Cocker spaniel health testing

[sportingspaniels]

Not the norm. The position they need to be manipulated into for the x-rays is very exacting and is normally done under GA.

Moy farm at out rawcliffe is a very highly rated specialist and do it under sedation.
Canine imagery in Hampshire is a very highly rated specialist and do it under sedation. You can find genuine experts if you have a look around.

 

[countrryboy]

Our local vets used to only sedate and folk would travel to them for it.
But GA now.

If ur going for the health tested route might be worth getting ur name down for eyes 1st and waiting, it only costs 30-50 quid.
If it fails eyes no point in getting hips done so u have saved some money

 

[deerstalker.308]

Our local vets used to only sedate and folk would travel to them for it.
But GA now.

If ur going for the health tested route might be worth getting ur name down for eyes 1st and waiting, it only costs 30-50 quid.
If it fails eyes no point in getting hips done so u have saved some money

to be fair cockers aren’t on the BVA list for hips as being at high risk anyway, it would be the least of my concerns with one.

 

[sportingspaniels]

If I was choosing a stud dog I would look in this order
How it works/what awards as it won
How it’s bred
What are its test results
. I have seen 100’s of poor dogs but never met a owner with a poor dog.

 

[countrryboy]

to be fair cockers aren’t on the BVA list for hips as being at high risk anyway, it would be the least of my concerns with one.

Aye I was referring to the post above mine on about labs and X rays, so slightly off topic.

Must admit I've spoke to a few folk who i reguard as quite responsible breeders and none of them has ever had an eye test done on a cocker.
Mate got a litter the now 1000 a pup out of a decent ftch and his bitch is decent worker and well bred.
Is it not more a show problem?

 

[sportingspaniels]

Aye I was referring to the post above mine on about labs and X rays, so slightly off topic.

Must admit I've spoke to a few folk who i reguard as quite responsible breeders and none of them has ever had an eye test done on a cocker.
Mate got a litter the now 1000 a pup out of a decent ftch and his bitch is decent worker and well bred.
Is it not more a show problem?

I too have a mate with a ftch x good bitch litter now but his are £850. Can you imagine having friends that have jumped on the mega bucks bandwagon???? Must be terrible

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Agree with SS - those aspects but in pretty much any order.

If the dog doesn’t work well the health tests mean just about bugger all.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Agree with SS - those aspects but in pretty much any order.

If the dog doesn’t work well the health tests mean just about bugger all.

Not necessarily, could just be the owner did a less than acceptable job of training it.
I have seen plenty on shoots over the years.
Mine are not perfect, but even so work well enough. A more experienced gundog trainer might have got the best from them.
Someone tried to tell me some Springer pups would be useless because the sire was a pet. One of them went to the RAF had a career with many firsts and awards. Good enough to perform at Windsor for the Golden Jubilee.
Sometimes the genetics are there even if they are not working at their full potential.

 

[Malxwal]

As per Sonics comments, this dog hunts tirelessly, will retrieve the the runners furthest out from any cover or water. Quarters by nature. He's a big, strong dog, with a fantastic soft temperament, a character. He just never got any training, I'd love to have another chance with that in a pup.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

As per Sonics comments, this dog hunts tirelessly, will retrieve the the runners furthest out from any cover or water. Quarters by nature. He's a big, strong dog, with a fantastic soft temperament, a character. He just never got any training, I'd love to have another chance with that in a pup.

Sometimes the weakest link in a dog’s ability. Is the owner, the best we can do is be honest and try again with the next one.
There’s a lot to be said for your connection to said dog. Getting a pup from a much loved pet is better in my opinion. Than buying one with a pedigree full of FTCH and FTW’s. As the bond is almost always stronger and I certainly find it more pleasurable to train a dog that I really like. Rather than it being just one of a few other dogs requiring training. I have more experience with sheep dogs having trained more of them than I have gun dogs. But the principal is the same.
While health tests and the likes of Mate Select (Kennel Club) gives an idea of what you should get. There’s no guarantee in breeding. You simply choose the best you can with the information available, and hope nature works in your favour.