Thank you guys - I'll keep you posted
Henry already has a short back, sides, front, top and bottom so he is all set in that respect
I think it is the steadiness that may scupper us but he is getting better (I think...) Yesterday we were walking at work and I realised a couple of colleagues were walking a way behind us with their dogs, so turned back to meet them so they could have a play - and Henry actually checked with me before he went off like a rocket - unheard of! I think he thinks I know something he doesn't about good sniffing locations
I have never had a Cocker before so have no comparison on working drive - maybe he's normal, but as I said on the other thread re puppy farms I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn he had some working genes as he is like a show dog that's been blown up a few sizes and his nose obsesses him. I do think he was a puppy farm special so it doesn't seem out of the question unfortunately - goodness knows where he came from or his mum is, I dread to think
We use a whistle, we can do recall and a 'this way' whistle. On 'this way', he is learning to look where I want him - I can direct him into the hedge near to me, or, for the first time this weekend, I got him quartering on a open field. Well I say quartering - more like one and a halving, as he currently has a turning circle like an oil tanker's
But we can work on that, I guess!
He can do sit stays... 99.9% of the time anyway... and a fairly good off-lead heel with the aid of a tasty treat.
Sitting to whistle is the next challenge!