Dont laugh...

[Sarah/G]

I love dog training of all kinds, so what I wanted to ask is, where do I start with regards to whistle training.
Would it be ok to have a show line but still do some working line cocker things.
How many whitsles for which command.
Right now we are just doing normal training ie like if yu went to puppy class, the same as the kennel clubs schemes.
Many thanks  

[black taz]

the Gundog Club has a very good training manual for grade 1.  You could also have a look at Top Barks sticky on Whistle Recall training.

Taz is a show cocker and i took him to gundog training (just to grade 1).  I think the argument is that the show cockers dont have the drive of the working cockers to actually work, but no reason why you cant do the training.

[Sarah/G]

Thank you so much, I think its good to do things with them, keeps the boredom away too for both owner and dog.
So just wanted to do some training really 

[Joules]

I have done some fun gundog and agility training courses with Coco even though she would never be a proper gundog (too blimmin noisy  ) or an agility dog (too blimmin norty) - she loved it.  I think anything you can do together is a good thing 

[black taz]

my favourite training would be agility anyday.  The dogs absolutely love it as well

[Sarah/G]

Thank you Joules, I love doing things doggy related, its fun, and makes them tick too.
I enjoy it and if i have a really well trained cocker then even better  

[Patp]

Sarah

I am just starting whistle training with Jinley as well - mainly because I wanted to be able to get her attention if she is a long way away. (and I cant whistle myself!)

We will have to compare notes!

Pat 

[Joules]

if i have a really well trained cocker then even better  

Still working on that bit 

[Sarah/G]

  Thanks guys,
Basic training is going great, so far so good 

[Pudding]

oh you should think about agility it is so much fun
we both love it

[Evadee]

Agility is brilliant.  OH has done it with Tia since she was 6 months and she loves it.  Now Jake has started at just 4.5 months (obviously he is restricted on what he can do).

It's really good for spaniels, harnesses that impulsiveness a bit

[bluegirl]

I also went gun dog training with my show cockers, thats where I started to use whistle training. Both me and the dogs enjoyed it but as others have said don't think most show cockers have the same drive as working breeds but if all you want to do is learn and perfect whistle training whilst in the company of others I'd go for it. I really enjoyed my time and I made it clear from the start I didn't want to work my dogs and they were fine, in fact there were a few people there who also did not want to work their dogs.

[Sarah/G]

Thank you,
We just want to have fun, and cater for his doggy needs,
although we have fun on walks and meet friends when we can.
He is as bright as a button, responds well to commands etc, so I want to channel that.
Although he hasn't reached his teenage phase yet  he might tunr into a little 

[KellyT]

I was thinking of doing agility with Hazel Sarah.. If I find a local beginner class I'll let you know
She's quite a bright little thing too, though she does just try to push her luck sometimes 

[Petepreston]

I think anything you can do together is a good thing 

Well said!

That includes "eating & sleeping" in our house.

Good luck with the gundog training. I see no reason why a show type wouldn't do well enough for you both to enjoy it. I wish I could find somewhere up here. Would you believe we have all the shooting going on in the Highlands but nowhere to get a dog trained - unless you know a gamekeeper, I guess.