Pigeonshooter22

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate all the comments. I think I know the problem.. hes never humped anything but last night he suddenly started really humping his teddy, It didn't seem excitment eiher, did make me laugh about it as he fell off the chair backwards doing so! This morning I gave him a belly rub, as i have done since i got him, well he started humping my hand Yesterday and this morning he also suddenly started paying a lot of attention to our lab bitch as well (she was spayed 2 years ago) which he has never done before, sniffing her constantly. Sounds daft, but can puberty distract them? I'm guessing it can.. as hes suddenly changed over 2 days and now this happened yesterday evening makes sense maybe why he ran off for a short period and came back, and has been distracted bringing anything back. Done some recall this morning, he was excellent, a 180 degree turn as soon as the whistle blew and gave him a bit of sausage when he got back to me. I also found a tennis ball in my pocket and he bought it straight back to me twice which was good. Going to keep practicing with that recall. Just don't want to ruin him etc so really appreciate all the comments. I was told to not work on heel but we have another dog, a lab that didn't do any heel work as a pup as everyone said do that later on and even though we done a lot after a year, 4 years later her heel is awful, constantly pulls. His heel work is spot on at 5 months because he doesn't know how to pull yet and hasn't, so think i'll keep up with that as i always said I didn't want a dog that pulled as drives me mad at game fairs etc. Thanks michufc, will not let him free run!

Thank you - will constantly work on that recall. He has been SO good with recall until now, crazily good really. Even better than our 4yr old lab. Would you carry on using the whistle or stop using the whistle, and call instead? Hes come back to the whistle every single time bar the last 2 days and hes ignored it literally twice for a couple of minutes then come back when hes realized. It probably isn't anything big to worry about but I don't want to do anything wrong and ruin him for the future.

He only does stay as he knows to stay for his food and we do stay work as it gets his brain working on a late evening every so often for a bit of cheese in the house. He has puppy friends he plays with on a daily basis at my work. He does some fetch work once a week for no more than 10 minutes which is all fun games and gets 3 short walks a day at different places (no training involved just free running around a few fields) with our lab, when he occasionally decides he won't come back. So I shouldn't walk him? As surely coming back is just the basics, if i let him be a puppy I just have to let him run off and ignore me? The retrieving part doesn't worry me half as much as him not coming back I don't want him to learn to do that. If i didn't walk him it wouldn't be a problem I guess. Thanks JDog

My first cocker and bought him to train myself. Laughed at by my other half who owns a lab, who only likes labs. I work his lab for him throughout the season. I know they're totally different but always loved cockers and their willingness to work, wanted one for years and when we moved out I had to go for it. I bought him to pick up when birds fall deep in cover etc on the shoots I pick up on, as our lab's to big to go into the cover a spaniel easily could and they could make a good team. Plus he'll hopefully be useful pushing the birds back on our shoot next season. Hes 5 months soon, a chunky dog. Hes very confident for a pup. Alot of FTCH lines however not over 'red' pedigree as he'll also be a indoor pet and only really worked a couple of times a week not daily. All was going well. Coming to call, sitting, started teaching stay, started using the whistle 2 weeks ago and would do a 180 degrees turn as SOON as I blew it. I work away occasionally so hes been to a couple of game fairs, where hes had lovely comments on him and his behavior. I knew he'd go into a naughty stage at some point. He comes with us feeding the birds and never leaves me side. A week or so later, only recently, if hes on a walk on a VERY strong scent of something he'll ignore the whistle and me, even if i walk away and leave him he'll still carry on. He's only done it twice but i'm getting worried he'll carry on doing it more and more. After a couple of minutes he'll come back to me with his tail between his legs as I've been shouting/whistling like mad for him and he knows he should come back. Hes done it twice now in 2 days. Do I tell him off, will that put him off coming back? or reward, but will that reward him for coming back a few minutes later than called? Hes also started not bringing anything back if we play fetch, hes eager to fetch a puppy dummy (we only do this a couple of times a week for a short period, of a couple of throws) he'll run like a bat out of hell, pick it up and then run to my left or right and again, totally ignore me. Doesn't care if i leave him, walk off, walk backwards, run backwards out of sight. I try and make it all fun, exciting etc. He'll eventually come but will drop it a couple of foot away. I don't think hes bored and is over excited, I know they have short attention spans. Maybe I should leave retrieving until hes older? I was told by a couple of people to not walking him and only training him when hes out the cage so he doesn't learn to self hunt but hes a pet too so lives in the house so hes use to going for walks etc with our other dog, however I want him to be a good worker and if walks ruin that i'll have to stop walking him and only bring him out to train. I believe a lot of people do this but it would be a shame. Really feel down about it, I know hes a pup and I shouldn't ask too much but the other half is laughing saying he told me to get a lab etc etc. I really want to prove to him I can do it and surely coming back when hes told and bringing back a dummy/ball once a week at a short distance isn't to much, or am i wrong? Any help will be hugely appreciated, please no nasty comments. Maybe i'm to soft, he lives a lovely spoilt life. I don't know!

Just had a email from our constabulary to make us aware that 7 shotguns were stolen on the weekend in 4 different incidents. A couple were stolen from a vehicle while the occupants were at celebrations (guessing a pub after a shoot by how its worded) Their licences are going to be removed for this. Shotguns aren't allowed to be left locked in a car I take it? I pick up, so not sure about this ethics of this but I'm pretty sure every shoot I've been to they leave their guns in the car when going to the pub, no one brings them in or takes them home.

What height/build are you? Would be interested for the OH but hes a 5'8 slim build not sure if he'd need 44" too!

Nearly bought a Hilux but went for a FL2, not as hefty but i get 34mpg on a daily basis and 40mpg on the motor way so glad i didn't go to a hilux as couldn't afford 17mpg, even though they're lovely cars. Hope they fix it for you,

You say diff, is it the haldex? What symptoms is it showing? This is the most common problem with the FL2. Had mine done at 70k.. LR quoted over £2,000 got it done at a specialist for £600 all inclusive. Bell Engineering, great guy uses reconditioned parts.

Wish I'd of known this instead of paying £50 for the test - oh well awaiting the test kit now!

Has anyone had theirs tested? Someones wrote on a forum that their friends 6 month springer pup has just been diagnosed with AMS and has a low chance of surviving. Sent off for a test to have my 4 month Cocker pup tested (£48) they can carry it as well and would like to know as would love a pup from him but won't if he carries it and i'll have him neutered .

Advocate is good, both of ours are on that but it doesn't protect from ticks.. although never had a problem with them. You do need a prescription but its worth it. The vet has recommended ours to be wormed on top 3 monthly too as they're on the farm alot.

Lovely dog, very energetic!

We only get our bitches done keyhole now, 3 tiny cuts, back to their normal self within a few days and normal activity after around 10 days and you wouldn't know anything is wrong but it is £200 more per go. Hope she gets better soon, bless her!

I agree. I own 2 horses myself and both have 3rd party cover, you can't do anything without it, all horse shows etc you need to have it. She should of had some form of cover, i'm sure he could of taken her to court if he gave her enough room and the horse still came into contact with the car. I'm a rider, but i like to think a courteous one, always trot out the way and say thank you etc. I had a accident in January (first road accident in over 10 years of riding) lady in brand new 4x4 who thinks shes gods gift (who also admitted to hating horses/countryside yet lives in the village) tried to fit past me and my biggest horse on the narrowest part of the lane then stopped as she couldn't fit past it was so narrow. Horses bum knocked her car and she got out and instantly said, i knew it was to close. My horse caused her mirror to flip out but gave her my details. Shes trying to take me to court for the repair of under £200.. luckily my side are fighting it but not sure how it will go down as no witnesses.

So sorry for your loss, rest in peace. Our collie was fit and well, suddenly the same thing happened at 9.. took her to the vets and after scans etc she had masses in her stomach area. Vet guessed cancer and she was put to sleep a week later. She was fine until then, it was a big mass and she must of been putting up for it for a while but never showed pain or was off her food. Heart breaking You never replace them!

I say walking, hes out for that time playing with other dogs etc not officially 'walking', he lies down when he wants etc. I don't walk for miles so maybe i worded it wrong, we go through a couple of open fields and they play for that time in the fields. He doesn't jump down as we live in a cottage which doesn't have any stairs luckily! That is exactly what he does. Exercise then sleeps. He gets let out about that for around 20/30 mins time, so sounds about right!

Totally agree. Hes a live wire, go for a walk and hes instantly asleep afterwards. A friend has a sprocker which gets 10 mins twice a day, its a absolute live wire. He can't get it back, control it whatsoever. Where as mine is brilliant with recall etc.

Hi all, I have just red a online post that states 5 minutes exercise for every month of age for a puppy, thats 20 mins a day for my cocker pup that is 16 weeks now! He gets 30 mins before work, 20 mins at lunch and 30 mins after work in fields/different locations having a lovely time and a odd bit a training during the walks. He seems fine in himself and looks a spit of health, nice chunky pup. He comes to work with me but is crated in between walks, he lives indoors with us and is with us all evening until we go to bed and then he goes into his crate for the night in the kitchen. Am I over doing it? If he gets any less hes crazy but after reading this now paranoid hes going to get early arthritis. Thanks!

I've never used puppy pads, agree with above it will confuse and they'll learn to wee on the pads etc. I got mine at 12 weeks so understandable older as breeder kept them for longer, but he'd only been in a kennel. First night in his cage great, he started crying at about 5am so carried him to the garden and he needed a wee. Every time he starts sniffing in the house i'd put him outside, it soon clicked, i always say 'go wee wee's' as we do with all our dogs. That was 3 weeks ago, he lives indoors and in a cage at night but since i got him hes only weed 3 times in the house and pooed once as he had a bad belly (eaten seaweed on the beach) Hes now 15 weeks and has learnt to scratch the door with his paw to go out and if i say wee wees he'll always go for a wee. Its worked brilliantly.

His first holiday in Cornwall, only had him a week and he was one of the only dogs (out of 3) on the beach of about 10 that were off the lead. Can't believe how many can't let their dogs off as they don't come back. Hopefully he stays loyal and doesn't start running off.. he liked to eat seaweed though. Hes mastered sit (had him 2 weeks) and just starting to master the word stay, getting further and further away daily!

Thank you. Hes a good boy! I think he'd do the same! The shower water wasn't to hot thankfully, hes 8kg already at nearly 14 weeks so thinking he'll get to 15kg ish which is big for a cocker. What does yours weigh?

Sounds like mine, hes suppose to sleep downstairs but last night he slept half the night under my covers in my bed.. as soon as he started fidgeting he went downstairs though. I can't believe what he done yesterday, let him come in the shower (daily thing that has happened for a week since having him) well yesterday he decided he would jump in the shower with me! I put him straight out thinking he jumped in not knowing, he jumped straight back in! He needed a bath but at 10pm it wasn't ideal, but the baby shampoo was there and he was soaked so gave him a bath and he absolutely loved it.. got out with me, gave him a rub with the old towel and he was loving it. Never have any of my dogs done that before! Thats fair enough. Everyone is different, we don't treat our dogs like humans, but we do we treat ours like members of the family. He comes upstairs but stays in the conservatory at night on his own, mind i don't mind him laying on the bed before going downstairs to bed. I do agree though, they have to know right from wrong! I know so many dogs who can't work out life due to how they're treated.

Looking to rent a little cottage up the road. For the estate agents to put the property is under offer and complete the checks/references they want £605.. for the following. Tenant Set up fee £200.00 plus VAT per Tenant aged 18 or over Inventory, Check In & Check Out Fee £125.00 inclusive of VAT Payable now £605 This is before any rent or deposit (accept that part) but is that normal?.. the rent is only £550 a month as its a tiny one bedroom cottage, and its unfurnished. Colleague I work with paid £249 for both of them for checks/set up fee/inventory etc; on a 3 bed house where the rents £1200 a month.

Thats exactly what we do - we play with the ball and he always brings it back, sits and then we put it away so he only plays for 10 minutes a day but its a little bit of retrieve fun. Can i ask why you say to never allow him upstairs? Our lab comes up stairs so we can't really allow one without the other, try our best to carry him up and down though as of his joints.

What do you feed her? Ours are on good dry food and have great teeth, always commented on by the vet, a friends dog is the same age and recently found out on supermarket basic food and you can see the plaque on the teeth, which makes me think it does make a difference.