springer or cocker

sirlampsalot

was just wondering what peoples opinions were on the cocker for a rough shooting dog instead of the trusty old springer,i,ve heard the cocker is a harder dog to train,i like the look of the blue roan cocker lovely looking dog but dont no what their like as a gun dog...

whitser

i've never owned or seen a cocker work but have always had a springer. i dont think you'll beat a good springer. i've read that cockers lack the stamina for a long day in field, but i dint know.
also i think you'd find a well bred working springer easier then you'd find a working bred cocker. having said that im sure there are lads who swear by cockers.

pullandbang

Are there any working cockers left in Ireland are are they all morphed into show dogs?

whitser

i would imagine the working lines have been heavily diluted with show blood. but maybe there is lads keeping pure working strains.

J.R.

pullandbang wrote: »

Are there any working cockers left in Ireland are are they all morphed into show dogs?

I had a springer & now have a cocker. Both are excellent rough shooting dogs. Only reason I went for the cocker was I live in the city (small garden) and the cocker is also an ideal house dog / pet when space is limited.

I was looking for a black one as good camouflage for duck & pigeon shooting.

I found it very hard to find the working strain and eventually found one in Clare (I'm in Dublin)

Most of those advertised were show strain but when you rang they promised you it was a brilliant working dog from a good working strain. After many wasted journeys I changed tactics, asking on the phone if it was a show dog as it was the show strain I was looking for. Most promised that he was from a brilliant show strain! That saved me a lot of wasted journeys as I was able to say, there & then, that i wasn't interested.

When I rang the chap in Clare he told me that, " No! it wasn't a show strain but the working strain and that he would prefer it to be sold to a shooter who would work her." I then explained that it was the working strain I wanted and explained why I mentioned the show strain. He understood exactly where I was coming from as he said very few were breeding the working strain. We arranged to meet & I bought the dog straight away after seeing parent working and saw her attempting to copy.

I was lucky as it has turned out to be a brilliant dog - can get into the tightest of cover (can even slip through the large sheep mesh wire!) and will hunt all day - never tires - in fact when we take a rest it's constantly alert, sniffing about, anxious to go again.

The springer can be slightly easier to train - the cocker can be very "sulky" when corrected.

I would definitely go for another cocker.

sirlampsalot

lovely looking dog, i definatly think im gonna get myself one,they cant be that different to a springer,its like everything else if u put the time in..

triggerpull

i got my first gun dog as an xmas pressie. a springer pup from one of the lads in my gc. i was told to keep her training off till she was 12-14 months old.
when i got her home and got her settled she started to bring me back sticks,the kids toys and anything else she could pick up. so i started to play fetch with her, no training just throw a stick and she went mad to find it and bring it to me:D. she is coming on 7 months now and looking good.
cocker or springer if its in them its in them, if not then it would be harder to train.
the only problem i have now is the kids want to play fetch with her too and i dont think they should cos the dont correct her if she drops at there feet:(
http://www.graigour.com/training-facilities.htm
hope this link helps!:cool:

sirlampsalot

triggerpull wrote: »

i got my first gun dog as an xmas pressie. a springer pup from one of the lads in my gc. i was told to keep her training off till she was 12-14 months old.
when i got her home and got her settled she started to bring me back sticks,the kids toys and anything else she could pick up. so i started to play fetch with her, no training just throw a stick and she went mad to find it and bring it to me:D. she is coming on 7 months now and looking good.
cocker or springer if its in them its in them, if not then it would be harder to train.
the only problem i have now is the kids want to play fetch with her too and i dont think they should cos the dont correct her if she drops at there feet:(
http://www.graigour.com/training-facilities.htm
hope this link helps!:cool:

thanks trigger a usefull bit of info there,he makes it sound so easy but i suppose if its in the dog its in it...

Auldloon

Have only ever owned springers but shoot over a mates cocker last few years. He looks just like your one jr:)
Great dog, hunts all day in very hard cover, retrieves land and water, drops to shot and generally does everything right. (well one flaw but no one is perfect)
I would have no hesitation in getting a cocker.
Im pretty sure he got her from the uk. I believe theres a bit of a resurgence going on with them over here so maybe that could be an idea if you have any contacts.

pullandbang

J.R. wrote: »

I found it very hard to find the working strain and eventually found one in Clare (I'm in Dublin)

Brilliant - glad to see that the breed is still alive and kicking. The cockers are a beautiful breed as your photos show.

whitser

lovely looking spaniel alright. once you buy off good working strain, you'll be ok.