Labradors and springers

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Dizzydancer

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Hi all

I have a 3ysar old lab and am looking to now get a second dog this year.
My question is are they a good mix together? I always think springers are more nuts and exercise crazed!
My lab works and the springer would too once old enough. OH wants soringer but I thought 2labs maybe easier as they would be more chilled family pets.

What are the general opinion? Does anyone have the combo together and do you think it works?
They would be our family pets foremost and working dogs second!
 
The combo of dogs is not the issue, if they are both working and properly trained they will be perfect together. I assume by work you mean gun dogs? If so, one of each will be beneficial as each breed will do a different role and possibly open more opportunities for you.
 
Springers are not mad! I have one out of the four I've had since I started with this breed who is naughty. We knew he was naughty and my OH chose him deliberately. The others are calm, sleep lots, love cuddles. They just need training, enough exercise and consistency, like any other breed. My lot are happy with under an hour a day training or free running. I'd say my lot are extremely chilled!
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Thanks guys. Yes gun dogs, OH is thinking the same as he feels more choice with one of each. CT your dogs are lovely- that's good to know- I imagine as with anything breeding is the key to nature. Our gun dog trainer currently has a litter of springers down which are 2weeks old so the chances are we will have one of these if a springer so know both mum and dad. However we may ask trainer if they are running a pup on until 6months so that would also give us more insight I to the dog.
Thanks tho I think we can say they should be a good mix then! Hate it when the OH is right lol
 
We've got two springers - mum and daughter. kept daughter as mum is such a placid, well behaved girl - the have both been professionally trained but daughter is just wired - she wants to be doing something 24-7 and just vibrates around the place - and she gets several miles of exercise a day. As a breed I think they are great, and they both work wonderfully alongside eachother - there is no reason that a lab and a springer would be any different. We got a retriever puppy a couple of months ago and I intend to work her alongside them when she's old enough.
 
Alec Swan said:
Not mad maybe, but I'm sure that sofa had legs, once upon a time! :D

Alec.
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Cheeky boy!! That is their extremely expensive dog bed from TK Maxx (£35 cos it had no price on!!)

Dunno about breeding and temperament, the black and whites are littermates and the one on the left is downright naughty, leads the other off self hunting, wants to play lots, his brother is Mr Chill, happy to be on my knee all evening. The most sensible of the three is the liver and white, working bred and the easiest dog I've ever known, pretty much trained himself. Zak was a major shock after him!
 
cinnamontoast said:
Springers are not mad! I have one out of the four I've had since I started with this breed who is naughty. We knew he was naughty and my OH chose him deliberately. The others are calm, sleep lots, love cuddles. They just need training, enough exercise and consistency, like any other breed. My lot are happy with under an hour a day training or free running. I'd say my lot are extremely chilled!
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Want.

P
 
Dizzydancer said:
I have heard that the liver and whites are easier than the black and whites but not sure how true! Bit like chocolate labs are not workers
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With Springers, the colour is an irrelevance. With Labs, those which are Chocolate or Red, were bred purely for their colour, and despite the claims of many, their working abilities, at least of all those that I've seen, tend to be rather diminished.

It wouldn't surprise me, in a year or two, to have Labs offered in Avocado!

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
It wouldn't surprise me, in a year or two, to have Labs offered in Avocado!

Alec.
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I believe I've bred the first attempt at that. It's a bit patchy in places, but there are definitely large splodges of avocado. At 17 weeks he is, nevertheless, showing excellent working potential. However, as his father is good farm stock (huge) and his mother is a working type whore, I am not sure many shoots down south would allow him. Good thing we're moving up North. I hear they're not quite so fussy up there.
 
Dizzydancer said:
I have heard that the liver and whites are easier than the black and whites but not sure how true! Bit like chocolate labs are not workers
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Not so :)

I have eight working springers, none are bonkers and when they are not working they can be found asleep in the kitchen :):) eta I have both liver and white, and black and white!
 
Alec Swan said:
^^^^ :D.

The 'splodges' are probably where the mucky little sod's rolled in sheep ****, 'cause that's green, you know!

Alec.
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Actually, I live in the agri-desert... I have something even more permanent than sheep **** - I have Fen ditches. Nothing, but nothing, removes the green paste and lingering stench of Fen ditches. Little whatsit indeed. I stupidly sold all the black ones and kept the green one.
 
Here's hoping lets see a pic of the avocado dude!
I only know of one choc lab who is a good working dog and she is my current boys mum. I nust admit tho I'm rather partial to the fox reds even if they are meant to be less work ethic!
 
Think it depends on the Fox Red... ours is 7 and a bit and they were relatively rare when we got him - he was the only yellow in a litter from 2 black labs -both working lines. He's lanky, slim and very waterproof. Not worked due to our lack of interest but has done a few days beating and enjoyed it. Soft mouthed- catch with balloons is possible, and keen to please. But he wasn't bred to be red...

There are now a lot more reds deliberately bred red to red and even some with pink skin rather than dark. These might well be less good to work.

Think it was working lines thst preserved the red colour while the show lines aimed for white.
 
My lot (all springers) get a 40 minute walk in a morning and at least an hour in the afternoon, all off lead. Sometimes more if the OAP is coping ok. The rest of the time, they are asleep.

The only really naughty springer I've ever owned was a big chunk of a show bred boy (Clyde). Absolutely everything had to be put out of his reach before it disappeared down his neck. He had a particular preference for socks!!

Current black and white is as mad as a box of frogs and lives on a different planet to the rest of us but that's just her and nothing to do with colour. She does have a particular talent of being able to defy gravity while asleep though.

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PolarSkye said:
Want.

P
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The bed or the dogs?! Frankly, there are times I would happily pack Zak in a jiffy envelope, although he's currently curled up on the OH's knee, butter wouldn't melt.
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(One of these days, that new front door will actually go on!)

LJR said:
Not so :)

I have eight working springers, none are bonkers and when they are not working they can be found asleep in the kitchen :):) eta I have both liver and white, and black and white!
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Holy crap, eight?! I keep telling the OH we should get another, but he's adamant that three is enough of a handful!
 
My working springers are currently upside down asleep. Even the 5 month old pup. Very different from labs but complimentary.
 
cinnamontoast said:
The bed or the dogs?! Frankly, there are times I would happily pack Zak in a jiffy envelope, although he's currently curled up on the OH's knee, butter wouldn't melt.
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(One of these days, that new front door will actually go on!)
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Send him to meeeee - he looks like a perfect suitor for Jessie J :D
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I have 6 aged from 6 months to 13 years old. All working and have never had a problem. The was always hiding things but soon grow out of it. They get about an hours work exercise in the morning and half an hour in the evening. They spend the time with me when I'm doing the horses and the three at 2, 6 and 8 will come out sometimes with the horses.

When they are around the house you will find them all asleep and some times when down the yard they sleep in barn among the bales of hay.
 
RunToEarth said:
Send him to meeeee - he looks like a perfect suitor for Jessie J :D
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Oh my, she looks just like him!! The OH says they're freakily similar looking but asks if she's as naughty? And smart?

Alec Swan said:
Not if he's the one with no nadgers he won't be!

Is he the one who remains entire, C_T?

Alec.
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Nope, the liver and white is the only entire of the three and he's never been interested in girls!
 
cinnamontoast said:
Oh my, she looks just like him!! The OH says they're freakily similar looking but asks if she's as naughty? And smart?
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They do look very similar don't they, that is mum next to her. She is VERY well behaved to work, she is so sharp, marks everything and really is a superstar. At home she is a little attention seeker, she is like a cat on a hot tin roof 24/7, into absolutely everything and she is the only dog I've ever known to have a full 9hours on the grouse moor, get back to the truck, sit by your legs vibrating, looking at you as if to say "what next?!". Neurotic, but very good fun!
 
But isn't that the difference between a proper working line and a "normal" springer? My friend bought a working cocker and he is pretty much impossible to wear out..and she tries. He leaves her flat coat standing!
 
Lordy, RTE, she sounds exactly like Zak!! Proper job exercise yet desperate to do something when he gets home! He loves to work, it's a shame I just don't have time to work him properly. He's a massive attention seeker, steals things very carefully and hoards them on his bed, very demanding, very funny, has a definite sense of humour, finds it hilarious to bring the post or carefully puts his toy in big dog's mouth then fights him for it. He's a riot!

He's pet bred, but a lot more manic than my working bred.
 
It always makes me think of the saying Labs are born half trained and spaniels die half trained. (only amusement not offense intended)
 
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