Best breeding for agility?

[Cazzie]

I'm really not - I'll be going hawking along with the rest  - I have no idea how this came to be focussed on drive when I was looking for a specific physical type, but thanks to those who have PMed, I now have some leads to follow.

case closed

e

Good luck and enjoy 

[Helen]

The ones that are thick set, very low to the ground, very, very chunkily built (and tend to be super-keen to surge into cover) - I've seen a few out hawking like that but not at a time when I was sufficiently interested to ask about breeding lines.

I'm sure they're lovely, lovable dogs, just that I don't want to live with one.

e

I'm really not - I'll be going hawking along with the rest  - I have no idea how this came to be focussed on drive when I was looking for a specific physical type, but thanks to those who have PMed, I now have some leads to follow.

case closed

e

reads like that to me - good luck, hope the dog meets your expectations.

Let us know about the health tested pups

[Cob-Web]

personally I find it sad to think in the future that people may be breeding a gun dog specifically for agility and dulling it's working sense, which in fact is what you seem to be after.

This has been done with Collies for a while - there seem to be some well known agility lines 

Recently it does seem that there is a trend for breeders to work towards working, show, flyball and agility specialist lines within a number of breeds - and cockers are 1) popular as a breed and 2) pretty good agility dogs, so it is not a surprise that it is happening  Sadly, what it may mean is that homes which otherwise would/could taken on a rescue dog with a view to participating in agility might well buy an agility-bred puppy instead 

[Rosie]

In defence I suppose that as in show lines - you have a dog that meets breed standard you would want to continue that line to the best of ability - I suppose that that is what could be done with succesful agility dogs - continue that line and drive

FWIW I beleive that without keeping a really strong working drive in a cocker that it would not excel in agility in any event and IF I do breed from Spice (ducks to avoid confrontation) it will be with a good strong working dog and NOT an agility dog.

But that is my opinion as I beleive that it is Spice's drive and desire to work that have made her the success she is and my fantastic trainers who have done so well   - it is purely that I have channelled that drive into agility rather than traditional field work.

I will now retire gracefully

[Helen]

In defence I suppose that as in show lines - you have a dog that meets breed standard you would want to continue that line to the best of ability - I suppose that that is what could be done with succesful agility dogs - continue that line and drive

FWIW I beleive that without keeping a really strong working drive in a cocker that it would not excel in agility in any event and IF I do breed from Spice (ducks to avoid confrontation) it will be with a good strong working dog and NOT an agility dog.

But that is my opinion as I beleive that it is Spice's drive and desire to work that have made her the success she is and my fantastic trainers who have done so well   - it is purely that I have channelled that drive into agility rather than traditional field work.

I will now retire gracefully

no arguments from me here on this, agree with your thinking (even the breeding from Spice bit  ).  Spice (and you) are proof enough to me that size can be irrelevant in agility.

retire gracefully Rosie and get on with your packing 

[Hurtwood Dogs]

My Weim has a very strong hunt drive and she's showing a love of agility... my cocker although not working type admittedly, just isn't interested - he's not interested in hunting either so there could well be a correlation of dogs bred with a strong hunt drive having the best get up and go for agility...

Hannah x

[Eceni]

this is now off-topic and perhaps should be elsewhere, but having spent a fair bit of time studying agility and a lot longer studying behaviour/training, it seems to me that a good trainer can take a strong drive and redirect it (basic Premack principles) but if you don't have drive and you can't create it, then you're in trouble.

so I don't think there's ever going to be a huge distinction between hunting and agility breeding, just a distinction in where the drive is directed.  It'll be interesting to watch over the next decade or so if peak oil doesn't flatten all competition first...

e

[september]

I think all this might be above me but surely its about training not the dog??

O.K a smaller or lighter dog might be more nimble and quicker but they can still only excell if you train them??

At my agility class there are 2 collies which have learn't everything in seconds and make it look easy, but they still make mistakes down to handlers.  There are 2 labs who pootle around and struggle with some stuff and little Cavalier King charles who has learn't everything and  is great and handled by a kid and Roxy who is the only cocker and the only dog who's tail wags the whole time!!

She is a smalliash cocker mainly show type with a little worker (dad show mum half and half).  If you put a proper working cocker out there with her surely it would depend on the handler at the end of the day??

And I hate watching the collies 'cos although they do everything very neatly they really have no emotion or look like they are having fun!

I hope to compete with Roxy once she is properly trained but I really can't see how the type of cocker will make any difference and even if you had a litter that had agility 'expert' parents how would you guarantee the pups would be any good??

[Cob-Web]

I really can't see how the type of cocker will make any difference and even if you had a litter that had agility 'expert' parents how would you guarantee the pups would be any good??

No, you can't guarantee it, but genetics can play a part in the success of an agility dog; a genetic pre-disposition to learn in a particular way, and have the confidence with the equipment can make the difference between a really good dog, and an excellent dog 

Consider how important the temperament of the sire and dam is in the decisions of a (reputable) breeder.......the same thing applies to other elements of a dogs psychological make-up, too 

People have dogs for different reasons; if someone believes that they will not gain as much satisfaction from their pet unless they can compete in agility/show/flyball then it makes sense for them to seek a dog that in their opinion has the best possible chance of offering this....assuming that the dogs are bred ethically of course 

[silke]

And I hate watching the collies 'cos although they do everything very neatly they really have no emotion or look like they are having fun!

  Odd! They must be unusual collies  - mine has a lot of emotions and you can tell when she enjoys something.

[september]

these 2 don't! seriously! they do all the sguff and don't get forced into it or anything like that! they are very willing and have picked everything up really quick and hardly make mistakes like loosing feet on stuff or jumping off but they don't wag their tails or anything! they just do their bit and sit back down!