CockersOnline Forum

Cocker Activities => Working => Topic started by: Mel on June 06, 2012, 11:20:23 PM

Title: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Mel on June 06, 2012, 11:20:23 PM
Sorry if this is in the wrong place but I want to ask people with workers which Spangle would fit in with my Talington? Tali is still fighting SA but he is getting used to being with only OH for short periods and even has a new favourite place....the window sill!

OH is desperate to start looking for a rescue working spangle when I finally move in - dates still not set as now social services not got their act together, but I favour cockers and thought I had talked OH out of a working springer as he has never had a Spangle let alone a working type.

Can anyone give any advice on how driven a springer is against a cocker? And which would be better living with one or maybe two show cockers?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Helen on June 07, 2012, 07:25:09 AM
either Mel  ;)  Makes no difference.  I actually think Springers are slightly easier than working cockers so would suggest he go down this route.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Jonnydog on June 07, 2012, 09:45:34 AM
Springers are great and incredibly intelligent. Jonny saved Jess's life when she was a pup!
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Mel on June 07, 2012, 10:28:01 AM
Thanks for your replies. I will bear this in mind. Still much research for us both though.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: lindseyp on June 07, 2012, 11:01:03 AM
from the limited, compared to some, knowledge I have of working cockers V springers I would say (although there are always exceptions to the rules  ;) ) that Springers possibly have one extra 'mature gene' than cockers   :005:

With patience, a sense of humour & a love of their vivacity for life, either are just wonderful   :luv:

I can't praise them highly enough & a rescue even more so  :angel:  I know you're down south like me Mel but when you start to look, please don't discount the northern rescues (like NESSR ) just because of the distance ...they will rehome to where ever the right home might be  ;)

(have you looked on Dorset Dog Rescues FB page ...... the cocker X puppies  :004:  ...don't look!  :lol2: )
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Mel on June 07, 2012, 11:07:19 AM
No I try to refrain from looking. OH has times where he looks too much.

I should have said he does intend to go beating with a dog but of course intention and actually finding the time don't always work!
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Sasha B on June 09, 2012, 07:30:34 PM
 :huh: :huh: :huh:
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Helen on June 09, 2012, 07:40:09 PM
not sure why the  :huh: but I'm assuming you're surprised I would recommend a working springer over a working cocker?

Well, this is Mel's partners first working dog and in my very honest opinion I feel working springers are a little easier to train than a high drive working cocker.  I'd also recommend a working lab too  ;)
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Sasha B on June 09, 2012, 07:44:38 PM
Oh no I just spent ages typing a response as I have both a springer and a cocker both working strain but lost it.

The long and short is that my experience is that the cocker (Sash) is more intelligent than the springer (Chloe). Both are wonderful and I would find it hard to choose. But Sash requires much more stimulation than Chloe and even after along day out she wants to play particularly at night. Chloe on the other hand is very content at home and doesn't look for anything, she is quite happy just to sleep and dream of rabbits and squirrels (which she does often). Shash is also more stubborn to coax into doing what I want her to do and more choosy about when she wishes to "work" when out. I say "work" as I don't actually work them but do give them a lot of exercise beach, woodlands etc.

Chloe is daft as a brush and she will run and run and run looking for anything but not really planning where as Sash will look watch and think about what her plan of action is.

All in all it depends what your looking for I would say that Chloe is most definitely and easier dog and much more timid. Sash on the other hand is hard work but she is an absolute fantastic companion and is far more interactive with us.

Hope this helps. If you have any specific questions just ask.

 :huh: :huh: :huh:

Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Sasha B on June 09, 2012, 07:47:18 PM
Hi Helen no hopefully you can see from my next post I just lost my long post with my thoughts somehow. The  :huh: :huh: :huh: was all that was left. I too would probably go for the springer as above.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Helen on June 09, 2012, 07:51:43 PM
 :lol2: Hate it when that happens!
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: MIN on June 09, 2012, 09:08:05 PM
we have got ourselves a cocker to come with us beating. she is now 14 months old. training is coming along nicely considering we only have books and much sought out advice. gemma is headstrong and strong willed. but all the more fun i think. we have both taken equal share in her time, and in return she will respond to either of us  whether it be voice or whistle. Go with you own feelings and pick the dog you want. our past dogs have been staffs and border terriers. gemma took us out of our comfort zone, Boy, do I love the wild side  >:D
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Mel on June 10, 2012, 01:50:06 AM
Thank you all for you advice. I think he would love either though he errs towards a springer, however, I should point out he has had a good hand in training Fungus the working cocker where he works.

To be honest though, if I didn't worry about Tali's eye getting hurt and if he didn't have a full tail, I think Tali would make an excellent worker. He loves having a job to do :005:
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Cockertime Blues on June 10, 2012, 08:06:35 PM
I would go for a springer.  Also, I think more springers come into rescue so might make it a bit easier finding one - not cos anything's wrong with them - just cos I think there's more of them maybe?  (Just my opinion.)
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Gordon on August 06, 2012, 09:54:58 PM
Springer bitches mature faster than Dogs and are quicker to learn, dogs are more headstrong and mature later in the training stages, IMO Springers learn quicker than Cockers, but Springers require more stimulation to keep their busy minds working, the main reason why there are more Springers for rescue is that the owners cannot cope with there constant 24/7 on the go all the time, different mind set to Cockers. IMO
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: SteveB on August 07, 2012, 02:40:34 PM
I have posted this before on here.
I was told the difference between a cocker and a springer is. You can tell a springer to do something a cocker you have to ask.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: dianna1 on August 10, 2012, 05:42:53 PM
I could inter change my Springers and Cockers and they are all very individual.  I would say that some of the dogs with countless field trial champions are more ready to go and you have to be ahead of them.  Of course I had a Springer bitch with a great pedigree who was the most wonderful dog and was born trained. Try a sprocker.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Black Beauty & Silverfox on August 10, 2012, 07:09:20 PM
Hi

I'm not experienced enough to comment other than to quote the words of a breeder when I enquired about a Springer as a pet.

[unless you want your pet doing the wall of death in your lounge several times a day, I suggest you think of something else]


Mel.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: JohnK on August 15, 2012, 02:52:10 PM
Danny our springer was the best dog I have ever owned. We got him as a  6 month old rescue. He went to heaven too early, one week past his 8th birthday after a long battle with cancer. Minnie our working cocker was nuts, but now we have Dennis, our 16 week old show cocker, she has suddenly calmed down and is like a mum to him

John
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: Black Beauty & Silverfox on August 15, 2012, 06:04:29 PM
Danny our springer was the best dog I have ever owned. We got him as a  6 month old rescue. He went to heaven too early, one week past his 8th birthday after a long battle with cancer. Minnie our working cocker was nuts, but now we have Dennis, our 16 week old show cocker, she has suddenly calmed down and is like a mum to him

John

Hi John

When we first started our interest in dogs it was a Springer we looked at. My friend had a Springer and he said it was the best dog he ever had, but unfortunately also went to heaven early.
When I started contacted breeders and said I wanted a Springer for a pet, one suggested that my friend was very lucky and that rescue kennels were full of Springer's whose owners could not cope with the demands of the breed.


Incidently, Dennis looks a beauty.


Mel.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: JohnK on August 15, 2012, 06:10:48 PM
Mel

he is! Minnie is great too, as have been all our spaniels, its more about how you bring them up. Sadly Brodie was beyond us and we only had him 5 weeks, before returning him to rescue, where he was found to have "rage" and pts.

It was so upsetting as 99% of the time he was great but that 1% of the time he got very scary and having a 4 year old granddaughter, Grace, I could not risk it.

Danny was such a softy though and Grace could do anything with him. Her and his fave was when she laid him a choccy trail of doggie choc buttons, which he used to love.
Title: Re: Cocker or Springer?
Post by: JeffD on August 23, 2012, 03:55:23 PM
I have posted this before on here.
I was told the difference between a cocker and a springer is. You can tell a springer to do something a cocker you have to ask.

Oh how very true this is, My old cocker Henry was a bit of a snob, no problem entering thick gorse for a game bird but would never go in for a rabbit, he would run around until he attracted one of the springers or terriers to bolt the rabbit then do the retrieve