Size Dummy?

[chickrockguitar]

Hey guys,

I was thinking about getting Marlee a proper dummy to train with. He has a "Prey Dummy" which is like a dummy that has a zipper and you can put food inside. But I was thinking trying him on a proper dummy, you know one of those green ones? I noticed they come in diff sizes. What would be the best size for a Cocker? What size do they use in Scurries etc?

Thanks!

[chickrockguitar]

Anyone? 

[spanielcrazy]

Standard size is about 3 X 12". Sometimes labeled medium or regular. Puppy or small dummies are good for starting a dog who is not really keen on retrieving 

[chickrockguitar]

Thank You! 

[ollie nathan's mum]

Exuse my ignorance but what is a dummy?

[Black Red + Yellow]

Exuse my ignorance but what is a dummy?

It's a canvas sealed bag filled with sand....various sizes to replicate bird sizes from little bags about the size of your hand to some a couple of pounds to replicate ducks (bigger ones often used for Labs etc but some Cockers will retrieve big game too). They're very good as they hold scent well.  We also have larger ones which our trainer covers with rabbit skins and we also glue on pheasant wings....gets the boys really working and excited

[MUDDYBOOTS]

The most popular size for adult working cockers is a 1lb canvase dummy but they are probably a bit big to start with.You could try the intermediate 3/4lb dummys which are about half the size and easier for your dog to handle,plus you can get a couple in your pocket when you go out for a walk.

[ollie nathan's mum]

Thank you

[milly]

It depends on the dog really, what age and size they are and what they like or dislike. Some dogs actually dislike plain canvas dummies but have no problem with  rabbit skinned dummies or real game, others will pick up anything. I must have bought every dummy going at some point 

My cockers better with the medium or large canvas dummies but if he has a choice he'll always choose a Docken Dummy. At group training we do a memory retrieve where various different dummies are thrown with the dogs watching, we then walk the dogs away and send them one by one to pick a dummy. I can gaurantee Paddy will look over all the dummies and pick the Docken Duck. Have a look around some sites selling gundog equipment and you'll see they come in lots of shapes and sizes. I bought some Pheasant & Partridge training dummies after reading an article in Sporting Shooter Magazine on the best colour for training dummies. They actually decided the best colour was.... Purple!! The second choice was a dummy with a contrast of dark and light colours so they do a black and white one. These are shaped a bit like rugby balls, they float and are supposed to replicate the weight of the birds. I change what dummy I give him now and again just for his amusement.