Question for the shooting people

[JACQSZOO]

I need some advice from the oweners of working dogs please.

I currently have two dogs, a aged collie x and a 4yr ESS. Both house dogs and primarily pets. A couple of years ago I started doing some beating and adore it and regulary beat with my ESS, although she was never trained as a gun dog we do ok and havent embarrassed ourselves!

My old collie isnt doing to well and I know in the not to distant future a decision is going to have to be made I don't like keeping dogs on their own, I work like most people and they enjoy each others company. Neither dog has ever been left alone for very long and I have been thinking about another dog now for a while.

Ideally I would like another gundog, something that I can train up from the start as a gundog. The thought of going through the young puppy stages again doesn't fill me with glee so I was looking for an older puppy, I am assured by my shooting friends that anything upto around six months, if it has the basics already in place would not be too late to start working with.

I have the chance of a blue roan cocker bitch. I've always liked cockers and was originally looking for a cocker before I got the ESS and I love the blue roans. She is not quite six months old, so all the house training etc has already been done and she has basic obedience, so off to a good start. My problem is that she is from show lines. Her current owners tell me that her breeders worked her parents.

So to my question. Can a show bred cocker make a half decent gundog? She doesn't need to be a superstar, we do it for fun and most of the shoots I go on are low key affairs and just glad of beaters turning up, thats not to say that one day I would like to work on bigger shoots.

I'm going to see her tonight and will need to make a quick decision as several people are after her as her grandfather was a crufts winner apprantly. I'm taking a shooting friend with me, he is also after a blue roan bitch for breeding, so if I don't have her chances are he will, there could be a fight!

Sorry for the essay!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Why not? I think any dog can be a gun dog (within reason) and if you're not aiming for FTCH, then go out, get this girl and have fun! Multiple pictures are obligatory!

 

[Spudlet]

I've got a show type that I work, OK he's no world beater but he enjoys it and so do I.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Genetics of the dog, talent of the dog, talent of the handler are the three important things.
Go and get out there and try, I don't shoot but I was told my showline dog would never work, sure, he would never have got to the top levels but we got a couple of qualifications and he has helped open a lot of more doors for me

 

[Vizslak]

Its certainly possible, spudlets henry is testament to that. However, through choice I would go for a worker rather than a show type when talking spaniels. Even in my own breed which has no real divide and I wanted a dog to show and work, I picked a pup from working lines that was of show quality rather than the other way round. Some show lines appear to have very little natural working drive left, although if both parents of this pup have worked then maybe shes a safer punt than most. It's not impossible to get most dogs regardless of breed working to a decent standard, hell my parson russell bitch would do a good job and pick up to a good standard as well....if she wasnt gunshy! I'm actually toying with the idea of taking her this season, I have a feeling her desire to work may overcome the fear of gunshot. Anyway what I'm saying is if you want the dog there is no reason why it couldnt do the job you want it to to a reasonable standard.
You must supply pics when she comes home though please