What to do with spaniel?!

[flump]

I have been asked to look after a dog for someone the dog is a year old springer spaniel and has been shut in a stable most of his life! He has no manners/training and obviously needs a lot of work! Is it do able to train him ? Worried that I will get attached an he will be put back in the stable

 

[krlyr]

Hard to say without knowing the dog - I heard of some working Collies rescued from a similar situation (shut out in a barn) and apparently the fosters brought them home and they were friendly, pretty well trained dogs once in a home environment. But a nervous dog could be a whole lot harder to deal with.
I'd also bear in mind the implications of this kind of living - are you able to deal with the dog possibly having no housetraining at all? Of being distressed at being in the house, possibly destructive, vocal, overexcitable, prone to mouthing, etc?
"Old" dogs can definately be taught new tricks - many ex puppy farm dogs adjust to family life just fine, for example. But the amount of work needed will vary hugely from dog to dog.

Has the owner asked you to train him with the idea of bringing him into the house when you're done? If not and it's just to dogsit when they're away, I would try not to get too hopeful about them taking the dog indoors when you return it. The lack of effort to train the dog themselves and willingness to just shut it outside would suggest that they cannot deal with the hassle of a dog in their house and I can't see that magically changing with a slightly better behaved dog - otherwise why have they not approached a trainer or behaviourist before now? Sent it to a residential dog training school?
If the owner isn't that bothered, maybe they'd be happy to rehome the dog though - would you be in a position to take it on? Maybe foster it for a rescue if the owner gave you permission to approach a rescue?

 

[PorkChop]

He could certainly be trained, how high a standard is hard to say without knowing the dog and how much time you are willing to put into him.

I presume he is fit, healthy and is merely a bit wild and lacking any socialisation.

I don't completely understand if you are just looking after him for a short time, or are intending keeping him.

If you are thinking of offering a home I would take a couple of days to assess him, I wouldn't worry about him being wild, but I would want him to want to try and please me, ie willingness to learn.

I have had previously kenneled dogs that have successfully gone on to live in the house without any problems, and dogs that were much older than a year.

 

[flump]

For now he would be coming back over the winter as it's to harsh for him to be stable kept over winter! Hopefully the owner would allow me to keep the dog on as my own but I would never be able to regime the dog etc as it still would be there dog. He is very sweet he is just poorly socialised he will growl/nip people he doesn't know etc. My main concern is will I have time? Will it be a waste of time if he ends up back outdoors?! I already have 3 chiauhas and hVe just been asked to look after an 8month old terrier whilst the owner goes away and gets his garden sorted!

 

[Jools1234]

if the dog is happy spending nights in the stable and has company during the day i would be inclined to put up a heat lamp you sound like your hands are full and unsure as to wether you could cope.
if he is happy where he is and the owners wont let you have him you may be opening a can of worms having him for the winter then expecting him to go back in the spring