New Cocker Spaniel Tips

G

georgedoubleyou

Well-Known Member
I have put my name down for a chocolate cocker spaniel bitch, which is due to be born in may, meaning I'd have her home in July. I just wondered whether anyone has any pearls of wisdom to help me along the way and things I should start doing from the moment I bring her home. I'd be very grateful for any advice for life at home or whilst shes out working.

I'm not entirely green to this; I have grown up around working labradors that live in kennels - but not a working dog that will live in the house with me and my young family as will be the case with this one.

It will be a beating dog that I am very keen to also have retrieving for me whether its on the peg with me or pigeon shooting in a hide (maybe even the odd day picking up on a small shoot I attend, if ever they are in desperate need).

One tip I've been given is applying horse show shine to the ears prior to a days beating which makes removing burs a much easier affair.

Thanks in advance
 
Regardless of everything else, you've got to form that all-important initial bond with your new pup. You need to be the most special thing in her whole world. If you get this sorted then subsequent training will be easy.
Without it, training may be somewhat challenging to say the least, given the nature of a cocker.
 
VSS said:
Regardless of everything else, you've got to form that all-important initial bond with your new pup. You need to be the most special thing in her whole world. If you get this sorted then subsequent training will be easy.
Without it, training may be somewhat challenging to say the least, given the nature of a cocker.
Click to expand...
That's great, thank you!
 
VSS said:
Are you planning on using it for deer work as well? My daughter has a chocolate cocker bitch as a deer tracker.
Click to expand...
I hope so, I put a post on this site before about whether beating AND picking up AND deer tracking was a bit too much to ask of her and the general opinion was that it wasn't, but of course there are better breeds for tracking.
 
When I get another cocker it will be heel work/place training and nothing else with a dummy as a reward. Everything else comes naturally but the little bundles of energy that makes them so awesome is also their downfall imo.

Love mine to death he’s a fantastic companion wouldn’t change him for the world but I absolutely ruined him in my haste by doing too much too soon.
 
Crate training at first in the house Stop whistle 100 % or keep it on a lead and use a place board. All can be viewed no doubt on you tube. Oh and never never let it chase or chase and catch . Good luck and enjoy
 
georgedoubleyou said:
I have put my name down for a chocolate cocker spaniel bitch, which is due to be born in may, meaning I'd have her home in July. I just wondered whether anyone has any pearls of wisdom to help me along the way and things I should start doing from the moment I bring her home. I'd be very grateful for any advice for life at home or whilst shes out working.

I'm not entirely green to this; I have grown up around working labradors that live in kennels - but not a working dog that will live in the house with me and my young family as will be the case with this one.

It will be a beating dog that I am very keen to also have retrieving for me whether its on the peg with me or pigeon shooting in a hide (maybe even the odd day picking up on a small shoot I attend, if ever they are in desperate need).

One tip I've been given is applying horse show shine to the ears prior to a days beating which makes removing burs a much easier affair.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Leave her to grow her bones and keep he back for a couple of years as I found Toby is miles more steady than Chip, Toby was at my side on a lead for both lockdown times as I made the too early mistake with Chip. (Fantastic dog just not as steady due to starting to early
 
In the past I was a Labrador man. Currently I have a 3 year old Springer Spaniel bitch, a Covid lockdown special. It is a dog that goes shooting, not a shooting dog. She does what she wants, and eventually you realise this is almost what you wanted. As soon as you learn this about Spaniels you will be able to sleep at night.
 
old 30-06 said:
In the past I was a Labrador man. Currently I have a 3 year old Springer Spaniel bitch, a Covid lockdown special. It is a dog that goes shooting, not a shooting dog. She does what she wants, and eventually you realise this is almost what you wanted. As soon as you learn this about Spaniels you will be able to sleep at night.
Click to expand...
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this, but it sounds rather disheartening. Going by some of the comments above, spaniels and labs should be approached differently in terms of training. Could it be that rather than spaniels just not being the best, which is how your comment read to me, could it be that perhaps your training wasn't quite as well suited to the breed of dog?

I'm not trying to sound disrespectful, infact I've rewritten this reply a few times over to try and ensure it comes across properly, I'm just wondering whther your comment applies to all/most spaniels or if its specific to your dog.
 
georgedoubleyou said:
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this, but it sounds rather disheartening. Going by some of the comments above, spaniels and labs should be approached differently in terms of training. Could it be that rather than spaniels just not being the best, which is how your comment read to me, could it be that perhaps your training wasn't quite as well suited to the breed of dog?

I'm not trying to sound disrespectful, infact I've rewritten this reply a few times over to try and ensure it comes across properly, I'm just wondering whther your comment applies to all/most spaniels or if its specific to your dog.
Click to expand...
I think he was referring, slightly tongue in cheek, to the fact that spaniels are renowned for having a mind of their own.

Remember the saying:
A larador is born half trained, and a spaniel dies half trained!
 
VSS said:
I think he was referring, slightly tongue in cheek, to the fact that spaniels are renowned for having a mind of their own.

Remember the saying:
A larador is born half trained, and a spaniel dies half trained!
Click to expand...
ah! In that case, I've misunderstood and I apologise.
 
georgedoubleyou, Just mine. They train differently to Labs. Lovely little girl. I would not swap her for the world.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VSS
Interesting reading.
www.thepetgundog.co.uk

The Pet Gundog Puppy

Regardless of what you plan to do with your pet gundog puppy, from lying at your feet in front of the telly or taking him shooting, the basics are the basics are the basics; and the basics apply whether that’s a Springer Spaniel, a German Short-Haired Pointer or a Labrador... more so if your...
www.thepetgundog.co.uk www.thepetgundog.co.uk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Peg/Picking up dog training
Replies
11
Views
679
Willowthewhisk
W
When your Cocker proves she has a 'soft mouth'...
Replies
6
Views
1K
dogman56
D
Introduction
Replies
2
Views
119
bullet chucker
B
Sold: Working cocker spaniel Puppies
Replies
4
Views
1K
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
My Hunting Dogs.
Replies
9
Views
699
Tim.243
Tim.243
Bleak Ridge is a family-run business, selling country clothing and workwear
Back
Top