Lanarkshire Dog Training & Behaviour

16/02/2025

Koba, Bear, Oscar, Coco

16/02/2025

Bonnie, Cooper, Daisy & Matt

16/02/2025

Are we there yet????

16/02/2025

Just to raise awareness for those thinking of getting a "merle" cocker, they don't actually exist in the cocker lines, and the cocker will actually be crossed with another breed. If you have KC registered paperwork then it is fraudulent.

Written by Julia Baxter but sharing for education. The number of merle cockers I'm seeing is terrifying for the breed 😔 breeding to standard is so important to preserve our breed 💔

For information only I thought I’d just clarify a few points regarding breeding, buying and registering of Merle dogs. The following are facts.

Breeds of dog that can be registered with the Kennel Club with the colour Merle:

Australian Shepherd
Beauceron
Bergamasco
Border Collie
Dachshund (colour known as Dapple)
Great Dane
Pyrenean sheepdog (long haired)
Collie (Rough)
Collie (smooth)
Shetland Sheepdog
Corgi (Cardigan Welsh)

The Kennel Club states :

“If your puppy is of a breed not mentioned and is merle, we regret that it will not be possible to register it. You must not register it as another colour.”

Cocker Spaniel is not on the list therefore it is not possible to register a cocker spaniel as Merle.

If you have been sold a Merle cocker with Kennel Club certificates than this has been fraudulent.

Some breeders have got around this by advertising “Merle” litters but registering them as “Roan”. This is again fraudulent.

Merle markings are present at birth whereas Roan markings tend to show through later.

Having a Non KC Merle cocker spaniel doesn’t make it legitimate. It isn’t possible to have a Merle cocker spaniel without it being a crossbreed. I believe that Collies and Dachshunds are generally the breeds being used to cross with cockers. If this is the case you have a cocker cross.

There is no such thing as a Merle cocker.

You can have a Merle cocker cross, just as you can have a Sprocker, Cockerpoo, labradoodle etc

If this is what you intended to buy and you are happy with your choice then that’s absolutely 100% fine. The reason for this post is to make people aware that there are unscrupulous breeders who hoodwink people into buying something that doesn’t exist.

How is Merle inherited?

“This type of coat is caused by a variation of a particular gene. Each dog has two copies of every gene; one that they inherit from their mother and one they inherit from their father.
The merle gene variant is dominant, which means that a dog only needs one copy, inherited from either of their parents, to have a Merle coat.”

Health concerns.

The Kennel Club will not register puppies out of two Merle parents.

“Dogs that have two copies of the merle gene variant, inherited from both of their parents, have an increased risk of problems with their eyes and ears, causing blindness and/or deafness.”

I hope this has clarified things a bit and that people will take time to read the information. There really is a bit more going on then “pretty colouring” and “rare markings”. Make sure you don’t get conned!!

For those that have regrettedly fallen into the trap, your dog will, I’m sure be a healthy and happy pet/worker!! Breeding from these dogs is not advised.

Photos show Merle on the left - Roan on the right.

16/02/2025

New Saturday Class kicked off today, starring Bonnie, Daisy, Cooper & Matt 😍

All February Classes are full. Next availability:

Tues 25 March - full
Sat 29 March - 2 spaces left
Please message to get more details

13/02/2025

Review from the beautiful Ed and his lovely owner Marion. I love working with collies

13/02/2025

Another example of Cue Seeking with Suzanne & Otis ❤️

12/02/2025

I've been working with this wee live wire Jasper. Working cockers are not for the novice dog owner, they are bursting with energy and have a high work drive. They need as much mental stimulation as well as the physical. It is also important teaching this breed how to "switch off" and relax. Jasper's mum doing a great job with him and is really committed to putting in the work

11/02/2025

Danni & Sam demonstrating "Cue Seeking" in the last class of the block - when the dog seeks their cues from us and not from other things in the environment. What we're all striving for at class.
Well done Sam 🐕 🎓

11/02/2025

New block started tonight, the new recruits are Bear, Oscar, Koba & Coco 🐶 🎓 👨‍🎓

11/02/2025

06/02/2025

Cal's heavenly birthday today 💔

06/02/2025

Somebody was 7 yesterday 🎂 🥳
Happy Woof-day Teddy

03/02/2025

😊

03/02/2025

As you may know, Spaniels are close to my heart. This is ONE small spaniel rescue. 197 surrender requests in January alone. 😱😭. There are many reasons for giving up a dog but if you or someone you know is thinking about getting a dog, please do your research before getting a particular breed because a lot of these wee souls are given up because owners didn't do their research to understand that breed's requirements.

We are reeling here at Spaniel Aid HQ. We expected January to be busy, but no one predicted 197 requests to surrender a dog to us, including 11 pairs. After follow up calls, 109 of those requests resulted in us agreeing to accept the dog. This doesn’t include strays or returning dogs.

By the time Spaniel Aid turns 10 on the 1st March, we will be very close to reaching 5,000 dogs taken in for rehoming. But they have never come in at the rate they are now.

Speak to any other rescue and they will tell you the same: owner surrenders are at an all time high. The waiting list for dogs to go into the major charities is months long. For dogs with issues, demand for rehoming is outstripping the available supply of homes. We have never been more needed, but we take no joy in it.

Why is it so bad? The cost of living crisis continues to hit hard, making it difficult for people to afford the time and money to care for a dog. Indiscriminate breeding, especially during lockdown, is still having an impact: dogs aged between four and five are still arriving in disproportionately high numbers. It remains too easy to acquire a dog without being fully prepared for the commitment. Too many people fail to do their research about the breed characteristics. And dogs are increasing treated as commodities, a new lifestyle accessory to be given to charity when it no longer suits.

At Spaniel Aid we have always taken a non-judgemental approach to owner surrenders. We know that life sometimes brings surprises that no one anticipated, and we are here to help you find the right home for your dog, if yours is no longer the best place for them.

But if you are thinking of getting a dog, remember, dog ownership is hard. You have to go out in all weathers, training is time consuming and demanding, dogs bark, get sick, chew stuff, and yes, they sometimes bite the hand that feeds them. You have to change your life to accommodate a dog, different holidays, days out, nightlife, even jobs. You have to accept that bringing a baby into a home with a dog carries the risk that the dog will not be able to cope.

Is it worth it? Of course it is. Dogs give back so much more than they take. We are all dog lovers or we wouldn’t be here. We will continue to work silly hours, unpaid, to find these dogs the very best homes. And there are thousands of great homes out there. And we will continue to shed tears for the ones to whom we have to say no, sorry, we have no room.

To foster for us: https://spanielaid.co.uk/forms/foster-application-form/

02/02/2025

Had a wee update from Suzanne this week to tell me how pup Otis is now nailing his 'settle' in the cafe and even on the train. Go Otis!

28/01/2025

Tuesday class starring Spoon, Otis, Bonnie, Callie & Callie

28/01/2025

I hear this all the time when customers say "my dog can't be in pain because they still run about/play/jump/do zoomies." They certainly can be in pain but it's usually subtle changes in their behaviour that are the tell-tale signs. Any Behaviourist worth their salt will first rule out any potential pain before commencing any behaviour modification

We’re giving our beloved Blunt Mondays a fresh new twist— say hello to Myth Mondays! 🎉

Every Monday, we’ll tackle common myths about canine arthritis and pain, replacing misconceptions with facts that can help your furry friends live their best lives 🐾

This Week’s Myth:
“My dog can’t be in pain because they’re still running around.”

Fact: Dogs are incredible at hiding pain, and adrenaline from activities like running or playing can temporarily mask their discomfort. Just because your dog is active doesn’t mean they’re pain-free. Look out for subtle signs like stiffness, limping, or hesitation—they could be telling you more than you think.

Let’s bust these myths together and make life better for our pups! 🐕✨