Hmmm...well...in the UK our obedience tests are a little different to those in the US.
Our pre-beginner test has heelwork on and off lead, novice recall, a 1-minute sit and a 2-minute down.
Beginners is the same, except there is also a retrieve exercise, and novice the same as beginners, but a temperament test is included.
Test 'A' has only one lot of heelwork (off lead), retrieve, an 'A' recall...i.e. calling the dog into heel, a scent discrimination test (on cloths laid in a straight line, one cloth of 6 holds the handlers scent), and a 2 minute sit (in sight)and 3-minute down stay (out of sight). You are also not able to give any extra commands or signals to your dog during the test from class A upwards.
As far as I am aware (please someone correct me if I am wrong) there is currently a cocker spaniel that has won out of beginners in its own right. That cocker has also been placed in novice and test 'A'. I can also name 3 cockers that have won out of pre-beginners, two of which I know have had places in beginners, and there are also a number of others working the pre-beginner class. I am unsure what level any cockers in obedience attained in past years as I have not been involved in obedience for very long (but I heard someone mention one in B around 30 years ago!
I work a cocker in obedience. I do find that some judges like her, and some dont. On a good day, with a nice round, and the right judge she can be placed. However, I do not feel she would be able to cope with test B or C (not that we will ever win through to those classes).
I agree that if you want an obedience champion you need to look for a very special dog. Ticket dogs (in my opinion) need to have oodles of energy/stamina, a massive concentration span, and stacks of drive. I just feel the cocker lacks in the concentration department when it comes to 6-8 minutes of heelwork with no reward (verbal praise, play or food). But I would love a cocker to prove me wrong on that
I also find it is really difficult for small dogs to maintain the tight heelwork position that is so desirable in UK obedience tests. Much as she tries, my cocker will never be able to bend herself into the same heelwork position that my collie can. She is also much more affected by leg movement, particularly during fast pace heelwork, and if the ground is uneven she is knocked off my leg much more easily than a larger dog would be. Those are the main two reasons why I feel cockers are not ideally suited to the higher obedience classes.
However, I enjoy training and working my cocker. I am very proud of all she has achieved, and I enjoy the social side of obedience. If she is happy in the ring, then I am happy. If she manages to get placed that is a lovely bonus! It did take a long time for me to get her attention in the ring for any length of time...and yes...it was often her nose that drew her to something more interesting! Many people said she wouldnt be able to do the things she has now proved she is able to. People have also said she would never track...because she'd get the scent of a bird...put it up...and the track would be over. She tracked (human scent) right over a phesant the other day...I didnt know till I nearly trod on the poor thing...and she didnt even waver from the track that had been laid for her to follow. I know there are cockers competing in working trials and from what I hear the majority are excellent tracking dogs (and in my opinion so they should be they have excellent noses, so no excuse...lol).
Give it a go...dont listen to what others say...try to prove them wrong! If you are happy with how your dogs are progressing and what they are doing then it doesnt really matter what others think? Good Luck with the flyball..and keep trying with the obedience. If your dogs are good enough they will qualify..it just might take a while to find a judge that appreciates them
I do have to disagree with you abouth the collies spaniel crazy...I feel it is still a great challenge to train a collie type for obedience...especially to a high level. For a start the majority of the strong dogs that have the qualities required to take them to the top...are that...very strong-willed...and strong-eyed. This creates a lot of challenges for the trainer/handler. Also a lot of these potential champions are very smart, and so are not happy to do the same thing over and over...and if you do that with them...they will start doing the exercise their way...throwing in all manner of little quirks...and anticipating everything as they know what is coming next
I do have a BC...she is a little madam...I dont know that I will ever get round to competing her in obedience (but she is still young, so time will tell)...although she probably has the potential to go further in obedience than Storm at the moment...my spaniel is my better obedience dog!
p.s. Apologies for this being such a long post...but obedience is something I am quite passionate about
