At Home Cocker Spaniels
We are a family.
We are a responsible and sensitive breeder of American Cocker Spaniels located in Harrisonburg and Richmond, Virginia. Our animals are also our family. And, this is a family thing! Our pets live in three different households ensuring that every dog is loved, cared for and well socialized. We have been loving Cocker Spaniels for 48 years!
Why At Home?
Our dogs are beautiful with merry temperaments and bred as close to the Standard as we can get. Our purpose is to raise healthy, happy puppies to add to the quality of lives. We believe the Cocker Spaniel is the PEREFECT pet. We have seen many homes and hearts become filled with joy and lives improved after a Cocker Spaniel joins a family. When you and your puppy choose each other you can be sure your puppy has been well socialized and raised in a loving home. Your puppy will have been handled by children, socialized with other dogs and chased by the cat! Puppy will be ready to seamlessly blend into your family, whatever the members look like!
Size and Life Expectancy
The average lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel is twelve years. Males typically weigh 25 – 30 pounds, and females, 20 – 25 pounds. While veterinary science has made many exciting advances, Cockers, like other dogs, can have health problems. These include cataracts, hip dysplasia, ear infections, and eye infections. We breed our dogs to avoid as many congential health problems as possible but old age and an individual dog's lifestyle can lead to many unforeseen health issues. Our puppies come with a 1 year health gaurantee. See our contracts for additional information.
Brush and Brush and Brush My Hair
Cocker Spaniels are beautiful, but that beauty requires work. Typical owners who keep their Cockers in "puppy cuts" (shorter hair) bathe, brush, and trim their pets an average of once every two weeks. Longer coats require, at the very least, weekly brushing, bathing, and trimming. You can learn to do this yourself, or you can take your dog to a professional groomer. The good news is that Cockers shed very little!
ABOUT US
Family
Jim and Twila
Jim bought Twila our first Cocker Spaniel, Dolly, in 1969. She started our love affair with the Cocker Spaniel, well her and Lady from Disney's Lady and the Tramp!
(Pictured: Jim with Ripley)
Socializers
These are the kids who socialize our puppies. They love them to pieces and try not to cry when they leave. These kids teach our puppies not to bite or snap!
Kate & Kelley
Kate loves and cares for the girls in Harrisonburg, VA. Kelley loves and cares for the boys in Richmond, VA.
About Cocker Spaniels
Feed Me
Cocker Spaniels are foodies. They will eat anything and everything in sight, left to their own devices. Some have even been known to make their way onto the dinner table when their humans are not paying attention, gobbling down everything from filet mignon to sticks of butter! Since Cockers are such foodies, they do have a tendency to put on weight, especially as they age. What kind of dog food? Pick the brand you feel most comfortable feeding your puppy and that fits into your budget. We have found that a food low in grain and grain by-products keeps the itchies away! If you have specific questions, feel free to ask us. We'll be happy to talk to you about suppliments too!
Play With Me
Cocker Spaniels are field dogs - retrievers. They love to play fetch. Your Cocker Spaniel needs to be walked and played with every day. These are people dogs, they live for you and your attention and affection. If you are going to be gone for 9 or 10 hours a day every day, this is not your dog. Cocker Spaniels get lonely and agitated if left alone day after day for long periods of time. This is a family dog. He loves to play. He loves children and the elderly alike. He lives to please but he lives to be with you. So, you need to be sure you have time to be with him. The love you will receive in return is absolutely worth it!
