Heart ruling head? Advice!

Karran

Karran

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I've had a break from dogs for a few years due to my Fathers terminal illness, and then caring for my Grandparents who had dementia.

However I'm now in the position to consider getting a dog of my own. I share a house with a large garden with me, my partner, and my brother. We had labradors until recently, my Grandparents until they grew too ill took in retired police GSD's and neighbours have had everything from JRT to Burmese Mountain dogs, so neither me nor my brother are unaware of the needs and responsibilities involved in caring for a dog.
My partner however grew up in a house without any pets whatsoever (is scared of my friends pet rabbit), refuses to come see my part loan in case she "tramples him" and until two or three years ago was completely anti dog, but met a friends Cocker Spaniel and now is in love.
Anyway, we decided to do some research, and consider either getting a Cocker of our own or a Lab in Easter sometime.

However a friend of a friend is going through a relationship breakup, and announced on FB that they need to rehome a 10 month old Springer bitch. My YO has a springer so i'm aware of how active they can be which is where the doubts are coming in.

Now my brother works shifts, I leave the house about 8.15 and get home about 5.00, my partner works abroad a lot but when he is in the UK he is completely home based, and of course my brother does early and late starts, so we've worked out that between us and an organised rota we should manage to give it two decent hr long walks at start or end of day, and someone would be home to give it a bit of fuss mid afternoonish 90% of the time and when we cannot we can arrange a dog walker, so at most it would be alone 4 hours a day, before someone could be there to let it out for a walk/wee break.

Is this reasonable? I'm torn between wanting it, between worrying that its not acceptable at all and someone else can offer it a better home.
Its not been spayed so that will be first priority, although they assure me its jabbed and chipped, toilet training "is mostly there, but a few accidents still." So that's also a concern.
Once its spayed and had some training installed it'll be able to come up to the yard with me three times a week, where it can get about with me as I do horsey chores and ride and it socialise with other dogs and we've had a casual chat about maybe looking into agility training in the local area.

We're all going to meet the lady and the dog on the 17th and then discuss it all in more detail as before then, the garden fencing definitely needs reinforcing before anything comes home.

I've just started a new job (first day tomorrow!) so I don't want to risk asking for leave straight away which was why we originally planned for Easter as then I could take my share of being around for its first few weeks of settling in.

I'm worried that the dog will be just too active a breed despite the plans, that having three of us looking after it and training it will just confuse it too much. My Brother suffers from autism and although its very mild and he's working as a centre manager of a leisure centre still has his own "unique" moments and of course my OH has no idea what he's letting himself in for.

I thought writing it down would help me decide one way or another but I still have no idea!
I don't believe in taking any animal impulsively and have researched every animal before taking it unfortunately this also involves me talking myself out of having animals as well!

Phew!

Basically I need someone outside of the situation to tell me yes or no to taking it now/waiting for Easter as planned/telling me that in no way are we in a position to look after a dog.
 
what a lot you've had to deal with! springers do need a lot of exercise and I think it depends on the type of walks you can give her as much as the length of time. If she can have a lot of time off the lead safely she'll be a lot saner than if she is on a lead for an hour's walk. Reading your home situation it sounds a lot more suitable than many homes that take on active dogs and although I believe that springers are quite slow maturing, at least she's not a a small puppy. Also is she used to someone being home all day in her present home and what is her routine there? From what you've said i wouldn't dismiss the idea but perhaps get a bit more info from the present owner.
 
Sounds ok to me, i have no experience of that breed of dog but would say you sound very responsible and have looked into the needs of the dog pretty thoroughly. Hope it works out!
 
Phew - I was expecting a lot of people telling me emphatically NO!

Time off lead would come in time, after spaying obviously, I'd like to look into puppy classes in the area once that's been done. We're very lucky in that there's a lot of parks and woodland near us even if it is London so she can have lots of exploring fun off lead eventually.
All the dogs I've had in the past have been neutered earlier, so I'm not sure if it'd take a while for her to settle hormone wise, obviously she couldn't get pregnant but would she still be a bit of a magnet for other local dogs until it all settles?

It is the amount of exercise needed that is worrying me - perhaps too much - I remembered today my best friend's oldest sister had a mature Springer who was not impressed at long walks and would lay down when she felt she had had enough and refuse to move! Obviously a puppy will have a bit more life in it, but a chilled out personality wouldn't be a bad thing!

I only had a brief chat with the woman who did genuinely sound upset at the thought and hasn't even yet broken it to her daughter about it, but its something we're going to discuss in detail when we meet, busy making a list of all sensible questions to ask as I imagine the OH will instantly fall in love and forget his own name and my brother isn't sure yet if he can get the time off to come meet as well as she is based a good two hours drive from us.

Eeek - I'm super excited and apprehensive at the same time!
 
I have an incredibly energetic gsd, as in, he is a machine who doesn't stop! I do have another gsd but they are on their own for longer than 4 hours most days. I manage this by wearing him out mentally (obedience is good for this and he has frozen kongs etc). He has two off lead walks about half an hour a time with long walks at the weekend. I think a working dog can be managed this way without difficulty but if you haven't had one before be prepared as they do need your attention when you're home. I also can't just let him wander off lead, I get him searching for things, walk to heel, wait, send away etc. Then he's tired when we get in.

I think a dog will have a more enjoyable life with knowledgeable people prepared to give it attention and exercise who are out for some of the day than with people there all the time who make no effort to meet its needs 're exercise and mental stimulation. Go ahead and enjoy!
 
Thought I'd give a little update!
We went to meet puppy yesterday, a lovely chocolate brown bundle of hyperness, which did overwhelm my OH slightly but we were assured she was calmer indoors and likes her own company, and isn't one of those dogs who like to be Velcro-ed to your side although she clearly loved the fuss.
She was very good with other dogs we met on our walk, interacting well with them, perhaps slightly on the submissive side if she felt it was getting a bit too rough for her liking.
She didn't like being put on the lead and pulled (She has one of those silly extendable leads which annoy me) But her obedience off of it was very good. I'd probably say 75-80% there, although I expect it to deteriorate at least until she settles in with us.

So all looking good, I've investigated prices for spaying so that can get done ASAP.

Her current owner is an ecologist so she has spent time out in the field and at work with her and not really at home, but is good for at least 4 hours alone. So that's still a slight concern.

Not sure when we could pick her up as sadly today my Nan had a fall in the care home and broke her hip so my mums here staying with us and we need to see how she gets through surgery first.
 
I am confused, springers don't come in solid chocolate brown.

Also cockers and springers are pretty even with regards to energy levels but cockers are known too ften be fairly dominant and springers are not
 
Really? I didn't know (I don't know too much about the breed and am learning!) I'd post a picture but best not for now. I was assured she was a pedigree but i'm not fussed either way if she is or isn't. The important thing is that we suit each other. :-)

Maybe I'm being colour blind and liver brown is more accurate!
 
they came in liver and white, black and white and can have tan markings but they do not come in solid colours, if she is solid coloured and they tell you she is pedigree then they are not being hones tand what else might they be dishonest about?

can you PM me a picture?
 
Are you sure she's not a working cocker spaniel? They come in solid liver. Twiggy is right, Springers always have white on them.

She sounds adorable regardless. I do not have my bitches spayed until they are over 2 years old. After spaying has never made any difference to their demeanor and a male dog will not be attracted to your bitch in that way as the bitch will never come into heat.
 
That's good to know SF. I've always done mine earlier so wasn't too sure what to expect especially as most of the boys down the yard are intact and I don't want accidents!

I was a bit surprised as the only two I know/knew were brown and white, when I saw the first blurry photo I initially thought Lab but there is spaniel in there when you see her but I freely admit my knowledge of them is limited at best so didn't think any more of it.

I will be asking for vacc records when I pick her up which won't be for a couple of weeks at earliest until Nan goes safely back to carehome and I'm not running back and forth from work and hospital (Thank god for understanding bosses).

I will PM you a pic Twiggy as soon as I can get them from my phone :-)
 
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