Hunting with
Cockers!
Ch
Skyrocket's Upland Special SH AX MXJ " Hunter"
My dogs enjoy nothing more than their
historic function of bird hunting. Hunter especially lives for it.
Cockers are Flushing Spaniels, and must
find flush and retrieve birds.
Bev Bettridge and Can Ch. Skyrocket's
Northern Knight Can CDX JH "Raven"
Watching a cocker working in the field,
it's tail going 90 mph, is a joy like none other.
Here are a couple of websites about
hunting with your cocker:
Field
cockers (Mostly English Cockers)
If you are interested in starting you
cocker in the field and you are located in Northern Virginia, contact me and we can set up an intro day!
If you are outside of the DC area, try
joining the ACSHE (American
Cocker Spaniel Hunting Enthusiasts) list.
Types of hunting Events:
Non-competitive, two titles awarded,
Working dog (WD) and Working Dog Excellent (WDX). These tests were developed
prior to the development of The AKC Hunt test program by the ASC. Dogs must pass
once. Must find flush and retrieve two
birds on land an one in the water.
Non-competitive,
three titles awarded, Junior Hunter (JH), Senior hunter (SH) and Master Hunter
(MH). Dogs must pass four times for JH and SH and 5 times for MH.
JH must
find flush and retrieve two birds on land and retrieve one in the water.
Sh
includes a land blind (where the dog must retrieve a bird they did not see
fall), and a longer water retrieve. Dog must bring bird back to the owners hand
(to hand).
MH
Includes all of the above, Plus a water retrieve where the dog did not see the
bird fall, and the dog must be "Steady" (i.e. after flushing the bird
the dog must stop and wait to be sent for the retrieve).
Competitive. One dog wins, and dog must
have two wins, or one win plus points (awarded for dogs though 4th place).
Style counts! You have to get the job done fast, cleanly and efficiently. There has been only one Field Champion
American Cocker in the modern era: FC Madison's Pride and Passion. Americans compete against field-bred English
cockers.
Dog run
in a brace (i.e two dogs hunting at the same time). Trials have three series,
each series windowing down the number of dogs.