Hello everyone. I recently posted about my cocker spaniel Daisy passing from AIHA at 1 1/2 yrs old. We got her from a breeder. I also had 2 cockers growing up, 1 passing at 7 and one at 11, both with tons of help issues. I love this breed more than words can say, but i'm hearing more and more that spaniels have the most health issues of all breeds...this board seems to have much more knowledgeable folks as it relates to dogs than my circle does. is there any input on the cocker spaniel breed that you folks can contribute? we are so broken hearted for our loss and want to get another spaniel to shower with love and devotion but we dont know if another breed is a better choice. should we stay away from breeders and go to a dog store (to me that seems more scary than breeders) any comments are appreciated.
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
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Loc: Idaho
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Larry,
Of all the places to get a pet, the *worst* choice would be a pet store.
I have a question - have you thought about an English Cocker Spaniel? They have *far* less health problems then the garden variety Cocker Spaniel, and their temperament across the board is much, much better.
Mike J Schoonbrood Webboard User Reg: 04-30-2005
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Loc: Toronto, ON
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*NOTHING* beats raising a puppy from a breeder the way that you want the dog to be raised, and a *good* breeder will put in the effort to breed only good dogs to result in the temprement that you want with as little health issues as possible. They will always be around to bug with questions and ask for advice with your pup, because most breeders care about how their dogs end up.
A pet store you don't know where the dogs came from, the employees don't give a s&!#, and depending on the pet store, the dogs are horrible quality sick flea bitten dogs, like the ones at Just Puppies here in Orlando.
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
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Loc: Idaho
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This is a true story:
Many years ago I was dating a fairly well know female dog trainer. We were visiting a Mall and stopped in one of those "Doctor Pet" stores that peddle puppies to the unsuspecting. There was an Akita in one of the cages, we we asked to see it. They took it out and let us have some quality time with it. A quick exam showed the puppy to have one testicle still not dropped, worms and kennel cough. Wonderful...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
So my girlfriend yells across the store at the top of her lungs:
"HEY! HOW MUCH FOR THE ONE BALLED WORMY AKITA WITH KENNEL COUGH?"
We were invited to leave the store. I still laugh thinking about it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I’ve seen many cockers in agility. I realize parents with titles do not guarantee healthy dogs, but an agility title is probably a safer bet than a show title. You could always go to an agility trial and find someone running a quality dog and ask what breeder they got their dog from. If I remember correctly, cockers were originally bird dogs. It’s probably a tremendous stretch, but maybe there are still hunting cockers.
agreed. which is why we got daisy from a breeder orignally. but with the possibility of the breeder giving us a dog with a preknown blood disease makes me sick. she obviously hasnt admitted to anything but i am very skeptical at this point.
English Springers Spaniels have similar issues but not as bad as the cockers I think. Anway any spaniel of this class you have to be careful of rage syndrome as well as blood disorders.
If you have an interest in English Springer Spaniels I do know some folks who breed some very nice ones -- she is in Bruinswick NC / Christy Judah / Carolina Kennels. Her foundation sire and several others are in search and rescue.
At the very least, Christy is a nice lady and would probably be good to talk with.
I missed the time to edit but AIHA is also a problem with Springers and Rage is a problem with both breeds. The English field lines of both I think have fewer problems.
I was not trying to advertise for someone, and apologize if taken that way, but there is not much time to edit a post........I just meant she may be a good resource - I don't think they actually put out many litters.
no i appreciate the info. thank you. AIHA was something i never heard of growing up with 2 spaniels but ive been reading non-stop about it the last few weeks since our pup passed from it. you seem to know quite a bit about spaniels so i ask you, do you have any thoughts on the cause of AIHA...more specifically do you think theres more likelyhood of it being born with it or having the disease aquired through something entering the blood stream (ie wasp sting?)
Mike J Schoonbrood Webboard User Reg: 04-30-2005
Posts: 2784
Loc: Toronto, ON
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What I'd be wanting to know is - can AIHA remain dormant, to where you won't see the problem in the Sire/Dam and perhaps may not know this problem exists in your bloodline, then show up in the dogs litters?
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