Cocker Pup or not??

[matt1979 766]

Considering getting myself a working cocker pup to hopefully train up for marking and bushing and general mooching. However, my concern is how much work/ exercise is the dog likely to need, i have 2 dogs (not real workers) that currently get between 30-45mins off lead in the morning and around 1 to 1.5 hours at night during the week, at weekend generally out longer hillwalking and mooching and this is sufficient as they are steady dogs around the house and generally knackered. I have owned and grown up around a variety of dogs mainly terriers and lurchers/ running dogs and know how to train a dog to a decent standard although never owned a working gundog. I work full time and thus the dog will be left during the day with my other 2 i know this isnt ideally but have found all my dogs have adjusted well to a routine given sufficient exercise in the morning prior me heading off to work. the thoughts of people with personal experience of raising working cockers and gundogs would be much appreciated, as i dont want to be getting a dog that isnt going to settle and possibly pee the other 2 off during the day cheers

[Smokey 1 56]

Cockers don't do well on there own but if you have two dogs to keep it company, it should be fine. I take my two out together in the morning for a ten minute walk, they run around the garden for twenty mins whilst I get ready for work. I will train them individually each evening for ten to twenty mins each walk there and back. You would be giving them more than enough exercise and a good long walk at the weekend should keep a Cocker more than happy.

 

Smokey

[barraboy 28]

i have found its mental stimulation they crave more than exercise, your routine seems fine and once you start training and get the dog thinking it'll quickly settle. my only issue with mine is he sometimes wants to play [he's just 12 months] whereas the 9 year old labs are too tired, but they soon resolve that.

[matt1979 766]

thanks for the responses any more would be much appreciated, keeping a look out for the right pup cheers

[glenng 15]

this is a very similar routine that i have with my four spaniels and it seems to work very well.the two sprocker pups that i kept from a litter have settled into it now at twelve weeks old.

[lawrence 657]

i would go for one mate, having no previous experience of spaniels, i got myself a cocker pup recently, there a real pleasure to be around and very keen to please, i have him as a general mooching dog working beside lurchers, he's only young yet but is fairly switched on and a joy to watch hunt.

 

[Rake aboot 4,936]

Thats a cracking pic mate,, lovely dogs.

 

I have a cocker also,, I was loking for a mooching dog to replace one I had to pts,, but ended up with a beddy whippet x instead.

Cockers are rewarding if you put the effort in,, very frustrating if you don`t

[Smokey 1 56]

Cockers are rewarding if you put the effort in,, very frustrating if you don`t

 

What a great way of putting it

 

Smokey

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

I always kept spaniels in the past, but my cocker was hit by a car and killed a bit back, a sad loss for me, he was a great dog, and even excelled the springers I had before him. He was a roughshooting dog,shooting and beating dog, foxing, marking, squirrel hunting, mink hunting, wasnt the steadiest for rabbit shooting but could have easily been if I wanted him for that, great in water and handled all game, excellent on long retrieves. But they need a solid training plan, then the more time spent with them the better they are, they dont know the meaning of the word 'quit' lol they would go all day and then some, so lots of exercise essential.

[Guest bezza]

Thats a cracking pic mate,, lovely dogs.

 

I have a cocker also,, I was loking for a mooching dog to replace one I had to pts,, but ended up with a beddy whippet x instead.

Cockers are rewarding if you put the effort in,, very frustrating if you don`t

Yes, lovely dogs but you have to keep on top of them. They are always looking to bend the rules.

[Philluk 181]

I've got a 6 1/2 month working cocker and find the more you put in the more you get out, he is keen to learn and already whistle and hand signal trained. When I do one to one he listens and wants to learn, take him out with the terrier and he is not interested in me he just wants to play with the terrier. They also need as mentioned mental stimulation a ball in the park is not enough and just a walk is not always exciting.

 

The problem will come in is that if you always take them out in a group he won't learn a lot as he won't be concentrating on you as he will be a pack animal and it is important this type of dog should be well trained.

 

 

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

Thats a cracking pic mate,, lovely dogs.

 

I have a cocker also,, I was loking for a mooching dog to replace one I had to pts,, but ended up with a beddy whippet x instead.

Cockers are rewarding if you put the effort in,, very frustrating if you don`t

Yes, lovely dogs but you have to keep on top of them. They are always looking to bend the rules.

So true

[hily 380]

michael d and n that little cocker was great to see working on a rough day and me and george still talk about that runner the dog brought back .A lad in the shoot who's cocker's the same stamp as yours but he had only used it for picking up thought it would be to ranging for rough shootin but since he's gone out with us and our springers flushing rabbits and keeping his cool when things whent wrong its settled down and works within shot . So as with most working dogs get the basics right then you'v got to put the effort in for the rest of the dogs working life to try and keep it up to scratch.Matt hope you get a spaniel you will regret it at times as they are little devils aaaah but when it comes together blumming great A.T.B..dave

[matt1979 766]

Thanks for the input folks much appreciated i will keep you informed as still undecided as to whether to get a cocker or JRT, would love to give a cocker a go, but i have more experience with terriers and i know what i am getting with a terrier. Will make a decision next few weeks and post a pic of the pup in due course cheers Matt

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

michael d and n that little cocker was great to see working on a rough day and me and george still talk about that runner the dog brought back .A lad in the shoot who's cocker's the same stamp as yours but he had only used it for picking up thought it would be to ranging for rough shootin but since he's gone out with us and our springers flushing rabbits and keeping his cool when things whent wrong its settled down and works within shot . So as with most working dogs get the basics right then you'v got to put the effort in for the rest of the dogs working life to try and keep it up to scratch.Matt hope you get a spaniel you will regret it at times as they are little devils aaaah but when it comes together blumming great A.T.B..dave

Thats nice to hear coming from you, thanks, your spaniels were a joy to watch hunting those reshes after bunnies, I never had mine trained to that level, but he certainly was a grafter, never a dull moment with spaniels . I will be without a gundog this season But im picking up next years hopeful this evening on the way back to the Border.