What should I be looking for??

[Rascal]

Drop James a member on here a PM he's probably a tad busy at the mo with trials but he would be able to point you in the right direction.

Rascal

[Springfield Pointers]

When people ask me this question, I always ask them "What do YOU like in a bird dog?" - It is important to give that a lot of thought, because what other people think is a good thing, may not be something you hold in high regard for your personal preference. Bear in mind that they might be crackers in the field but loopy as a bowl of Oatees at home, and you have to live with the damned thing. I'm not suggesting you choose a dog with a view solely on it being a pet, but give a lot of thought about your personal preferences. It makes training a whole lot easier with a dog you "click" with and it makes watching a dog hunt a whole lot more exciting if you know what races your motor.

Use it don't use it.

[Bryn]

I really don't think the dog is a write off at 16m, glad you're going to find a new trainer and get some structure. I remember one collie I had that I thought would never be any use but by the age of 4 he was going just fine and worked on until he had to be PTS at around 16 so he had 12 years of work.

I really like the point SP made - I bought my ESS as an active pal and companion to keep me fit and active in my retirement. That plan went out the window when he started retrieving things to me from about 8wks and I thought it would be a criminal waste not to train him for what he was obviously intended and enjoys. I have no interest in trialling, enjoy tests in the summer and just like a dog that will use its nose to find anything in our patch no matter how tough the cover, whether to flush or retrieve and that is nearly where we've got to. As well as all that he has to be a good pal and well behaved in the house .....sort of

If I was into trials I'd be looking for something markedly different.

[Goffy]

hope you find a good trainer, i didnt even start gundog training with my first until he was 16mth old, he had taught himself lots flushing, chasing etc, however we decided to start gundog training and started with the basics, which he quickly picked up, and we then moved onwards and upwards and it all came together for him.
so i believe there is no magical age to start training,
with a new pup I was able to mold and manage certain behavours that i wanted or didnt want, and yes life was easier,
if certain commands have gone awry change it introduce a new command word and ensure he complies, i.e swop Come to Here or Heel.
fetch to Hie Lost
I am sure a bit more consistency on your part will pay off, make him earn his rewards not too much free running on scented ground only hunting under control or free run on blank ground.
when you do go for a pup and do want to enter tests or trials then yes you will need papers. as only KC dogs can enter for competition.
Jan

[trekmoor]

I'm now very serious about getting a young pup to train to take out ruff shooting when we go or even trailing. Does having papers really matter all that much?? And how much at tension should I take to where he ones from???

Having "papers" only matters if the dog is to be field trialed or perhaps ran in tests. Without papers ...that is a pedigree AND K.C. registration , a dog cannot be field trialed. A pedigree with a pup means nothing without the K.C. registration too. Absolutely anyone can write out a pedigree for any pup, even a complete mongrel pup.

I think you should have a good go at training the pup you already have for the next several months. During that time try to find out more about gundog training in general and spaniel training in particular. Join a local gundog training club if there is one and find a trainer who knows about spaniel trials if you are thinking about trialing your next pup.

Use your present pup as your "experimental model" in order not to make the same mistakes with the new pup you eventually get. I made so many mistakes with my first few gundogs I couldn't begin to count them all ! I didn't really improve much until after I'd seen "real" trial dogs working.
I didn't seem to learn much from the books I read back then .... I'm a bit dim and like to see gundog work for real in order to understand it.

Wullie