08/10/2026
Please read Wren's profile carefully before applying. She's a special girl requiring a special home. We're happy to answer questions that CANNOT be answered from reading the profile.
As always we are happy to accept applications from outside the north east, but that is dependent on being able to homecheck you.
Basic Details
Name: Wren
Breed : Show Cocker Spaniel
Age / DOB: 02/05/2022
S*x: Female
Neutered / Spayed: Yes
Microchipped: Yes
Colour: Chocolate Sable
Weight: 15.2 KG Her weight needs to be kept stable and on the lean side to avoid putting extra pressure on her back legs
Location: Co Durham
Donation: £400
Status: AVAILABLE
Health & Vet History
Vaccinations: Due October 2027
Flea & Worm Treatment: Will be done before she leaves
Medical Issues: Hip Dysplasia
Medications: Metacam, RiaFlex and Turmeric paste
Temperament & Personality
General Personality: Can be barky when she first meets someone new but settles down when she realises they are not a threat or they give her treats. She’s very settled in the house and she loves to be outside, whether on walks or just watching the world go by. She is a typical gobby show cocker, and she loves to either talk, grumble or sing to you depending on her mood. She loves a cuddle next to you, but she also loves a comfy bed. Human or dog.
Energy Level: Moderate
Likes: Being outside, being in the truck, food, hydrotherapy, her human
Dislikes / Fears: Being left, she does settle down after a while but she’s going to need someone about most of the time. Grooming, she is understandably not keen on you messing about with her legs. Her previous owner could get her to lie on her back for them to do underneath. But as a show cocker she will need regular grooming, either by a groomer or by her new owner.
Behaviour & Training
Recall: OK
Lead Walking: Pulls, but settles down once you are in your stride. She has a harness that she was previously walked on.
Housetrained: Yes
Crate Trained: Can be left in a crate, but she’s not overly keen. Doesn’t mind being in one in the back of the truck for transportation.
Can Be Left: For short periods only. She frets and sings when you leave the house, but does settle. She is currently being left with other dogs, she would probably fret quite badly if she was on her own.
Travelling: Loves it. As soon as we leave the house, she sits at the door of the truck waiting to get in.
Social Compatibility
With Other Dogs: Wren was handed in for fighting with her mother. She has been relatively okay with the resident dogs in foster but there have been a couple of spats. Rehoming her with another dog would be preferable as that is what she is used to, but it needs to be the right dog. They would need to be neutered, around the same age, like to play and pretty calm.
With Cats: Not tested.
With Children: Wren has previously lived with youngsters but she found the situation sometimes overwhelming, so older children 13+ only.
With Livestock: Not tested.
With Strangers: Can be anxious and barky meeting new people but soon settles down, especially if there are treats involved.
Spaniel-Specific Traits
Prey: Doesn’t seem that bothered
Scenting / Hunting: Doesn’t seem that bothered
Resource Guarding: None seen in foster and no history in previous home
Exercise Needs: Moderate. Wren is not a dog that you are going to be able to walk for hours at a time. She is going to need little and often to keep the muscles built up in her back legs. She also needs to go to hydrotherapy, currently once a month, but this will probably need to increase as she gets older. This will be written into the adoption contract. Ball throwing should be kept to an absolute minimum as this will hurt her legs. She has free roam of the dog field and she will explore, but then will sit down when she has had enough.
Ideal Home
Home Type: A quiet semi-rural home would be ideal. You will need to have access to a hydrotherapy centre as this MUST be kept up when she leaves our care. An adult only home that can give her lots of attention and plenty of short walks as opposed to hiking would be perfect. She would love to be a motorhome dog! She can live with another dog, if it is the right dog, roughly the same age, neutered, likes to play but relatively chilled out. If she is to go as an only dog someone will need to be about most of the time. She is currently fed a raw diet and we would like to keep her on that wherever possible as she is doing very well on it.
Experience: A previous spaniel home with knowledge of back leg/dysplasia issues.
Family: Adult only preferred but will consider children 13+
Other Pets: She can live with another dog, if it is the right dog, roughly the same age, neutered, likes to play but relatively chilled out. Not necessarily a spaniel.
Other: You need to be able to care for Wren’s additional cost requirements every month. You will be able to insure her but it is unlikely you will be able to insure her back legs. A rough estimate of what she will need:
Hydrotherapy once a month currently : £60
Riaflex 3 months supply: £70 (there are often discount codes and the bigger packs work out cheaper)
Golden Paste : £10 off amazon. You can make your own which would probably be cheaper. A pack lasts about 2 month
Metacam : £24 for a 180ml bottle online – ask for a repeat it works out cheaper
Prescription charge £21
Vet visit : depends on how good your vets are at writing prescriptions and how often they want to see you.
What’s Included
- Wren
- lead, collar, harness, drying coat, equafleece,
- small amount of food she is being currently fed which is raw
- any available vet records, microchip transfer, 5 weeks insurance (optional)
Contact & Next Steps
Contact: Complete adoption application - https://www.nessr.org/adoption-application
Process: Application form > informal chat > home check > meet & greet > adoption
We are happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have that are not contained in this profile.
Please do not apply if you are going on holiday in the next 8 weeks or are not available to adopt immediately.
