Tracy Priestnall 83 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 cockers work in tighter circles, amongst spaniel men the bigger 20-22 inch springer are seen as the best for working big bramble. spaniels are flushing dogs that hunt body scent, questing dogs. they work silently, barred from trials if they yap. the biggest name in spaniels was the late keith erlanderson, he described the old spaniels as a cross between a zulu - warrior and a spanish fighting bull...if you could still find spaniels of this sort we would all want them! one of this sort as just sold for £20,ooo on the field trial circit, a springer. bob ottey, game keeper ran a fox pack of springers for 12 years, finding and flushing to guns (pre ban ), the best dog had a booming voice and could find a fox anywhere. the warrener started out with a big springer which i read was also a great finder with strong voice. years ago, most bobbery packs were either working class lads with terriers and lurchers, or farmer/keeper gun packs made up of russells and gundogs, mainly spaniels. the modern spaniel is a different animal, most of trial dogs are small and are all drive, lacking nose or brains. i find them robotic, stupid, over giddy and good only for flushing. that said i still believe there are still" rough shooters" spaniels that could make top draw bushing dogs with out any out cross. most bushing lads go for small 10 -16 inch bushing dogs, this is based on small dogs being best in cover, yet the old school spaniel men made much use of big heavy, hard driving spaniels for big bramble beds and gorse, proper hard cover. the lesson i learn from spaniels is their power and drive threw cover, seen plenty of spaniel crosses, most make honest grafters, Quote Link to post
Ideation 8,216 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 There are still dogs of the same stamp as erlandsons gwibernant / badgercourt line around if you know where to look. I'm not a fan of small, light springers, I like big strong dogs, and they will work the tightest of cover and stand a full days work. R.e rubytexs point - I agree that cockers and springers often have different working styles! Quote Link to post
RubyTex 1,957 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 There are still dogs of the same stamp as erlandsons gwibernant / badgercourt line around if you know where to look. I'm not a fan of small, light springers, I like big strong dogs, and they will work the tightest of cover and stand a full days work. R.e rubytexs point - I agree that cockers and springers often have different working styles! Sure my dogs got Badgercourt somewhere along the line and he's a beast Quote Link to post
Ideation 8,216 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 The head is often a give away lol. Quote Link to post
Malt 379 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Last spaniel we had in the family was a tank of a dog! Jed: Haven't got a picture of him fully grown, he went to live with a mate of my old man's, he was too much dog for my mum to handle with her bad legs. Most working spaniels my old man had were smaller things, Jed ended up huge! My neighbour has got one from the same bloke, thing's a beast.. Quote Link to post
Drebz87 39 Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Our old bitch spaniel powers through the hardest of cover, brambles, gorse you name it if there's a scent there she's away in, she's not a tall spaniel but a wee power house, pity she's getting on in age, 12-13 year old and still goes all day on the shoot, she was brought up rough shooting and loves hunting up. Quote Link to post
bullx100% 681 Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I had a spaniel bitch what was badger court lines......was tiny looked like a runt but by joe she could get anywhere a rabbit could.... Quote Link to post
terryd 8,573 Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) Cockers are growing on me for sure ours is show bred been a house dog for the wife until about 6 hardly seen a hedge just walked round town and down the beach. But I started to pinch him and take him out and about first time out he flushed a couple of snipe out of thick cover he has also taken to pheasants and rabbits all natural for him. I am trying to get him to mark ferreting now and he is catching on quick. Complete pain in the ass as far as training goes but thats on me not him. From a young dog he could have been superb little all rounder and even now he proving him self useful and I don't like ferreting with out him all ready. I have noticed he wont enter cover unless he scents some thing or unless I tell him to get in which is bit pointless because he seems to know best anyway. Oh and he only has one gear and thats top gear They seem a lot of dog in a small package and I wouldn't rule out another. His a lovable sod too Edited January 31, 2014 by terryd Quote Link to post
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