrong harsh word if the dog has done wrong, could set you back to the beginning, it will not be easy, walk away!
 
Biggles Wader said:
Id walk away and keep walking as far as the dog recue centre. Then get one from there.
Click to expand...

I've previously had a dog I raised from a puppy (an intact working-line Lab) and later had a rescue (a neutered Springer-Pointer cross) for six years. In this case I do want a puppy as I work mainly from home and have the time and inclination to go through the all the steps of puppyhood, adolescence and adulthood, including socialisation and early training for the countryside, town and boat.

Heckler said:
Sounds like a plan BUT get the RSPCA in after you have saved the runt. I understand they can be quite quick to “solve” problem dog issues?
Click to expand...

The jury is still out on the runt (hence my original question), but thanks for the suggestion. I will call the RSPCA in the morning for their advice.
 
Last edited:
Davy_S said:
I would be very careful about buying a runt, ok so you are not going to use the dog for working, never the less a dog should be bold, keen and eager, if it is not, you could have a lot of problems in training, they can be encouraged with kindness, but one wrong harsh word if the dog has done wrong, could set you back to the beginning, it will not be easy, walk away!
Click to expand...

Thanks - this is the answer I'm looking for. Placid but robust is fine, perennially nervous won't really work for me.

Tomorrow I'm also going to see a Cocker breeder who runs shoots, with pups from working-line parents both of which he and his wife own. I won't work my dog, but I do lots of walking and would train it well for both our happinesses.
 
Last edited:
Babylon said:
I've previously had a dog I raised from a puppy (an intact working-line Lab) and later had a rescue (a neutered Springer-Pointer cross) for six years. In this case I do want a puppy as I work mainly from home and have the time and inclination to go through the all the steps of puppyhood, adolescence and adulthood, including socialisation and early training for the countryside, town and boat.



The jury is still out on the runt (hence my original question), but thanks for the suggestion. I will call the RSPCA in the morning for their advice.



I had that when I was earlier thinking about a Springer and contacted a dedicated rescue group. Was visited by someone with a ten-page form and told I had to raise my garden fence to six feet, etc.

We live in a messed up world: eighteen months ago I had the Springer-Pointer locked in the back of my car in an underground car park with all four windows cracked open slightly. It was a hot summer's day and so was stuffy underground but obviously totally in the shade (the car temperature gauge subsequently read only 23 degrees). I was shopping in the town centre with my son when I suddenly got an officious call from a female car park operative giving me 3 minutes to get back to my car else the police were there and ready to smash my windows. I ran like Bannister to find an obese woman in all her tight-fitting polyester pomp and an aggressive officer out of his squad car. I also found TWO horribly abusive and threatening notes had been plastered on my windscreen by anonymous morons.

There was no reasoning with the policeman, so I just opened the back of the car and poured a bottle of water (keep lots in the car) into his bowl - but he completely ignored it and just kissed me instead!! I poured the water out the bowl, whereupon the fat operative pushed off while PC Adrenaline got back in his car and sped off to find another real crime.
Click to expand...

Not going to judge you for that but you know I am if honest.

Here in California if I find a dog (and maybe any animal ?), if I call 911 I can then legally break into the car to remove the dog from the car. Dogs are know for showing love even to those that abuse them.

23C is nearly 73.4F coupled with a fur coat

There is no justification for leave a dog in a car, leave them at home.

PW.
 
Babylon said:
So I'm keen to get a Cocker Spaniel puppy for both home and sailing, and went to see the remaining three pups of a litter today, where the seller owns the working-line mum and the show-line dad. The place was a mess, and the pups and their pen really stank. The mum looked slightly starved with ribs really showing and had a manky matted ear (and seemed desperate for me to give her some love!). Despite the guy saying he worked them, neither dog appeared to respond to any command of his or mine.

Of the two dog puppies (I don't want a bitch), one looked fairly robust but the other was clearly the runt - much smaller and seemed depressed and disoriented. They're just over eight weeks old so ready to go, and he wants £700 each (good/pedigree Cockers are being advertised for £800 to £1,000 - which is ridiculous).

My sensible side says to walk away, but I've got a notion to try and take the runt off him for less money, say £350. Not to get a bargain as such, but to nurture the poor little creature and hopefully bring him up to be a happy, healthy and emotionally-secure companion.

Am I mad?
Click to expand...

No, you are not. In fact, in your position I would probably give him his seven hundred quid and take it away from him.

It's a dilemma, because buying the dog and giving him the money means the poor mum will be put through it again and again, but someone will buy the dog, and it's obviously got under your skin.
 
Babylon said:
The jury is still out on the runt (hence my original question), but thanks for the suggestion. I will call the RSPCA in the morning for their advice.
Click to expand...


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

BTW informing the RSPCA is absolutely the right - no animal should be treated that way.
 
Last edited:
We took the runt from a working lab litter bred by a friend and neighbour .whilst nervous and not as gregarious as some labs she has been a fabulous family pet and companion for me and my wife ..everyone that meets her adores her.

She doesn’t like the boat, very nervous on it

In my experience cockers are too energetic and mad for my taste, delightful though they are...the runt May therefore make a perfect companion and boat dog, as a less frenetic one.

I endorse the other comments about notifying the RSPCA
 
The head says walk away but the heart says give the runt a home and hopefully will respond to the love and care that you will give it. It is taking a chance but even a perfectly bred dog from a healthy bitch does not guarantee success. My daughter rescued a dog with issues and a badly set broken leg that responded very well to her care, we had her then for a further ten very happy years before old age took grip.
 
So the seller has a poor condition bitch in filthy surroundings that is not looked after & is wanting to sell you a runt puppy for £700? Are you mad??? By all means inform the RSPCA so they can confiscate it & get it sorted out but for gods sake do not even think about giving the scumbag owner money.
People buying puppies like this perpetuates the same thing over & over. You are not saving a puppy you are making dam sure the seller will do it again & again as its such a good earner!
Its probably come straight from the puppy farm down the nearest pikey site.
 
Keith 66,

we all know that but what does an animal lover do when facing a poor dog in this situation ?

The money won't get the scrote far - don't pay anything like £700 ' as it's the runt ' and if poss take discreet pics - then get the RSPCA involved ASAP.

There's always the chance the RSPCA might respond, especially if the OP involves local press without putting themselves in danger, otherwise they'll sit in their very comfy offices a few miles from here - while exactly like the RNLI the people on the front line doing the very hard work get treated as peasants.

From what little I've heard the RSPCA legal side are relatively good at knobbling pikey puppy farms ?
 
The humanity on this thread is wonderful, but be careful about jumping to conclusions about the seller. He's a youngish guy with a missus and kids living in a meagre stable-conversion he built himself and keeps goats in a proper separate paddock. It doesn't excuse things, and he didn't seem the shiniest spoon in the drawer, but it doesn't necessarily follow that the pups were from a puppy-farm.

I hear the positive comments (especially for a small boat) about the potential of a runt over a tough confident Spaniel but I'm going to pass on this one. I was attracted by the fact that the pups are a cross between a show-line dad and working-line mum, thus an adequate widening of the gene-pool over a pure-bred, but there are other pups including crosses out there and I'll keep looking.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top