Dog Question

RogueFishr · 06-28-2003, 06:09 PM

My wife is wanting to get a new dog, so here I am, back for advice. I was here a couple months ago for advice on cats and while I appreciate all the responses, I am sorry to say we ended up with 2 cats anyway.

Anyway, I am going to be getting another lab after elk season (had to have mine put down 2 weeks ago after 11 years :depressed: ) and my wife is wanting to get an English Springer Spaniel in the mean time. Apparently, she had one as a kid and it was the best dog ever, great personality, walked on water, yada yada yada (I am a biased labrador fan). So my question is, does anyone have any knowledge or experience with these types of dogs? Are they like cockers? The only cocker spaniels I have ever been around were over demanding, snippy, little inbred dogs with bad eyes (I am sure there are some good ones out there... somewhere). This will be a family pet, raised around small kids. Are these decent dogs? Anyone have any horror stories about them I can embellish pass on?

The last dog she absolutely had to have was a ShietZhu (or whatever they are called.) It had a smashed up face, teeth like a bad picket fence, a brain the size of an acorn, thought it weighed 100 pounds, didn't hesitate to bite if it was mad, and I knew it was going to outlive me. I would raise killer bees in my bathroom before I would own another one of them. Anyway, any input on English Springer Spaniels would be appreciated. Also any info on any breeders around Oregon.

thanks,
RF

1pump · 06-28-2003, 07:52 PM

I feel the same way about those cute ShihTzu pieces of fluff. Killer bees would be infinitely preferable. My ex in-laws had two of the little rodents. Every once in a while we had to dog-sit when they went on vacation, and after about the first 6 hours I would find myself fantasizing about stuffing them in the microwave. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]
Springers are good dogs, but I'm a Lab guy all the way.

Check out Mojo's recent thread. He just got a Springer puppy. He posted a pic, and she sure is cute.

[ 06-29-2003, 06:59 AM: Message edited by: Pete ]

pdxkevin · 06-28-2003, 08:33 PM

English Springers are great family dogs. Those we had growing up got along very well with the cats. One of the best things is that they have twice the bark for their size. It is much deeper than you would expect from this size dog.

There are two types of Springers that I am aware of - field and show. The field tend to be a bit more muscular overall The field springers we owned had larger chests than show springers.

A field springer will be around the 40 lbs range.

All springers love the water.

I will not hesitate in getting another field springer.

[ 06-28-2003, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: pdxkevin ]

Grantspastor · 06-28-2003, 08:56 PM

I guess this means you're not interested in my half ShihTzu who needs to find another place to live, according to my wife

skein · 06-28-2003, 09:00 PM

Hey, Grantspastor, what's the other half, Jack Russell?

Skein

RogueFishr · 06-28-2003, 09:22 PM

GP, we could have crossed our ShihTzu with a BiPolar Tasmanian Devil and ended up with a more mentally stable animal. For something that weighed less than 10 pounds and once attacked a (well trained) Rotweiler, it had to be literally tranquilized at the slightest hint of distant thunder. I have had dogs my entire life and never had a bad one, until "Pete". It took 2 years to house break him. And even then, he was a "recycler" if you know what I mean. I will take the killer bees and raise them in my bathroom first :grin:

RF

crabbait · 06-28-2003, 09:39 PM

Springers are great dogs (and I am a lab fanatic). As with most breeds, in my very biased opinion, stay away from "Show" dogs. They are breed for conformation and appearance. Field dogs, on the other hand, are breed for trainability and hunting desire/instinct (they still have some dog in them).

I will take my non-conforming-to-standard easily trained hunting/field breed dog over those pretty, brain dead, drooling lumps of psycho dog that haunt the show scene. (Not that there aren't a few good show dogs with brains, they are simply the exception).

Make sure that the parents (of the lab pup you spoke of) have OFA Certified hips. This will not gaurantee a dog free of displastia but it is your best chance.

[ 06-28-2003, 10:39 PM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

GutshotApe · 06-28-2003, 09:55 PM

Here is a pic of my old springer spaniel Dexter with a couple of ruffed grouse...he lived to be 13 yrs and was a great dog.

GutshotApe · 06-28-2003, 10:03 PM

Heck...while I'm at it, here's a shot of my other old dog, Odell. He lived 12 yrs...and I'm about to get another pup just like him, I hope.

That's a wild Willamette valley pheasant...a rare bird these days.

RogueFishr · 06-28-2003, 10:39 PM

Thanks for the input from everyone. I had no knowledge of springers and didn't want to end up with another ShihTzu. :grin: Crabbait, thanks for all your help.

RF

willametteriveroutlaw · 06-29-2003, 02:05 PM

My expirience with springers is that they can be hyper-active if not well trained and given plenty of attention. (biased chesapeke owner) My neighbor has one though that very much resembles shaggy (Scooby dooby doo (sp) reference) Little bugger used to try and eat my boys food until out of the garage until an ass whuppin was handed out. (chessies like there food)

GutshotApe · 06-29-2003, 05:32 PM

Based on my experience, springers are more hyper than chocolate labs...but, so are most other dogs.

Dexter, my old springer, was a pacer when in the boat...he would ceaselessly circle the console, back & forth, round and round...finally my fishing partner put a bungee cord on his collar and fastened the other end to the bow seat latch. Imagine a 40 lb dog stretching out the bungee full length only to be pulled back to the front of the boat...again and again and again.....finally he'd give up, lay down and go to sleep. He made up for his bad boat habits when we went quail hunting...he was a good dog.

Silver Hilton · 06-29-2003, 06:27 PM

I'm a fan of Australian Shepards. My current dog is an Aussie - Lab mix, and is by far the best dog I've ever had. She's smart, great manners, great with kids, just protective enough (barks, but doesn't bite). I recommend them.

Capin' Dan · 06-30-2003, 05:41 AM

I too am a die hard labrador fan. I show, usually breed 1 or two litters a year and hunt, hunt, hunt. With that said I have had a springer spaniel before and found it to be a top notch dog for both the home and the field. He was tireless when it came to retrieving and was just the right size for a house dog. You won't go wrong with either of those two breds. Do your home work when looking for a breeder and check references. It will really pay off.

Dan

Elwix · 06-30-2003, 10:52 PM

The best dog I ever had was a Springer Spaniel. My sister has a lab, and my brother had a springer and a lab. All were energetic dogs. My experience indicates that both breeds respond well, to training and attention. Most dogs do. Springers and labs are both great dogs though. I'd give the edge to Springer Spaniels, but I had a great springer - so I'm biased.