Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Redd Working Dogs, Dog trainer, Athens, GA.
04/24/2025
Introducing Roman: a purebred cocker spaniel puppy.
Most service dogs are either labs or golden retrievers, and for very good reasons - those breeds are confident, environmentally stable, biddable, and smart enough to learn but not so smart that they tend toward neuroticism or anxiety. However, both of those breeds are very large dogs, and while they can be taught to tuck out of the way to a certain extent, it's just not very convenient to have a large dog in public. In addition, pretty much every expense scales with the size of the dog - they eat more food, need bigger doses of flea and tick preventatives, wear larger gear, and even cost more at the vet for everything but the most routine care. In my experience, they get stepped on very easily too - it doesn't matter how good a tuck a dog can do under a table if their body is longer than the table is and sticks out on both sides no matter what.
Roman will be a little bit of an experiment to that end. Other programs have had success with English Cockers, the more energetic and drivier fraternal twin sister to the American Cocker Spaniel. In particular, they've been successful as diabetic alert dogs. But many of us don't need a dog that is that 'on' that often to that degree. While there are certainly service dog handlers who live adventurous and sporty lives and will thrive with a more intense dog, there are also many who just need a dog who can hang around the office all day and then go home and snooze on the couch, or who enjoys being a weekend warrior and having a long day Saturday and Sunday and then back to the quiet life the rest of the week.
The question is, do those dogs have enough drive and energy to be service dogs? We know there ARE some out there who do; Reesie, the orange brindle bully mix who shows up on this page from time to time, is a great example of that, and Oaken is right on the borderline between 'active' and 'laidback' and could really be happy either way. But two dogs does not a pattern make.
My goal with Roman is to see if we can make it three. He comes from a carefully selected breeder who titles her dogs not just in the show ring but in various dog sports as well. She emphasizes function, not just form, and is passionate about preserving the cocker spaniel as the working dog it has historically been, whether show or bench lines. Roman's parents are not just grand champions in the conformation ring; they're also functional, active dogs who have a drive to perform and to work with their handlers to achieve.
Roman will not be available for placement. BUT if he succeeds as a service dog, we fully intend to work with his breeder again, potentially even using him as a stud down the road. Here's to you, Roman, and I can't wait for you to come home in 5 days!
