stuart21 Posted October 10, 2022 Report Share Posted October 10, 2022 Evening all! I’m thinking about getting a cocker pup next year, and will be looking for a red dog with a stocky build. I mostly do walked up, with a bit of driven and some wildfowling. I haven’t had a spaniel before, as I have a lab and a working Goldie and think a cocker would be great for where I live. Can anyone suggest where I should start looking please? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted October 10, 2022 Report Share Posted October 10, 2022 Put the word out on any gun dog sites or get around the shoots looking at what the beaters/ picker ups are using maybe a field trial or working test to get it know that you are looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weihrauch17 Posted October 10, 2022 Report Share Posted October 10, 2022 I wouldn't buy off colour, just the breeding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agriv8 Posted October 10, 2022 Report Share Posted October 10, 2022 Stuart 3 years in on a sprocker for me - upto 2 years it was erm fun - spaniel ears. i love mine to bits but every two steps forward you seem to take one backwards go for it but if I had my time again and we didn’t have Covid a session every couple of weeks with someone who trains and works spanner spaniels would have helped I am sure . they need brain and stimulation and nose stimulation but mine works like hell on a beating line - most of the time where I want her to Agriv8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted October 11, 2022 Report Share Posted October 11, 2022 Try Andy Platt if you’re on FB - he has a FTCH cocker stud dog and may be able to point you towards litters due or on the ground sired by him and other good dogs 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted October 11, 2022 Report Share Posted October 11, 2022 I’d forget about colour and focus on getting a pup from parents that are actually worked, have no faults and have the attributes you are after. There’s plenty dogs who are driven to shoots once a fortnight, left to run around out of control and then their owner tells everyone they are a top working dog worthy of being bred. There’s a bloke comes beating on our tiny syndicate, who tells anyone who’ll listen the dogs brilliant, it’s totally out of control, has a hard mouth and squeaks. Last I saw him I think he said it’s sired over 130+ pups. People use it because of the colour (black and tan). Unfortunately breeding any old thing they can get their hands on seems to be a lot worse with cockers (probably cos they’re so damn cute). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted October 11, 2022 Report Share Posted October 11, 2022 Father daughter and granddaughter when I was given the father they weren’t popular with the shooting community and even now I exercise caution in the shooting field with a robust briefing before we start if ground game is being shot on the day A overly keen gun could think they were a fox or a hare it happens you maybe want to consider this aspect of the coulor choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart21 Posted October 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2022 Thanks all! Whilst it will be my first spaniel, it’s not my first working dog. I’m not looking for a trialling dog, but I am looking for a pup from working parents and proof of that. There seems to be quite a few out there that don’t actually work or are being bred quite young. That is not for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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