does anyone have a welsh springer?

[allthatjazz]

If you do could you tell me how they are to live with day to day and how they are with little one's. Had dogs for years am definitely used to er how do i put this spanielness! Have looked online and done the research but you cant beat a MN opinion many thanks

I had one over a decade ago, just when I had my 2nd baby - he was absolutely gorgeous to look at, and totally untrainable! He seemed to have no interest in pleasing me or anyone else, and despite an hour long walk each day and lots of ball fetching in the house, he would still dig his way out of the garden and run off (but he did come back lol!).

We got him from a breeder when he was 6 months old, allegedly because he was competing with his 'dad' for top dog position. Looking back I think they new he was a rogue and wanted rid.

We kept him for a year and then had to give in. Apart from the lack of desire to please and huge exercise demands, he also loved to play in the garden for a long time and then come in and poo under the dining room table ....

So my experience was very negative, but he still lives with a single man who owns 4 large dogs and lets him sleep on the bed, his own armchair and walks them all for hours every night and he is very happy there!

I have a client who has one and love her to bits. She is pretty full on and in my opinion has more energy than my Border collie.

She does need a job to do so is being trained to do working trials.

She has had a few behavioural issues but that is purely down to being with an inexperienced owner who was not ready for the amount of time the dog would need. Now owner and dog are on the same wavelength and the owner has lost two stone (!) through doggy exercise the relationship is very harmonious!

thank you very much for your replies it has really helped in i told you so our joint decision about breeds. I do love spaniels but with think we need a slightly more mellow breed of dog. Thanks again