Schaller's English Cockers

We got into the show or bench English Cocker Spaniel when our daughter was in 4H conformation and obedience classes. My job was to get them to shows and I was in charge of the loving end of the dogs. We raised one batch of puppies with our American Kennel Club (AKC) show dog, Annie. We kept two of the puppies for pets, one for my older daughter and one for my son. After the girls got married, both son-in-laws liked to pheasant hunt. I wanted to get my own hunting dog and liked the temperament of the English Cockers so I decided on the field breeding. The dogs from field English Cocker breeding have a more rounded head, a lot less hair (we trim the feet and ears), more energy, better health, and are very intelligent.

Comparing the temperament of field and show English Cockers they are about the same, very loving, obedient, and wanting to please. The temperament of our cockers is very relaxed in the home. They do need and demand attention. Duke, Brandy, and Betty love to sit in my lap at the same time. They will nudge my hand to get some petting. They will bark if someone comes to the door. They mellow right out after meeting strangers, waiting to be petted.

When I am taking them hunting though it is a different thing. They know the difference between just going for a ride and going hunting. They can’t wait to get to the field and hunt! The English Cockers have earned their nick name “pocket rockets”. They are very energetic, close working dogs. It is fun to watch them work. I get many compliments from my clients on the dogs when guiding. I am a licensed guide in Wisconsin . October to December I go to South or North Dakota & Iowa hunting wild birds. To help promote the sport of hunting to the younger generation, I also volunteer as a guide for the Annual Youth Hunt Events through the Columbia and Marquette County Pheasants Forever, as well as the Columbia County Sporting Alliance (CCSA).

Our Stock


DUKE	Duke is a field English Cocker Spaniel who was born on October 30, 2000 . He is 4 th generation from Scotch / UK bloodlines. His great-great grandfather is a son out of the Queen’s Kennel. There are mostly field champions or master hunters in Duke’s bloodline. Duke’s father, grandmother, and great-grandmother were used in Wisconsin by licensed guides for pheasant hunts. He is registered with Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB). Duke was easy to train. We had six 1-hour lessons over six weeks with a trainer and he was ready to go hunting. I did additional control training but that was it. I believe Duke trained me more than I trained him. He is a natural hunter. I would take out my friends and they just raved about how well Duke did. In the first two years of hunting there was one bird shot that we did not find. He is a close working flushing dog ranging out 20 - 25 yards and working back to me. Duke is a dark liver and white, ticked color weighing 32–34 pounds. He stands 17 inches tall at the shoulder, and is 30 ½ inches long nose to tail bone. Duke has that chiseled athletic gait and is very fast when he turns it on. It is fun to watch him move in the field. Duke is a calm lover. He will lay beside me quietly waiting for an occasional petting. He loves his neck, ears and tail scratched, everywhere else is ok too. When going for rides he likes to sit and lean against me.
BRANDY	After the second year of hunting, my wife and I decided to go into the guide business. We felt having another dog for guiding would beneficial. We wanted to raise some puppies and thought this would be a enjoyable activity going into retirement. We bought Brandy who was born on October 2, 2002 , from Richard Schanda. Richard was a licensed guide and used his dogs for Woodcock hunting. They also hunted pheasants for fun. He had health issues when their first litter of puppies came, so Michael Gilpin (an Englishman) facilitated the sale of Brandy. Michael also was the one who arraigned for Brandy’s parents to come from the UK to New Hampshire . Michael is the top trainer in New England and one of the top three trainers in the USA . Brandy is the 1 st generation born in this country. Her bloodline contains many field champions. She is registered with American Kennel Club (AKC) and Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB). Brandy is liver and white, ticked weighing 29–32 pounds. She stands 16 inches tall, and is 30 ½ inches long nose to tail bone. Brandy has an even better nose than Duke. She hunts out about 15-20 yards in front of me. I did all the training with Brandy. She is very quick and agile. Brandy is very affectionate, when she looks at you with those eyes you just have to pet her. When you pet her, she will roll over for a tummy rub.
Betty	Looking to expand our guiding and breeding options Betty was added to our family the end of June 2007. She was born March 20, 2006 . We were looking for an unrelated female, so we contacted Michael Gelpin who referred us to Martin Bell (another Englishman). Martin is also one of the top three trainers of English Cockers in the USA . While at the kennel in Texas , Martin was already in the process of training Betty for field trials. Betty has the pedigree we were looking for with field trial winners and champions from UK bloodlines. I polished her training for guiding pheasant hunts. Betty is 3rd generation born in this country. Betty hunts similar to Duke. Her gait and movements is best described as stylish. Betty’s speed and grace are deceptive as she effortlessly covers the ground. She weighs 31 pounds, is 16 ½ inches tall and is 33 ½ inches long nose to tail bone. Betty is orange and white, ticked. She is registered with American Kennel Club (AKC) and Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB). Betty is a great cuddler, who likes to lie on my lap/chest looking into my eyes for a petting giving me kisses every now and then.

Puppies

We stay in contact with the people who have bought puppies from us. Several of the new owners have become good friends. It is hard when the puppies go to new homes, but it is also wonderful making new friends who have a great love of dogs. Several puppies have been brought back for hunt training. Many owners call or email with training questions or to just visit. I enjoy talking about the dogs and hearing how they are progressing. This is what makes raising puppies fun. All of our puppies live in homes and are working dogs. This is what they were bred to be. All of the owners have report back the keen bird instinct in the puppies.

All of our puppies are litter registered with Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB). Most of the puppies have been liver and white, ticked from Duke and Brandy. We have had 2 orange/yellow and white, ticked puppies. The full grown puppies are weighing between 22–33 pounds for a female and 30–35 pounds for a male.

Several puppies we have sold have gone to homes where the puppy serves dual purposes. Wives tend to like the temperament and size for a house dog. Children like to have a good natured buddy to play with. Husbands like to hunt with the family dog. The other puppies went to homes that primarily wanted a high quality hunting dog.

Puppies we have sold have gone to homes all over the country. While many of the puppies have stayed in Wisconsin, we have puppies in Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Dakota, Minnesota, Washington, Texas and California. When we went to pick up Betty, we stopped to visit with the three families who have bought puppies from us in Texas. We were treated with great hospitality.

Some owners are using the puppies bought from us for license guided hunts in their area. Two other puppies in Texas are used for guided hunts of Pheasant, Quail, Dove, and Chucker. One of the guides in Texas registered his dog, Duchess, with American Kennel Club (AKC) for field trials. One of our puppies in California went to a couple that wanted a house dog that could do agility work. Fenway is completing her training, amazing her trainers and she will soon start agility at the competitive level.

Future Puppies

Betty is due with her first litter April 11, 2008 . Brandy is due with her fifth litter April 22,2008. In past litters, Brandy has had five or six puppies. From the litters we are expecting now, several puppies are already sold. We have suspended taking deposits until after the puppies are born. If you are interested in a puppy, you may contact us and we will notify you when the puppies are born.