Friends bird dog advice

[Stickerbush]

So my good friend picked up a springer spaniel awhile back, not sure how old exactly but the dog is like over a year. He got the dog with the intention of versatile hunting. Pheasant and occasional retrieve.

Anyway this dog is pretty small, kinda shaped like a wiener dog. Like the show variety not the hunting variety. My friend is convinced that he is a lost cause in terms of hunting and is content with him bieng a family dog. His legs are pretty short and be has some trouble with thick grass. What do you all think? Can smaller dogs make good hunters? It seems like a good opportunity if the dog has potential, at least in sagebrush where the grass isn't thick

[NW-GSP]

Cocker spaniels are hunting dogs, in Germany they use wirehair Weiner dogs for hunting also. My guess is that that your buddy has no experience in training dogs.

[Bullkllr]

On the other hand, it could be a dog that really isn't cut out for hunting.

On the other other hand, maybe more people should use wiener dogs for hunting.

[Birdguy]

Boykin spaniels are like cocker size and I have seen some of them that are hunting machines! I would certainly not write off the dog until it is given a fair opportunity to hunt and see what it is all about. If hunting is in the dog size will not be much of an issue. Pick up a few cheap coturnix quail or pigeons and see how the pup reacts. Good luck.

[Stickerbush]

I haven't spent much time with the dog it could be that it isn't cut out for hunting at all. Just wouldn't want to write it off just because of size

[NW-GSP]

I haven't spent much time with the dog it could be that it isn't cut out for hunting at all. Just wouldn't want to write it off just because of size

I agree with you.

[Blackjaw]

I don't think it is a problem with size, maybe more of a problem with desire.

[wildweeds]

Size really means doodle squat, it's the heart that matters. My male setter was tiny as compared to his average sized peers, he weighed 35 pounds soaking wet in tip top field trial shape. He won or placed in 35 events. And that is a pretty big number as most just barely get enough points to be a champion in a lifetime. He did it in 3 years and was number one dog in country. Never judge book by its cover, your buddy's dog may very well be a tornado in disguise. I say he shows it some birds,introduces gun correctly and at least tries. The description sounds like a field bred cocker spaniel. Give the dog a chance. Nothing to lose.

[jetjockey]

Size absolutely matters, but build matters more.  Short legged dogs will never have the stamina and ground covering ability as long legged dogs.  With that said, I just got done hunting over a springer build almost exactly like the dog you describe.  He couldn't cover the ground as fast, and didn't have the stamina of the longer legged springers we hunted over, but he could track birds as well as any of them, and he put lots of birds in the air.   Has your buddy put his springer on birds?  If the dog ignores birds, your buddy has a house dog.  If the dog goes crazy over birds, he has a bird dog.

[pens fan]

This is how determined short dogs deal with tall grass...

[Stickerbush]

Size absolutely matters, but build matters more.  Short legged dogs will never have the stamina and ground covering ability as long legged dogs.  With that said, I just got done hunting over a springer build almost exactly like the dog you describe.  He couldn't cover the ground as fast, and didn't have the stamina of the longer legged springers we hunted over, but he could track birds as well as any of them, and he put lots of birds in the air.   Has your buddy put his springer on birds?  If the dog ignores birds, your buddy has a house dog.  If the dog goes crazy over birds, he has a bird dog.

Those are some great points. I'm not sure if he has had the dog on birds, I don't think so though

[T-Bone]

Just to add, the "show type" Springers are tall and long legged; I own one with some show champions in his lineage. The field type Springers are generally smaller, more compact, with shorter ears, less hair and yes, somewhat short of leg in some strains:

 http://englishspringers.weebly.com/field-vs-bench-bred.html

Your friend needs to get a good book like "Training Spaniels & Retrievers" by Ken Roebuck and TAKE HIS TIME in introducing the dog to especially gunfire. Tossing a wing for the dog will reveal if the dog has any interest in becoming a hunter. I just hope he does not take the dog out on a first hunt "Platoon Assault" upland hunt with all the Buds  to become gun-shy and useless as a hunting dog.

Tom

[NW-GSP]

Just to add, the "show type" Springers are tall and long legged; I own one with some show champions in his lineage. The field type Springers are generally smaller, more compact, with shorter ears, less hair and yes, somewhat short of leg in some strains:

 http://englishspringers.weebly.com/field-vs-bench-bred.html

Your friend needs to get a good book like "Training Spaniels & Retrievers" by Ken Roebuck and TAKE HIS TIME in introducing the dog to especially gunfire. Tossing a wing for the dog will reveal if the dog has any interest in becoming a hunter. I just hope he does not take the dog out on a first hunt "Platoon Assault" upland hunt with all the Buds  to become gun-shy and useless as a hunting dog.

Tom

Or the usual I'm not sure why he's gunshy, I took him to the gun range with me when he was a pup.

Don't do it.