Reputable Working Cocker Spaniel Breeders General Chat

Hi, I'm looking for recommendations for good reputable breeders of working cocker spaniels. Just researching as I won't be ready to have one for several years yet, but when I am I want to make sure I've thoroughly researched and found a really good breeder.

Temprement and health are the most important things to me. Also would want to do flyball and agility with the dog.

Any info from owners of this breed would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I've PM'd you

Did you? I haven't got any PM's? :-(

Hmmm how odd!! I'll resend it :?

J and C..can you PM me too please...I am very much wanting a WCS xx

Thank you got it now

Jet&Copper, can you tell me about the temprement and personalitys of your two? Have you got dogs or bitches? Would love to hear about this breed from anyone whose got one, particulaly in comparison with a springer spaniel? I have two bitches atm (GSD and Springer) but would ideally like a dog next time.

Thanks

Also is there any other health testing that should be done on working cockers other than:
annual eye tests
glaucoma eye test
prcd-PRA
FN
Hip Scoring

I have two dogs, but they are both only a year old at the moment so I can't really give an in depth account of them!

I do meet a lot of cockers and springers though, basically because my OH is involved in the local shoots and sometimes we have others here for a few days at a time.

All the working cockers I have met so far have excellent temprements and are very biddable wee dogs, really easy to train. All of them get on with other dogs and people, with the exception of one big male who is fine on walks but does not like to be confined with others. All the rest happily crowd together in the back of the car etc.

As far as my two go, Jet is very soft natured and easy going, in the house he sleeps all day, trots about with his favourite blanket in his mouth, and loves cuddles. I can't vouch for how well he would do without lots of regular exercise and work, but certaintly any days he has had to spend doing nothing he has pretty much slept and had a chew at a bone.

Copper, however, has no "off" switch. He is very hard work. I think I've seen him actually fast asleep about three times in his entire lifetime. He does not do well cooped up in the house and lives to have something to do - this suits us well, but I don't think he would be very well suited to life without a job. Given the choice here on a daily basis, he prefers to be outside rather than inside.

A lot of the WCS I know of are like this, so be prepared to have work for them! All of them so far all live to retrieve and use their noses. They love to be in the undergrowth charging about like mad. It is impossible to tire them out. In the house I notice with a lot of them that they will pace restlessly about and not settle (Jet doesn't do this) without a good bout of serious exercise.

People have said that recall can be a problem when they get a scent. I used SmokeyBear's article and some long line training to train my two which so far has worked well (touch wood!).

I have started both mine at agility, and they love it

Oh and they can bloomin jump like cats! Over tall dog gates, over 4ft fencing, onto high kitchen worktops......

I don't know a lot about health testing, not a lot of working breeders do it, but I do know of a few (check out the forum I gave you a link to, there is loads of info there on it).

I do know a good few friends who have "pet" bred WCS and they have all had luxating patella issues to varying degrees, perhaps that's something that has to be considered depending on where you plan on getting your pup from?

Kerriebaby, I will pm you later when I get a chance

wow..thanks for that Jet and Copper.

There is a Gundog breeder near here, not sure how reputable they are (Tawnyhills)

No probs, I can only give my (very novice) opinion of my own experiences in the last few years

Ours breeds to get a puppy for herself, so isn't a commercial breeder in any way (it kind of looks like TawnyHill are from a quick look at their website?)

I personally wouldn't buy a pet bred WCS, unless they were health tested. Purely due to the experiences I mentioned, so I understand this is totally my own biased view, and this isn't to say there aren't also well known "working" gundog breeders who have bred dogs with a history of health problems in them or their offspring

I think if we go for a working dog, it will be from a working breeder.

Yes I think Tawnyhill are a commercial operation...barge and pole spring to mind...having said that, stunning dogs!

Going to have a bit of a google and see what I can find. What health tests did your guys parents have?

Thank you so much for your detailed reply Jet&Copper. It was really interesting to read about your boys. I take it Jet and Copper are not from the same litter? What made you decide to get two at the same time?

I found a breeder called Summerville Gundogs who from their testimonials on their website sound really good and do health testing for annual eye tests, glaucoma eye tests, fn tested, hip scoring and prcd-PRA tested. Is there any other tests you would reasonably expect to be done? Has anyone any experience of this breeder.

I will ask about for some opinions if you want.

No mine are not from the same litter. OH suddenly found himself dog-less after many years of always having at least two or three at a time, and I wanted to get into agility again too, so one wouldn't be enough as he is shoooting and training while I'm at agility training - so far they are trained seperately more often than not.

I could point you in a few different directions if you are willing to come to Yorkshire or Scotland

Actually I'm sure summerville gundogs are on the WCS forum I posted a link to?

Yes I think thats how I found them, so thanks. If you could ask around an get me any opinions that would be great

From your experience how different would you say a working cocker is to a working springer? In terms of personality, energy/activity requirements, trainability (if thats a word).

What do you mean by pet bred wc?

My Maddi sounds alot like your Jet

for the right dog...yes!

So far anyway, the WC's are definitely mad as a box of frogs when compared to Springers!!!

I would assume they are about the same with energy levels, trainability etc, I'd ask about on the forum for opinions from people who have worked both. I'm just an innocent bystander in the world of gundogs

Pet bred as in people who have them as pets and sell them on the interent or in the local press. No health tests, no thoughts to suitablity of the mating etc. As opposed to people very involved in the breed and in the gundog world who work with their dogs everyday and know what a decent animal should look/act like.

Oooh!

I will pm you

Thank you...I think I need to get saving!