i have been working my springer spaniel for 6 years now, and he's still quite a handful (even though he works well). a friend of mine wants to start to work a dog, but thinks a springer would be harder to work than a cocker.  has anyone worked a cocker, if so are they easier to control? thanks.

I don't have any personal experience, but I was talking to a keeper yesterday who has a young cocker and he said it was much harder work than his springers.
Lorna

All depends on dog and handler I suppose. I haven't owned either (had Chessies) but have worked both on a number of occasions. What does your friend want to use it for? If they are going rough shooting for rabbits etc I would always go for the cocker, but each to their own. I have found the 2 cockers I have used to be easier than springers from the same owners but of course 4 dogs is not a definitive test! :-)

thanks jeff.  like me she wants to use it for flushing pheasents.  yes i do agree each dog is different.  my spaniel  (age7)is not carrying much weight, which is why, i think, he is hard to keep on top of. there are some younger dogs, that are carrying more weight and work slower.

Hi Angie
I have trained and worked both and have found Cockers to be more complicated than Springers and have friends who say the same thing. Having said that I know of some super Cockers that are always in demand at local shoots. From experience I would now avoid too many FTCHs in the pedigree if they are for general work as many are too highly bred to work steadily throughout a full shooting day. My 6 yo field trial bred ESS dog is a prime example - he gets the job done but sounds a bit like yours - in fact my OH (who is a gamekeeper) took him to the grouse for several days a few seasons ago and has refused to handle him ever since!
Labs are very useful as well - ours will all go out in the beating line and behave but will also range and rake all day if they are picking up (which of course they prefer!)

Hi Angie,

I can second everything Broomie has said above.
My father who works for BASC has Spaniels for Picking up, he has always had springers but currently has a cocker. He named him Kip.. short for Kipling... because he was 'Rudy Ard' to train!! ;O)

thanks everyone i think that has answered my question.  angie

IMHO Cockers are definitely harder work than springers. I've got two cockers and a springer too.  Once trained they are very satisfying to work but I am continually surprised at how different the two breeds are, given their similarities.