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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Small garden for a spaniel?

12 replies

Strawberryshortcake40 · 06/02/2016 22:17

I am having to move house to somewhere smaller and this is going to mean a tiny garden too. My dog is used to 1/4 acre that she likes to run laps round sometimes (typical spaniel!) but other than that she just saunters round and digs holes. Will she be ok with a tiny garden? It would break my heart to rehome her but I don't want her to be unhappy with no real outside space. She's not too keen on walks, is more of a potterer at her own pace.

OP posts:
AlpacaLypse · 06/02/2016 22:22

You can do walks, at her own pace, pottering round local area. Regard the tiny garden as an evening/morning poo and wee zone.

It would probably break her heart to rehome her let alone yours, I wouldn't consider it unless you were moving to a sky-scraper bedsit!

Awks · 06/02/2016 22:25

She wont be keen on walks because she's used to a large garden. When there's only a small garden, she'll get to love her walks. They're clever, them spaniels Grin . Seriously, don't rehome her, you'll be fine as long as you help her get used to the change

Original poster
Strawberryshortcake40 · 06/02/2016 22:26

I don't want her to be unhappy, but I just can't find anywhere suitable with a decent garden. She will have to get used to the idea of more walks then!

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Original poster
Strawberryshortcake40 · 06/02/2016 22:28

Yes she does love her garden, feel very sad for her but hopefully she will settle in a new home.

Is there anything in particular I can do to help her, she's been through a lot of stress lately and needs a more secure life!

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Lokibuddyboo · 06/02/2016 22:31

I'm sure she would rather have a small garden and be with her family than to be rehomed.she will get used to a smaller garden and you could always take her to a park or some where safe she can be let off lead to run around.
My dog on lead walks but loves to go to the local country Park or forrestry for some off lead time.

Original poster
Strawberryshortcake40 · 06/02/2016 22:34

Unfortunately we have never cracked recall with her, so off lead has never been able to happen. I've tried over and over and had several very experienced doggy owner friends try too. She's fine until she smells a rabbit and then nothing will entice her back!

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MajesticWhine · 06/02/2016 22:35

She will be ok if she's got you. You will be her main source of security.
We have a tiny scrap of garden and a spaniel. She needs a fair bit of walking but its manageable. You might enjoy finding some new walks together. Are there some parks or woodland nearby?

Original poster
Strawberryshortcake40 · 06/02/2016 22:40

I think there will be some nice places to walk and I will find time to walk her more (at the moment she fusses to go home after half hour). I'm glad the general feeling is to keep her, I didn't want to be cruel to her when she's used to so much space but I adore her and don't want to be without her.

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TrionicLettuce · 07/02/2016 02:37

It's worth checking out whether there are any secure fields for hire near you so she can go off lead with no worries over recall. There's a huge list here on Facebook.

If there aren't any it's also worth contacting local kennels as they may be open to hiring out their fields. Some riding schools will also hire out their indoor schools to dog owners.

Springermum1350 · 07/02/2016 08:31

I have a Springer and a small garden.... it's fine. Think of all those different smells every morning. I sometimes hide food round the garden. Or hide his toys...just change the way he used the garden and get his nose going.

BlackMarigold · 07/02/2016 09:27

Definitely no need to rehome. Moving to a house with a small garden will be good for your dog, as long as you can give her enough walks.
Dogs need different sights and smells and the chance to meet other people and dogs, not just exercise. If they spend most of their "outdoor time" running round the garden every day they miss out on a lot.

Carpaccio · 07/02/2016 21:14

We have a spaniel - and I never let the dog in the garden.

We take her out for walks when she needs to go out, which is good for her. She gets to smell everything and everyone who has been on the paths and it's the dog equivalent of facebook. I don't mind that it takes a while because everything needs to be checked out - it tires her out and she's happy.

When she needs a good run (daily), we take her to a local park or field where there are and have been loads of other dogs, so she gets to smell some more stuff and socialise a bit, along with the training we do.

I grew up with the attitude that the dog needs a walk, not just run around in the garden, so that's what I keep doing now.

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