Springer Spaniel Suggestions

[DustyRod]

I know this is a little off topic since we're in the middle of hunting season but, my family and I have finally agreed its time for a dog and we are going with a springer....
My wife loves them, I wanted a hunting dog...and with two young boys (2 & 4) we needed a good family dog with a little less energy and size than a lab (I love my labs but no longer have acres for them to run).

So..., ideally we want a christmas dog for our kids but first and formost we are looking for a good breeder & bloodline.

Does anyone have any recommendations on breeders in the area or know anyone expecting a litter with a good quality dog. Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

Josh

[goosegunner]

I can't help you with breeder info. But I can tell you i've been around a few springers and there is nothing lazy about them. The ones i've been around and hunted with were pretty high strung. I would stick with the labs personally, but springers are very good looking dogs.

[haugenna]

I had a springer and they are high strung. It is like someone wound up his tail in the morning and he kept going and going. During pheasant season in the midwest, the labs would hang with him for the first half of the day and they would pick up the pace when they got birdy, but he hunted circles around them at the end of the day and the second day. I love the breed and would like to have on again someday, but not while I live in the burbs.

[water and sky]

Had a springer before and I loved that dog. I did not enjoy picking burrs out of her ears and feet though. I have labs now and they are quite a bit more calm and easier to maintain than the springer was.

[DustyRod]

Sorry, the little less energy comment was more of a side note. My wife has had springers most of her life and I have hunted with them on many occassions. I have had labs for most of my life and my parents currently have two; which I hunt with whenever I can get out.
We have decided on a springer because of their size and my wife. (keyword: wife)

[Wyndknot]

My dad had a freind that bred springers and we had one in the house for as long as I can remember. Over the years I had two yellow labs and three springers of my own. I loved them all but the wife has always prefered the springers. We trained both breeds as family pets, I am not a hunter. Both need to be kept busy or they will find ways to amuse themselves in ways that you will not find amusing. Basic obediance
training was easier with the spaniel's and they are more house freindly, if only because they are half the size of a lab.
The springer we have now grew up with our grandson and is amazing with our 16 month old granddaughter. They both love napping together and the dog is teaching the baby to play fetch.

[Old Guys Rule]

Call Luckiamtte Valley Pheasants. They use Springers and have some fantastic dogs. They are not really a dog breeder but have connections to good hunting stock. Call Brenda Cates.

http://www.lvpheasants.com/

[gone2hunt]

I would recommend contacting Dr. Bob Bullard at Cornelius Veterinary. He is nationally known for his Springers and could give you advice on quality lines for field trial, hunting, or just companion Springers. My lab is becoming a senior citizen, when his final hunts have come, I will be getting a Bullard Springer for the next dog. (My first dog was Springer, and oh I do miss that drive and versitatlity).

Do a web search and you should get plenty of hits for Bob that have contact info.

[Bait O' Eggs]

My springer is a busy girl Busy may be an understatement. Great family and house dog though.

After having the Jack Russel for 14 years and being trained and worked everyday, it is nice to be able to be in the dominant role for a change as master.

Springers do try to please you.

[Dan Grbavac]

I had a Springer that got cancer in the back hip joints and we had to put him down. It broke our hearts.

[FeatherDuster]

It may be difficult to find a Christmas pup from a breeder of quality. Any field-bred springer breeder with a line worth having is field trialing in the fall and with four months from breeding to 8 week puppies it usually puts a take home date somewhere in the Spring or Summer months. Autumnskye flushing spaniels has "introduced dogs" on their website (four or five month-olds) as I would imagine other pheasant-state kennels might also. If Christmas is good time this might be an option to look at. Not bad to get a pup that is house trained and has seen some birds and heard some shots either.

[FeatherDuster]

Btw, the Northwest Springer field trials are next weekend between Newberg and Yamhill. Google it. Might be a good place to get expert advice or find a breeder. Good luck. Spaniels are the sweetest dogs you can ever live with.

[pdxkevin]

Originally Posted by goosegunner

I can't help you with breeder info. But I can tell you i've been around a few springers and there is nothing lazy about them. The ones i've been around and hunted with were pretty high strung. I would stick with the labs personally, but springers are very good looking dogs.

I got a HUGE laugh from that one... no offense intended. I tried to picture any of the springers we had growing up being classified as high-strung.

We had mostly field springers and only one that was a show springer. They all thought they were lap-dogs. Pups are full of energy like most kids or other sporting dogs are. As adults they can easily get accustomed to being couch-spuds. It depends on their surroundings and the lifestyle in their home. When my folks were older they springers really got into the retired lifestyle. Growing up, as kids we would tire the dogs out playing and not the other way around.

When my kids get a bit older, (all under three right now), we will get a dog and I have no hesitation getting a springer. Great water dog that loves kids. One thing I always liked was the bark was much deeper than the dog was big so it sounds like you have twice the size dog behind the door.

[DustyRod]

Thanks everyone I will check out the leads you all provided so far, the field trails is a great idea. Thanks!


Josh