This is a great explanation of cockers. My rescue Charlie is my 8th dog, having had Golden Retrievers for 40 years, usually two at at time. Charlie was picked up in the backwoods of West Virginia. He had a broken leg, was skin and bones, had a terrible flea infection with hardly any fur and covered in scabs. He also had Lyme disease. By the time I got him from the foster mom at Cherished Cockers, he was much improved. Today you'd never know what my little bear went through. I was told that he was probably 7 years old, so I didn't have the chance to train him as a puppy. He is perfect inside our apartment, very calm and quiet, but a wild man outside with no concept of recall. I actually believe that I just haven't figured out HOW he will respond to recall because I believe he was a beloved hunting dog. Fortunately we are surrounded by woods, a golf course, a lake and a pond, which allows him to swim, track, snuffle, and chase, making him a very happy buddy. Before I got him in a harness, he once backed right out of his collar and took off. That little rascal was on the run for 6 hours but the funny part was he kept checking back in. I'd wait for him in the woods and he'd come within feet of me, then take off again. I'd wait on the community patio and he'd go running right past me. I'd sit out on the balcony and he'd come right below me, smile, and take off again. Finally I was out there, saw him coming and opened the door for him. He trotted right in. Since I've had him in a harness, he hasn't been gone like that. I do let him go to chase geese, but I never have trouble catching him now; he doesn't run away from me. All my other dogs were trained and well behaved, but Charlie is my "grand dog," and we have an arrangement. I suppose one of these days I'll work on some commands, which I know he can follow - smart little devil! -- but he is so good and so delightful. I love him just the way he is.

They get lost (especially the young ones), and are randomly found in the woods and taken in as pets. Good video content. Thanks.

I have learnt so much from you just in a week puppy will be coming this week end I will follow your blog to train it makes so much sense thank you

Brilliant glad to see videos again.... My working cocker is 18month old now we watched you from day one. Thanks to your videos and help with a local trainer we got him out for the back end of the season just gone... Super happy with how his going just working on some more steadiness and sharpening up of the stop whistle on the retrieves. Any content on good drills for this would be great :)

Great video. I wish more trainers would try to help increase pet owners understanding of what they're taking on with a cocker, instead of lining them up in a class environment and just throwing dummies. The idea of taking a hunting dog on a nice walk in the countryside because it's labelled as a pet, is a familiar narrative. And it is of course, the primary route to the majority of problems encountered with a cocker. Keep educating and helping them Chris. Good work.

That's definitely great advice.

very helpful thank you

Always great content buddy.. love your videos! my 10 month working cocker is mad for his ball and every morning I go to the woods for half hour or so and keep hiding it for him to sniff out and retrieve and he loves it. When we're out walking off the lead I give him his ball and he has no interest in birds or other dogs etc. Hes just happy to be carrying it. He is definitely obsessed with the ball but I suppose if it makes him happy and hes well behaved it dont matter.

I really enjoyed this video very educational you can learn so much about your dogs than you

I've had many dogs we actually breed dachshund I brought a working bitch 2yrs ago I can honestly say this is the best pet dog we have ever had so easy to train as a pet I will never have another breed

I bought a working cocker for the first time, and I never had these issues of poor recall, he's 9 years old now, I taught him the basics and fetch, and chasing after a ball and bringing it back is his absolute favourite thing to do in the whole world with his bottomless energy. My issue is he's actually protective over me to the point he becomes agressive. Is that normal for this breed? When we go for walks up the valleys if I sit, he will literally sit by my side and will not move or play untill I'm up and walking with him, that's not something I've trained him to do at all! It amazes me! And I've wondered if that's part of his breed or his own little personality.

Great information, would some of your training crossover to the HPR breeds or do they require a more specific focus?

My 9 month old Cocker is quite good most of the time, lead & recall is pretty good but is reluctant to bring a ball/dummy back and will keep hold of it, also if he finds a piece of litter or something similar he will just run with it and ignore any instruction.? i have tried exchanging for a treat but if he is not hungry and there are other distractions like sheep/Rabbit poo it can take a while, do i need to change my approach ? Thanks Martin (Great video by the way )

My cocker spaniel won't even fetch, how do I train him to do the scent training.

Great info. I just got a 10 week cocker. You need to improve the audio. Audio has a strong buzz that irritates my ears

Hello, where can I find your video on how to stimulate the dog mentally? Thank you 😊

9 months at times my cocker forgets all his training lately ! Looks at me knows hes been naughty ignores whistle getting him out woods tough going. Frustrating told phase as 9 months old.

Very interesting my working cocker is almost a year old and loves running free and getting into the hedgerows but I’m always unsure that’s a good idea, she does come back but if there’s a juicy smell then that takes priority. Think the restrictions are a good idea but is it too late?

Is ok to let your 5 mouth old of the lead . And how much exercise should he have