My daughter aged 3 is scared of dogs initially but then settles.Would a cocker spaniel work?

Answer 1

Despite what a lot of people are saying, Cocker Spaniels are GREAT for a child scared of dogs as long as it is brought up properly.

Maybe call some breeders, visit them yourself and view the litters, make sure they are in good health etc and the mother is friendly and has been health tested. Then talk to the breeder, explain that your daughter is terrified of dogs and let her pick from the litter with the mother dog out of the room.

That way it would be 'her' dog {however i would call it a puppy if she is that scared of dogs that the word scares her}.

This is basically how my younger brother got used to dogs and now he is fine with them :)

Also i have to point out that most common bites reported are from Golden Retrievers and Labradors and their mixes, not any type of Spaniel.

Answer 2

You should be careful getting cocker spaniels. In the 90s there was a big boom in the demand for them and many people started to breed just for profit, not caring about the temperament or health. Unfortunately, this breed has not fully recovered from this temperamental epidemic. Many cockers out there are still a bit neurotic and are prone to many health problems. I knew one cocker who was a pretty dog, but a monster. He was bought for the daughter of the family, and he ended up growling at her, scaring her off. I only say this as a warning, because if you are going to get a cocker, you should really look into its parentage and make sure that the breeders are sound and breeding healthy AKC registered puppies.

That being said, I would actually recommend the dog I have now, a Portuguese Water Dog. You may be going, "what?!" but these dogs are becoming very well known in the US. They can be between 35 and 60 pounds, and the breeding is very controlled, so you are getting healthy puppies. They do not shed, although they do require a haircut every 6 weeks. They are great dogs! I brought one of mine to my son's baseball game, and a little girl, about 2 years old decided she wanted to sit on him. He was GREAT, and even wagged his tail. He actually began to look after her, almost like a mother with her puppy.

Ok, whew, this was a long response. Along with the cocker and Portuguese Water Dog, it would be a good idea to check out your local shelter and see if there are any dogs in need that your daughter would get along with.

Good luck!

Answer 3

A particular breed or dog is based on each family. I know families that own cocker spaniels and they are great while others will avoid them!

I personally feel that if a young child has a fear of something, they need to be socialized with what it is afraid of so getting a dog for her is great!

As far as a cocker spaniel, if you like the breed, then get one! The only points I feel you need to be aware of is their ear and eye issues. Keep their ears clean and dry and you will have no problems. As they age, they tend to get crankier and less tolerant. If you are a good "puppy parent" you will keep your dog socialized with your children, other dogs, etc so that you have no problems with the personality.

If you see the puppy/dog do any dominant characteristics, nip it in the butt IMMEDIATELY. Your child should ALWAYS be able to take a toy, treat, etc away from your dog no problem. Even if he puts a paw over a toy to hold it down, that is dominant and could lead to more.

Just keep an eye on his/her attitude with your child and make sure the dog knows your child is higher in the family tree than he is. Good luck and enjoy your future new dog!!!

Answer 4

personally, I love cocker spaniels however, I'm not sure that it is the best breed for your child to become okay with dogs. While they are calm and can be very affectionate and not so in-your-face as other breeds can be (which is why she may be afraid of dogs), they are also not very patient and don't put up with ears being tugged or being told what to do by a three year old. They don't naturally have a ton of respect for kids so it will be harder for them to put up with kid things.
A few breeds I would suggest are pit bull puppies (a well trained pit bull is OUTSTANDING with children, regardless of what the uneducated portion of America believes), a collie or shetland sheepdog, a border collie, or an Austrailian sheepdog. All of them are good calm puppies that aren't spastic and overwhelming given they are bred properly.
Hope this helps!

Answer 5

okay, I have to wonder how many of these people who answered no have actually ever owned a cocker spaniel, they are great family dogs, I have a one year old cocker that we bought outside of a petsmart for 150 dollars, he's wonderful, he's never had an ear infection as someone mentioned cockers are prone to, I would reccomend a cocker to ANYONE!!!!! I have 2 kids, and he is great with them..

Answer 6

I would suggest finding a dog show near you. Use this link- http://www.akc.org/events/search/ to search for AKC shows near you. Take the kids and spend time getting your child used to being around well behaved dogs and talking to the exhibitors about thier dogs. Get contact information from owners of dogs there that you and/or you child particularly like, enquire about upcoming litters and the breeds general temperment and suitability with children. Show dog in general are very calm and well behaved and it should be a good experience for your daughter, as well as for you. Also, any dog that has been "show bred" you'lll be reasonable assured will have certain traits and characterisitics of the breed- as opposed to "back yard" bred purebred dogs, who can be a tad unpredictable. Also, a show breeder will know about your child's circumstances and will be able to steer you towards a puppy appropriate for your family. Contrary to popular belief, show bred dogs cost about as much as the others and show breeders produce lots of "pet quality" dogs. Your other option would be to go on www.petfinder.com and look for rescues near you, there are many wonderful mutts out there needing homes. Because of your children I'd probably reccomend looking at a rescue rather than a shelter- rescues generally have dogs in foster homes, so they know alot more about how the dogs behave in the home, around children, etc. They are also dedicated to finding the RIGHT home for the dogs, if a dog is ill suited to you, they won't go ahead with the adoption. Just an idea, why not try a retired racing greyhound? They are generally very calm and they don't need too much exercise or space. -Neb

Answer 7

I really like vb6 's response and agree that your daughter should be exposed to well behaved, child tolerent dogs as much as possible. I also agree that she should have a dog of her own. I would however, be careful with cockers. They can be nippy with children. No matter what you choose, talk to reputable breeders that can help you choose a puppy that comes from parents with excellent temperments. I have also seen a few people here who suggested a lab. As a die-hard lab lover I must say NO!! They are usually very playful as young dogs and often knock down small children just because they are happy to see them. They do love kids but many kids are afraid of them. I would suggest something smaller.

Answer 8

My brother was petrified of all dogs until we got a dog ourselves. Now he rolls around on the floor with our dalmatian, play fights with him etc and is very confident around other people's dogs. A puppy may be a good way of helping her overcome her fear as the dog and your daughter can grow up together and she can learn how to respect dogs from a young age. If you do get a dog, make sure you never leave your daughter with it unsupervised. The only thing about cockers is they need a lot of exercise, so be prepared to go for long walks with it and give it plenty of grooming to stop its feathery coat from getting matted.

Answer 9

No!

cocker Spaniels can be vicious and you wouldn't want that around your daughter, especially if she is already scared of dogs. If your goling to get a dog get a lab or a lab mix- they are very friendly dogs and would probably be good fo your daughter if you really want to get a dog.

I would personally recomend o get a kitten until your daughter is a little older and is no longer scared of dogs, but that just my opinion :D

Answer 10

NO! they are friendly, but big which would scare her even more. I think this dog is perfect for your family:

Pembroke Welsh corgi. At about 25 pounds, the Pembroke Welsh corgi is a popular pet. This stocky short tailed breed needs daily exercise and loves romping with the kids.

or

Schnauzer. The schnauzer is a wonderful family pet. Eager to please and to keep the family safe, this breed usually requires regular grooming and daily exercise. This breed thrives on human companionship and is available in three different sizes.

or if you really, really want a larger dog for your family your best choice is the Golden retriever. The golden retriever is an excellent choice for families that enjoy lots of outdoor activities. Though originally developed to help hunt birds, the golden rapidly proved himself as a loyal and devoted family member.