spaniels

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E13

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I want the lowdown! What are the various spaniels intended for, working-dog wise? Why (as stated on another thread) are cockers the worst at being a non-working pet dog? Were cavvies originally working dogs, or if they were bred as companions, were they bred from working dogs? As that instinct is still there!
 
Springers spring game ie flush it although one of mine is clearly named for springing round like a lunatic.

Possibly cockers were mentioned as Alec had a litter recently: perhaps he's found them a little taxing? ;) :D I think workers are used in the same way as springers, generally for smaller birds eg woodcock, I remember reading somewhere recently.
 
We've got a working cocker just coming up to a year old. She's not "worked" but has to be kept busy. We keep muttering about gun dog classes but I've failed to find one local yet and I'm loathe to send her away for training although I do know someone that would be happy to take her.
She learns really quickly, her recall is pretty good although the ears do close on occasion :rolleyes:, things like sit and paw were learnt in about 2 minutes - almost too well, now when she spots you munching something she'd like to try you get whacked with paw until you give in :o :p. She's ball obsessed to the point that you can't say the "b" word in her presence as she starts hunting for it and will happily play for hours given the chance.
She's also an escapologist - during the day she's in a run with mum's GSD in the barn for about 4 hours on their own, but given the slightest opportunity she'll escape either over, under or through, she won't go anywhere but she will trash any rugs or tack left anywhere nearby whilst trying to make a game of it. Mum caught her the other day throwing her toy over the 5 bar gate, jumping the gate to retrieve it and throwing it back to repeat - only problem being the gate is on a pen of yearling welshies who didn't really appreciate madam jumping in and out - she wasn't chasing them just spooking them but still :mad:
But - she'll happily flake out in front of the fire, she loves snuggles on the sofa and given the opportunity (and when not too stinky) will burrow under a quilt and stay there for ages.
She's a mental "pocket rocket" just as the breeder warned us but we wouldn't change her.
 
I would back up the "pocket rocket" comment regarding working cocker spaniel!
My puppy is coming upto 10 months now and is very much a "non-working pet dog", she will keep going all day long. Needs plenty of walking and generally just needs to be kept busy so when I'm tired at the end of the day we can have plenty of cuddles. She has been very easy to obedience train and the training school we use offers gun dog training I hope to progress with shortly!
 
we have 2 cockers, one works the other at 18 months old had her first taste of picking up before Christmas.
Our cocker does all game, pheasant, pigeon, grouse, etc but would struggle with a goose although I reckon she'd have a good go!
They are both different bloodlines and neither is high as a kite, the younger one likes to busy about but is happy bootling around the yard, she also collects socks and even waits for you to take them off at bath time ha ha
The older one has never been fizzy and spends most of her evenings snoring on the sofa ;)

Both our cockers live in the house, not kennel and although classed as working they are pets first.
I think it depends on the environment they grow up and how you handle them ;)
 
i too have a working cocker, she's 14 months ols, very energetic, has to have something in her mouth, retrieves a ball brilliantly (will have you doing this all day:o)
great around the horses, picked up on training very quickly but had to know you meant it! anything will be done for a tiny bit of chicken!
we play hiding her ball alot so she has to seek it which she loves.
I havent gun dog trained her and her heal work is rubbish but I use a haltie headcollar when shes on lead (not often wheich is why the training was rubbish!) and she knows as soon as it goes on to walk right next to (or underneath) me.
she's a pet working dog but with an outdoor type life, horses are at home and she runs around a lot.
I'm planning on another this summer, just waiting for the breeder I know to have some pups.
I dont know anything about the show strain, they look different. I'm pretty sure the working cockers used to be classes as the same as springers and were seperated as 2 seperate types according to size a fair bit of time ago. other than that they have loads of different colours rather than liver and white or black and white (springers; might be wrong there please correct me!)
she's a great size to have around but does chew if bored and has lots of energy!
great with the kids too:D:D:D:D can you tell I'm a fan!
 
I'd second the great with kids - my nephew is just coming up two and he adores T, she lets him pull her ears and generally abuse her :o because she's got a softer coat than the other dogs she's the one he migrates too to cuddle, she's also pretty good at not bashing him over unlike the others although when excited and greeting others her over wiggly bum does get out of control :o :D
 
Some pictures of our working cocker Bella....

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then showing that life is not all work.....

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;)
 
We have a working cocker x Springer. She has the looks of a Springer but the size of a Cocker. Absolutely crazy, has to be out and about all day, but loves her bed in the evening! Quick to learn but even quicker to get distracted, will retrieve anything and everything, and will go into the thickest undergrowth and woods you'd imagine. Always has to have something in her mouth. Great with livestock and recall is pretty good. Doesn't work yet but has everything there, we just need to put it together. Very loyal and loving, escape artist (our garden now has a 4 ft cornish hedge running along side it- and a 3 ft chicken wire fence ontop of the hedge!). Loves water- should have been born an otter really!!

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Just to throw a spanner in - I have a Sprocker :) mum was a working type Springer & dad was a working x show Cocker. She's very lean & looks like a small springer or leggy working cocker whichever way you want to look at it. She's very fast & very intelligent with alot of bounce, but, everyone comments how much more focussed she is than your typical springer or cocker, eyes are on me instead of nose to the ground (not to say she wont fly off after a squirrel lol). But the lady we have agility with was very impressed with how focussed she is. Will also be trying some gundog training with her in the future :D She's also ball obsessed & recall 99% but as much as she's on the go settles down on the sofa ready for the soaps about 7pm & cant be moved! lol Highly recommended!
 
I have springers which I use for beating and picking-up. Lovely loyal, intelligant dogs :) which live in the house even though I have a kennel ;)

I had a Cavalier when I was growing up - though not of the working variety.

I desperately tried to find a proper working one last year for my daughter, but sadly it seems they are not being bred for their flushing abilities anymore :(
 
Cavaliers are lap dogs and I have a relative who has had many cavs and they have all had major health issues and have died young even though she has bought from reputable breeders and they have been health checked. Saying that they have all had lovely temprements. I have a springer and like someone else has said she has to be carrying something, usually a sock!! She is from working stock but we do not work her but she needs to be out and about all day to be kept sane. Also have a springer x collie, lovely, intellegent dog who has been a dream to train but she does love to round up the cats and my friends chickens, so more collie natured it would seem.
 
Heh my lad likes to have something in his mouth, particularly when it's walk-time, he grabs his pheasant toy and runs with it! He also steals socks, underwear, and most commonly, shoes and slippers...
 
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