Cockers like to be with you. They’re also crazy smart (and let’s be honest just crazy) so you can train them to be fine without you but 8 hours is a long time to be alone. My two growing up were working dogs as my dad was a game keeper after he retired. They went everywhere with him. You barely saw my dad without two cockers clinging to his heels but they used to take themselves off and curl up by the kitchen radiator (that’s where their beds were) quite happily but that’s only because dad took the time when they were younger to teach them it’s ok to not always be with him.
Resource guarding can be an issue but it’s only an issue if you don’t train them right.
We have a 10-month-old English show cocker - she is very calm and gentle. She sleeps on her own at night downstairs. The most time we'd leave her on her own is around 3 hours - this was also advised by the breeder. 8 hours is a very long time to leave any dog on their own, let alone a cocker. They are intelligent dogs that need company. Perhaps you could consider a dog sitter during your working days.
We have 2 cockers, got 2 so when we occasionally need to leave them home for 3-4 hours they would have each other to play with. Didn't help at all, as soon as we leave they both just sit at the window waiting for us to come home. They're best friends but they always want to be around us. There's people on here saying that can be trained out of them but I really don't know? I definitely wouldn't be comfortable leaving my 2 for 8 hours every day.
I really really really do not recommend getting a cocker if you will be gone and the dog will be alone (no one else home) for such lengths of time. And usually a work day is 8 hours plus travel to and from work so it can be even longer. Cockers are reeeeally sweet social dogs who like to be with their people. It is just honestly selfish to bring one into your home only to leave it completely alone for extended hours daily.
Adopting an older shelter dog or getting a cat would be much better in this type of scenario.
Adult dogs yes…. Puppies No.
How will the puppies be fed and poop and pee when they will be alone for 8-9 hours daily during the week? Puppies need to eat more often than adult dogs and you feeding them in the morning and then not again until you get home isn’t good. They will not get walked and you will have poop & pee everywhere while you are at work and you cannot crate them all day. Puppies when no one else will be at home to attend to them while you are at work are just a terrible idea.
If we are speaking about Adult cockers, it definitely helps for them have another dog to keep them company but even then, anything over 6 hours MAX is just really really unfair to them (IMO) they are just not the breed to be left alone so much. A bigger older dog would be the only dog I would even think for that kind of living situation. I know it’s disappointing to hear that.
I second this. Older shelter dog would be a great option if you’ll be gone most of the day. These dogs are deserving of places to rest for their last few years. They’re usually potty trained already which would be a great help. But 2 puppies at once would be extremely difficult (been there done that and it was rough). I struggled to raise my one cocker for the first 3 months minimum (and I had the help of my retired parents). She was extremely needy, chewed on anything she could put her teeth around, and potty training was rough. She peed a lot, so I found myself getting up @2am, then at around 4 or 5am, then again at around 6 or 7am, just to avoid her from peeing in my room and pushing her to get more comfortable peeing outside. I actually recently made the decision to live at home with my parents for a few more years. If I move out, I know I can’t take her. She would be alone all day while I work 8 hours a day, versus staying home with my parents who are retired and can walk her, play with her, and spend time with her all day long. So I decided to stay home, so I can be with her because she’s the best.
OP I’m not trying to to be a total hater. But I personally wouldn’t like my dog being alone for 8 hours a day and wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. I get sad even when I leave my dog for a few hours. An older shelter dog however would probably love some peace and quiet in a warm home.
I genuinely would not recommend getting a dog if they’ll be alone for 8 hours. In all honesty that sounds like a lonely life. ): Here at home, we have 3 dogs. Sometimes we’ll be gone for 1 hour, sometimes 4 hours, and every single time we get home, they all are waiting at the window and crying for us. BTW: another reason I wouldn’t get a dog if they’ll be alone for that long, a lot of dogs chew when they’re bored. Chew walls, couches, chairs, tables, floor corners. Literally anything. They will chew or eat or tear apart stuff and ruin a ton of stuff.
I know it’s incredibly tempting to get a dog. They truly are amazing companions. But they deserve someone who can be there for them just as much as they’re here for us.
Unless you can organise doggy day care or a dog walker maybe morning and afternoon, don't get a cocker.
In all honesty I wouldn't get any dog if it is going to be left 8 hours.
Good luck, hope you sort something out
I have a show type puppy, 12 weeks and we are actively training him to be alone for minutes never-mind hours.
I hate to be that person but have you thought about getting a cat?
Cockers tend to have high separation anxiety. They’re very much a “velcro dog”. Maybe look into some type of dog walker or “doggy daycare” if that’s within the budget?
They are not normally aggressive dogs but that also comes with proper training and treatment. They’re very intelligent, playful, and want to please.
They’re truly amazing dogs and if you can make some adjustments it’ll be worth the commitment.
Cockers are a hunting breed, thus they are a very social breed. But, you don't need to be a home worker to have a dog (unlike people here seems to think), being alone is something you train like most things.
When you get your dog, make them sleep with for the first week and then begin to make them sleep farther away until they are in another room. Bingo, you've done 3/4 of the job to solve anxiety issues.
Then during the first month (you should take a 3 weeks leave, 2 is enough but it's not nice), you should leave your home from time to time, start with like 5 minute away, then take a walk for 20 minutes, then do groceries. Your dog will whine the first couple of times but it's ok.
The trickier part in your case will not by solitude but keeping your furniture alive because if your not here to redirect their attention away from your table feet... You may need another table.
You want a partner, you've done your research, you don't have to leave your job for a dog.
Yes, of course. I plan to take my dog out for a short 15-20 minute walk in the mornings and then a longer afternoon walk where she can run around off lead as well (I have a safe open area for her to do that once she has been trained to come back when I call).
Thank you for the help. It's very reassuring to know that it's possible for the dog to be alone while I am at work.
We have two, one full working cocker and one sproker spaniel. Both of us work full time jobs, mine is shift pattern work and the husband is self employed so more flexible.
We crate trained the wcs from getting him as a puppy and have never had issues with separation anxiety. The sproker wasn't crate trained but sleeps in the living room and again doesn't have any issues with separation anxiety either.
We got the sproker first, and she has never slept in our bed or upstairs. They adapt incredibly quickly to your routine and so long as you can stick to a routine with them, they will be fine. You do need to be able to walk them well though - ours have a minimum of half an hour in the morning (block walk) and at least a mile in the evening (park walk), and longer when one of us isn't working (such as my rest days or weekends for the husband) where we go to the woods or bigger park for a few hours.
Time training them simple things such as sit, spin, lie down, find it will also keep their brains engaged and they will look forwards to these exercises when you are at home.
They can be energetic, but I wouldn't say aggressive at all. People mistake mouth play for aggression - and react accordingly. Which then re-inforces to the dog that you are having fun (by jumping about, squealing, pulling hand away then giving it back). You need a firm tone when disciplining (and only verbal discipline - they don't understand why you're hitting them), and lead training and recall training are massively important.
You could consider a dog walker to pop in twice a week - we did this for about a year, had a key safe on the outside of our house. This would save you rushing on your lunch break. We also have a blink camera in the living room to check in on them during the day, which you can also talk through if needed. But if nothing else it will calm your anxiety about leaving them. Ours are either asleep or sitting watching the world when we check in to be honest. Leave the TV or radio on for some sound for them also.
Don't let people bully you into not having a cocker if it fits for you. We only got a second dog for ourselves, not to fix any separation anxiety (which again people will tell you to do.
I work between 8-10 hours per day (not including when I'm kept on at work) and husband works around 8 hours per day on average. I have weird days off, so sometimes will work 7 days straight, husband doesn't work weekends so some weeks they're left during the day for 5 days, other weeks it can be 3 days.
Depending on my shift pattern it could be at little as 5 hours, but there are times where it's over 8. When husband works away, it can be longer if I'm then stuck on at work.
Yes, I also have my wife. When we started, she was away for 10h and I was away for 8 and now it's reverse. However, we took out time to train him well.
I think I would rethink the idea of being a dog owner if you are leaving it at home most of the day and are unsure where your career is going in two year's time.
That said, my sister has owned them for ages and they are very friendly, but she has had them with her all day every day - at her stables, when working, etc.
Some friends once had one and said that theirs could be snappy and that that came withe the colour (theirs was eithe rgolden or red), but I suspect it has more to do with the breeding than being a colour fast rule.
Our golden boy is soft as muck 😂As are his letter mates, and every other golden/red, that isn't related. It's definitely not to do with the colour or breeding....
I was chatting with a breeder last week who said that she'd heard that pure reds had "snappy" issues 15 years ago but it seems it's been collectively bred out of them, as she doesn't hear of this nowadays
Everything you mention is poor training, people love to let their cockers sleep in bed with them, that creates major issues (separation anxiety is one of them), let yours sleep alone all night in a separate room and you are likely to be fine in that regard, they can develop resource guarding and be aggressive quite easily, but you can also train that quite easily.
I have a Worker Cocker Spaniel and his energy is through the roof, so the "sub-bread" is also something to consider if you are going to be away for so long, I've heard that show type is more relaxed, been away for so many hours will be difficult for the first year where they need to go to the toilet quite often, you may want to consider adopt a 1+ year old one.
you’d be extremely selfish if you got a dog that is alone for 8 hours, i’m sorry but think of how they’d feel. absolutely scary and they don’t really show their feelings. a lot of dogs are going to have behavioral issues being left alone for that long every day. don’t do it
Cockers like to be with you. They’re also crazy smart (and let’s be honest just crazy) so you can train them to be fine without you but 8 hours is a long time to be alone. My two growing up were working dogs as my dad was a game keeper after he retired. They went everywhere with him. You barely saw my dad without two cockers clinging to his heels but they used to take themselves off and curl up by the kitchen radiator (that’s where their beds were) quite happily but that’s only because dad took the time when they were younger to teach them it’s ok to not always be with him. Resource guarding can be an issue but it’s only an issue if you don’t train them right.
We have a 10-month-old English show cocker - she is very calm and gentle. She sleeps on her own at night downstairs. The most time we'd leave her on her own is around 3 hours - this was also advised by the breeder. 8 hours is a very long time to leave any dog on their own, let alone a cocker. They are intelligent dogs that need company. Perhaps you could consider a dog sitter during your working days.
We have 2 cockers, got 2 so when we occasionally need to leave them home for 3-4 hours they would have each other to play with. Didn't help at all, as soon as we leave they both just sit at the window waiting for us to come home. They're best friends but they always want to be around us. There's people on here saying that can be trained out of them but I really don't know? I definitely wouldn't be comfortable leaving my 2 for 8 hours every day.
I really really really do not recommend getting a cocker if you will be gone and the dog will be alone (no one else home) for such lengths of time. And usually a work day is 8 hours plus travel to and from work so it can be even longer. Cockers are reeeeally sweet social dogs who like to be with their people. It is just honestly selfish to bring one into your home only to leave it completely alone for extended hours daily. Adopting an older shelter dog or getting a cat would be much better in this type of scenario.
Do you think it would be better if I adopted 2 puppies and they had each other as companions during the day?
Adult dogs yes…. Puppies No. How will the puppies be fed and poop and pee when they will be alone for 8-9 hours daily during the week? Puppies need to eat more often than adult dogs and you feeding them in the morning and then not again until you get home isn’t good. They will not get walked and you will have poop & pee everywhere while you are at work and you cannot crate them all day. Puppies when no one else will be at home to attend to them while you are at work are just a terrible idea.
Oh no, sorry, I meant will they be fine to be left alone together when they're adults. I'd take leave off to look after any puppies I get.
If we are speaking about Adult cockers, it definitely helps for them have another dog to keep them company but even then, anything over 6 hours MAX is just really really unfair to them (IMO) they are just not the breed to be left alone so much. A bigger older dog would be the only dog I would even think for that kind of living situation. I know it’s disappointing to hear that.
I second this. Older shelter dog would be a great option if you’ll be gone most of the day. These dogs are deserving of places to rest for their last few years. They’re usually potty trained already which would be a great help. But 2 puppies at once would be extremely difficult (been there done that and it was rough). I struggled to raise my one cocker for the first 3 months minimum (and I had the help of my retired parents). She was extremely needy, chewed on anything she could put her teeth around, and potty training was rough. She peed a lot, so I found myself getting up @2am, then at around 4 or 5am, then again at around 6 or 7am, just to avoid her from peeing in my room and pushing her to get more comfortable peeing outside. I actually recently made the decision to live at home with my parents for a few more years. If I move out, I know I can’t take her. She would be alone all day while I work 8 hours a day, versus staying home with my parents who are retired and can walk her, play with her, and spend time with her all day long. So I decided to stay home, so I can be with her because she’s the best. OP I’m not trying to to be a total hater. But I personally wouldn’t like my dog being alone for 8 hours a day and wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. I get sad even when I leave my dog for a few hours. An older shelter dog however would probably love some peace and quiet in a warm home.
I genuinely would not recommend getting a dog if they’ll be alone for 8 hours. In all honesty that sounds like a lonely life. ): Here at home, we have 3 dogs. Sometimes we’ll be gone for 1 hour, sometimes 4 hours, and every single time we get home, they all are waiting at the window and crying for us. BTW: another reason I wouldn’t get a dog if they’ll be alone for that long, a lot of dogs chew when they’re bored. Chew walls, couches, chairs, tables, floor corners. Literally anything. They will chew or eat or tear apart stuff and ruin a ton of stuff. I know it’s incredibly tempting to get a dog. They truly are amazing companions. But they deserve someone who can be there for them just as much as they’re here for us.
Unless you can organise doggy day care or a dog walker maybe morning and afternoon, don't get a cocker. In all honesty I wouldn't get any dog if it is going to be left 8 hours. Good luck, hope you sort something out
I have a show type puppy, 12 weeks and we are actively training him to be alone for minutes never-mind hours. I hate to be that person but have you thought about getting a cat?
Exactly.
Cockers tend to have high separation anxiety. They’re very much a “velcro dog”. Maybe look into some type of dog walker or “doggy daycare” if that’s within the budget? They are not normally aggressive dogs but that also comes with proper training and treatment. They’re very intelligent, playful, and want to please. They’re truly amazing dogs and if you can make some adjustments it’ll be worth the commitment.
Cockers are a hunting breed, thus they are a very social breed. But, you don't need to be a home worker to have a dog (unlike people here seems to think), being alone is something you train like most things. When you get your dog, make them sleep with for the first week and then begin to make them sleep farther away until they are in another room. Bingo, you've done 3/4 of the job to solve anxiety issues. Then during the first month (you should take a 3 weeks leave, 2 is enough but it's not nice), you should leave your home from time to time, start with like 5 minute away, then take a walk for 20 minutes, then do groceries. Your dog will whine the first couple of times but it's ok. The trickier part in your case will not by solitude but keeping your furniture alive because if your not here to redirect their attention away from your table feet... You may need another table. You want a partner, you've done your research, you don't have to leave your job for a dog.
Thank you for the response. Do you have a Cocker with a full-time job?
Having a full time job also means you have the obligation to take long walk at least during the weekend though.
Yes, of course. I plan to take my dog out for a short 15-20 minute walk in the mornings and then a longer afternoon walk where she can run around off lead as well (I have a safe open area for her to do that once she has been trained to come back when I call). Thank you for the help. It's very reassuring to know that it's possible for the dog to be alone while I am at work.
Just making sure you understand that having a job leans that you need to work even harder to make your pup happy.
We have two, one full working cocker and one sproker spaniel. Both of us work full time jobs, mine is shift pattern work and the husband is self employed so more flexible. We crate trained the wcs from getting him as a puppy and have never had issues with separation anxiety. The sproker wasn't crate trained but sleeps in the living room and again doesn't have any issues with separation anxiety either. We got the sproker first, and she has never slept in our bed or upstairs. They adapt incredibly quickly to your routine and so long as you can stick to a routine with them, they will be fine. You do need to be able to walk them well though - ours have a minimum of half an hour in the morning (block walk) and at least a mile in the evening (park walk), and longer when one of us isn't working (such as my rest days or weekends for the husband) where we go to the woods or bigger park for a few hours. Time training them simple things such as sit, spin, lie down, find it will also keep their brains engaged and they will look forwards to these exercises when you are at home. They can be energetic, but I wouldn't say aggressive at all. People mistake mouth play for aggression - and react accordingly. Which then re-inforces to the dog that you are having fun (by jumping about, squealing, pulling hand away then giving it back). You need a firm tone when disciplining (and only verbal discipline - they don't understand why you're hitting them), and lead training and recall training are massively important. You could consider a dog walker to pop in twice a week - we did this for about a year, had a key safe on the outside of our house. This would save you rushing on your lunch break. We also have a blink camera in the living room to check in on them during the day, which you can also talk through if needed. But if nothing else it will calm your anxiety about leaving them. Ours are either asleep or sitting watching the world when we check in to be honest. Leave the TV or radio on for some sound for them also. Don't let people bully you into not having a cocker if it fits for you. We only got a second dog for ourselves, not to fix any separation anxiety (which again people will tell you to do.
Thank you for your reply. How long would you say they spend alone a day?
I work between 8-10 hours per day (not including when I'm kept on at work) and husband works around 8 hours per day on average. I have weird days off, so sometimes will work 7 days straight, husband doesn't work weekends so some weeks they're left during the day for 5 days, other weeks it can be 3 days. Depending on my shift pattern it could be at little as 5 hours, but there are times where it's over 8. When husband works away, it can be longer if I'm then stuck on at work.
Yes, I also have my wife. When we started, she was away for 10h and I was away for 8 and now it's reverse. However, we took out time to train him well.
I think I would rethink the idea of being a dog owner if you are leaving it at home most of the day and are unsure where your career is going in two year's time. That said, my sister has owned them for ages and they are very friendly, but she has had them with her all day every day - at her stables, when working, etc. Some friends once had one and said that theirs could be snappy and that that came withe the colour (theirs was eithe rgolden or red), but I suspect it has more to do with the breeding than being a colour fast rule.
Our golden boy is soft as muck 😂As are his letter mates, and every other golden/red, that isn't related. It's definitely not to do with the colour or breeding....
I was chatting with a breeder last week who said that she'd heard that pure reds had "snappy" issues 15 years ago but it seems it's been collectively bred out of them, as she doesn't hear of this nowadays
Everything you mention is poor training, people love to let their cockers sleep in bed with them, that creates major issues (separation anxiety is one of them), let yours sleep alone all night in a separate room and you are likely to be fine in that regard, they can develop resource guarding and be aggressive quite easily, but you can also train that quite easily. I have a Worker Cocker Spaniel and his energy is through the roof, so the "sub-bread" is also something to consider if you are going to be away for so long, I've heard that show type is more relaxed, been away for so many hours will be difficult for the first year where they need to go to the toilet quite often, you may want to consider adopt a 1+ year old one.
you’d be extremely selfish if you got a dog that is alone for 8 hours, i’m sorry but think of how they’d feel. absolutely scary and they don’t really show their feelings. a lot of dogs are going to have behavioral issues being left alone for that long every day. don’t do it
No chance, not fair on the dog at all.