Can 'anyone' have (and ''train'') a Springer?

[Fools Motto]

I've NEVER been a real spaniel fan. My love is Whippets.
However, my SiL is breeding from her (not so well trained pet Springer) with my best friends very well trained field trialled champ.
I'm not going into rants about too many litters, or irresponsible breeding, this is what they want, and I'm in no position to change that.
Now, even though the mating hasn't yet taken place, everyone is getting highly excited about it all -humans that is, - don't suppose the dogs even know what is coming as both first timers! BUT, we have been offered a pup (if/when ect..) First thoughts, no way. Can't do it, won't do it. Very slowly I've come to the conclusion it MAY be possible... Just have to get the landlady to agree to 2 dogs, and almost hoping she says no, but then the disapointment MAY set in.

So, can all doggy people here, please give me the in's and out's of the breed, and will our peace and ease with 1 whippetX be shattered!!

 

[s4sugar]

If it wasn't your SiL's litter would you go out & buy a Springer?

If your were going to buy one would it be from an unproven (work or show) bitch?
What about the health tests too?


If you wouldn't go out & buy one don't have a pup just because it is family.

 

[JillA]

I LOVE Springers, but they can be hyper unless they plenty of stimulation - exercise nd mental stimulation. If you get a pup and can train it (recall, stay close, down) from the off you will end up with a lovely cheerful dog who can't fail to make you smile and focusses on you at all times. Not the best idea if you are out at work all day and can only manage a quick strol round the streets a couple of times a day.

 

[Fools Motto]

If it wasn't your SiL's litter would you go out & buy a Springer?

If your were going to buy one would it be from an unproven (work or show) bitch?
What about the health tests too?


If you wouldn't go out & buy one don't have a pup just because it is family.

I can honestly say, that no way on this earth would I go out and buy a springer pup - they really are not my breed! So on that basis I wouldn't have one..
But now I'm already feeling being backed into a corner... OH is already getting the kids excited!
IF, big if, the landlady says yep, it is allowed, would I be very bad in telling others that she said no?

 

[PorkChop]

I have working springers - five of them

Mine aren't hyper, they live to please me, very biddable, couldn't be fussed with other dogs. However I train mine every day and they work from October to the end of January.

I presume you are wanting to train the puppy to be a gundog as it will be from working stock?

Like s4sugar has rightly said, don't have a puppy from the litter unless you were wanting a springer, especially a working one. There may be other breeds that would be far more suitable.

 

[Fools Motto]

It would be for pet, not working. I don't have time or the will to train it to work. Saying that, I make sure I have time to take my current dog out twice daily for very long walks!! (and often all afternoon with me on the farm).
PS, I want a Whippet pup!

 

[gunnergundog]

IF, big if, the landlady says yep, it is allowed, would I be very bad in telling others that she said no?

Personally, I would think that you were being very responsible.

You;ve admitted that you wouldn't actively go out and seek a pinger, let alone a FtCH bred one. The sire is likely to have a much higher prey drive and general vavavoom than the bitch; it is this drive which, when channelled correctly and coupled with good training, has turned him into the successful field dog he is. This drive, if NOT given an outlet and adequate training, can lead to a bored, destructive, hyper dog that bogs off and goes self-employed hunting.....often, sadly ending up under a car on the nearest railway line.

Please note that working stock and field trial stock are two very different kettles of fish! Not wishing to cause offence to anyone, but generally you could liken them to a ford mondeo and Ferrari!

 

[Spudlet]

It would be for pet, not working. I don't have time or the will to train it to work. Saying that, I make sure I have time to take my current dog out twice daily for very long walks!! (and often all afternoon with me on the farm).
PS, I want a Whippet pup!

Even if you don't work it, it will need a job to be happy. Just walking it won't do - it will need to have its drive to hunt channelled or it will find its own outlet - probably three fields away and with no intention of coming back any time soon

 

[paulineh]

I have 6 springers and would always have them. 4 work on the shoot during the season and 1 is a young pup 12 weeks old and my other one is now 11 and has health issues. my 11 yea old was a rescue and although he had real issues when we got him (Training wise) he was a natural worker and never really needed training.

During the off season they get 2 good walks, both in the woods and then will spend some time down at the yard with me. They are happy to spend some down time in the kennels and have never been hyper dogs. I have a mixture of Dogs and Bitches. when I train them it is all done as a game with rewards.

A springer will reward you time and time again.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Breeding a working dog to a pet/showline dog does not necessarily raise the drive on one side or calm it on the other - I know from my own breed, the first couple of generations can often be fugly dogs with no drive sorry!!!!

You might get a really flat pet type or you might get a hyper dog that's on the go all the time and needs a lot of occupation.
'Best of both worlds' is a rarity, despite the hard sell.

 

[Alec Swan]

.......

'Best of both worlds' is a rarity, despite the hard sell.

Correct! Back in the 19th century, there were those shooting men who had the bright idea that they'd cross Labrador Retrievers, with English Pointers. The thinking was that they'd get puppies which would point, and retrieve. The reality was that they got puppies which did neither! That's a bit off topic.

There are work and trialling bred spaniels which are a delight. There are the same dogs which are of nightmare propensities. The best are wonderful, and the worst will turn you grey prematurely. I'm as bald as a coot, and I put that down to spaniels!

You have to actually want them, and I'm not too sure that you do. In your shoes, I'd blame it on the Landlord!

Alec.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I'd say don't do it. I have three, one worker, the calmest! Two siblings, one 'needs' a job, the other doesn't. As with any dog, training is essential plus lots of time. Temperament is all important so if you do get one, choose the calm one! My OH chose the only one who'd worked out how to escape the cage and threw itself at him He's been.....interesting!

 

[stormox]

Unless you really want a springer- and have researched the breed, dont have one. And tell her why, lieing never did anyone any good. If she's a decent person and dog-lover she'l understand!
Springers are a working breed- Ive trained several up for other people. They need a job, can be difficult to house train ( they are more interested in sniffing and following scents than going to the loo- when they want to go they just go, whenever and wherever!) Can be difficult to recall when following a scent, or chasing something. They are not really content to be a sofa hound!
Having said that, I know there are many people have springers as pets, but IMHO they are more suited to a working home, doing what they were bred for.

 

[RunToEarth]

It would be for pet, not working. I don't have time or the will to train it to work. Saying that, I make sure I have time to take my current dog out twice daily for very long walks!! (and often all afternoon with me on the farm).
PS, I want a Whippet pup!

I would say no and have no regrets. They aren't a breed you would go out looking for, and are a world apart from a whippet, which is what you have said you would want anyway - you presumably will already know a lot about Whippets, so why fix what isn't broken?

IMO Springers don't make incredibly good pets and are much better suited to a working life - I personally would not be able to cope with either of ours as pets, they need a lot of stimulation and work, physical and mental.

 

[Spudlet]

I think they can make good pets, but if you get the right one to begin with, and only in the kind of home ready and willing to have one as a pet and to meet the needs of the dog - and this can take a lot of work. You do get the sofa-surfers but I wouldn't bank on it - you're more likely to get an Action Spaniel (as we call Henry - and he's not even a Springer!)

This is an article that was on the Gundog Club website - I think it sums things up quite well. http://totallygundogs.com/the-trouble-with-springers-part-one/

I think Springers are great dogs, and I personally would consider one - but I would still go into with eyes open and take a lot of time finding the right one for me.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

They need a job, can be difficult to house train ( they are more interested in sniffing and following scents than going to the loo- when they want to go they just go, whenever and wherever!)

Have to massively disagree on all points! One of the four I've had needs direction/to work. The other three, including his brother, are sofa surfers! Never had issues toilet training!

 

[Suzie86]

I have a show type cocker and a working bred springer. When she came along yes she shattered our peaceful easy life with our cocker he loves playing, mad run arounds and long walks but is then just as happy to sleep all day long. She is go go go all the time! She's only 8 months so is not working yet but is in training and doing brilliantly. I'm no expert but I'd say they need a job to do and they are wasted not doing it. Of course I am no expert and just speaking from experience with our puppy and the other springers we have met through gundog club. They don't have to work, but they seem to love the training so perhaps having one and taking it to gundog classes but not actually working it would work for you?

 

[MyBoyChe]

Ive got 2, auntie and nephew, from the same breeder. They are FT bred but they are just pets to me. They get 2 good walks a day off lead in the fields and tbh the rest of the time they are either asleep on the sofa or sniffing or sleeping in the garden. Neither have ever put a paw wrong, they were easy puppies and they are very easy dogs. However, I love spaniels, I wouldnt have a whippet as a gift, they are just not my sort of dog, as different as chalk and cheese. Not meant as a damning comment on whippets but I think you've answered your own question. Horses for courses and all that. If you want a whippet puppy a spaniel is not going to make you happy and will like as not result in an unhappy relationship. Lie if you have to but please dont take on a dog you dont really want.

 

[Katikins]

Whippet whippet whippet!!!!

I grew up with springers and I love them (and do think they are the cutest puppies of them all), however, ours weren't worked and were not well enough trained (looking back we weren't very good dog owners back in my childhood... the advantage of hindsight) and they were a nightmare!! The house was regularly destroyed, even if they were taken out for long long walks beforehand. They were relatively easy to train but did have definite selective hearing if there was a scent anywhere close and one was a sheep worrier that we had to do a lot of work with to train out of him (and we never fully trusted him).

Although I adore springers I don't think I'd have one again. I just know that unless I was 110% springer mad it wouldn't be fair on the dog. I now have a whippet who was just the perfect choice. Wasn't my first choice of breed when I started looking but is definitely the breed for me and they are NOW my first choice.

And just to be mean... my girl's breeder has just had another litter of pups so I thought I'd add a whippet puppy pic (I'm not making this easier am I?)

 

[Always Henesy]

I have a Springer. He is my profile picture.

He is a family pet, much loved and we wouldn't be without him.
He was very easy to house train, train to heel, sit, lie down etc etc - he grasped it in days.

He is happy to sofa surf/laze in the sun and generally be a lazy toad. On walks he goes off and "courses" - usually one field at a time. He comes straight back (usually with half the countryside attached to his bloomers) to check on where I am and then he is off again.
He is a gentle soul who has quite happily babysat my 2 other dogs as puppies and atm he has a JRT puppy permanently attached to his ears. He has always been very gentle with my children (he has grown up with my youngest)

He makes a beeline for water - absolutely adores water.

However - unless you can always give them the exercise they need - then forget it. My Springer is a treasure at home and very chilled, but he needs his walks to do what Springers "do" iyswim