bigbird

Hmm maybe it's because of all those misspelled signs asking people not to let their dogs empty themselves on the pavements......

I've got some cracking well bred cockers but may be a bit far

So is there a 'wildfowling' strain? Serious question, I know nothing about wildfowling

Confused now.... Yes I agree that there'll be a mixture of show and trial lines in any general working lab in the country - what I'm saying is that the FT lines will have been more selectively bred away from the show lines for performance and other attributes than, say, a 'general' working dog which doesn't need to be to suit the average shooter/wildfowler/whatever. Hence GENERALLY a FT lab will very likely have less recent show blood.

Oh, I thought I was being all clever then because I once read an article about it and that's what it said Pah, foiled again!

Don't know much about labs but: ft bred dogs seem to be quite lean compared to a general working lab? their coats seem thinner? - 'General' working labs you'll probably find have show lab in their lineage somewhere more recent than 'FT' labs. Hence the heavier stamp and layered coat, making them not 'better' swimmers but perhaps a tad more happy to go in in winter as they don't get as cold and wet through to the skin. i must admit i really admire the Drakeshead and Greenbriar stamp of dog would i be "wasting the potential" of such a dog by using it as i want? Why? The dog doesn't know it's not winning Field Trials lol and will have a just as happy and fulfilled life with you than it would in any competition kennels, if not better! Don't know enough to comment on your other questions

Have you taught a 'leave that' command? Done retrieve drills with distractions at all?

He's popped the question and is getting hitched!!!

Hoorah well done!!!

Found thanks all

We are looking for perhaps the impossible. A part trained or fully trained spaniel (cocker or springer). Dog or bitch, up to 3 yrs. MUST be happy living outside and get on well with lots of other dogs, nice, chilled out and kind. Too slow and steady to trial is ideal, for my 10 year old daughter to work alongside us on shoots and have fun with at game fairs, scurries etc the rest of the year. She's getting very disheartened as everything we have is too hot and as a littlie she obviously can't train one herself, nor can we for her as obviously then they think they're 'ours'. Lovely home awaits. North Wales / North West preferred but prepared to travel if you have videos etc. Fingers crossed! Have well bred cocker dog pups to part ex + cash your way if interested in that option. Please pm in first instance, looking for after 15th Sept. Thanks

Haven't seen any of your photos lately on FB, beeredup?

I think it's a vegan diet that dogs would really struggle to process, as long as say, eggs were included I *suppose* it wouldn't be so bad. Why any caring pet owner would try to impose an unnatural diet on their dogs beats me, though. Anthropomorphism, I suppose? Thinking on, I suppose that by feeding my dogs mainly kibble that's exactly what I'm doing, too, for convenience, though

Don't bother, I have it, send me your address and I'll post it to you I have to say, I've had two young springers both started off with placeboard training before I had them and their delivery was sublime which I'm putting down to that! I've not used it on any of mine just yet though, I find the dvd showed 'how' but not 'why'. I'm sure we will get round to it at some point!

Looks a fab dog Andy, well done with him, hopefully years of fun to come

They're not easy but they're the most rewarding when you DO get it right

I'm a firm believer that no dog is ever deliberately naughty to annoy his/her handler. (although it's very hard to think that at the time lol) Maybe he appears stubborn BECAUSE he is soft? I've come across a fair few spaniels like this and they're not the easiest to deal with at all

Ah mightn't be a bad idea cheers petal never thought of that!

Fenboy is he quite a soft dog? You don't need to win stuff to be good with your dogs. Plenty of brilliant dog people out there who have never entered a trial

That's Lisa I think, this is a Mr but thanks!

Actually to be fair Millomite is extremely good with the dogs. Anybody's going to be sceptical to begin with (how does a few boards placed 3" off the ground help?) (although I thrashed his *** at our first test ) (kidding, Scott ) Waiting for him to do the same at our first trial eeeeekkkkk!!

Don't suppose anybody knows an L Coates who used to own a black Cocker bitch called Bradleycourt Carters Chaos do they? Looking for some background. Thank you!

Ahhh bless him, just thought it sounded a bit like pemphigus

loriusgarrulus is your dog worse when he's been exposed to sunlight more?

Always the way!!!! LOL