Is my yard big enough for a cocker spaniel?

Bicky

Hi guys and gals.
I have recently purchased a house and will move in within the next week. I have always imagined owning a cocker spaniel once i had a permanent base and now it seems that time has arrived.
The problem is that i am not sure if my yard is big enough for a lively breed live the cocker spaniel. It is cobble locked(no grass) in an L shape along the house with 10m x 3m along the side and 10m x 4.5m along the back. The dog would most probably sleep outside but would be inside the house when we are awake and not working. My girlfriend and i would walk the dog daily.
I have seen much larger dogs in similar sized areas but have never agreed with it. I have even read online that cocker spaniels are ok to keep in apartments but i definitely do not think so.
Looking for any cocker spaniel owners here to give their opinion.
Cheers,
JP

Hypnotoad

That would sound fine!As long as the dog is getting enough exercise from walking/throwing the ball around,then it's ok.

iguana

I have two springer spaniels (very similar to cockers) and my garden is smaller than yours, 7m x 1m + 14m x 5m. My dogs but have run of the garden and kitchen when we are not home and get on just fine. I'm sure they would have no objections if we move to a house with a bigger garden on the otherhand I also think they'd be ok with a smaller space too, just don't expect to be able to keep a nice lawn.:rolleyes: As long as they are well exercised outside the home they are happy to dose in the house 90% of the time. So I'd actually say they'd manage fine in an apartment as long as they had some sort of toilet, company and lots of exercise.

However what type of times do you think the dog will left alone for? Do you and your OH both work fulltime? There are very few dogs which would be content being left alone for most of the day, and a dog which is bred as an active working pack dog would be even less happy.

Mine are left alone for about 20-25 hours a week and are much more relaxed on the days one of us is home all day. We also have no social life as on a day we are both working whoever finishes work first (me) has to rush home to them. I've lost count of the amount of time that I've made plans to go out as my husband is to finish early but he ends up having to work late so I have to cancel and go straight home. It's easy to end up resentful, not of the dogs - but of each other if it seems like one of us makes more sacrifices.

It could be worth considering getting two as my two would not cope without each other. Gun dogs work in packs and get a lot from having a dog buddy.

Where's my Cat?

I have a verry lively cocker spaniel and he has a similar sized garden. He's grand. He's walked twice daily, with loads of games to keep him occupied.

To be quite honest, he isn't crazy about going into the garden at all and
would happily stay in the house if he was let all day apart from walks. He has decided he is a house dog and that's that.

Work of warning though, cockers are lunatics. So much fun but please be aware of what you are getting yourself into. I rescued one and I'm so glad I did but I realised that there was a reason why there are so many up for rescue and that is because they are utter madsers.

Bicky

Thanks for the reply
After a lot of soul searching we have decided to go with the miniature schnauzer. I was at home today and after playing with my parents cocker I remembered how he was so crazy when he was a puppy.
The schnauzer is a lovely small dog and i think one would suit our situation better.
Anybody know a good breeder around the midlands/laois?

peasant

What makes you think that a Schnauzer will be less "crazy" as a pup?

All pups are "crazy" ...and a lot of work and commitment.

Bicky

Sorry i meant to say miniature Schnauzer. When i say puppy i mean three years not eight weeks.
If your question still stands then I will say that I have found the cocker to be a very lively breed compared to the MS. While i have had plenty of experience with cockers i have had only a little with the MS. I am basing my opinion of them mostly from information i have read on-line and from talking to people who owned the breed.
If i am wrong then go right ahead and correct me.

peasant

Ok ..when I say puppy, then I mean puppy ...a three year old is an adult.

Other than that ...please don't believe everything you read and hear about breeds.

There is every chance that the Miniature Schnauzer that you pick may be just as "crazy" as your parent's Cocker was/is.

Breeds are all about appearance, not behaviour or character. You can make generalisations about "typical" breed behaviour, but that's all they are ...generalisations. There are many "atypical" dogs out there

Whether your future dog will be calm or "mad" depends on three factors:
- its character
- your training
- how the two combine

By all means, use breed descriptions to inform yourself about your favourite breeds, but don't believe everything that's written. Read enough of them (including some of breeds that don't interest you) and you will soon find out that most of the bumpf that gets written is interchangeable between breeds and pretty generic and quite a lot of it is simply wishful thinking.

Just don't make the mistake to expect that the dog will do what it says on the (breed description) tin. It may or may not display some of the breed characteristics, but it is most and foremost and individual that will do what is in its individual character and what it has learned along the way.

(Plus it can't read ...so it doesn't know what's expected of it )

Bicky

I have always thought of a dog under three years to be a puppy. They are still adolescents anyway and do not start to lose their boundless energy until then.
When i referred to my parents dog as crazy i meant that when he gets excited he would run off into the garden and return from a different side hopping and jumping.(they have fields all around their house) To be honest i had made up my mind before starting this thread. I just wanted to see what people thought.

Read enough of them (including some of breeds that don't interest you) and you will soon find out that most of the bumpf that gets written is interchangeable between breeds and pretty generic and quite a lot of it is simply wishful thinking.

I have definitely noticed this. Sites like dogbreederinfo seem to just copy and paste. :rolleyes: While you are certainly right about the breed being only an indicator i do think that there will nearly always be a big difference between a breed for hunting and a toy breed.
Input very appreciated and i hope for more.
JP

Wokie

Have to agree with peasant re breed descriptions. I know someone who researched golden cockers and found loads to say they are the perfect family dog. Off they went and bought one who turned not to be that perfect family pet and they ended up having to make the heartbreaking decision of giving her away. Since you know what you want, I'd suggest putting your time into researching breeders and ensuring that you don't end up with puppy farmed dog or backyard breeder who is breeding for money and doesn't give a toss about the breed or the results of bad breeding:( Good luck with whatever dog you choose and with your research!

BeauZak

I have just got my 3rd dog a Mini Schnauzer. I bought her from the UK because I could not source a puppy here that came with the right health checks.

If you are going for Schnauzer then please make sure the eyes are tested and certified along with the other regular health checks. Also sleeping outside would not be ok for a mini schnauzer they are house dogs without enough body fat mass to be able to survive our cold winters. Plus since they do not shed their hair they do make good dogs for inside the home.

You are welcome to meet my Schnauzer anytime. She is very good but I got her from a remarkable breeder UK Kennel Club Accreddited breeder so it is not luck or by chance that she is a very well socialised, healthy and happy puppy.

As regards cocker spaniels. The solid colour cockers develop most problems when they reach adulthood. Some research shows that up to 50% of cockers will develop behavioural issues, some very serious, by the time they are 3.

At one of the main Dog Training Centres in Dublin, after Labradors cockers TOP the list of dogs that require behaviour modification because of aggression mainly in the form of resource guarding and idiopathic (for no reason) aggression. There are also some serious temperament problems because of close breeding.

I hope that info helps you. Good luck with your search for your canine friend.

Bicky

wokie, I cannot find anything about breeders here in Ireland. There does not seem to be a Schnauzer club.
I have seen a few adverts on buyandsell and donedeal but it seems the miniature Schnauzer is relatively rare here, when compared to other countries.

BeauZak would you please tell me how much it would cost to get one in a similar manner from the UK? PM if you like.
We have talked about it and are willing to pay good money for a good dog. However breeders demand five to six hundred euro for a puppy with just a promise and it is hard to tell if you are being ripped off.

My girlfriend is the one who says the dog must stay outside. She is more of a dog person than me but she wants the dog to sleep in the garden. I had planned on possibly building a kennel so i could make it insulated.
I would be fine with the dog sleeping inside as long as it was well trained. I have bought the karen Pryor book on clicker training and i am looking forward to giving it a go. Still remember the first time i got a dog to sit and cant wait for that feeling with my own dog.
If anyone has information about miniature Schnauzer breeders please reply or send a PM.
Cheers
JP

Bicky

By the way this Miniature schnauzer Is lovely.
It says both parents ca be seen. Unfortunately i cant get through.

BeauZak

Here is my one she is from crufts stock so conforms very much to breed standard.



Missing from the ad is the eye testing info. If you research the breed you will understand why you simply cannot purchase a Schnauzer puppy without the eye testing done by the appropriate specialist vet and you must receive the documentation to prove this. I can show you the right documentation. The breed is prone to congenital cataracts and congenital retinal atrophy. You really don't want to have to deal with either of those.

You will have to wait for a good puppy and certainly will not find one on these types of internet sites and I would recommend steering away from sourcing your puppy that way. Good puppies from excellent breeders do not need to be advertised. There is generally a waiting list and a very good reason to wait.

Expect to pay £700 sterling at least. You do get what you pay for. It amazes me how people purchase puppies from "breeders" here and don't even get any pedigree papers or bloodling info or health info. That is what you are paying for, a good specimen of a breed and proof of a healthy puppy.

Accredited Breeders from the UK kennel club info is listed here http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/473 plus you can search in an area. Then you will have to call and speak with the breeder directly. Prepare to be grilled by the breeders though but that is a good sign.

Sleeping outside is simply not an option especially since so many dogs are stolen now during the night. I would not even consider purchasing a puppy if you had to leave it outside. It would be more advisable to properly crate train your puppy or use a play pen to secure an inside area at night and for resting. Keeping puppy inside will toilet train him/her faster anyway.

Clicker training is great. Karen Pryor rocks. I clicker train and have met Karen Pryors daughter at UK Seminar.

Good Luck! You sound like you are going to have a wonderful relationship with your puppy but please do take the time to specify what you want and make sure you get the health warrants and checks before purchasing.

Bicky

Thanks for the info. I do agree with you but 700 sterling plus flights, accommodation, medical costs etc would surely amount to two thousand plus euro to get the dog. I just moved into a house and that is too much expense for me. I could spend eight hundred but is that enough?
The man from the ad phoned me back and said that although he had none left another batch would be available after Christmas:rolleyes:
I dont know what i would done if i had to spend six hours driving up there to realise he was an unethical breeder.

Bicky

She is lovely.
Thanks for the great reply. As it is my first puppy i greatly appreciate the advice. I have to go now but will post again tomorrow.

Bicky

Thanks for giving the time to reply. We are still waiting to move into our new home but it should be in the next week. To be honest we are even more excited about getting a puppy.
Your puppy looks gorgeous. Is she less than six months? What is her name? Please upload some more pictures.
I missed it while searching before but i found the number for the Min Schnauzer Club of Ireland. Should i contact the secretary of this club?

Demonique

Bicky wrote: »

Thanks for the info. I do agree with you but 700 sterling plus flights, accommodation, medical costs etc would surely amount to two thousand plus euro to get the dog. I just moved into a house and that is too much expense for me. I could spend eight hundred but is that enough?
The man from the ad phoned me back and said that although he had none left another batch would be available after Christmas:rolleyes:
I dont know what i would done if i had to spend six hours driving up there to realise he was an unethical breeder.

Sounds like an unethical breeder to me, another batch after Xmas? Sounds like the bitch is being bred twice per year or he has more than one bitch.

Why not ring around animal rescues and see if they have miniature schnauzers to rehome? It's better than going the backyard breeder route

Bicky

Why not ring around animal rescues and see if they have miniature schnauzers to rehome? It's better than going the backyard breeder route

Going the backyard breeder route is exactly the path i want to avoid. Which is why i am here looking for advice.
Lots of posts on these and other boards suggest adoption and it is a very honorable thing to do. At the same time i do not think of starting with a puppy as a bad thing.

Demonique

Contact both the Irish Kennel Club and the Miniature Schnauzer society of Ireland to see if they have a list of recommended breeder.

One place to avoid would be any dogs advertised in the classifieds, no good breeder would advertise there.

We paid £250 for a black cocker spaniel pup (now aged 12) that was advertised in the Buy and Sell. IKC registered, sire was a champion, Jedder's registered name was Killivery Dynamic, well Jedder had kidney problems as a pup and passed blood in his urine. One lady who worked in Easons in Athlone had a bitch from the same litter, she started going blind from cataracts when she was 6 months old.

BeauZak

Thanks for posting your experience Demonique...it is important for people to see that it DOES and can happen. I know I sound like a broken record but I am so against breeders who breed for quantity not quality.

Why not ring around animal rescues and see if they have miniature schnauzers to rehome? It's better than going the backyard breeder route

I had tried this too even with pedigrees in rescue you should check health first. Rescue listed here www.irishanimals.ie

The flight is with Aer Arann and it costs £18 to fly a dog from UK to Ireland. Short trip and I was very pleased. Other cost is the airline crate about €45. They are an excellent airline and treated the puppy with great care. I was with her a lot and checked her going onto aircraft etc.

So in total it was about a grand. So far no health issues, she toilet trained in no time and in general is a great pup to have around.

I have both rescue dog and pedigree dogs purchased from breeders. The Schnauzer was purchased as a companion dog and pet but also for training and agility later. So it was vital that I got it right regarding early socialisation (from breeder) and mainly health.

It is good to speak with the Club Secretary of course. But no matter what or who reccommends a breeder you should thoroughly check them out yourself too. Ask tons of questions, ask for copies of health checks, vax certs ask for photos...sometimes a photo's background can say a lot. Ask what diet the puppies are on ask what age the mother is, where the father is from, ask how to toilet train, ask what socialisation has the puppy done, has it met children, other dogs, other animals?

As I said NO HEALTH WARRANTS NO SALE.....Good luck!

loismustdie

bicky, why you so intent on this breed. there are only too many pups in shelters and pounds in need for homes?