Springer or cocker???

[samearl14 11]

Hi all,

Just wondering whether people would recommend a cocker or a springer for me? I'm 19 and do a fair bit of beating/rough shooting. Not really any standing shooting. I bought a lab to train but she turned out to have no hunting/retrieving instinct which was a shame but she now makes a great pet. What would people recommend out of cocker or springer? iv only seen cockers working, no one on our shoot has a springer. Cheers

SAm

[v-max 2]

Its really 6 & 2,3s for you as they both do the same job H,F,R they may differ slightly between breeds but nothing really. Personally i dont like the smaller ESS you get now & see alot of. I like the size of the badgercourt lines. I know Nic has/had an FTW of very good size & have a friend with a FTCH that is a nice ESS & good size & seems to be producing cracking pups its a pitty this dog isent better reconized. As for you its just what you fanncy to try & i think the cocker can be a bit more work to train in a sense more to wear down as they think they know but thats just my limited experiance of the two breeds.

[alimac 882]

bang on v max, folk are going to think im stalking you, thats my last two posts agreeing with what you have said is it right what i hear that a mate of yours was the fire starter at the cairn, by its a good one, good job the burn was there

[samearl14 11]

Its really 6 & 2,3s for you as they both do the same job H,F,R they may differ slightly between breeds but nothing really. Personally i dont like the smaller ESS you get now & see alot of. I like the size of the badgercourt lines. I know Nic has/had an FTW of very good size & have a friend with a FTCH that is a nice ESS & good size & seems to be producing cracking pups its a pitty this dog isent better reconized. As for you its just what you fanncy to try & i think the cocker can be a bit more work to train in a sense more to wear down as they think they know but thats just my limited experiance of the two breeds.

 

cheers for the reply. i do like ess. would you say they are 'harder' than the cockers? as in they'll charge through anything i mean.

[poacher3161 1,766]

I have kept springers for the last 25 years and wat i have seen they can vary with different bloodlines a freind went and got one from two well known trialing dogs and the dog was very fast and a bit hyper and was soon tired after 3 hours working wer as the strain i keep mostley decended from the gwibernant line ar plodders but will work all day.If you carnt decide wat about a sprocker i have heard nothing but good reports about them atvb

[butcherboy 68]

Its really 6 & 2,3s for you as they both do the same job H,F,R they may differ slightly between breeds but nothing really. Personally i dont like the smaller ESS you get now & see alot of. I like the size of the badgercourt lines. I know Nic has/had an FTW of very good size & have a friend with a FTCH that is a nice ESS & good size & seems to be producing cracking pups its a pitty this dog isent better reconized. As for you its just what you fanncy to try & i think the cocker can be a bit more work to train in a sense more to wear down as they think they know but thats just my limited experiance of the two breeds.

 

cheers for the reply. i do like ess. would you say they are 'harder' than the cockers? as in they'll charge through anything i mean.

 

There is a general sense that a springer will go through anything & a cocker will also go through anything.......provided there is game in there!!!

 

If you like ESS then get one, cause your far more likely to put the effort in with a dog you like.

 

But then you would be missing out on the fun cockers bring to your life

[Dan Newcombe 58]

Cockers and springers are pretty much exactly the same if you are walking up and beating.

 

I personally like cockers so i got a cocker and he is a lovely little chap. everyone else on the shoot i keeper has springers. that said, there is probably a reasonthat they all work springers, possibly you will have to go further for a cocker.

 

I like to see the parents work and it is just lucky that the next door keeper has nice quiet cockers. Otherwise i was all lined up with a springer form a mate on my shoot.

 

You will always put more into a dog you actually want than if you are thinking 'this wouldnt have happened if i had got'

 

Cockers do tend to be a bit more expensive though.

 

You will not go far wrong with either but i would reccomend going with pups from a dog(s) that you have seen work and like their style

[samearl14 11]

I have kept springers for the last 25 years and wat i have seen they can vary with different bloodlines a freind went and got one from two well known trialing dogs and the dog was very fast and a bit hyper and was soon tired after 3 hours working wer as the strain i keep mostley decended from the gwibernant line ar plodders but will work all day.If you carnt decide wat about a sprocker i have heard nothing but good reports about them atvb

 

Well my mate has a sprocker and its a cracking dog. But i've heard it can be a bit hit and miss as to whether they'll be any good, even if the parents are good workers? or is that not the case?

Oh and another thing, what are peoples views on kenneling? If i get a springer, would it be ok to kennel it on its own in the yard? Obv the dog would be out of the run alot and i'd be spending alot of time with him. I know its possible to train a dog to be a great worker if it lives inside, but does kenneling it give him more of a sense of place? if you get what i mean! Can a dog be kept outside all day but then allowed to sleep in the house at night?

I know i'm asking alot of questions but i dont want a repeat of my lab (complete lack of interest in hunting/retrieving). guess i made a mistake when i picked her but i was young at the time.

 

cheers for all the replies btw

SAm

[Dave C 63]

What ever you like the look of best, but make sure you get either from working bred parents, you dont want to have another pet to go with your Lab.

 

Dave.

[hily 380]

Hi all,

Just wondering whether people would recommend a cocker or a springer for me? I'm 19 and do a fair bit of beating/rough shooting. Not really any standing shooting. I bought a lab to train but she turned out to have no hunting/retrieving instinct which was a shame but she now makes a great pet. What would people recommend out of cocker or springer? iv only seen cockers working, no one on our shoot has a springer. Cheers

SAm

Hi SAm try to get in touch with your local gundog club you will find link in the kennel club site .ask them when will they be having their next spanial trial and go and see spanials at work go with gut instinct with the spanial type you like remember you will have to live with this choice for a long time don't rush into it as it's allready been said you want a worker not just a pet. good luck.

[samearl14 11]

thanks for all the advice. anyone want to offer any advice on the kennelling issue? ATB

[butcherboy 68]

thanks for all the advice. anyone want to offer any advice on the kennelling issue? ATB

 

 

Your dog will be fine in the kennel as long as it gets plenty of excercise (and I mean excercise whilst training or working not just running about).

 

My gundogs only spend the puppy stage in the house then never see it again.

Edited May 8, 2009 by butcherboy

[samearl14 11]

thanks for all the advice. anyone want to offer any advice on the kennelling issue? ATB

 

 

Your dog will be fine in the kennel as long as it gets plenty of excercise (and I mean excercise whilst training or working not just running about).

 

My gundogs only spend the puppy stage in the house then never see it again.

 

 

So how old are they when you kennel them? is it too confusing for a dog to allow it into the house in the evenings for a while so we can bond, then put in its kennel at night?

[butcherboy 68]

thanks for all the advice. anyone want to offer any advice on the kennelling issue? ATB

 

 

Your dog will be fine in the kennel as long as it gets plenty of excercise (and I mean excercise whilst training or working not just running about).

 

My gundogs only spend the puppy stage in the house then never see it again.

 

 

So how old are they when you kennel them? is it too confusing for a dog to allow it into the house in the evenings for a while so we can bond, then put in its kennel at night?

 

 

16 weeks when they go full time to kennels.

 

Why let it in the house to bond when you should be outside playing with it in the garden !!!

[Catcher 1 639]

Hi all,

Just wondering whether people would recommend a cocker or a springer for me? I'm 19 and do a fair bit of beating/rough shooting. Not really any standing shooting. I bought a lab to train but she turned out to have no hunting/retrieving instinct which was a shame but she now makes a great pet. What would people recommend out of cocker or springer? iv only seen cockers working, no one on our shoot has a springer. Cheers

SAm

 

 

Hi mate i woud go for the springer.I got one 2001 She was a little gem.Her retrieving instinch was second to none.She could work all day.As soon as she seen the gun go up to take a shot.She was would look at me as if to say shoot.As for training.I had no bouther at all.She was stolen two years ago i was gutted.atb .Catcher 1