i have a cocker spaniel bitch and i am hoping to show her but she is too young at the moment but the thing is i really want to train her but there are no training schools within walking distance or close enough for a bus and i don't drive and cannot get anyone to take us. so i am wanting someone to recomend a good training book or dvd if you can, thanks.

In your circumstances, I think it would be best to take yourself off to some shows to watch the judging, and to observe the Cocker people doing their thing. Cockers are table dogs, so if you don't already have one, you should buy a grooming table, and get your bitch used to being stacked on it. Have a look at the trimming and presentation and get chatting to some cocker enthusiasts. It's best not to stop them when they are about to go into the ring though. Look and learn, that's my advice. Then of course the dog needs to be socialised among other dogs. After that it's down to practice.

Good luck and enjoy. :)

If there is anything else we can help with, just ask.:)

Dawn R.

Hi vkblue

Whereabouts do you live?  Do you have access to a train or bus service?  It can be hard to find a trainer sometimes, but someone on here may know of one in your area if you say roughly where that is. 

How old is she at the moment? 

she is only 8 weeks but i am wanting to get in as much training as possible, i live in doncaster south yorkshire, if i could find one not too far i would be willing to go on a bus or train but it would have to be evening or weekend as i have 2 young children.

do dog whistles work well with obediance training as i am thinking about getting one what type would be best a regular whistle or a silent dog whistle.

Do you mean pet obedience training for getting your dog to come back to you ?  I know a few people who use them like that

Never used a mechanical whistle but I have trained my BC's to a stop whistle using my natural whistle ;)

It doesn't matter what you use - your voice or a whistle - but you need to condition the dog to come back to it using food as a reward every time it comes.

A dog can ignore a whistle just as easily as it can ignore a voice, if you don't give it a reason to return.

8 weeks is fine - mine went to training from 7 wks.

Check out these websites:

www.apdt.co.uk

www.clickerteachers.net

www.obedienceuk.com/viewprofile.asp

http://www.dogclub.co.uk/regions/index.php?PHPSESSID=94f7a0ce9238fd53ca3ad5df23d9fd9c

thanks for that i have emailed a dog trainer that is not too far so i am just waiting for a reply.