ESS are great dogs, but anyone looking to get one should do their research; there are basically two 'types' of springer: show or pet stock, and field stock. Show stock tend to have heavy feathering, droopy eyes, and can be affected by a condition known as "rage', where they just take off in a biting frenzy! Field dogs, to the best of my knowledge, aren't affected by this condition.
English cockers are in the same boat: two types, one hunting & one field.
As for the blue picardy: there are breeders near me (I live in MI), but none that I have communicated with are hunters, which makes me a bit leery.
I have thought about getting another chessie, but with the health issues the last two I've had have had, I'm a bit leery of the breed.....my vet says that, generally, they are one of the healthiest of dog breeds, but aren't long lived.
Guess I'm looking for something that doesn't exist!
