got three cats - want a springer spaniel? Am I totally insane???

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anyone got one with cats?

Also how much did you pay??

Not a Springer but we took on a 2 year old lab cross from a shelter and also have 3 cats. They have all been fine together apart from the odd incident when the dog nipped one of the kittens because it ate his dinner.

I have 2 cats, 3 years old and we got a springer about 9 months ago as a small puppy. Our pup was £450 and she came from someone we found through the kennel club.

She is a lovely dog however:

A few weeks after we got her, she got into an altercation with one of our cats and as a result, lost an eye. We were insured luckily as it came to about three grand in operations.

These days the cats stay out of her way but that doesn't stop her. She desperately wants to be friends with them and I spend a lot of time shoo-ing her away from them as they hiss. TBH, part of me thinks she will end up totally blind if she doesn't learn.

The thing is, I think most dogs would learn their lesson and keep away but that's springers for you!

Not a springer but I looked after a Jack russell with 3 cats for ages. They were fine eventually, and basically it's the cats who will gain the uper hand so long as they are not scardey cats already?

I then had a border collie/corgi cross who was much bigger and very interested in shoving his nose up the cats arses the whle time. It was all fine in the long run but be careful about how you introduce them etc.

I was going to crate the puppy when we were out of house - mind you we are rarely all out at once.
would you recommend a dog or bitch. At the moment dd wants a boy dog called Suzie

Are you going to get it neutered? DH has always gone for bitches, he says that they are easier and you have less issues with pecking orders.

I would recommend crating, they do like to chew. Mine likes socks and pebbles!

We had a springer when I was growing up - lovely dogs but they are really hyper (literally spring around a lot) and don't seem to mellow til they're quite old. Not sure one would appreciate crating!

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Mine doesn't believe in sleeping

I had one as a child and it needed hours of walking every day off lead without fail and still had bags of energy. Intelligent dogs too so need lots of stimulating otherwise they will take the pictures off the wall as ours did.

MY parents have always had springer spaniels. Show springers- the bigger ones than the working type. They are much calmer. I think they are around 400pounds.
The cats always run rings around them. Our first family springer was terorised by our ols persian cat. But loved when we got kittens. He used to have them sleep in his basket and would allow them to dangle off his ears! Great, gentlle dogs, but a bit thick.

I would recommend the show types rather than the working, as they can be really giddy.

Meant to add we had 3 cats and there were no problems. Cats didn't like him and he kept out of there way but no problems.

i have a springer who is fascinated by cats...no matter how many swipes, bites or scratches she insists to continue to pester them! hopefully if you got one as a pup it will grow up to get on with them...and vice versa.

we are getting one this week. Glad we kept child gate to allow the cats to have a space away from dog.

Walks are no probs, that is why i want one. we are always at parks or in country.