Pigeonshooter22

Go for it. Any breed I think you'd be ok. They soon custom to their life style. Have a cage in the office, so when in the office she knows to go to sleep and calm down, plus its her own space. She'll learn to relax on the journey and then let off steam on the way to the office with a bit of training, no reason she can't work as well. I took my Cocker on 2 x 5hr train journeys at 14 weeks old (to go on holiday) I was so surprised how unphased he was, he just slept on a spare chair and on a longer stop we got off and he had a wee. It was great for him socializing and the train conductors loved him. They soon get use to it and at least you know she won't be nervous being in such busy places daily and she'll get a nice bond with you. I disagree that Springer wouldn't be happy without the run of a office, they soon learn the office means keep calm specially with a cage and a nice bed, all dogs can have off switch if trained correctly - its the same as going to the pub, they learn to sleep. People keep puppies kenneled all day while at work with no mental stimulation, I think your situation is much more fair than that! I'd jump at the chance of having my dog in the office with me. Only you can make the decision, who cares what anyone else thinks, if you know you can give a dog a happy life, why not?

Hes only 17 weeks, I wouldn't panic at all.. still growing and changing shape everyday. Long story short, my Cocker went lame at 4 months vet thought it was the same thing. CT scans and £1000 later, nothing was wrong, hips perfect, no luxating patella.. I'd wait it out and don't panic, if he was 17 months it would be a different situation.

So sorry to hear this mate, you done the right thing by him and sought specialist advice. Thoughts are with you and the other half x Don't get to heated up with a full FTCH pedigree, as long as it has a nice bit of FTCH in it, it’s the training that makes the dog IMO. There was a FTCH x FTCH litter for sale over the weekend mind. Best of luck, try and find a newly born litter so you get to pick. Something will pop up.

Amazon for about £8.. our lab still tries to scoff it but takes her so much longer.

Ah what a shame, seems to of definitely changed since I spoke to them which was over 6 months ago now I guess. £70 a month is crazy, maybe they also put price sup, mine is £30. Best of luck whatever you decide. I can understand why your girlfriend is so upset, such a rare thing to have happened, really don't envy you. Best of luck to all of you,

It was me who spoke to you on Facebook about KC insurance. Call them before you make any rash decisions or worry about them not paying, as they told me on the phone if they'd cover Harley or not, their under writers are in the office next door. Mind his was a injury not a condition he was born with but please do call them, they're great even when I cried down the phone thinking my 4 month Cocker tore his cruciate and was messed for life. Everyone can comment, but only you can make a decision. IF it were me, I'd ask for some money back from the breeder, even though it isn't his fault, it will help cover the costs and lets be honest the puppy isn't worth £500 now. I'd then keep the dog and do everything I could to fix him, as i KNOW i couldn't give any puppy back as i'm a soft **** Hes so young and if he needs his pelvis broke, bones heal back nicely at that age, quoted by my vet, if my cocker broke his leg 6 weeks crate rest and it would be on its way to recovery where as a 5yr old dog would need alot more vet help. Has the vet said its curable? My cocker was on crate rest for 6 weeks at 4 months old, he coped brilliantly so yes it isn't nice putting a puppy through surgery and broken bones, but they do cope better than you think. Will he be useless? He could be a pet for your other half (maybe he could do low level beating or something and she could get involved?) and you could get something else - as said, i'm a soft **** so i'd work away around it. Best of luck with your decision. Aimee

Always had bitches as a kid and growing up, seasons drove me mad seemed they came on right during the pheasant season. I got a dog this time, hes much more hardy and things don't bother him, where as bitches take things to heart. For example, all of our bitches hate being hosed off. Yet the dog will stand there and be a man about it. Our bitches also sulk.. where as the dog, nope. Scutt I always thought the drive depends on the individual dog not sex. My dogs full brother is a complete plod, so chilled even though they're only 10 months, yet mine has a very high drive and is hot. You wouldn't even think they were related. I'll only be having dogs from now on but my other half always said he'd will only have bitches. Yet I think hes half way persuaded to get a dog for his next.. as hes fallen in love with mine. I'd go and have a look, choose which one you feel a connection with.

I looked into Tails when I bought my pup. It is just a advertising scheme and the food is rubbish. They have a handful of types of food and just say its 'made specially for your dog' when its really a advertising con. It is very expensive for what it is, Take a look at allaboutdogfood.co.uk, very good website. You could contact Millies who are very good and one of ours is on essential which is a good brand.

Our lab sometimes barks if shes left at home for a few hours. It tends to be if the curtains move and she sees someone walking past (we always close curtains) have to say the e-collars work great. Its the only thing that will stop her barking but she hasn't warn it for months as shes been fine and our neighbour will let us know if shes been barking and we'll either not leave her or use the collar for a few hours IF she had been barking. We leave it on the bark setting which will beep, carries on barking, vibrate and then carries on, shock. Shes only warn it once while left and never done it again, our neighbours luckily very understanding and lets us know. Ours gets enough exercise, just likes the own sound of her voice sometimes as barks alot in general. A chap at our shoot uses a e-collar on his kenneled dogs, he said they've all warn it once and it stopped them as he'll just give them one single shock and they never do it again.

We've always done sit followed by stay with all of ours.. to be honest not sure why but sat or stood when told ours know stay means stay. A chap on our shoot said its totally wrong and once sat they should stay there without any 'stay' but everyone does it differently

I also only use 'out' if its a marked retrieve. When hunting close to me and a beginning level of quartering (just started this 2 weeks ago) I've been using 'seek' which means he hunts to in front of me to my right/left, then I beep twice and he changed direction. When I've placed dummies at a bigger range/distance away from me (for example on a pheasant day picking up and need to sweep the area) I've been using 'find them'. Also use this command for the lab when sweeping the end of a drive so made sense to use the same for my spaniel but hes only 7 months so will see how he goes Nice to see others use the similar, as I just made mine up as what seemed ideal. What do you use IPS?

How old is she? Maybe she'll show more interest if you add a pheasant wing to a small dummy so its more fun. We were once told to get a dummy which can hold treats, when they bring it back they get a treat out of it. I know a lot don't believe in treating working dogs but it may help make her want to retrieve. There is many more more experienced on here which may have different opinions. Best of luck!

17 Boar need to be shot before the end of December in Exmoor! Boar weights approx. 65kgs - 80kgs of those previously shot this year! £34.99 to book £75 to the keeper on the night £2.75 a pound to keep the animal MUST be booked before end of November for Christmas 2017 http://www.a1decoy.co.uk/wild-boar-trip-in-forest-of-dean--exmoor-2076-p.asp (Posted from my personal account accidentally!)

Don't buy LG, we have had constant problems with our new LG TV and know friends who had the same! Sony is always worth it IMO. My dad has a 4K Sony and the picture is outstanding.

We have our lab with Tesco, good policy for £30 a month on the top one. Pup is with Kennel Club.. more expensive but they have 4 months half price so it worked out a better price for the first year. KC covers working dogs at work too. Use to use Petplan, but they have gone downhill now. My parents use Asda insurance, have claimed and were good.

Nope - only 'affected' dogs do. I had him tested as I planned to breed from him and thought it was worth doing as didn't want to breed from him if he was 'AFFECTED' mainly as it can be life threatening if they are. (didn't expect him to be a carrier) Apparently tons are affected in the Cocker world, but not alot test them, even FTCH owners don't bother (reading into this). Its a 'new' thing testing them apparently. Maybe I shouldn't of bothered but I rather know. Now looking into it, as long as hes put to a CLEAR bitch the pups would be fine.

Very true WGD - Going to wait and see how he turns out first! Thank you!

Thank you - I really don't want to neuter him unless I have too but I will if its to risky to ever breed from him!

Just had the test results back and my WCS is a carrier of AMS. Gutted. Planned to have a litter in the future from him and use him as a stud to a friends bitch, who may of been interested. Is this out the window for him now, and worth getting him neutered when hes old enough?

Such a nice dog, he'll be great when hes older. I do think its easier if they're kenneled. When they're pets and live indoors its hard to only bring them out to do retrieving as mine would go loopy in our house! - lol!

This is the problem, as he is more so a pet it makes it difficult. If he was kenneled it wouldn't be as difficult!

Thank you all for the advice, really appreciate it. He never goes far when free running either but will take on all the advice,. Thanks all!

Do you not allow yours at all? I understand when hes in full training/older but at 4 months he likes having some free time playing with our dog/friends dogs in a local field. I'd feel bad not allowing him to do that once a week.

You're just around the corner from me if you went to Bristol Street Motors. I'd try and find a decent one private. I bought my first car from a "so called good" garage and it had constant problems, had to keep going back etc, last 2 cars bought private and they've been better great cars, big gamble but if you find a decent one with low mileage and full service history your get something decent for 6k! Can't stand car salesman!

I was told by a few people to leave heel until last, get the rest of the basics done and then work on the heel - as michufc said above I think he was told the same. I totally ignored that and worked on it from day dot. He won't be doing any/much beating at all but its so valuable to have! I often see dogs pulling at game fairs (do a lot of shows with work across the SW) so really didn't want him pulling on a lead as he has to come to quite a few.