Breed compromise

[julesjoy]

Thank you, that's sounds very logical Clodagh!

 

[ArklePig]

Visit a rescue centre together, you will come home with a completely different dog, a unique heinz57..??

Agree with this! We thought we'd get a lab or a golden retriever with me voicing a liking for a pointer once or twice. We saw our dog on the rescue website, and it was love at first sight. She's a pointer x springer (we think on the springer part anyway) and she's the dog we didn't know we needed. Perfection. Don't be too caught up in breeds unless you want it to do something specific is my advice. Worked for us as we just want a pet.

ETA- I know a pointer x springer does indeed sound nuts and I was warned well on the thread I started but she works for us ? even my uncle who has and breeds Irish Water Spaniels which I would love but had discounted for us was like.. Yikes. I guess what I'm trying to say is sometimes the dog in front of you that you love isn't the one you thought you'd get. OH swore he'd never have a spaniel ?

 

[Auslander]

I have always been a spaniel person, as my family breeds Welsh Springers - but ended up with an Irish Setter. He's an absolute delight with a goofy retriever personality, whilst also being as mad as a box of frogs, but in a steadier way than a spanner. He's a joy to have as a house dog, as he has an off switch, so something settery might be a suitable compromise!

 

[Annette4]

My OH never wanted whippets, they always looked miserable and under fed.....got asked to foster, I didn't tell OH the breed and he fell in love and now he won't have anything else ? I'm not saying its the right thing to do but it worked.

ETA - I had corgis when I met OH and always said I wouldn't have anything else but we wanted less fluff for our next dog and went backwards and forwards around breeds, he likes bull breeds, I'm not a fan which is why we were looking for something else.

 

[julesjoy]

He sounds wonderful Auslander! Definitely going to research setters some more and see if partner agrees.

 

[JJS]

Me and my husband had this same disagreement. I’ve had lots of dog breeds over the years, and it’s Staffies who have a special place in my heart. He, on the other hand, wanted a Spaniel, which to my mind are too high energy and nutty for our setup.

We decided the best compromise would be to look at what each of us liked about those breeds, and then to look at what type of personality would fit best in our household. Our Lab puppy is coming home a week on Friday!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I won't get away with suggesting one of each unfortunately, too many animals already for his liking ? I'd say just a pet rather than working first and foremost.

I like the size and nuttyness of spanners, they make me laugh. He thinks they are too small and nutty ? But yes, a nice fun, family friendly dog up for an active and varied life.

I've just had a Google of HPR dogs, thanks for the suggestion. I like the setter's looks most but haven't met any to know what their personalities are like.

In terms of size, they’re very variable. I thought I’d always want an oversized turbo springer-Bear is huge for a springer, 24kg and very tall. However, Goose is 18kg and looks tiny comparatively and I’m swung. His brother is as tall as Bear but much narrower.

Are you sure he wouldn’t go for one of each? There was a guy on petforums who always had a springer and a gr, 6 months apart.

I would never have another spaniel. I don’t really think they are like Labradors at all, a million times harder work!
Pointers and setters generally seem even harder work than spaniels!
I’d get a working bred Labrador, all the fun of a spaniel but one you can actually take for walks and relax with. ?

Goose and Bear are very high drive, but I have lovely walks with them, despite Goose’s rebellious moments last week. Had a stroll round the woods this evening because they were full of energy, despite 2 visits from the dog walker. My OH texted me when he got home: ‘Hurry. They’re mental’. ? Quick blast in the woods and they’re fine. My OH is taking the dog Walker round the usual route tomorrow so she can see what they’re like when free to run and take them out for ‘proper’ walks. She’s been going to the park ? It’s not enough and it’ll soon be dark when we get home.

I relax all the time with mine. Bear is on my knee, Mitch is curled up on the chair. They’ll snuggle as a pack all evening now with us. Springers are the best dogs!

 

[julesjoy]

Good luck JJS, please post photos!

Will be viewing the pups again at the weekend, as they are a friend's so I can, but prepared not to get too attached! They are sprockers. I know both parents, who are just lovely. If nothing else, the puppies have made us have some serious conversations about what we want, how we'd make it work etc, which is definitely a good thing.

 

[Thistle]

What do you want to do with the dog? Just a pet (most important job ever!), gundog work/training? Agility? Scentwork or some other way to use it's brain.

If you want to get into 'proper' working tests etc then you'll need a pedigree dog. If you just want to have fun with lower level stuff, charity comps etc then a mixed breed will be ok.

I have labs and spaniels, totally different creatures. A working bred golden retriever could be a compromise, the bitches are usually quite small and slight, they are often more biddable than a spaniel but are a bit more challenging than a lab sometimes. Flatcoats also have a sense of humour.

There is a whole world of difference between show and working strains of labs, cockers, springers, setters and golden retrievers, not so the Flatcoats though.

Most important is that you understand that these are all hunting/gundog breeds and have active brains and generations of breeding to make them the biddable, human pleasing dogs that they are. THEY NEED A JOB!!!

This doesn't have to be the job that they were bred for but it's easiest if you use the traits that have been bred into them for generations in some way.