Great Cocker Footage

[Neil]

For the cocker lovers - Wow!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gn_iwg7DUIY

[CDN_Cocker]

Nice dog

[Sharon]

Very enjoyable but could use some clarification on how the whistle was used ( and what bird was that ?) .

[CDN_Cocker]

Its a turn whistle.... kind of hard to follow those UK clips... the dog barely ranges farther than their shoelaces sometimes it seems so hard to connect the whistle to when it turns. Nice cocker work nonetheless.

[fishvik]

and what bird was that ?) .

I think they were like the pheasants we get stocked at our WMA at the end of the season, tailless.

[Neil]

Others have said it was a wild bird trial, but I don't know. It looked more like something from the grouse family than a pheasant. I was just impressed with how busy the little guy was, nothing would have escaped him larger than a grasshopper. Not sure, but I don't think he hupped on the flush. Maybe one of our UK friends will drop by and explain some details.

[jetjockey]

We hunt over cockers every year for pheasants in PA. They are friggen amazing pheasant dogs. With any luck, the breeders will continue to breed amazing bird dogs, and maybe even return cockers to be consistent bird dogs, and not just the lap and show dogs most of them have become.

[CDN_Cocker]

We hunt over cockers every year for pheasants in PA. They are friggen amazing pheasant dogs. With any luck, the breeders will continue to breed amazing bird dogs, and maybe even return cockers to be consistent bird dogs, and not just the lap and show dogs most of them have become.

There is a very distinct difference between American and English cockers.... most english ones are field bred so are consistently producing excellent bird dogs. The former, well... not so much. They are 2 very separate breeds.

[polmaise]

You are watching 'thee' most successful undisputed competition spaniel handler in the world with over 100 Field Trial Champions of both Cocker's and Springers.
That 'work further than your boot laces remark 'Cass' ?... :roll: ..the dog is to flush game for the 'gun' !..At times in the clip the handler and gun could see no further.
Game sits tight in that cover and at a championship ground it has not been 'shot' until the day of the championships ,so the birds have never been 'moved' .

The 'Difference' ?> would be the 2nd run ! ..the dog has to retrieve through 'Live game' and ignore it in the quest for the shot game .

Great 'Dog man' and can read a dog in seconds !..
He just doesn't get invited to many 'Dinner parties' ...But that's not a bad thing !
Sharon, the bird is a 'Hen Pheasant' .

[CDN_Cocker]

You are watching 'thee' most successful undisputed competition spaniel handler in the world with over 100 Field Trial Champions of both Cocker's and Springers.
That 'work further than your boot laces remark 'Cass' ?... :roll: ..the dog is to flush game for the 'gun' !..At times in the clip the handler and gun could see no further.
Game sits tight in that cover and at a championship ground it has not been 'shot' until the day of the championships ,so the birds have never been 'moved' .

The 'Difference' ?> would be the 2nd run ! ..the dog has to retrieve through 'Live game' and ignore it in the quest for the shot game .

Great 'Dog man' and can read a dog in seconds !..
He just doesn't get invited to many 'Dinner parties' ...But that's not a bad thing !
Sharon, the bird is a 'Hen Pheasant' .

I meant nothing malicious with my comment. Spaniels are just required to work closer across the pond than they are here. Most people here are unfamiliar with how a spaniel hunts here, therefore watching UK footage is a bit misleading as our's work a bit differently. Regardless, I stand by my first comment... Nice dog.

[polmaise]

The former, well... not so much. They are 2 very separate breeds.

Separate breeds of owners would be more specific .both sides of the pond ?.

[polmaise]

Most people here are unfamiliar with how a spaniel hunts here, therefore watching UK footage is a bit misleading as our's work a bit differently.

I'm sure the audience worked out that it was not in the US or Canada , therefore ,there would be a difference

[Neil]

Thanks so much Polimise for the excellent explanation.

I am still not clear if they are planted, pre-hunt release, or born in the wild pheasants. Whichever it was fantastic dog work.

Also, was I right that he did not hup on the flush? Was that what you meant by ignoring a flush when on a retrieve?

[Sharon]

You are watching 'thee' most successful undisputed competition spaniel handler in the world with over 100 Field Trial Champions of both Cocker's and Springers.
That 'work further than your boot laces remark 'Cass' ?... :roll: ..the dog is to flush game for the 'gun' !..At times in the clip the handler and gun could see no further.
Game sits tight in that cover and at a championship ground it has not been 'shot' until the day of the championships ,so the birds have never been 'moved' .

The 'Difference' ?> would be the 2nd run ! ..the dog has to retrieve through 'Live game' and ignore it in the quest for the shot game .

Great 'Dog man' and can read a dog in seconds !..
He just doesn't get invited to many 'Dinner parties' ...But that's not a bad thing !
Sharon, the bird is a 'Hen Pheasant' .

....................................

Excellent post! Thanks. I saw that bird flush when the dog was sent on the retrieve of another bird and wondered . So that a good thing to follow through on the retrieve as initially directed?

That actually looks like a dog for an old person- little walking. I'll have to think on that.

[polmaise]

Thanks so much Polimise for the excellent explanation.

I am still not clear if they are planted, pre-hunt release, or born in the wild pheasants. Whichever it was fantastic dog work.

Also, was I right that he did not hup on the flush? Was that what you meant by ignoring a flush when on a retrieve?

These birds would have been raised as day old chicks ,then put in 'release pens' at 6 weeks old, then allowed to live free in that area ,but have feeding stations to ''keep'' them in the area, hence the term 'Gamekeeper' .
.....
If you refer to the 2nd run?..where the 'Mark' , shot bird when the dog was sent but 'en-route' a live bird flushed ?, then yes! ..the dog was and should go directly to the 'shot bird' ..No easy task ?
...
As a footnote : Truly ''wild'' pheasants in cover as shown would ''run'' and ''Run'' and ''RUN'' if 100 people and fifty dog handlers and the world media set foot on that ground

[Neil]

...
As a footnote : Truly ''wild'' pheasants in cover as shown would ''run'' and ''Run'' and ''RUN'' if 100 people and fifty dog handlers and the world media set foot on that ground

Much different terrain, and I have never been accompanied by world media, but in about 10 days I will be hunting born in the wild pheasants with their cockers cousin, the Boykin. True some will run, but usually most to thicker cover and hunker down. May have to hup a couple times for me to keep up, but they will get a good number in the air.

Although I try to reserve them for the pointing dogs, the Boykins will also put up some Huns and sharptail that venture into the thicker cover.

I have no doubt your little guys would do very well over here.

Again thank you for the tutorial.

[polmaise]

May have to hup a couple times for me to keep up, but they will get a good number in the air.

Although I try to reserve them for the pointing dogs, the Boykins will also put up some Huns and sharptail that venture into the thicker cover.

I have no doubt your little guys would do very well over here.

Again thank you for the tutorial.

No problem ,Happy Hunting .
Unfortunately the option to handle two different breeds for two different functions is not a luxury available in the Championships

[polmaise]

Spaniels are just required to work closer across the pond than they are here. Most people here are unfamiliar with how a spaniel hunts here, therefore watching UK footage is a bit misleading as our's work a bit differently. Regardless, I stand by my first comment... Nice dog.

Watching any footage can or could be misleading ?
How familiar are you ?
1. Can you clarify why spaniels are just required to work closer across any pond ?
2. Can You clarify why 'Most people' !! are unfamiliar how a spaniel hunts here or any where?
3. ''Nice dog'' ? How many 'good dogs have you seen'? ..Just so that I have judgement on how many bad ones you are gauging against
Just for clarification you understand
Nothing personal

[CDN_Cocker]

If its nothing personal why are you replying a week later?

[polmaise]

If its nothing personal why are you replying a week later?

My apologies for not replying sooner . I have been busy training dogs at this time and it is the height of our hunting season.

If you can answer the questions without a question that would be great
Apologies to the OP , but I'm sure it will be beneficial .

[MJB64]

Take a few jabs and then say "nothing personal"? I am calling BS.
Mike

[polmaise]

Take a few jabs and then say "nothing personal"? I am calling BS.
Mike

Yea, you are probably right , I should have not emphasised that it was nothing personal in my vein attempt over text to appear non personal.
Some interoperate it that way.