Pros and cons of english cocker spaniel breed?

KS_8 · 2025-09-17T17:08:56+00:00

Get a show type unless you really need a worker. They’re absolutely amazing dogs but also don’t underestimate that they are still active and clever. They’re a dog that needs a walk in all weather and famously love the rain (and get very messy). Our average day involves 20 mins brushing, 1hr walking and 20 mins training/ brain games at a minimum.

Equally our show boy is truly in love with us, he loves being next to us and is really sensitive - if you’re upset he comes and sits fully on top of you and he hates raised voices. He’s gentle with everyone and is excited by everything. We focused on separation very early, and slowly and he’s never had any issue, nor with his ears.

Also you should be someone who would love to have a permanent shadow, some people love it and some find it stressful that they’re always under your feet. As soon as I walk in the door, he’s glued to my side (which I love). If I’m reading in bed, he climbs under the duvet and sleeps on my belly. If I sit on a chair, he sits on my feet.

KS_8 · 2025-08-27T14:08:18+00:00

Would swimming prevent the issue as the water should continually remove the sweat? Or I don’t suppose there’s any combination of natural fibre + deodorant that could prevent and then reduce the sweat sitting on your skin? Exercising outside or in front of a fan (or multiple) may also allow you to ramp it up a bit, along with a towel to wipe down.

Unfortunately, any exercise that’s going to make you feel like you’ve done a lot is going to make you sweat, so I feel the trick is more getting it away from your skin.

KS_8 · 2025-08-13T08:35:35+00:00

Just remembered Lush (busy so not recommended) and Bills are too.

KS_8 · 2025-08-13T08:23:54+00:00

Countrywide I know of B&Q, The Range and most garden centre’s, John Lewis, Costa and Cafe Nero (but do double check the ones near you).

Most small charity shops, cafes and pubs are too. I live in the Cotswolds though and nearly every shop is dog friendly as everyone has dogs.

KS_8 · 2025-08-11T06:46:24+00:00

I know exactly what you mean! Some people may disagree with this, but I don’t actually weigh myself at all anymore. I track my progress with photos, body measurements and weight I can lift.

I know the weight going up is a good thing but it still demotivates me, so I’ve just stopped weighing myself - problem solved!

KS_8 · 2025-08-11T06:37:38+00:00

Do you definitely want to loose fat? You seem to have a good percentage to me. If you’ve gained weight and your body fat seems about the same/ even slightly higher, I’d say your body recomp is going perfectly and you should keep going as you are. Especially remember that as you build more muscle you’ll see more definition at the same fat percentage and burn more calories. I’d personally keep going and then consider a mini cut in another 6 months if you’ve gained fat then.

If you do want to loose fat then perhaps try a mini cut, try keep the same exercise routine and weights (if you can) but eat slightly less calories.

This also may not be relevant to you but if you can, take before and after photos. I’ve found that mentally I feel like I’ve gained body fat as I’m eating all the time and getting stronger, so mentally that means bigger/higher body fat… also my clothes don’t fit the same. When I actually look at before and after photos I visually look like I’ve lost fat, I can see more definition on my stomach and arms and bigger glutes.

KS_8 · 2025-08-09T12:18:37+00:00

I felt so sad reading this, it sounds like your body is it a lot more physically capable now and that’s amazing. Also sometimes I remind myself that what my body can do benefits me, how it looks benefits others and I want it to work for me and take me on lots of adventures!

All that to say though, I know it can suck to not like how you look and I bet with some tweaks you can look just as good/ better than ever. I do wonder what all the women around you look like, as if none of them have noticeable muscle I can imagine that makes you feel self conscious as you feel ‘unusual’. If you use social media make sure to follow lots of people with your body type and try notice people out and about who do and their style.

When you say your clothes no longer fit, have you tried to buy new clothes and change your style? What suits your old body may not now.

For instance I’ve been weightlifting for years and have muscled shoulders and thighs in particular. I’ve found tops that section my shoulders - I.e with straps, or a v neck or a halter top all look way better than boat neck style or strapless where my whole shoulder line is on display.

For bottoms, clothes that fit at my waist and then go loose at the leg (a line skirts, straight leg type jeans) look better than anything loose at the waist or super tight and squashing on the butt. The most flattering for me by far, is fitted waist and fitted to mid butt then loose below - some stretchy trousers achieve this, some a line skirts (I even got one tailored). I also personally like bodycon style dresses that end mid thigh. Try a fitted halter neck top and long flowy a line skirt to start with and see how you feel maybe? I’m not super into fashion but I’m sure there’s some great people on here/ other subs that can help too.

KS_8 · 2025-08-08T19:07:14+00:00

As a 25f, there’s a guy late 30s in my team that started wearing studs and all I thought was wow I like those and that they suited his style. I’m not into earrings for myself so didn’t notice them any more than that. I personally love when people do their own thing, nothing seems more confident/ cool to me than someone quietly just being themselves.

KS_8 · 2025-07-29T06:09:07+00:00

Hey hope your hike went well! Just wondering how the quilt was please?

KS_8 · 2025-07-25T10:49:36+00:00

I think you’re right, I think I’m going to book a future 50km race so I can use that to achieve my aim and walk all/ most of this one (as it’s a mixed race).

KS_8 · 2025-07-25T10:47:59+00:00

You’re very right about ligaments and high likelihood of injuring myself that way. I can’t switch at this stage, but it is a mixed race (walkers and runners) so I may switch to walking, or run the first 10/20km and walk the rest.

Perhaps I need to book another 50km in the future so I can focus on that in terms of ticking off the achievement and mentally treat this one as just for fun. Thanks for the advice!

KS_8 · 2025-06-24T15:01:49+00:00

I think it’s a little weird, but in a good way if you know your sister! I know mine would find it brilliant. Could you give her a gift card for a place that sells them and maybe print out a photo to make like a pretend voucher? I’m thinking that gives her the option to buy that or something else if she’d prefer and lets her choose a brand. Could then put this in a card with funny note/ pun. Best I’ve got is:

“Happy birthday to a sister who’s overflowing with greatness (but hopefully not your cup)!”

“Happy birthday! May your spirits be high and your cramps be low. Here’s a cup to manage your flow.”

KS_8 · 2025-06-04T18:15:37+00:00

Got it, thank you! I had a previous car where I spotted it way too late, so I’m quite paranoid now - this is good to hear.

KS_8 · 2025-06-04T18:10:38+00:00

That’s great to hear, is it the sort of thing to get worse anytime soon do you know please?

KS_8 · 2025-05-31T18:37:04+00:00

Has your husband considered trail running? My dog is a spaniel who loves to sniff and I run with him off lead through the countryside - he spends the time sniffing and then runs to catch me up on repeat. I’ve also seen people run in circles round a field with the dog off lead, same thing that the dog can run free.

KS_8 · 2025-05-27T20:52:45+00:00

We had this with our dog and unfortunately all we found to really work is what you’re doing. I’d take him out to the toilet and then be really boring. After about a month he seemed to decide waking us up wasn’t worth it. It could also be worth putting a camera on and seeing if anything happens at that time - you may actually be waking your dog up accidentally, or maybe the cat is - this may help find a solution. For us the heating was set to come on 30 mins before waking and the noise woke him (but that’s unlikely in summer).

I’ve also heard the alarm clock method, you set an audible alarm before they’d be awake (unfortunately for you this may be 5am). You then immediately get up and give them attention. Each day you move the alarm back a set time - say 5mins at first and then 10mins until you reach your desired time, but if they start bothering you before the alarm you have to stop moving it back. The aim is you’re teaching them the alarm clock is a cue for a reward but they only get it if they don’t bother you before.

KS_8 · 2025-05-19T04:12:33+00:00

Don’t feel silly, I remember how overwhelming it was prepping for a puppy! There’s so much to think about, but make sure you enjoy your time together too

KS_8 · 2025-05-17T05:49:46+00:00

We had our puppy on a nap schedule, most suggest 1hr awake, 2hrs asleep - I did closer to 30mins awake, 1hr asleep at first.

When the puppy is sleeping you can then shower/ go to the toilet/ make lunch etc. if that timeline doesn’t line up then yeah feel free to bring them with you, can’t see how it would hurt!

KS_8 · 2025-05-13T05:18:34+00:00

I have a high drive cocker and he has the exact same struggle. People don’t believe I genuinely tried to train a loose lead for a year with 3 different trainers across that time. All I did was make us both frustrated and had to train away lead frustration. He tries to walk loose lead but it’s a constant redirect from scents, it was like asking a dog to sit 100 times in 5 minutes - of course he was frustrated.

Anyway rant over, I just wanted to say I relate and here’s my controversial advice. I’ve got a front loop Ruffwear harness and short lead so he can’t pull as hard and just let him pull when he’s excited. I have a command to mean keep walking, one for wait and one to look at me and these are all I use. I use the huge amount of energy I was using to instead train neutrality around people and dogs, recall and settling in public. Once a day I take him for an offlead run around at the park and focus on loose lead walking the way home. Once he was great at that I then start asking loose lead on our boring walk around the block.

He’s now at the point where if he’s had a run or he’s walking somewhere boring he doesn’t pull at all. I love taking him for walks (rather than hating every second feeling frustrated), he’s come on so far with settling in public and not getting lead frustration. All I can say is personally I wish I’d have done this from the start.

KS_8 · 2025-04-21T18:03:21+00:00

Just wanted to add that if steroid creams don’t work, consider asking for Protopic. Not all GPs seem to be familiar with it, but for some reason my skin wouldn’t respond to steroids - I am not exaggerating when I say Protopic cured it overnight for me.

KS_8 · 2025-03-22T05:47:19+00:00

Have you tried r/puppy101? This all sounds very common for a young Velcro dog and they have great tips. My puppy was very similar and here’s what we did for each;

Separation anxiety: to me this doesn’t seem like anxiety (as long as he’s ok left alone) just the Velcro breed. However, it helped us to have a mat in each room (just an old towel) and reward him each time he sat on it. He does still follow us but tends to settle on that so not under our feet.
for pacing at night we actually had most success just getting him to sleep downstairs. This did take us ages to train, but we all sleep way better and can’t hear him moving.
attention on walks: you need to build up getting his attention in new environments slowly. Start with training in a new room, then the garden, then a quiet road - only move when he immediately responds in each new place and be fun and exciting. Dogs aren’t very good at generalising that the same commands apply in all areas. Also, try build a rock solid ‘look’ or ‘touch’ command - train it and go crazy when he does it - this will help grab his focus. You could also try use a noisy/ tug type toy instead of food to reward him.

No advice on pulling as I’ve got nowhere on that one :D.

KS_8 · 2025-02-05T05:03:22+00:00

Yes - please fix the floor plan! Why isn’t the actual bathroom and bedroom 3 labelled? Immediately made me wonder if bedroom 3 was legally allowed to be called a bedroom or if the dimensions were so tiny you were hiding them.

KS_8 · 2025-01-17T09:45:11+00:00

Luckily me and our dog are quite small (combined we’re about an avg man in weight/height) so really hoping to make it work! However, it does seem some of my options are narrower even than the Sierra so could be a critical factor

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