English cocker spaniels?

[Commando]

The wife is wanting to get a English cocker spaniel in the near future. This will be her first field dog. I’m a lab guy so really don’t know the first thing about these cockers. Can anyone point me to a few reputable breeders we can start a search around the pnw? Thanks!

[Backstrap]

My EFC is from Covey Flush kennels in Florida. Most of their breeders are imported from England, and all have very strong bloodlines. I think there is a breeder in the Portland area, but I don’t know anything about them.

They are very happy, gentle, and loving dogs. The are also very energetic, athletic, and have a very high prey drive. It’s amazing how the switch flips when there’s game to be hunted. In the early days, cockers and springers came out of the same litters, with the only determining factor being size.

I think your wife would love an EFC, but they are a serous hunting dog (aka a real handful sometimes) and if she is just looking for a pet, then I’d recommend a rescue mutt.

Good luck. Let’s hear back if you get one...

[Commando]

Thanks for the info! She’s looking for a dog she can hunt she thought it was the coolest thing when she saw my lab do his thing chasing grouse but she wants her own dog to train and something not as big as a lab. We are pretty active so it’ll be pretty active. This’ll be her first dog she trains to so she’s pretty excited to say the least.  Looks like most of the breeders she’s been looking at don’t have something planned for awhile.

[shootem]

A Boykin spaniel is another option.

[Commando]

I’ve been trying to convince her on one of those for awhile and no dice. I’d love to get a Boykin though

[Backstrap]

Covey Flush has a litter hitting the ground 9/29. They are usually pre-sold, but you never know. The size of the litter, and gender/color preferences can result in unsold pups.

[hollymaster]

Brittany spaniel is another one you could look at. 

[ibuyre]

My little girl is a English Springier but she's only 41 lb and I think under 40 lb is cocker land.  So she's close. I got her from "gun crazy bird dogs" and she's a amazing dog. Blue moon on hear also has and sometimes breeds Springier's. He knows far more about them and who breeds them than me.

[AspenBud]

Juggernaut Gun Dogs in Wisconsin
Ryglen Gun Dogs in Illinois
Field Bred Cockers in Oregon

I also think there is a guide who works at Ruggs Ranch down in Oregon who breeds them.

Given a choice I would take a hard look at Juggernaut and Ryglen. But I am sure there are others.

[jetjockey]

I’d research kennels from the Northern FL to Southern GA quail belt.  That’s where most of the great cockers come from.  The plantations down there use a ton of them to flush birds from the nasty thickets.  Field bred Cockers are awesome little dogs.  My wife’s parents just got one, and it’s a retrieving beast at only 11 weeks old.

[pens fan]

Let her see these boykin pups...

[wildweeds]

Oahe kennels, North Dakota, Tom Ness is a very accomplished trailer and breeder of field springers and field cockers. There's a fellow who lives on San Juan Island that is into Field Cockers, his name is Alfred DeFalco.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

I HATE to say/share this as it is a Flushing dog not a Pointer, You WILL be running like hell to keep up after any dogs flushing any birds! Better be ready to run!

[Lady Grouse hunter]

I'd say the 2 on the ground would be a GOOD mellow pup pic!

[pens fan]

You are not the first to make that statement. But my phone was too slow to capture all 8 of them standing up.
Except for one, they were all pretty mellow when being paid attention to. But out in the grass or woods they were all over.