Yes she is a tan...shortly after I got her a few people laughed when I told them what breed and mainly colour she was, as apparently they are little mischeif makers and she is definatly one of them! ;)
She sounds the same as you are explaining that your mum has; temperment but also behaviour.
I might try the create training. I do know alot of people swear by it, and will ask my puppy trainer that I saw when she was little.
Has any of you had a tan cocker spaniel and if you have, could you suggest any toys or things to keep her ammused..
Thanks all so much for you advise, its my first time I have had a dog and I think I have a challenge on my hands with this one..
Siobhan

As your pup is now 11 months, the very best thing I have always found to keep them occupied whilst you pop out is a nice knuckle bone, you can get them from any butcher or somewhere like Pets at home will sell them for 99p.  Whenever I go out I give one of these to my girl and she will happily still be gnawering away at it when I come home, it has worked on every dog I've ever come into contact with, not just good for their teeth, but tasty and of interest.

Toys without a playmate only keep dogs occupied for so long, but squeaky toys are always amusing, anything they can shake like a  tug rope or toy with a rope attached, things like teething rings are good for them to chew.  Never leave things like tennis balls alone with your pup, as once broken and chewed into they can be swallowed and cause blockage, so check that your pups toys are all safe.  And personally I would not leave a pup alone with something like a pigs ear as the end is slimy and sticky and could get stuck in the throat. ;-)

would just like to say to anyone who reads this and are thinking of working their gundog breed and are not experienced in gundogs dont leave toys with your dog and never allow your dog to shake things because when retrieving game your dog will chew and shake the animal and make a right mess of it which is something you would not want

not all dogs do hayley.my 2 raggle toys loads yet when it comes to game my boy is very gentle and my girl is very weary of them.i think it would be a bit unfair to not let them play like that with toys as thats what they love to do.gam is a lot heavier so i think its different to just toys. also someone once told us to but a bone from the pet shop with a hole in and fill it with paste/pate/sandwhich filler, we do it to ours they love it and it keeps them amused for a while

well thats your opinion but you ask any gundog trainer or people who lamp rabbits and they will tell you not to allow your dog to shake or chew things my hubby is a gun dog trainer and the 1st thing he tells me when we get a gundog breed is dont let it shake or chew the dummy or whatever else you are getting it to retrieve

well we would not let it chew or shake a dummy, but if my dog was just playing with a toy in the house i would not stop him from chewing and shaking it.

ask any gundog trainer or people who lamp rabbits and they will tell you not to allow your dog to shake or chew things

Can't comment on the lamping rabbits people but it is certainly my good fortune to have met a number of highly regarded gundog trainers who do allow their dogs to shake and chew toys.  Dummies are for work, toys are for play.  Dogs can differentiate.  They even allow their dogs to play tuggie (shock horror!!) with a tuggie toy!   This does not cause a hard mouth, or any of the other behaviours that are frowned upon. 

so who are these highly regarded gundog trainers? Ian Openshaw, Hedley Millington?

Hi
No they are neither of those.  I have hprs so tend to go to trainers who specialise in them.

Thanks all so much for your advice, I will try these tips and see if she can amuse herself while I am out. If this doesn't work then the puppy trainer will be getting a call :)

Thanks again,
Siobhan