MJO Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Does anyone have experience of how Lab / spaniel (springer or cocker) crosses tend to perform and/or what they are like to train? Main requirement would be rough shooting / flushing out and retrieving - and not savaging the kids of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 They will train / work fine if they come from decent working stock. But I see no advantage to having one , if you want a good rough shooting dog then buy a springer or a cocker , they have been bred to do the job for century's where as the crosses seem to be a modern fad. Just my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJO Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 They will train / work fine if they come from decent working stock. But I see no advantage to having one , if you want a good rough shooting dog then buy a springer or a cocker , they have been bred to do the job for century's where as the crosses seem to be a modern fad. Just my opinion. Thanks - good to know. I wasn't aware they were a fad, but just noticed they were cheaper than their pedigree comrades - that was the main attraction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Thanks - good to know. I wasn't aware they were a fad, but just noticed they were cheaper than their pedigree comrades - that was the main attraction Like most things in life the cheap option is not always the best option . Good springers dont generally cost the earth . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Labrador if you have children. We have a springer, but they are more hyper and harder to train than a lab. Years ago I did have a labxspringer he was more lab though and I didn't shoot then, but he did well in obedience trials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Labrador if you have children. We have a springer, but they are more hyper and harder to train than a lab. Years ago I did have a labxspringer he was more lab though and I didn't shoot then, but he did well in obedience trials. He wants it for rough shooting , as much as I like labs if I was rough shooting I would want another spaniel ,whats having kids got to do with it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michufc Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 With our spaniels I kennel mine as I have two young children and the wife didn't want the kids to get bowled over by excited dogs or for the kids to work them up into a frenzy. Between you and me I would love to have them in but the mrs is probably right (but I never said that and would put it all down to a typo is she reads this lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Must admit i rough shoot over my labs all the time, got a springer as well. but any decent lab should go into cover if there scent there, might not hit cover for no reason like a spaniel. But my labs have ratched throu whin bushes and brairs that spaniels where refusing, most of the beating lines round this area are predorminately labs. On a spaniel training day i was shooting on 1 handler wouldnae let there dog hunt in netteles or brairs as they were 'too thick' was some of the best game holding cover on the beat Yes spaniels may have a slight edge but no reason labs cannae do it. If i only could have 1 dog it would be a lab for rough shooting and everything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michufc Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I must admit I have seen some cracking labs working cover. I suppose it's down to preference but as for the labs you would really have to check the lines as a lot don't work cover as well as the spaniels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEADLY PLUMBER Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Take your time in what dog you decide to get. It's a big commitment 10-15 yrs. also hours and hours of training. With a dog costing thousands over its life time. A few hundred quid extra now to get the right dog for you. In my opinion would be money well spent now. I have a cocker. Great dog but being my first dog I have found him hard to train as we both have our L plates on. But we are slowly getting there. Also get a pup so it grows up with your children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DazzJo Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Any dog is hard to train, so don't listen to people who say " springers are a lot more hyper than a lab so harder to train " what a load of rubbish, I've had 3 springers and had no problems, it's the trainer not the dog. I shoot with a young lad who has a lab x springer and I never seen such a fantastically looking dog, he's quick, agile, his vision and sense of smell is incredible. Most weeks I make a beeline to give it a fuss as it loves a good fuss haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 A cross doesnt mean a 50/50 split it may end up with all the bad points from both parents......crosses are not all bad Ive seen some crackers also seen some very well bred dogs come to nothing not all dogs make good gun dogs but 99% will do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bang bang birdy Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Take your time in what dog you decide to get. It's a big commitment 10-15 yrs. also hours and hours of training. With a dog costing thousands over its life time. A few hundred quid extra now to get the right dog for you. In my opinion would be money well spent now. I have a cocker. Great dog but being my first dog I have found him hard to train as we both have our L plates on. But we are slowly getting there. Also get a pup so it grows up with your children. +1😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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