Gundog Training Forum

I pick up with three young female labs on a big estate, a big partrdge manor and a smallish farm shoot - geberally around 3-4 days a week. It's a mix of picking runners during drives, hoovering after the whistle, working hedges and woods for pricked birds etc etc. I want to add a fourth team member next year and am very tempted to add a cocker bitch. However I've always had labs apart from a crazy Springer many years ago so I've no real idea what I'd be taking on. Any thoughts or advice welcome!!

They are certainly different to Labs, much quirkier. I bought one to add to my team of Flatcoats, I now pick up with a team of Cockers and no Flatcoats, the little things are addictive. Just buy from a breeder that regularly picks up and you'll be ok.

Thanks Judy. They still scare the life out of me!

Go and lie down in a dark room for a while.........the feeling will pass!!

Pay no attention to DR, he loves them really.

I'm debating going the opposite of you. I have a cocker and am thinking of adding a lab. I think you're absolutely mad

Cass wrote:I'm debating going the opposite of you. I have a cocker and am thinking of adding a lab. I think you're absolutely mad

I'm with you!!! I've just added a Labrador this year and really like her. Don't listen to Judy, she likes Flat Coats ffs!!!!!!

Appreciate all your inputs! This is obviously a big decision - I reckon I'll seek as much guidance as I can. My girls are all a bit mad so I'm sort of half way to a crazy cocker anyway!

I have had 40 years of experience with Labs and ESS and a year and a half with one Cocker so certainly not the expert on the breed like others here. I am really enjoying mine. I did not find him difficult to train or that much different than other dogs I have trained. I found him mentally tougher than my several ESS and he never sulked or got timid. When he was a puppy his unbound energy was a bit of a challenge but he has calmed significantly in the last six months. His hunting style is quite different than my Labs who always needed reminding to stay close and always had tendency to "take a line" and head on down one side if a ditch or the edge of a woodlot they needed handling to make them really work a piece of ground. The Cocker never ranges out more than 30 yards from me and is in constant motion zig zagging and changing direction all the time, charging through ditches and hedges and then back again. All I really need to do in vary the pace of my walking. If I want really thorough work I just walk more slowly. Less productive looking spots I just move more quickly and he covers less ground to keep up.

I have no idea if my cocker is mad or not but she sure is a lot of fun, a bundle of energy and I love her to bits.