Can our gundog be a pet as well as a working dog?

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Can our gundog be a pet as well as a working dog?

Cocker spaniels make for great workers - as well as pets.

By Barnaby Dracup

Monday, 23 January 2012

We've been talking about getting a cocker spaniel and my wife would like it to be a family pet in the house but I would like it to be a working dog.

Is it possible to have the dog do both?

GUNDOG TRAINING
Jemma Clifford
This is something I get asked regularly, and there is no clear cut answer.

My own view is that there’s no real reason that with the correct guidance, firm boundaries and proper training that a working dog can't live in the home as well as work out in the field.

In your situation (as you obviously have room outside) I would suggest your dog lives both in and outside.

Getting it used to both allows it to create its own space and it provides somewhere for him/her to go when you’re not at home and, finally, it’s an arrangement that will prove very useful at various stages of its education.

Cocker Spaniels are a good choice for a working dog and family pet, especially if it’s from good working lines. It is not the breed that matters but the time, effort and commitment to its training that will result in the right dog for you and your family.