Ok, you've visited my website, and have fallen in love with our High Calling Cockers! Now what should you know about ownership? You see this message..."All you need is LOVE" written all over this page. That deserves some thought. Yes, all you need is love. That is the main reason you are looking at my website. "You" have love to give a cocker puppy, and you can be sure that your new cocker puppy will return all your love ...and even more back to you! However...you need to realize that because you love this little puppy, you will need to put forth a lot of effort to care for the little one properly. He (or she) will be depending on you every single day of his (or her) life. One of the most important things you need to know is that cockers need to be groomed on a regular basis. A well-groomed cocker spaniel is breathtaking! The ideal situation would be to brush your cocker every single day to avoid mats and to stimulate the oil glands in the skin, causing the coat to shine. I don't believe in bathing a dog any more than absolutely necessary, but each time you do, you must be sure to rinse the coat squeaky clean. If you opt for a shorter haircut...like a "puppy clip", it might save you a lot of work with this high-maintenance coat. Our cockers are the "show-type" and have a heavy coat which, indeed, requires a lot of upkeep. You need to plan on taking your cocker to the groomer every 6-8 weeks to be fully groomed. The groomer will be able to clean up your cocker's feet, paying close attention to the mats between the pads of the feet. Mats there can make a cocker very uncomfortable. Cockers also develop mats in the hollow under their legs. Your groomer can help you take good care of your new baby. She will also clip your cocker's nails, contributing to your precious pet's daily comfort. Call several groomers in your area to check on prices and "sound-out" each one. In my area, grooming runs $25-50. You will develop a close professional relationship with this person. She will help you become a responsible pet owner by helping you care for your new baby properly. Another very important part of your cocker's upkeep is ear care! Cockers are known to have ear problems when their owners do not keep their ears clean and dry. It's really not difficult to clean your precious pet's ears...but it is easy to forget! If you see your dog scratching his ears, you'll know it's way past time for ear care. Cockers have long ears which reduce the air flow to the inside of the ears. So it's of utmost importance to check the ears often. You will need to line up a veterinarian that you like, whose office is fairly close to your home. Make sure your new vet also has a nice group of people working for him or her. If you don't already have a vet, ask your friends for their recommendations. Personally, I recommend Dr. James Albert of All Creatures Animal Hospital, in Amherst, NY. Not only is he a wonderful doctor, he is filled with compassion and has a true love of dogs. He also works at the Buffalo Zoo! His office staff is GREAT! If you are a local family who is entrusted with one of my little babies, you will do well to continue care with Dr. Albert. Whether a local Western NY family, or out of state, you will need to take your new puppy to your veterinarian within the first couple of days for its initial check-up, so make sure you make your appointment when you reserve your puppy. You will also be visiting the office a few more times to finish up the series of puppy shots. Make sure you have a crate for your puppy's safety and to help with potty training. Your new puppy will need to go outside when he or she first wakes up in the morning, and right after mealtime. Always take your puppy to the same place, and try to avoid playing with him when it's time for him to be getting down to business. When he does everything right, make sure you let him know how happy you are with his performance. Now if you have searched your heart, and think you are ready to make this important commitment to one of our puppies, please take a moment to fill out the contact form at the bottom of my Puppies Page. I am looking forward to having you join our High Calling Cocker Family! |
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