Working Cockers in Action
The Cocker Spaniel is a popular gundog – it is an active, good-natured, sporting dog, whether the type is of show or working strain.
photo by Pateman
The Working Cocker is bred for a multitude of purposes – whatever the duty the Working Cocker is suited to, this strain enjoys an active lifestyle.
AS A GUNDOG
Hunting/flushing and retrieving game. The Working Cocker will be keen and fearless to work amongst or go in to thick cover to flush out game birds or ground game and will emerge proudly with a retrieve of live or dead game to his master, whether it be on land or from water; an ideal gundog that is an enthusiastic hunter and being a small size, allows the working cocker to easily access undergrowth so it can methodically hunt/retrieve and give so much to his uses.
Photo courtesy of Pateman
Photo courtesy of Raezhaven Gundogs
AS AN AGILITY DOG
Not only in countryside sporting activities are Working Cockers active, they are also seen taking part in canine sporting events, such as agility – they can be fairly easily to train for the course, and be fast and accurate. Take a look at Agility Bits.
AS AN ASSISTANT DOG
Working Cockers also excel in other areas as assistant dogs. Organisations, such as Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Dogs For The Disabled have trained Working Cockers to aid or assist people with varying disabilities.
AS A SNIFFER DOG
Working Cockers are popular in security, government and rescue services and excel as sniffer dogs. They are trained to effectively detect drugs, explosives, cash and firearms. The Working Cocker is ideal for this purpose as their smaller size enables them to easily access confined spaces.
Jake: Friends For Life Nominee 2011
Photo courtesy of The Kennel Club Picture Library ©
Dog handler, Bob and his dog Jake (see photo) - the Working Cocker Spaniel and Metropolitan Police Dog helped to keep people free from further harm after the 7/7 London bombings. He risked his life to search the bus wreckage at Tavistock Square and the mile-long route from Russell Square to the bomb-damaged train at Kings Cross, ensuring that the area was safe for paramedics and explosives officers.
AS A BIO-DETECTION DOG
A charity organisation, Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs, use working cockers that are taught scent discrimination to identify cancerous odours and other medical alert detection; working cockers are suitable for this type of work because they have high drive and are relatively easy to train.