Welsh springer!

[tvstand]

After starting a thread about the wrong breed (it was before coffee, brain hadn't kicked in yet) thought I should try again!

I've been very picky with breeds, nothing too big, not needing hours of walking, cat friendly, a good companion to ds who's 8, will satisfy dp need for a DOG, so can't be too small.

We've settle on a welsh springer, found a litter that we can visit, but they are £850. I've always scoffed at people spending hundreds on puppies and it looks like we may be considering it.

Ds really likes the colouring of the welsh springer, I'd be happy with a cocker but they don't have the red and white that ds likes.

Have I missed a breed?

I have posted on your other thread too

Not sure any kind of spaniel will be cat friendly without a bit of training initially, our Springer is VERY interested in cats!

Don't take this the wrong way, and this is only my opinion, I know that your ds likes the red and white colouring, but, honestly, I would put temperament and breeding etc before colouring.

We are getting a black working Cocker in the New Year. If I am being really honest, I love the look of the ginger/orange ones (I am sure there's a technical term for the colour ) more but, having visited the litter and met the breeder, I can see that these puppies are fantastic, their parents have amazing temperaments and are going to be excellent workers (which we are hoping to do), so I am putting my colour preferences to one side.

I haven't worded this very well at all and I don't mean to be negative at all but I hope you understand what I mean

Or, you will just have to pay the £850

Springers need lots of exercise.

OP I haven't read your other thread so don't know what advice you have been given, welshies are a wonderful breed, but they need to be trained, need a couple of long walks a day and have a tendency to chase things.

I had one she was wonderful, trained from a puppy, we lived in the country so she would get long walks across fields, whilst she wouldn't bother livestock if she saw pheasants or deer she would go.

I live in town now and have been considering a Cocker because it will need less exercise. A bored springer can be very destructive.

Yes the colour is wonderful, and I would have another one if my situation was appropriate but that is not a good enough reason for buying one.

Just a quick google on the breed brings up this "The breed is quick to learn but can be headstrong, though with correct training can become very obedient. The Welsh Springer was bred for work and endurance, and as with many breeds of hunting dogs requires a regular exercise routine to keep them healthy and content. Without adequate exercise, a Welsh Springer Spaniel may appear hyperactive. Some Welsh Springers can become clingy towards their owners and suffer separation anxiety when alone.

So lots of exercise time, lots of training time, Welsh springer spaniel club says they have a tendency to be noisy if bored, so lots of playtime as well.

I really would look at a slightly less active breed. Have you had a puppy before? If not, read the Puppy Mummies thread. Lots of joy there, but also anxiety, tiredness and 24/7 surveillance skills needed. Sorry to be judgmental but to buy on basis of a nice colour seems a bit superficial although you probably didn't mean it to sound that way!

Thanks for the replies.

It's ds that is being superficial about the colour, but he's 8, I've been very clear that the temperament is the deciding factor for the breed, but he'll be able to pick the puppy once we've decided. If he got his own was we would have a husky

Our situation is ideal for a dog, small village, grass fields with no sheep, river and pond for the summer, we're both work from home so there will be very few occasions when the dog has to be left, big garden that's secure. I'll do puppy classes and dp is as much of a child as ds so there will be plenty of playing.

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression in my op, we are all fully committed to everything involved with having a dog, whatever the breed.

Ds is particularly drawn to the welsh printer and it seemed to tick the boxes for our family, I was wondering is there was a similar breed that wasn't so many £ to buy

I think any type of pedigree from a decent breeder is going to cost at least that amount if not more .If puppies are cheap there's probably a reason .have you looked at rescue ,many have puppies ie Many Tears .

Just looked at your other thread and I'm staggered that springers are so cheap !

I wonder if you'd consider a rescue puppy - many people don't think there are puppies in rescue but there are (unfortunately). Take a look at Flacks He's lovely, isn't he? And he's in a foster home so has had a good beginning and you can get an assessment from them.

Or what about Dharma and Greg? They are spaniel cross terriers born July 2013. They were born in a shelter abroad (a really lovely, small one where they get loads of socialisation with other dogs and people/kids etc). It's a very easy adoption process through Action Aid for Animals (will put a link on later - maintenance on website in progress!)

Or look at these beautiful pups at Heathlands Animal Sanctuary 8 wks male and female pups or on their website www.heathlands.org.uk/image.php?imageid=2103

Just a thought - have a look at your local rescues, sign on with them so they can alert you - there will sadly be a lot of puppies given in at the end of Jan/beg of Feb when people get tired of their boisterous Christmas "presents"

I have a welsh springer so know a little bit about the breed. We paid around the price you have been quoted for him and to be honest, paying much much less would indicate a poorer quality of breed.

Our welshie is 2 now and he is our best buddy. I have 2 DDs aged 5 and 7 and he is just brilliant with them. He is a stunning dog to look at and we get many compliments about him (not the most important thing, I know!). He adores children and any other human company. We have had no problems with aggression and he is a true Velcro dog, wanting to be with us all the time.

However, I agree with the other posters about the other aspects of his personaility. He has been hard work and although intelligent, he has been difficult to train as he gets terribly unfocused and excitable. We did training classes with him for a year and he was always bottom of the class! However, he is settling down now and we wouldn't be without him for the world. Please be warned though that a welshie is not the easy option and as our first family dog, I don't regret getting him but it has been a baptism of fire.

With regard to exercise, we find that he needs about an hour a day- sometimes he gets more and sometimes less but he seems to adapt. Please pm me if you want to know more.

HTH

Battersea (London branch) have had some lovely pups on their website this week .

£850 is reasonable for a welsh springer. Very unlikely to get one for less.

Our Welshie was my first dog & like leolion said, it was a baptism of fire. My boy has a wonderful temperament & is cat, dog, guinea-pig, hen, horse & child friendly.
He does need lots of exercise though, an hour a day at least. We live on the edge of a huge forest which is ideal as he can run for miles.
Welshies generally have good recall, probably because they are Velcro dogs. However they are not the easiest to train. Not impossible, our breeder's dogs are beautifully behaved & I also know people who have had great success with agility with their Welshie. But it is a lot of work. They can have the attention span of a gnat and are very distractable.
He is very affectionate, but not an easy first dog.

Why encourage breeding when so many pups are "thrown away" to rescues?

If the breed is right for you and you can afford it along with long term costs, then no problem.

He will be a part of your family for 14-18 years to come so £850 over that amount if time is good value compared to all the love and fun you will get back

ladyturmoil unfortunately the odd person who choses not to buy from a breeder won't stop people from breeding.

It's not a problem that is caused by responsible kennel club breeders, but by inconsiderate dog owners who let their dogs get pregnant without any thought of what will happen to the puppies and without ensuring they go to good homes.

"Cheap" dogs are likely to either be from working stock or puppy farms/BYBs. Avoid!
That is a general rather than breed specific statement.

I don't know anyone with a Welsh Springer but do know folks with English Springers, show Cockers and working Cockers. Of them all I'd say a show cocker would be most suited to a young family.

Have you found a trainer that you'd take the puppy to classes with? If so perhaps you could contact them and ask them for their advice. They will have met lots of different breeds and personalities (people and dogs) and might be able to advise. If you live in a nice village there are probably lots of 'gundog' people..
Plus it's always best to attend a class before you take the dog along- so two birds!

If you're set on a Welshie (or any spaniel really) do look into scentwork. T'will be a great way to bond and especially to tire out a manic springer brain.

We did look at rescue dogs, but nine seems suitable for us

We went to look at a litter yesterday and we're collecting our newest family member next Saturday. Ds is beyond excited.

Thanks for the replies, I'll be joining the puppy thread!