ADOPTED
True, born April 5, 2023, is an American Cocker Spaniel. She is an absolutely stunning puppy who charms everyone she meets. We have had so many people already comment on how they would love this gorgeous pup, but we are looking for truly devoted Cocker Spaniel lovers who are familiar with the breed and have the time and patience for a busy, happy, energetic puppy.
True loves every person she meets. She is a real people dog and loves to give kisses and wiggle her little tail enthusiastically when greeting people Typical to all puppies she does have sharp teeth, so she doesn’t mean to hurt anyone during play, but he can get a bit carried away. She will be fine with children over 6yrs of age living with her who are gentle children.
True will be a moderate energy dog but as a puppy had bursts of energy followed by lots of naps. Generally she likes a good play in the morning followed by chilling for hours. She takes to naps in her crate very well and eats her meals in the crate as well. True loves cuddling, and as she is expected to be somewhere between 20 to 25 lbs full grown, she will have some weight to her snuggles. True will be happiest in a home where her people are wanting a cuddly dog who loves snuggles and naps on laps.
True is not a confident puppy and startles easily at new sights or experiences. Some things like thunderstorms don’t bother her in the slightest and around the house she is quite adventurous. She has climbed up and down all forms of stairs, including wood, metal, and outdoor. She’s a little unsure of cars that pass by, but this will go away with a bit more exposure. What startles her can be unexpected cats, large dogs approaching her, or new sensations, like the initial leash walk and the feeling of the leash on her collar. When startled she can become quite dramatic and wail and flail like she is being killed…..its all an act…puppy dramatics…and she recovers and continues on with a bit of a time out and then a confident handler. True will continue to mature and gain confidence and these episodes of dramatics will lessen and diminish but ONLY if her people don’t baby her and coddle her which in effect praises her for the behaviour. She needs her people to be very experienced dog handlers who understand that she cannot have this behaviour reinforced with petting, cuddling, or soothing when she is having a puppy tantrum. When she is behaving this way we hold her and make her feel safe, but don’t pet her or talk to her and wait it out. Then when she is quiet and calm we praise her and move along. We are happy to say that she is now walking on leash without dramatics and is getting much better with seeing things that used to startle her. She will still alert bark to these things at times but again, she just needs more time and more displays of confidence to learn that she is OK. We feel that True would greatly benefit from having a calm and well socialized male dog in the home. She is a female pup with female dog sass so she won’t enjoy another female dog in the home, but a male dog who can be her role model and mentor will be the best thing for True to help her with her confidence building. True is going to be an great dog capable of many things and as she is a bold puppy in so many ways she is going to learn to love all the fun things that life can offer a young dog, but she just needs her people to continue the work we are doing with her to build her confidence and improve her socialization.
True would be ok in a home with a gentle cat understanding that the cat will terrify her initially but in time she will learn that the cat won’t cause her any
harm. She has cats in her foster home and is slowly coming around to accepting them. It will just take more time. She gets along with all of the foster dogs in the home and is quite playful with them, but again, she needed a few days to suss them out and make sure they were trustworthy.
She has a friendly temperament and is super smart. True will have an unlimited capability for learning so we are looking for a person or a family who will commit to his training and embrace the advanced levels. She is an intelligent sporting breed so needs the brain stimulation to be a happy boy.
True is fine in the car is quiet for the ride. Given her age, she has only traveled in a small kennel. She’s generally a very relaxed dog in the car, so in time, she will enjoy car trips as it is just about the next adventure. She is starting to enjoy a solid walk every day with her foster pack. We expect her to need a fairly lengthy daily walk. At the moment she is outside quite regularly so that she can pee, but that is because she is a puppy. We are looking for a home for her where someone is home or has the capabilities to come home throughout the day. Puppies need to be taken outside for bathroom breaks very regularly when they are small and will not be able to hold it for an 8hr work day. We are also looking for families that are fully aware of the time commitment of a puppy and the work involved. Puppies are a total joy and bring so much love and happiness into a home, but you cannot underestimate the work and time involved in raising a puppy properly. They need constant supervision while young to expedite the house training stage and to ensure they aren’t chewing on anything inappropriate. We are also looking for a family that will continue to crate train True as we fully believe that this is the best for pups and offers them a quiet and secure “den” to call their own. A crate trained pup is a blessing as it offers a safe place to put them when you can’t be watching them all the time.
True will need regular grooming and brushing. Her hair grows, so professional clipping will be required. True has a few typical Cocker Spaniel issues to keep aware of. Her ears will be prone to bacterial growth and need regular cleaning. She also has droopy lower eyelids which is normal for the breed. Both will need to be monitored as she matures and they are easy to look after.
You will always know when she has a drink of water as her ears typically end up in the water dish. On the drool scale, she has more than many small dogs, although it is still pretty minor, until she has a drink. Then water goes everywhere she goes. There are lots of creative solutions that can be worked out, but having a towel handy post major drink is a good idea.
True has the potential to be a lot more than just a family member. She is a busy pup always looking for fun things to do. Because she is an alert barker she won’t be suitable for apartment or other detached home situations. A detached home is best for her. She also won’t be suitable for a busy city environment. True needs gradual work on her confidence and socialization and needs a quieter area to gain this confidence without being bombarded with noises, and busy traffic etc. What she won’t be ideal for is someone who just wants a dog to hang around the house, and go for a simple walk a day. True has an adventurer’s spirit and needs the stimulation of an active life with a lot of variety! She is going to be an excellent dog though for any active spaniel lover who is wanting a companion in all things fun!!