How to Hunt With a Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels are excellent pets, but the original English Cocker Spaniels were bred as birding dogs. Many Cockers still retain the hunting instinct, and can be trained to be a great help during a hunt by flushing and retrieving birds.

Things You'll Need

  • Gun
  • Dead birds
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Train the Cocker Spaniel to hunt as soon as it is old enough to be given basic obedience lessons. Teach it basic commands such as "sit" and "come," as well as hunting commands such as "recall." Give the dog several short training sessions every day.

    • 2

      Train the Cocker Spaniel out in the field, with birds and guns, once it has mastered basic commands. Shoot the gun to get the dog used to the sound, and toss out dead birds to introduce the dog to the idea of retrieving. Teach the dog through repetition and consistency that a gunshot means it needs to go retrieve a bird. Teach the dog that a whistle or call means that it needs to return rather than continue to chase a bird.

    • 3

      Work with the Cocker Spaniel for two or three years before taking it on an all-day trip. Train it for another year or two after that before taking it on a big hunting trip.

    • 4

      Use the fully trained Cocker Spaniel to flush out birds. When a bird flies away, shoot at it. The dog will chase the bird at the sound of the gun. Recall the dog if the bird flies out of range. If you shoot the bird, the Cocker will attempt to find it and bring it back. Toss a dead bird out on occasion for the dog to retrieve if it is a long hunt and there are few birds around. This will keep the Cocker excited about the hunt.