Working cocker pup - minefield

[Helen]

To be frank this isn't enough with a dog with real working drive.   Having met Caoimhe I would say her energy and intensity far exceeds any other working cocker pup I've ever seen which is exactly what Nicola spent 9 months looking for.  It's a completely different level  

Most working cockers have their fair share of red in the pedigree which doesn't make them a field trial champ themselves.  It sounds like your pup Emilyoliver is a normal working cocker pup with a good drive but not exceptional which is like most working cockers.

There you go - if you're not specifically selecting a red-hot trialling prospect then you may well end up with a great, biddable dog that admittedly needs some brain work and a job to do.  Just so long as you aren't going into it with eyes closed, expecting to have a pavement pounder, most 'normal working cockers' are great dogs and fit into active households where they have their needs met.  (I also think competitive agility training (not once a fortnightly 'fun classes') can be a suitable outlet for a worker - it takes a lot of commitment from  the owner, as well as providing brainwork for a dog).  

It's up to the individual working cocker isn't it?   Mine tolerated agility but absolutely loves working so that's what we did.  The difference in how much more he enjoyed and enjoys working is massive.  I guess he's lucky to have had both so I know which he preferred. TBH  I really felt uncomfortable stemming his natural sniffing instinct at agility and in the end felt his focus should be on what he was bred to do rather than what I perhaps wanted him to be.

Good luck with finding your agility pup Black Taz 

[panda66]

Lila has over 35 FTCH in her pedigee and FTW but not her parents as they were used as normal gundogs. I would say she has good drive but is certainly not exceptional, a normal working cocker. but I take her to obedience with agility two or three times a week and gundog training once a week because she certainly needs something to think about.
The first (bad) gundog trainer breeds FTCH dogs and sells them to pet homes -there were four at his training sessions and although they are nearly two their owners couldn't do anything with them and hadn't let them off the lead EVER.