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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Springer x lab puppy?

27 replies

Happyhetty · 10/10/2014 11:51

We are considering getting a puppy, I was keen on a lab but I do a lot of walking-miles at a time and spend a lot of time horse riding and at the yard so like the idea of an active working dog too. We have had a dog before so are fully aware of the commitment. Both my children are at school and either my husband (disabled) or I are at home most of the time, so we feel the time is right to add to our family!
Has anyone got a dog/puppy of this mix and can you tell me more about it. The ones I've seen are already 12 weeks-what do I need to think about when getting a pup of this age? There is a puppy course I can book onto starting the end if this month if we decide to go ahead.

OP posts:

soddinghormones · 10/10/2014 13:01

My sister has one - she's 5 now and just starting to calm down a bit but was pretty manic as a pup/teenager - v v high energy and quite nervous

She can jump v high so stair gates, fences etc were no barrier for her and she could jump up onto tables etc

She's v strong and has been quite tricky to train to walk nicely on the lead

She is very sweet-natured though, good with children, completely non-aggressive

She looks like a small springer with a haircut and her face is slightly more lab-shaped than spaniely, however all her litter mates looked like long-haired chocolate labs so they can vary enormously

Have the puppies' parents had all the relevant health tests for labs/spaniels? If not, walk away

Also I'd be concerned that the pups are already 12 weeks old which doesn't give you much time to get one socialised properly

TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 10/10/2014 13:15

We have one - a Police dog reject! Ours looks like a small-ish black lab, but with a slightly longer coat and a spaniel face. He's the easiest dog ever - loves a good long walk, but if on the odd occasion he doesn't get one at all (i.e. when I had D&V last week and didn't dare leave the house), he's happy mooching around and staring sadly at you! He was very easy to train, loves meeting people though doesn't jump and is extremely placid and good natured. He is strong, though, and pulls like a b*stard on the lead (to be fair, he's rarely on a lead). However, it's the luck of the draw, isn't it? If you cross two different breeds, you have no idea what you'll get - the same with humans, really.

Like the PP, I think you'd need to get your skates on with a 12 week old pup, and do check it's had all the relevant health checks.

I heart my doggy!

tabulahrasa · 10/10/2014 13:35

Why do they still have puppies at that age? and what have they been doing to socialise them?

It's a fairly common working cross...but I'm not quite sure why you think labs aren't active?

TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 10/10/2014 14:24

I suppose what the OP means is that Springers have a reputation for being a bit bonkers, whereas labs don't. But yes, they vary from dog to dog and you just don't know what you're going to get much like children!.

KatharineClifton · 10/10/2014 14:39

Labs are working dogs...

TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 10/10/2014 14:41

I would have thought that labs and springers were both breeds which need plenty of exercise and stimulation, to be honest. Certainly not breeds to consider if you only have time for short walks every day (which is not what the OP was implying).

Arudonto · 10/10/2014 19:59

i would go for either a full bred lab or springer rather than a cross and get the pup from health tested parents.Hip scores on the parents are a must in both these breeds if you are looking for an active dog!

at 12 weeks and for sale I would suspect they are byb who have had a mistake litter and havent managed to sell all the pups yet. socialisation may be an issue as they have missed much of the socialisation stage.
Also if those pups are not vaccinated walk away, as its a poor breeder would not have them done at this stage. usual timing is 8 and 12 weeks so if they are unvaccinated they owners are trying to save money at the puppies health expense.You will also be stuck waiting to get them out and about for another 3 weeks til they are fully vaccinated as well if you have to start vaccines now.

Original poster

Happyhetty · 10/10/2014 20:22

Thank you so much for all your advice! I have already checked that the parents have hip scores (they do!) and they have had vaccines. I think I really need to go and see them and ask questions face to face as to why they haven't gone to new homes yet. We are also going to the dogs trust tomorrow to register with them and see if they have any suitable dogs that need a living new home. This is something we've been thinking about for a long time, exciting that we're seriously looking now!

OP posts:

Molecule · 10/10/2014 22:21

My father had one in the early 60's, sold to him as the perfect gun dog. Sadly Sammy inherited the worst of both breeds and very little of the good traits, other than being very soft and loveable. He was apparently very stupid, I can't remember much about him other than him dozing by the fire most of the time.

KarinMurphy · 11/10/2014 23:43

My Hazel is a springer/lab cross. She's tiny, smaller than a lot of the springers we meet and looks like a chocolate lab puppy.

She's mostly spaniel in personality. Soft, loving, bonkers and utterly ball obsessed. She loves walks but is far less crazy if she isn't walked than my other dogs. She's more than happy to snuggle and snooze if nothing interesting is happening.

She's been the easiest dog I've ever owned. The only problem with her is that she really likes to sleep on the bed with us and is a terrible bed hog. Snores like one too.

Dirtybadger · 12/10/2014 00:50

Just like to say Lab X type puppies are very easy to come by in rescue so definitely don't rule it out. I'd much rather an 8 week old lab x from rescue (that's been in foster) than a 12 weeks old lab x from a "breeder"...even if the latter has hip scores.

Original poster

Happyhetty · 12/10/2014 20:25

Well we visited the springs door pips and I just didn't get a good feel from the breeder so we didn't go ahead.
On our way home we registered with our local dogs trust and were approved to adopt, they had nothing in that was suitable for us but dh fell in love with a border collie that they had. We came home and researched the breed and the active, intelligent nature I think would fit very well with what we are looking for. Can anyone give us reasons as to why a BC might not work for us?

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Original poster

Happyhetty · 12/10/2014 20:25

Bloody spellcheck! Sorry!

OP posts:

KatharineClifton · 13/10/2014 09:20

A BC is going to try and herd your horses. They are very sensitive dogs, and if not used to horses from the off will be difficult to train to be sensible with horses. Very important to take the dog out to see how s/he reacts to horses/livestock etc. I guess the dogs trust will know the BC the best, but being in kennels they cannot assess very well.

Bubble2bubble · 13/10/2014 11:11

Could well be the perfect dog for you but I agree you should definitely horse test if possible, or try a rescue where the dogs are fostered and can have spent time around horses. As someone else said, lab x puppies are very very common in rescues.

Northernexile · 13/10/2014 11:22

I have one, she's four, looks like a small black lab more than like a spaniel. Very energetic, very friendly and great with my DD (2yo). Will walk all day, very trainable and intelligent, will do anything for treats. Have had no health issues at all.

Northernexile · 13/10/2014 11:22

DudleyDoRight · 13/10/2014 11:23

I have a border collie and he's very high maintenance compared to my previous dogs (labs and German shepherds). I find him quite sensitive but also high spirited!

Northernexile · 13/10/2014 11:24

Sorry about the double post! We also live in the deepest countryside, and she has always been very good with farm animals, though no experience of her with horses.

TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 13/10/2014 11:56

Northern - your girl looks exactly like ArseDog! Though I think their faces are more spaniel than lab. Our lab's face is more square and his ears are shorter.

I would love a border collie but worry that I wouldn't be able to keep up with all that energy and the stimulation required!

Original poster

Happyhetty · 13/10/2014 12:05

The pups are not from working lines, the mum and dad are both family pets. The puppy would be introduced to the ponies from as soon as jabs have been given and I have lots of time for exercise and stimulation. I have already sussed out and got recommendations for puppy classes locally. I think a border collie could work really well for us, I have told the rescues that is what we are looking out for and they have agreed that a bc would work well for us. I'm excited now!

OP posts:

Asteria · 13/10/2014 12:08

BC are not family pets - unless you are working them it is unkind to keep them in a family home. I know lots of people have them but they end up becoming neurotic if they don't get to do what they are bred to do, which is herd.
I have had various different dogs over the years - Staffies for security when I lived in South Africa - totally soft! Working BC on our farm - mad unless working! Springer spaniel - totally insane unless trained and worked. Retired Greyhound - lazy with short bursts of lightening speed. Labrador - amazing family pet, thinks she is a person and runs for hours (literally).
Labradors are the most biddable of the energetic dogs I have encountered - and if you get a working breed (lighter frame than the over-bred fat labs) then you will have few problems with energy levels. I know people are a bit meh about Labradors sometimes, but there is a very good reason why they are the most popular family dog.

Northernexile · 13/10/2014 12:32

They are pretty aren't they SmartArse! OP I would also worry about having a BC as a family pet. What about a collie cross?

BlueberryWafer · 13/10/2014 12:33

Asteria I have a "chunky show type" Labrador and at 4 years old she still has as much, if not more energy than my uncle's border collie... So maybe rethink your "over bred fat lab" comment.

Asteria · 13/10/2014 13:07

I didn't mean to be offensive Blueberry - I should have qualified that some of the Labradors out there can be of the (irresponsibly) over bred waddling variety, but that the working types were far less likely to have those qualities. There are plenty of perfectly healthy and fabulous non-working breed labs out there (my father has two), but for op to ensure a lab that will fit her family lifestyle then the working end of the spectrum would be a safer bet.
I recently went to see a breeder about a dog for my working bitch - she presented a barrel chested, stumpy legged, undershot jawed creature and claimed he was of the highest breeding standards and had fathered thousands of puppies. The woman should have been shot.

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