How to Pick a Cocker Spaniel Puppy
Cocker Spaniels are very intelligent and are one of the most popular choices for dog breeds due to their fun loving and friendly nature. Although there are some characteristics that are breed specific, not all Cocker Spaniels are going to have the same temperament and personality so it is best to choose your Cocker Spaniel with care.
- Determine what you want in your Cocker Spaniel puppy. Do you want one that can keep up with your active lifestyle, or would you be happier with a couch potato that wants to snuggle with you? You want to choose the best fit for you and your family so that your new Cocker Spaniel will meld well.
- Choose a Cocker Spaniel breeder that is known for breeding quality bloodline Cocker spaniels, or find a breed specific rescue in your area. If you want to find a puppy, you are better of going with the breeder since most Cocker Spaniels that are found in a rescue are not puppies.
- Carefully observe all of the puppies without interacting with them at first. You can tell a lot about a puppy by how it interacts with its littermates. You want to rule out a puppy with overly aggressive or submissive behavior because these traits can and will more than likely carry over into adulthood.
- Watch for signs of dominance such as bullying and excessive barking. You do not want to adopt a new puppy that is going to grow up to be an overly dominant Cocker Spaniel, especially if you have children in the home.
- Watch for signs of submissive behavior as well. You do not want to choose the puppy in the corner being picked on by the dominant member of the litter either. A submissive puppy will be a submissive adult. If you plan on having a socialized Cocker Spaniel that gets along well with people and other dogs, you should not choose a dog that is overly submissive.
- Choose a puppy that is curious and playful. You want your new puppy to be friendly and curious about their surroundings. The perfect temperament of a Cocker Spaniel puppy is one that is submissive at times, but still fun loving, curious and intelligent.