CAN ANYONE RECCOMEND A DOG TRAINER IN THE PRESTON AREA. I HAVE A 7mth OLD SPRINGER BITCH WHO IS QUITE WELL BEHAVED MOST OF THE TIME ECCEPT WHEN LET OF HER LEAD. SHE IS FROM WORKING STOCK SO IS A HEAD DOWN BUM UP SORT BUT I CANT SEEM TO STOP HER FROM BEING PERMANENTLY IN HUNTING MODE,THIS IS NO BAD THING AS I BOUGHT HER TO WORK BUT THE RUNNING OFF IS GETTING OUT OF HAND AND QUITE DANGEROUS AS YOU NEVER KNOW JUST HOW FAR SHE WILL GO.I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE OR INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.      

   THANKS TOMMY                                                                                                                                                 

I wouldn't presume to give you any advice as I am a novice dog owner myself!  I don't know of any trainers in the Preston area personally but if you go onto the APDT website (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) you should find someone near to you.  They train on a reward the dog for doing good things basis and don't allow choke or half choke collars to "train" the dogs.   We took our Golden Retriever to puppy classes for training and socialisation and he (and we) enjoyed it and picked up a number of tips and tricsk (although at 7 months they may want to put her into "adult" classes).  Most of them will also do training on a one-to-one basis, although this is more expensive, but is well worth it as much for the owner as the dog itself.  Good luck.

Hi Tommy
Have a look on the Gundog Club  http://www.thegundogclub.co.uk/index.html
There are a lot of experienced spaniel people on there and a lot of people who have had similar problems with cockers and springers. 

I have HPRs so am no expert, but the perceived wisdom with spaniels seems to be NOT to allow any free hunting at such a tender age.  Get the recall trained in and get a stop whistle that is !00% plus rock solid regardless of distractions.  That means in the rabbit pen too. :-) Get the quartering pattern sorted with a good change of direction and don't allow her further than however many yards away from you that you spaniel folk like your dog to work!!  (Under your feet isn't it?  :-D)  Once you have all of those in place you'll find that you will become the apple of her eye as you can then 'lead' the hunt and take her to where all the gamey ground is (or not as the case may be!!)

Good luck