Should I get a working Cocker?

So this video is not meant to put you off buying a working spaniel. It's just about being realistic with expectations. There are also many spaniels that turn out to be very little hassle for very little work but they are generally the minority and not the majority. These can be fantastic little dogs, but they require more effort restriction and training the most other breed dogs. If you have that good understanding, of the breed and what is required to get the best out of them then they are amazing . They can give a huge amount of satisfaction and joy as they have massive heart but they're also not scared to break a few hearts on the way.
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[@murphyebass7837]

I got a springer mixed with a miniature poodle. Best dog ever. 3 months old now. Great with the family. Plenty of outdoors, walks, play etc and they’re happy

[@BenVallack]

Definitely wish I’d had this video 2 years ago! Golden retriever vs working cocker was exactly our decision. Size was a big factor for us so went for a cocker. The hunting thing was a massive shock - just obsessed with birds and wanting to chase everything. Luckily you showed us how to deal with it and now she’s really enjoyable and we wouldn’t swap her for anything.

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Never a dull day with a cocker but you do need a sense of humour ☺️🐶🤣

[@sunsetgundog]

Excellent video with a message that needs to be understood by every aspiring dog owner and a few breeders as well!

[@helenfrench8775]

This video is bang on.. I’ve had an ESS, a show cocker, labs and now have a WCS who has definitely been the most challenging but rewarding to train. Love her to bits. 🐾🐾

[@asher8464]

This video should be compulsory viewing for potential spaniel owners. I have two older Labs. I also have a year old Sprocker. The contrast is just as you describe and there are times when I could happily throttle the little devil ! Grrrrr .... but such a character.

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Thanks 👍

[@richardcism]

Thanks. Really helpful video. We were thinking of getting a working Cocker, but a Labrador is probably more suitable for us!

[@gupndors]

On our 5th WCS, female with bags of attitude and smartest of the lot. She has been whistle trained to come back to us. She is 12 months old and although she will return 90% of the time, she will not come if she is distracted by prey. We leað walk unless we are at a safe location. She began behaving around 10 months old and is slowly improving. Amazing dogs, active yet incredibly loving!

[@nathanm5388]

Very wise words. Everyone should listen to you before getting a working dog.

[@neiljohnson8589]

This is so true, ours is nearly a year and I don't quite trust her off a long lead on scent yet but getting there. I can't suppress her hunting instinct so try to channel it instead. Keeping everything that's fun and stimulating for a spaniel really close to you at all times, that's the best bit of advice I've been given. The only dogs I've met that were cleverer than her are collies, but you really do need a long fuse and sense of humour...

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

These working cockers, especially are super intelligent. I personally wouldn't say "on the same level as a collie, but they are way clever generally than there two Leggate Homo sapiens Owners 🤣 Dogs being clever can work in your favour, but a lot of the time that could work against you as they generally are one step ahead of you, even though they don't really know what they're doing

[@igemm78]

We took on a 5 month working cocker 4 months ago, I've had dogs my entire life...including Welsh springers, but man this boy is proving to be one of THE most frustrating dogs I've ever had! Love him to bits but intense really isn't the word! We SEEM to be turning a corner now, but I can wholeheartedly say if I'd of known what we were in for I would have never gone for a working cocker (for ours and his sake)

[@leonhemmings4369]

I love the honesty, I’ve got a 2 year old Fox Red Labrador and 4 month old ESS loving the challenge but willing to please. 😅

[@JR-iw8du]

I find Springer Spaniels more focused, and prey drive is easy to curb. My youngest Springer was a joy to train, so willing to please and a great pet too.

[@suzylogan3524]

Ive found it takes a huge amount of patience to train a cocker and I’ve learnt mine needs lots of playing retrieve or hide n seek games even on walks to keep his focus!!! Otherwise he gets pretty nutty!!! Lovely but nutty. Mines two yet still needs training everyday or he gets too independent minded. I had a springer in the past who was definitely much easier!!

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

There's never a day where you can sit back you always need to keep pushing forwards otherwise, the little monkeys will see the chance with the ability to make you cry and laugh in the same session 🤣😅

[@helenberrington]

Yes they are too clever by half but they are great little dogs. I have a wcs and a 50/50 work/show type you can tell the difference off lead the wcs is obsessed with finding prey the first time he flushed a pheasant out of a hedge he looked absolutely ecstatic bless him the other one just trots along next to me hoping for food.

[@thenoworriesnomad]

Great video..as always..👍

[@shaunrhead6029]

I wouldn’t change me springer for anything best dog and pet

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Fantastic ☺️🐶

[@ronaldbear1]

My springer is a pain in the ass but also the most loving pet I’ve ever had.

[@Puppy_juice]

영상재미있게보고갑니다😁😁😁

[@gerarddowling672]

Hi Chris, very informative, but I think you are saying close the door after the horse,has bolted . I bought a WCS; when he was eight weeks old. He is now 11 months, I dread the thought of rehoming him. Which will not happen. He has an amazing pedigree, and his intelligence is second to none. I take him twice a day to a local farm and a great woods close to my home . The bad news is he pulls like mad and jumps up for England. He does respond when called returning on a shout. But does not drop right away like he used to . He has been caged in house since 8weeks old and responds to in den , Sleeping all night till 8.30 am . Doesn’t sound like you hv any miracle cure, or recipe to make his and my life easier. Just don’t by a WCS. 😂

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Some can be straightforward, but the majority can be quite hard work. They are a dog that's been bred to do a job and although can be great house dogs they come with their trials and tribulations training one of these dogs without any experience help is a very difficult thing to get right I would advise anyone buying a new puppy to seek out professional help. It's not like buying a purely domestically bred dog saying that though some people are very lucky and very straightforward easy-going Dogs but that is the minority not the majority sadly.

[@amandaseverance]

I feel your pain, but I won’t give up either! Looking for alternatives, maybe agility training??? I’m crazy about this amazing find I’ve got here, and only want what’s best for him. Can’t say he’s a “working” cocker. Not sure of the diffeeence, but he has everything they say to look for. Nose to the ground, tail down, eager to please, redirectable…but he’s like a honey badger when he’s under stimulated.

[@resilientmamabear9726]

We have a one year old Sproker. All I can say is she is full of personality and a little attitude. But super smart. Our cat brought home a few presents in the form of dead mouse and Willow alerted us on both occasions. Thankfully we live beside an open field to get her out and she loves nothing but a ball to bring back. We took her to a dog park and although she sniffed around other dogs we had her full attention. She isn't perfect as she has chewed through my wicker bench and panel of our outside door when she was a pup. Overall totally crazy, super smart, loyal, fantastic with children and lets us know when Amazon or anyone else is calling 🐾

[@amandaseverance]

Too late! I’m learning on the fly here! Never expected such an amazing animal! My pup checks all the boxes! Did not get him from a breeder. It was an accidental litter. He’s a cocker. Grandpa is a lab. I want to give my pup the best life for him , but I’m a 64 yr old woman who does not hunt! We are so close, so I would never give him up. Any ideas? Alternatives to hunting? He is 17 weeks old.

[@deetles98]

What about Field Spaniels? Where do they fit in with regard to ESS and WS? I’ve had German Shepherds as pet dogs…looking to downsize and get a gentler, yet active dog but not hard to control & train. Possibly do some hunting trials if the dog is into it, but most likely barn hunts and/ or agility. A dog that responds well to me and their training would be optimal.

[@clairevp1980]

Ur right ...ive 2 cockers both totally diff........1 brilliant fetching the other b soo good 4 beating his nose down following sents can b a cat squirel fox even tyre tracks .....but with training an plenty ov excersise these boys arnt bad an can i say training wow so diff there the oldest he'd learnt basic sit stay with in 2 weeks the youngist months ..put some thought into it an have the time if ur getting a working dog

[@mBilly1]

Great videos. This will be my first dog. It will be a family companion for myself and 4 year old son. Ive been advised to get a SHOW cocker spaniel rather than a WORKING cocker spaniel. Would you agree with this statement? If not, are there any similar size, medium dogs you'd recommend?

[@JackRoss-up9ss]

Thinking I should of gone with the monkey now... 🙈🙈🤣🤣

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Nice you saw that 🤣🤣🐒

[@CraigAshford]

oh and 7 years 22 SAS

[@PaulineDavis-oi1wy]

Really enjoying your channel...and have had 2x show cockers which were great - but could not let them off the lead and be back before sunset ha ha - now thinking of a spaniel...do you have any experience with welsh springers? They seem more chilled than an english springer. What would you suggest please?

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Personally, I would still rather have a Springer, as there is more to work with

[@stuartduncombe4964]

I’m actually looking for my first spaniel, so I have recently subscribed to this channel. For me this video is far too black and white. I shoot with many spaniel owners and all can cope on the peg, as well as beating. I myself have a working golden retriever and he is far easier to train that my previous pet golden. “Dogs like Staffies and dalmations require less training”, really? I get tue difference between show strain and working strain, but it’s nowhere near as clear cut as this video suggests.

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Yes they can do the job but they need the right temperament and that is less likely to come with this type of dog. I have had a really good spaniels that have made good peg dogs, but they need the correct training and they also need the luck of having a correct temperament but this is still going to be the minority rather than majority. I take an overview of the majority of dogs that I have seen and trained over the years of course, they're always going to be exceptions but I base my thoughts on reality, as I said if you want to chance for good peg dog, you're always gonna be much better off going for a Labrador retriever which has been bred for the correct temperature to do that job, and if you're after a busy dog that covers ground, you're always gonna be better off going for a spaniel ☺️🐶

[@neiljohnson8589]

The sire of our dog is a peg dog, but he is unusually laid back for a cocker. The dam is an agility dog and very lively. Ours came out roughly between the two, I think she would be very hard work to settle on the peg.

[@eerr1438]

Can’t be more honest than that! Great when they are trained but be aware if you don’t know what your doing. I’ve got an 18 month springer bitch that will be be the best spaniel I’ve had but also the hardest one I’ve trained! Prey drive has been almost pitbull like!??!?

[@CraigAshford]

so either poorly bred or bad ownership not to let them off the lead. Sorry my opinion.

[@davewatson430]

what's your opinion on sprockers i've had a springer and a cocker before but my sprocker is completely bonkers like on another level.

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Same dog really just depends on breeding 👍☺️🐶

[@Goat.Herder]

I've had spaniels since the 90s and the ESS are a bit easier than the WCS, but my Sprockers are like the hyper version of the WCS 😂. Cracking dogs imo. You'll never get bored with any spaniel around.

[@MrNewtonian]

At least Spaniels are biddable unlike Terriers and they don't go to ground.

[@tinaisaac9428]

I have three standard poodles they are hunting dogs nose on the floor they keep going and don’t give up. Most people don’t realise that they are like this.

[@Ronny.81]

Irish water spaniels are they difficult to train?

[@pim1234]

Is a Springer good for a first dog ?

[@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314]

Depends on what you want it for ?

[@pim1234]

@@hampshirespanieltrainingwi9314 Home dog and training but probably no hunting.

[@CraigAshford]

PS I bet you don't in a nice way