Working with Walt

Walt is a seven month Cocker Spaniel from working stock. As I have advised many times, if you are going to buy a Ferrari, you need to know how to drive it. Originally, Walt was bought as a companion dog for his owner and possibly also to take on shoots with the owner’s husband. Already there is a problem here – a good hunting dog is unlikely to be happy going for a short lead walk around the streets.

Walt is already headstrong and stubborn. He is a hunting dog and if not well trained will chase so he is challenging for his owner. It’s now been established he won’t work, which is a shame but we’ve switched the training to focus on the owner for what she needs from her dog. Due to a number of events, there has been longer between training sessions this time. In the 28 days that have passed, Walt has only been trained by the owner twice, that’s a terrible 10%. Even worse, he has been walked once a day at best and sometimes not at all.

You have to put the time in with your dog. Rehoming came up in the conversation but the owner said she is not the type of person to give up. I told her not to be selfish – this is not about our feelings, it is about the dog’s welfare. Consider very carefully when you are choosing a working dog breed. If you are not going to work it, how often and for how long are you going to exercise it? Don’t buy a Ferrari if you have no intention of driving it.

Posted: July 8, 2019