Moobli
Well-Known Member
Seriously cute! All the cockerpoos I’ve met have been energetic, busy little dogs.
Working cocker spaniels
- Thread starter Moobli
- Start date
rextherobber
Well-Known Member
Sorry, no idea if parents were clingy, met the mother several times, she seemed a nice dog, was a family pet who did a bit of beating with the boys, they didn't breed as such, but wanted a puppy from their much loved bitch. Father was a very well bred trials dog, never met him.
spacefaer
Well-Known Member
We have 5 cockers currently and my OH works them during the season, trains them out of it.
They are high energy, jolly little dogs with a great sense of humour - you need to be a step ahead of them in terms of working /training them.
I'd pick a bloodline without too many Ftch in - there are definitely the 'hot' busy trial bred temperaments and the (comparatively! ) laid back types.
They definitely need a job to do and are much easier to have around in direct proportion to the amount of exercise done ?
We've had most colours and I wouldn't say any personality trait was colour related.
They are high energy, jolly little dogs with a great sense of humour - you need to be a step ahead of them in terms of working /training them.
I'd pick a bloodline without too many Ftch in - there are definitely the 'hot' busy trial bred temperaments and the (comparatively! ) laid back types.
They definitely need a job to do and are much easier to have around in direct proportion to the amount of exercise done ?
We've had most colours and I wouldn't say any personality trait was colour related.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
Thanks very much. Is cocker rage still considered to be an issue in some lines/individuals? I realise despite having owned GSDs and border collies for many years there’s still so much research to be done into a different breed and type. I enjoy the research part so that’s not a problem but nothing like hearing from actual owners.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
My husband’s response to me tentatively suggesting a WCS puppy for my birthday next year was met with a surprised look and a comment “I’m not even going to take that seriously at this stage”. ?
rextherobber
Well-Known Member
? You have a while to work on him...
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I only see them out shooting. There is one line of livers that are very prevalent around here and I really like them. They are relatively calm and not too mental.
One beater has a trials bred bitch and she is a complete butter, hovers a foot above the ground all day. I couldn’t cope with her!
One beater has a trials bred bitch and she is a complete butter, hovers a foot above the ground all day. I couldn’t cope with her!
Mynstrel
Well-Known Member
That was my first thought when hubby suggested it but I couldn't imagine life without ours now ?
Moobli
Well-Known Member
The liver ones sound nice. I’m not sure my GSDs would cope with a total nutter ?
druid
Well-Known Member
I've trained a few trials bred one for clients as pups (just basics/hunting etc). I prefer my Springers - less likely to flip you off and dive off over the horizon to do as they please. More "with you" for want of a better phrase.
P3LH
Well-Known Member
Herding breed but smaller = vallhund. Basically a mini GSD in looks and temperament. There’s your answer. I think they are wicked little dogs.
On a serious note I do like spaniels, but you’ll remember I had a springer who after four years I realised no matter what we did, he just wasn’t happy in our set up/it wasn’t enough for him. He had a dreadful temperament too, and just wanted to range out hunting at any chance.
In the end he lived with friends of ours with acres of lands and fell ponies for the rest of his days, and up until the very end spent most of his time off charging about the place and hunting. They often said owning him was like owning a Randy Tom cat, as he’d onlynreturn home when it was time to sleep or time to he fed!! It would be the latter that would worry me a little if in your set up - purely because every working cocker, springer or ‘sprocker’ has had STRONG hunting instincts.
blodwyn1
Well-Known Member
I had a red gold cocker trial bred who had cocker rage and we eventually had to have him put to sleep. He was the most loving little dog but attacks of rage came out of nowhere his eyes would glow red and he would attack with no warning. Ten seconds later he woul be jumping around unaware of what he had done. He was inbred to ftch. We still miss him.
Last edited:
Moobli
Well-Known Member
I’d definitely consider a springer too. I’ve actually got a little more experience with them as friends had them and I used to look after a lovely bitch. Good few years ago now though.
L&M
Well-Known Member
We have a 5mnth old working cocker bitch - predominately a pet but my OH is training her up for a few days shooting each season as well.
It is not a breed I was familiar with, but tbh she is a delight. She is a very comedic character, hugely active but a great match for our fox terrier, and they play like demons together and knacker themselves out nicely!
She tries her best to please and atm proving easy to train - walks too heel, sits on command and recall improving daily. She is starting gun dog training in May and have high hopes for her.
The only 2 criticisms I would have is that she is very greedy, and secondly she is a mud magnet! She brings in double the mud and muck of the terrier and seems to have 'mops' for feet.
She has shown no signs of being clingy but that is possibly as she is not an 'only' dog.
It is not a breed I was familiar with, but tbh she is a delight. She is a very comedic character, hugely active but a great match for our fox terrier, and they play like demons together and knacker themselves out nicely!
She tries her best to please and atm proving easy to train - walks too heel, sits on command and recall improving daily. She is starting gun dog training in May and have high hopes for her.
The only 2 criticisms I would have is that she is very greedy, and secondly she is a mud magnet! She brings in double the mud and muck of the terrier and seems to have 'mops' for feet.
She has shown no signs of being clingy but that is possibly as she is not an 'only' dog.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
I won’t lie, the strong hunting instinct in spaniels is definitely giving me pause for thought. My young GSD bitch has very strong prey drive which I’m working hard to get under some sort of control so adding in another high prey drive dog (albeit it with feathered targets as opposed to furry ones) may just be a very bad idea ??
I’m glad your springer story had a happy ending.
Valhunds are an interesting proposition. I’ll have a look into them.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
She sounds delightful, except the mud magnet part ?
gunnergundog
Well-Known Member
Ummm.....rabbit, hare and deer are all fair game to a spanner! Just saying....that is what they are worked on after all. Well, the first two at least intentionally for rough shooting and the latter if deer tracking.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
Yes, it was said a bit tongue in cheek. I’ve seen plenty of spaniels chasing sheep too ?
Abi90
Well-Known Member
I have a working bred springer. He is the son of a long line of champions and at the age of 5, he still hasn’t worked out how to play fetch so obviously didn’t get the memo.
He is handsome, smart, very friendly although can be nervous is some situations but is generally bold. He was very easy to train and is actually more laid back then the Breton x Podenco rescue we have. If he’s not walked for whatever reason (heat in the summer) he just sleeps on the sofa
He is handsome, smart, very friendly although can be nervous is some situations but is generally bold. He was very easy to train and is actually more laid back then the Breton x Podenco rescue we have. If he’s not walked for whatever reason (heat in the summer) he just sleeps on the sofa
rextherobber
Well-Known Member
Mine is totally disinterested if it isn't feathered - he will happily chase Blue tits. I have used him to move sheep, he doesn't see furry things as his job at all. He is amazing to watch working over a piece of scrub, it's completely instinctive, to put up the birds. He's never been on a shoot in his life.
One other thing I should mention, (and I have met others like it too ,wcs and springers) - digestive problems. Mine became disinterested in food at about 6 months old, wouldn't eat, what he did went straight through him, blood in poo, the weight fell off him. Got to the point where he was racking up £300 month in vet bills, and we didn't seem to be getting anywhere, he was so skinny, but fine in himself. Can't remember what the vet eventually tried, I think a human IBS med, and that turned him around. A decade later, he's a little portly...He has a very delicate stomach, and repeatedly gets campylobacter infections though.
One other thing I should mention, (and I have met others like it too ,wcs and springers) - digestive problems. Mine became disinterested in food at about 6 months old, wouldn't eat, what he did went straight through him, blood in poo, the weight fell off him. Got to the point where he was racking up £300 month in vet bills, and we didn't seem to be getting anywhere, he was so skinny, but fine in himself. Can't remember what the vet eventually tried, I think a human IBS med, and that turned him around. A decade later, he's a little portly...He has a very delicate stomach, and repeatedly gets campylobacter infections though.
Karran
Well-Known Member
Yes to the mud! Mrs Spaniel is like a sponge with the feathers soaking everything up. I dont think she has a large chase instinct (not now I've got Miss Collie!).
She's met deer, cows, goats and sheep and I think associates them as strange looking horses so apart from being curious, knows better than to go near (ofc I put her on lead near livestock). Rabbits and Pheasants though are super exciting and chae worthy but squirrels, mice, rats are of no interest whatsoever. I will admit to encouraging her to chase cats as I have an aviary and the neighbourhood cats are always migrating to it so her job (which she takes very seriously) is to keep them out of the garden. The one time she managed to corner a young fox in the garden she was completely bamboozled about what she was supposed to do next and came running back for assistance.
She's met deer, cows, goats and sheep and I think associates them as strange looking horses so apart from being curious, knows better than to go near (ofc I put her on lead near livestock). Rabbits and Pheasants though are super exciting and chae worthy but squirrels, mice, rats are of no interest whatsoever. I will admit to encouraging her to chase cats as I have an aviary and the neighbourhood cats are always migrating to it so her job (which she takes very seriously) is to keep them out of the garden. The one time she managed to corner a young fox in the garden she was completely bamboozled about what she was supposed to do next and came running back for assistance.
vhf
Well-Known Member
Ha! Ours doesn't really like being dirty, rarely goes in water (has perfected the 'wet nappy waddle') and yet somehow... the MUD! And the mop feet, couldn't agree more. The hair between the pads also works as skates on any kind of hard flooring. Ours doesn't have the strongest work ethic and only chases foxes and rabbits, but would probably have trained enough to be more use than hindrance; she believes she has jobs - she stands watch over the poultry, finds/fetches them back if they stray and helps put them to bed on command. She is more 'put them up' than 'herd them home', so they mostly run to bed if they see her coming for them, but will wander round her when she's on guard duty. She also knows where everything should be, and gets quite upset if, for example, the horses are in 'the wrong field' - including when it's someone else's similar looking horses on the beach!
Moobli
Well-Known Member
What a handsome chap!
Moobli
Well-Known Member
Oh poor thing. Could it have been giardia? It seems to be one parasite that is hard to shift.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
She sounds a real delight ... although the pheasant (so probably grouse and partridge too) chasing wouldn't go down too well with the gamekeepers here. We are often overrun with rabbits though so they could be fair game
Moobli
Well-Known Member
Ha ha what a character.
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Mop feet - love it, best description going. Mine too is a complete mud magnet. But at least she is small enough to pick up and put in the bath!!
Interestingly she does not chase fluffy.
Feathers are all fair game, but will recall off anything other than pheasant. Pheasant of flushed will invariably be hunted as far as possible over the horizon with her fluffy mop paws in her ears going ‘la la la’
Interestingly she does not chase fluffy.
Feathers are all fair game, but will recall off anything other than pheasant. Pheasant of flushed will invariably be hunted as far as possible over the horizon with her fluffy mop paws in her ears going ‘la la la’
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I can just picture it, Moobli, I think if you intend to live on a shoot but not work it I would consider another breed. Keepers can get awfully emotional at their hard work being un done.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
I can just picture it, Moobli, I think if you intend to live on a shoot but not work it I would consider another breed. Keepers can get awfully emotional at their hard work being un done.
This thread has certainly concentrated my mind. Think I’ll stick to shepherds ?