Cocker Spaniel (working line)

[Sexual Chocolate]

Seems my opinion counts for nowt in my household and another mutt is soon to be resident at Casa Sexual (around the same time as our Robert Thompson side board gets delivered). Not only will we have a working lab (he doesn't but likes to think he could if he could be arsed) but also a working cocker spaniel. I know little of the bred except its had its tail docked and it has floopy(ish) ears. What are peoples experiences with them? Is it worth taking it to gun dog school as early as possible? Will it learn a whole bunch of stuff it shouldn't do off our lab so we end up with 2 mental selective hearing dogs?

[pikeyboy]

C3ber

[Superficial]

They have a very high drive and if you're used to a lazy lab it will be a total culture shock. Expect them to need hours of exercise daily, along with plenty of mental stimulation too. Are you an active family? If not, a show strain cocker would be a far, far better choice.

[Sexual Chocolate]

The lab gets plenty of walkies he is just lazy in the house and will occasionaly haul his fat brown arse of the chair to scratch, eat or get a drink.

[HelenT]

We have a working cocker, love her to bits but they are high maintenance
worth looking at this website
www.workingcockerspanielrescue.co.uk
Ours is 12 months old and we have just started agility training with her, she just got bored at normal dog training, there is a high proportion of WCS at the class, this is either because they are bought by people who do agility because they are good at it (which they are)or people who have them are looking for something to occupy their dog...take your pick!
We got Poppy when she was 8 months old as her previous owners thought she would be like a "show" cocker which mean't we missed out on some early training but they are bright and eager to please.
Will expect puppy photos if you go ahead!!

[astroarcadia]

Loves hunting in field or woods. Just as happy curled in front of the fire. Always looking to you for the next command. Very active but intelligent so needs the right stimulation and not just left to follow her nose. A friend has a lab and a cocker which is a calming influence on the spaniel.

Here is my girl:

[FailHere]

I was persuaded to take a one on a few months ago, he's a failed gundog but great company. Yes he is a busy boy but has a short attention span and seems a bit thick.

He really enjoys a good run/swim but is not that good at fetching/catching. He has been described as being a bit "full on".

I'm not sure who said it first, but there is a saying that a lab is born half trained and a spaniel will die half trained.

[highflyer]

Working cocker everytime, we had 3, lost mum last year aged 15 her son is now 13 and fit as ever, little one is 7 got to be the best breed ever, we were going for a puppy in the last couple of weeks but realised there are plenty of rescue working cockers needing a loving home, so looking for a rescue now instead.