Help me choose the breed of our second puppy please.

[sunnydelight]

We have a gorgeous female Springer Spaniel who is now 18 months old. We are considering getting a second dog (I have read the "considering getting a friend" thread but don't want to hijack) and I'm wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom about breeds. Although I know we should really do the rescue dog thing, we had a very bad experience a few years back so will probably go for another puppy. Our springer is, rather unusually I think, not particularly hyper. She is lively and enjoys her walks and our very large garden, but I don't take her to "off leash areas" (we're in Oz) as I know too many people who have been attacked, or had their dogs attacked, there. She socializes with our friends' dogs but having spent a lot of time lately with families with 2-3 dogs we think it would be nice for all of us to "increase our family".

We are thinking another female, and probably smaller (same size max). I have a real soft spot for spaniels so was thinking of a cocker, I love beagles (have I got a thing about big ears....) but I know they are REALLY lively. Has anyone got any ideas about small-medium breeds who are reasonably calm and good with kids. Our kids range from 8 up so not small, but the dog we have is so child friendly I would hate one who wasn't. Oh, and everything here seems to be crossed with a poodle to stop them shedding but I am not keen on "-oddles".

I'd not get a cocker. Four friends have them and they all bug my springer loads as they are so hyper and barky!

I'm on my third springer and they've all been like yours, current is a rescue,almost 5 now and was 18mths when we got her. She runs like mad while out, nose to the ground, but verging on lazy at home :o

We have a shihtzu cross that we rescued as a pup a year ago and it works really well. We didn't have room for another springer and couldn't find a rescue non-loopy one anyway!

Oh! Was just about to brag about my new cockapoo puppy when I read your last sentence!

But he'd tick all your boxes!

I've got a 22 month old male Springer and have just got him a companion - a Springer/Cocker cross :) Picked her up at the weekend, older dog is delighted, as he is a very sociable fellow. Current dog is very big - the new pups' mother is a dainty springer and father a large working cocker so I am hoping she will turn out smaller than my current dog...

Would second a sprocker, ime they are alot calmer than springers.

DH shoots, so our springer works. I'd like to do the same with the sprocker as they have a very good reputation in the shooting commuity. People who buy sprockers as cute pets seem to say they are crazy, but IME the only people who moan about their springers being crazy are those who don't give them enough exercise!

Any dog that doesnt get enough exercise can be crazy! Our sprocker works and so does his mother,our springer. I could never have her living in yet he is calmer than our lab and lives very calmly and quietly in the utility.

We have an 18m old springer, v well behaved and calm at home (unless someone knocks at the door), a 4 yr old miniature dachshund and a year old (tomorrow) patterjack. They all get on v well, but i would say the patterjack is the best play mate for our springer, my sausage dog is more inclined to curl up as close as possible to me and snooze :

Lovely cocker over the road, about 12 months old - she likes her exercise, but flops and plays beautifully at home.

A couple of my friends have "Springadors" (Springer x Labrador). They are springer size with a springer shaped head but with a short lab coat. Obviously I can't speak for all Springadors, but the ones I know are lively but not over the top.

Oh, thanks for all the replies. I quite like the sound of a sprocker! Springers are quite unusual here (Oz) so I will have a look online to see how easy it would be to get hold of a sprocker.

Sprocker lover here too. He's ace! Lots of bounce and lots of intelligence = loads of fun! His companion is a mini collie cross and they get on fantastically.

But top dog for long ears and laid back? It's got to be a Basset!

...and WRT to non-working spaniels, it definitely helps to be creative with games!
Mine will seek out any of my four children by name, if asked. He now helps with the recycling (I give him an item from the basket in the kitchen and he'll take it to a named child to deposit it in the right container outside) ...and yesterday, he alerted me to the fact one of the kittens was injured, of his own volition

Slight problem with that plan, I've spent ages on the internet but can't find any sprockers in Oz. They must be around (again cockers aren't the most common breed here but you do see quite a few of them) so I'll keep looking.

We have a sheltie who would tick your boxes (not him personally, but a sheltie puppy!). He's very calm and has been utterly fantastic with the children. DD2 was only 2 when we got him and he has been wonderful - would put up with anything. I had a sheltie when I was a child who was just as patient and tolerant - we used to dress him in dolls clothes and push him in the pram .

For a sheepdog breed, he rather likes a quiet life! They tend to moult in clumps so although they are long haired, you don't get much of a hair problem (I realised how little hair problem once we got our JRT/ spaniel cross and suddenly there is white hair everywhere ). Only downside is he does quite like the sound of his own voice, but only when disturbed eg if the postman puts something through the letterbox. So other people can think he barks a lot, whereas he's very quiet with us. Pic on profile :)

Oh she is cute musicposy (as is your other dog, what breed is she?)

bast did you teach your dog to recognise the children by name of did he just learn it?

I am really keen to teach this to my cocker pup but have no idea how to start.

Jenny, I struck upon the idea when he appeared to make the connotation himself, between my eldest child's name and her.

Since then, we've taught him the others by me saying 'find ', while the child named called him to them. Over time, the child can drop from calling to just praise/treat when he arrives.

We're now teaching him to retrieve the various children. He goes to them, speaks, and they know to follow him to me ...that one's a work in progress but much fun and potentially very useful!

It's generally not too difficult for gundogs to learn find and retrieve games and he seems to be enjoying his array of tasks.

My 10 month old cocker is not remotely hyper or barky (though he does need loads of exercise and brain tasks). In fact he is utterly gorgeous. The springer we adopted a few years ago on the other hand...... He drove us all insane and teaching him to stop pulling took months. We had him from 3 to 6.5 years old whilst friends were abroad. He is now 12 and just starting to calm down!