all-american cocker

Re Peg Fluff (Letters, May issue) – yes, American cockers do work on shoots sometimes, somewhere – mine, over the years, have worked all over Derbyshire. For some years now I have been a beater (and now secretary) of the Monkwood Shoot and have always had an American cocker by my side. They are steady, biddable, super little flushing dogs and also dual purpose – one of my bitches

(alas no longer with me) achieved second in a Gamekeepers’ class at Crufts and was also placed in the breed ring.

Agreed, at first we did get some strange looks and cynical comments but underneath that coat (obviously cut short for working) is a sturdy little spaniel quite capable of a day’s work in the field, usually still going strong when the labs and spaniels have run out of steam.

Mary Spireyanks, by email