Hunting With Field Bred English Cockers:

[momsworry]

Does anyone else out there hunt with these dogs?  I'm on my second field cocker, this one a 4 year old female. This dog is a nice dog around the house, and really does her stuff as a flushing dog.  I would be interested in reading about others experiences with their English cockers.

[harley]

We have a cocker in the house, it's my daughter's dog. We have had him in the field some but really he's a pet. He has a great time in the field but he's afraid of pheasants!!!
I've always admired the looks of the English cockers, love that head,but I've never had the opportunity to see one work. Sure would like to see a pic.

[freddogs]

:grin: I've considered getting one but they are not too common around here. I've heard good things about them. Their size is what I like best. You don't need a 100 lbs of dog to retrieve and hunt a two or three pound bird.

[jdbe]

Cockers are another breed that we americans have screwed up to a large degree.  A good, English cocker will hunt great and not have all the health and mental problems that are prevelent in cockers today in america.  Glad to see a dog being used as it was intended.  I see sooooooooo many come into our clinic that are just " pieces of work" from the health and emotional standpoint.

[jdbe]

I read my last post and it did not come off as I intended.  I meant to praise you for using the dog as the breed was intended and to point out that blood lines in cockers are even more critical than in most other breeds due to the prevalence of poorly bred ones here in the states.  If you want to hunt with these dogs, then you would do yourself a favor by getting a pup with strong english pedegree.  many cockers here in the states are bread mearly as companion dogs with nonexixtent hunting instincts and a myriad of health issues.  They make great bird dogs, but do your homework and talk to your vet prior to getting one - getting one from the newspaper that will hunt well would be a minor miracle lol.