My son is autistic and loves animals so I have researched breeds and found the cocker spaniel is the best for him but I am trying to locate one that isnt almost a thousand dollars. I was hoping someone would know where to look.
2007-09-19 11:36:33 · 11 answers · asked by mactrucker1 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Contact your local cocker spaniel rescue organization.
They have plenty of dogs looking for good homes. You may want to consider a little older dog (a year or two) since they are already housebroken.
Go to petfinder.com. There will be links on there.
2007-09-19 11:47:05 · answer #1 · answered by maxmom 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cockers tend to be a little nippy these days because of the breeding. So if your son is very young I wouldn't get a cocker.
Goldens or Labs might be a better choice. & like mentioned above, get an older dog to avoid all the puppy training night mares.
It might make his day if you took him to pick out his own dog. Shelters, Rescue Missions, & pounds are waiting for someone to come along & take them home before they are euthanized.
See what is out there. There are puppies galore & adults as well. It wouldn't hurt just to check it out. But, if you are set on a cocker try the cocker spaniel rescue places.
Since you are looking for a pet & not Pedigreed dog, you will spend less but be careful who you buy from. Cheap dogs usually means that they don't meet the breed standards, so that means they have faults or predispositions for ailments, both physical & mental. Ask a lot of questions. Remember there is no such thing as a dumb question.
It would be interesting to watch him fall in love as soon as he & one of the dogs eyes met. Love at first sight.
Be a wise shopper & best of luck
2007-09-19 12:01:17 · answer #2 · answered by bluebonnetgranny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is there a particular reason you're looking for a puppy? Puppies are a ton of work, and with an autistic son you might be in over your head. Plus with the puppy shots and a spay or neuter, it's a very expensive year.
Puppy raising 101
1. House breaking - To house break the puppy you should teether the puppy's leash to you when he's out of his crate. So he can't wander off and have an accident. You need to take him out every hour when he's out of his crate but also be prepared for accidents. Then when he is outside going potty you need to be watch him and praise him so he learns that going outside is a good thing. Then you'll need to get up in the dead of the night to take him outside to go potty.
2. Socialization - Puppies need to be exposed to lots of people, environments, dogs, etc. So you need to do things like sit outside a grocery store and let people come up and pet your puppy or feed him treats. He needs to be exposed to all sorts of other dogs (big, small, fluffy, etc). Not every dog is friendly towards puppies so you need to make sure that you find nice dogs to expose the pup too. Plus the puppy needs to have his shots before any type of outing otherwise he could catch parvo, etc.
3. The vet - He'll need shots around 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. Each of those is probably about a $50 vet bill. Then he needs to be neutered (or spayed if pup is a girl), that's probably another $200, including blood work and pain medication. Then there will be other visits for things you notice and need to get checked out. Plan on at least one visit a year besides your wellness exam.
4. Behavior - Puppies chew. A LOT. And it can pretty much last the whole first year. You have to watch them and make sure that they aren't chewing on things you don't want them too. Still, he's probably going to destory something at some point. And he needs to learn obedience. A puppy class can be great for socializing as well as teaching commands. However, those aren't free so that's probably another $50 at least.
So as you can see, puppies are very expensive and time-consuming. I think the others are right and you should consider getting an older dog.
2007-09-19 12:00:25 · answer #3 · answered by Skittle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you get an adult dog through the local pound instead? Fully one quarter of animals ending up in shelters are purebred something or others. You have a chance of getting a cocker spaniel and an adult dog isn't going to require a lot of training, unlike a puppy. An adult might be a lot calmer with your son. Plus, getting one at a shelter will be around $100 and it will already be spayed/neutered and have it's shots.
2007-09-19 11:44:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
adoption is a great option.
i would suggest maybe a older cocker spaniel who is a little calmer and already good around kids.
go to www.petfinder.com and type in your zip code and the breed and see whats for adoption.it will also say if the dog gets along with children, other pets etc. the cost of adoption is $50-200
or list your zip code and i will help locate a pup/dog for adoption.
i have owned spaniels and spaniel mixes before they are rgeat dogs.
2007-09-19 11:45:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
A Cocker is an expensive breed. If you have a small budget, you should consider a Lab or Golden Retriever. Most Cocker breeders charge at least $1000 for pet quality.
2007-09-19 11:48:36 · answer #6 · answered by k9vetsupply 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
check on www.petfinder.com . there are pets everywhere! they all are in needs of homes and are not expensive. There is mixed breeds and purebreds. The mixed breeds vary and can just has helpful as a cocker spaniel. Good luck finding a dog.
2007-09-19 11:45:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cocker spaniel's are very hiper dogs. be careful. You can advertise or keep a eye on the ads. Lots of people are looking for a good home for their animals. I'm looking to give a miniature pony a good home myself. have a barn and fenced in.
2007-09-19 11:49:45 · answer #8 · answered by KY chick 4-sure 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know of any specific places, but a lot of times shelters will have purebred dogs for only the shelter fee (which isn't even usually close to $100). www.petfinder.com is also a good place to look - it will give you results from shelters and rescue groups in your area that have a specific breed. Good luck!
2007-09-19 11:45:21 · answer #9 · answered by rivendellrose2005 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would recomend going for an older dog too. If you get a puppy it could be too hyper or nippy. If your kid is autistic then I don't think he would like/understand getting bit. Unless it's a lighter case of it than I have seen.
2007-09-19 12:05:25 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋