Spaniels

[stevemac 445]

Just doing some research, I have been thinking a lot on a cover dog for working blackberry and lantana thickets to flush rabbit, hare, fox and feral pig to the running dogs. Ive have used my ridgebacks for this over the years but their not real keen on the real thick stuff. Ive thought about beagles but having owned foxhounds in the past they have a bit to much hunt for themselves for what im after,Ive thought on a terrier long and hard the problem as I see it is that the large blackberry briers can have fox dens right in the middle so A terrier would be just to easy to lose. I guess a larger type that couldnt get to ground might be ok. So I have turned my thoughts to gundogs in perticular spanisls, Ive had the pleasure of shooting over a springer in the past and he was a good worker we got plenty of quial and hare that day. I was after a comparision between the springer , english or welsh, cocker or brittany , Feild or ? , These breeds are all worked out here but hard to get on to. So any Info about their abilities much appreciated .

 

stevemac

[dave a 24]

Just doing some research, I have been thinking a lot on a cover dog for working blackberry and lantana thickets to flush rabbit, hare, fox and feral pig to the running dogs. Ive have used my ridgebacks for this over the years but their not real keen on the real thick stuff. Ive thought about beagles but having owned foxhounds in the past they have a bit to much hunt for themselves for what im after,Ive thought on a terrier long and hard the problem as I see it is that the large blackberry briers can have fox dens right in the middle so A terrier would be just to easy to lose. I guess a larger type that couldnt get to ground might be ok. So I have turned my thoughts to gundogs in perticular spanisls, Ive had the pleasure of shooting over a springer in the past and he was a good worker we got plenty of quial and hare that day. I was after a comparision between the springer , english or welsh, cocker or brittany , Feild or ? , These breeds are all worked out here but hard to get on to. So any Info about their abilities much appreciated .

 

stevemac

your best bet is a working bred english springer.dont go near the show type,they are useless.

[ben0777317 0]

Working English Springer will work any cover.

[ferreter.al 22]

cocker from good lines.atvb

[turbotyke 62]

we have just brought a english springer for bushing out with the lurchers cant wait till next season atb jenna

[stevemac 445]

Thanks for The comments all so it is really only the springer and the cocker that get used over there. I Know a girl in Qld that uses her springers to flush feral pigs. And The feild trial set have a strong following and although their dogs are kennel club registered They are not show dogs and are bred for work from workers.

 

stevemac

[dave a 24]

Thanks for The comments all so it is really only the springer and the cocker that get used over there. I Know a girl in Qld that uses her springers to flush feral pigs. And The feild trial set have a strong following and although their dogs are kennel club registered They are not show dogs and are bred for work from workers.

 

stevemac

ya i meant the actual show type,they even look different to working type springers kc reg or not.kc dogs are fine once they are working type.

[theferreter 311]

a good working springer or cocker will face any type of cover atb on what ever you go for

[kevin kiely 66]

Thanks for The comments all so it is really only the springer and the cocker that get used over there. I Know a girl in Qld that uses her springers to flush feral pigs. And The feild trial set have a strong following and although their dogs are kennel club registered They are not show dogs and are bred for work from workers.

 

stevemac

i think the field trial dogs are more bred for quatering the fields and probably youd be better to get a springer not from those lines for heavy cover

[rickyspringer 15]

kevin totally disagree mate, dogs of field trial standard should face any cover mate, and they are tested to do so.

[kiwi 4]

hi steve, a working springer or cocker will do as you ask, i'm now running uk working cockers as well as my beloved gwp's, wrangham kennels have some pretty good ballyblack springer lines from nz,ex cortman lane lines from the uk.

we have exported a number of working cockers to aussie, the numbers are not that great in oz, they have an almost terrier nature and will push out anything held up in blackberry, we don't have foxes but mine regulary encounter cats who don't last long once they are bailed and the gwps go storming in as well... i plan on taking mine for a pighunt at some stage, just for a laugh

 

have you considered a jagd terrier ?

[kevin kiely 66]

kevin totally disagree mate, dogs of field trial standard should face any cover mate, and they are tested to do so.

i might be wrong but i was told this and i had a young sprocker for a short while and he ran from left to right across the field during the hunt

[rickyspringer 15]

interesting Kevin, for a keen trailler shooter that would be ideal, the hunting pattern is naturally good, alot of dogs take time and training to work like that for the triallers/shooters.. most dogs in my opinion will use there nose and go where it takes them, that will give the hunt a much more direct approach...

 

Not disagreeing though pal, each dogs different but trialling dogs should smash through any cover... the sprocker you had, had a great working pattern, where the keen hunters want a direct approach, horses for courses as they say

[stevemac 445]

hi steve, a working springer or cocker will do as you ask, i'm now running uk working cockers as well as my beloved gwp's, wrangham kennels have some pretty good ballyblack springer lines from nz,ex cortman lane lines from the uk.

we have exported a number of working cockers to aussie, the numbers are not that great in oz, they have an almost terrier nature and will push out anything held up in blackberry, we don't have foxes but mine regulary encounter cats who don't last long once they are bailed and the gwps go storming in as well... i plan on taking mine for a pighunt at some stage, just for a laugh

 

have you considered a jagd terrier ?

Thanks Kiwi This Idea is still at the thinking about stage and I havnt totally given up on the terrier I have had smoothfoxterrier and I would say they were simular to what i have read about Jadg terries and they had the advantage of being to big to go to ground. All I know is I wont be chasing a show bred type.

Let us know how you get on with the pig hunt.

 

steve

[kevin kiely 66]

interesting Kevin, for a keen trailler shooter that would be ideal, the hunting pattern is naturally good, alot of dogs take time and training to work like that for the triallers/shooters.. most dogs in my opinion will use there nose and go where it takes them, that will give the hunt a much more direct approach...

 

Not disagreeing though pal, each dogs different but trialling dogs should smash through any cover... the sprocker you had, had a great working pattern, where the keen hunters want a direct approach, horses for courses as they say

yea id prefer dogs to follow their nose and bust through the ditch but he might have in time.he was well bred and his style was good for flushing longears.i hadnt him long and i didnt train him to do that at all he just used to do it naturally,but the poor fecker died so maybe he would have taken to the cover but i dont have much experience with them