wj939 Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Just to add to the sussex argument, I asked a friend, who happens to be a leading judge in the sussex circuit. Double coat and webbed toes.......should say it all regarding water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.w. Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Wj939 I suppose that would meet the needs of the wildfowler a steady hunter with double coat and Webbed toes that will not make a fantastic retriever, I think not they must be good retrievers full stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Just to add to the sussex argument, I asked a friend, who happens to be a leading judge in the sussex circuit. Double coat and webbed toes.......should say it all regarding water. Sure he wasn't talking about the locals in Norfolk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wj939 Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Wj939 I suppose that would meet the needs of the wildfowler a steady hunter with double coat and Webbed toes that will not make a fantastic retriever, I think not they must be good retrievers full stop. I've seen them work quite a bit, they are not great retrievers, they don't take handling as well as a lab. But yes they can swim well. I'm not slating them, but there's no way your telling me they are great wildfowling dogs. Bringing this back to the original point, a sussex is a poor recommendation for the requirements of the OP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Most dogs can swim pretty well , but swimming through a good tide in freezing water carrying a goose is a different ball game , that is what a good wildfowling dog needs to do . If you are only shooting the odd duck inland then perhaps one of the lesser breeds will suffice , I have always had spaniels , but as soon as I decided to start wildfowling I brought a Lab . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 But then there are the hardcore breeds that will out perform a lab....... Unnecessary for most as a lab is the easiest choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.w. Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I've seen them work quite a bit, they are not great retrievers, they don't take handling as well as a lab. But yes they can swim well. I'm not slating them, but there's no way your telling me they are great wildfowling dogs. Bringing this back to the original point, a sussex is a poor recommendation for the requirements of the OP. Read my post properly I pointed out to you it matters not how well they swim hunt have great big fat webbed feet if they aren't good retrievers they are no good for wildfowling hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washwildfowler Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 (edited) What about the cheapeake bay retriever..thats got to be the right choice for the hardest weather for fowling .. Edited February 22, 2015 by washwildfowler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 But then there are the hardcore breeds that will out perform a lab....... Unnecessary for most as a lab is the easiest choice I quite agree , if I was wildfowling and only wildfowling I personally would have a chessie . What about the cheapeake bay retriever..thats got to be the right choice for the hardest weather for fowling .. You beat me to it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washwildfowler Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I quite agree , if I was wildfowling and only wildfowling I personally would have a chessie . You beat me to it ! Lol, i might eat my words yet , i will let you know by the end of the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Lol, i might eat my words yet , i will let you know by the end of the summer. I am sure she will turn out to be a cracker and look forward to seeing her with a goose stuffed in her mouth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 So... about this OP that wants his dog to pick rifle shot rabbits... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 So... about this OP that wants his dog to pick rifle shot rabbits... Oh yeah I had forgot about that , I sort of answered in my first post that a dog will do what its trained for to a degree , but to be honest in the case of rifle shot rabbits , I really do not see a need for a dog at all, but then I guess plenty of us have stuff we want rather than need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Oh yeah I had forgot about that , I sort of answered in my first post that a dog will do what its trained for to a degree , but to be honest in the case of rifle shot rabbits , I really do not see a need for a dog at all, but then I guess plenty of us have stuff we want rather than need. If you don't have a dog which hole do you know to put your hand down to find the rabbit? Looks like rifle shooting rabbits is another thing that ain't done much of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 If you don't have a dog which hole do you know to put your hand down to find the rabbit? Looks like rifle shooting rabbits is another thing that ain't done much of. If you say so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peek-at Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 So... about this OP that wants his dog to pick rifle shot rabbits... Thanks for that WGD...... In the not too distant future I will be in the fortunate position of retiring and having plenty of time on my hands (once the wife's inevetible 'to do' list is done)...... I would like to have a 'buddy' to go out walking & shooting with so he/she will be for company, as well as being useful. I did expect the concensus to be to go for a retriever to retrieve but as said, I do love the springer/cocker......I would welcome any further opinions as to whether these can be trained 'to be a labrador' (if you know what I mean) or if I am just barking up the wrong tree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I've had several Cockers, they are usually affectionate & have a good nature, I'd say you can train them to be a Labrador. They are harder to train than a Labrador though, their desire to hunt can make them awkward. I've never had one not pick game but they can lack an interest in dummies, (****** that, I'd rather hunt) this makes training them to do long retrieves, blinds etc a bit of a con job rather than a simple ABC game you'd play with a Labrador. I'd also say that a Cocker is more likely to be fractious when you're out shooting. They're bright, inquisitive dogs & there's a good chance that whilst you're sat tight waiting for bunnies a cocker will be trying to get up to see what's going on. If i was going to train a Cocker purely as a retriever, from an early age - I'd get it to be retrieve daft I'd not allow it any free hunting & I'd keep it off gamey ground. I'd put Labrador skills into it, lead work, sit & stay etc If you've got some real rabbit ground, get rid of the rifle, train a cocker the proper way & shoot them with a shotgun. You can't beat the fun of rabbiting over a decent dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I'd not allow it any free hunting & I'd keep it off gamey ground. Which basically means don't take it for a walk. I agree with everything Perce says, it is perfectly doable with the right dog, but unnecessarily complicated when a lab fits the bill better, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pothunter Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Personally, I wouldn't get a spaniel for what you want. If you don't fancy a pure retriever, maybe get an HPR, which won't retrieve quite like a lab, but won't be quite as difficult as a working-bred spaniel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Personally, I wouldn't get a spaniel for what you want. If you don't fancy a pure retriever, maybe get an HPR, which won't retrieve quite like a lab, but won't be quite as difficult as a working-bred spaniel? Sorry don't agree with this at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Somteimes in these which reed threads it appears some of the posters just look at pretty pictures of a dogs/breeds and reccommend that without ever training 1 or working 1, some complete nonsense as usual. I'd say perce and wgd above are spot on as usual, Yes the right trainer can train the right dog to do almost anything, but very dependent on the trainers experience/knowledge (and being honest if u had the experience/knowledge u would just buy the breed u want and not ask online) but not all spaniels would be suitable some will just be too hunting orientated no matter how good u are. I'd say an hpr would be even worse than a spaniel, they have be bred for generations to hunt/quarter at massive distances so even more likely to be fidety or noisey when sat still, same again the right indivdual may be ok but plenty won't. I have seen some of the best hpr's in the country FTCH and while brilliant on the moor/open ground, none off them handle anything like a well trained lab The sensible choice is a decent working/beating line strain lab, doesn't need loads of FTCH's in its pedigree, will do exactly wot u want with a minimum fuss and fairly easy to train. If u fancy something different (other than a fancy coloured lab) u could go with a Flatty or Golden but both generally slower to mature and harder to train than a lab and less geniune working stock about. If it's ur first working dog and u want to get it to a decent standard a lab is the only real choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pothunter Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Sorry don't agree with this at all. 1. Why? 2. Just to be clear, I think a retriever would be best, but as he doesn't seem to want a retriever, think that maybe the right hpr would be better than a spaniel for just sitting and retrieving. I have an hpr that will sit all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pothunter Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Somteimes in these which reed threads it appears some of the posters just look at pretty pictures of a dogs/breeds and reccommend that without ever training 1 or working 1, some complete nonsense I'd say an hpr would be even worse than a spaniel, they have be bred for generations to hunt/quarter at massive distances so even more likely to be fidety or noisey when sat still I'd say you don't have much experience, except as a spectator, of HPRs. They're nothing like as fidgety or wired as a spaniel. Bracchi and Spinoni, for instance, are incredibly laid back dogs. I agree a lab is the obvious choice for this work, but complete nonsense to suggest that, for instance, Bracchi and Spinoni are more fidgety than spaniels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjjack Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 OP likes spaniels but the lab seems the better choice for the type of shooting... It it me or is it not obvious! Cockador!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 I've only ever had Flatcoats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.