Springer spaniel for a family of 5?!

[TheFunkyFox]

Am I crazy?!

Desperately want to add a dog to our family. We love country walks, and just generally going out as a family. I have two older kids (11&10) and a 3 year old.
Dh would really like a dog too, he and myself grew up with labradors.
I want to get into trials and gun dog training but not actually hunting. Dd (11) wants to do puppy classes etc.

But I feel like I’m crazy?! I know it will be hard, but is my youngest too young? 😩😩

We have a big enough car/house and we go on holiday to dog friendly places.

I really want a springer spaniel 😩😩

Yep, crazy like a fox 😉.

I have a sprocker who is mostly springer, got him when my youngest were 7 and 4. It was the hardest time in my life, he was absolutely full on and barely slept in the day but was great at night from the get go.

He started to settle at about 9 months and was much better by 18 months. He is now nearly 5 and utterly adored and adorable, he is the softest, daftest most loyal thing ever and amazing with the kids.

I’d say get one, it will be really hard at the start but it’s over quickly (doesn’t feel like it at the time though 🤣) your little one will grow up with it, you’ll have great fun on walks and holidays.

The thing I did find hard with a little one is the biting/nippy stage, this went on for some time and was very stressful keeping hyper kids and hyper puppy apart.

We have springers, they are my favourite breed. They are the most perfect family dogs, so loving & gentle. Our youngest was 4 when we got our first one. The only negative is that they are a very high energy breed & they need loads of exercise. It's almost impossible to tire them out. DH takes our young one with him when he goes mountain biking & the dog comes home wanting more. Oh, and they are mud magnets. But they are wonderful dogs.

I have a Springer, he is the easiest dog ever
He will do anything for a ball. He doesn’t take much notice of other people or other dogs and he loves to carry things, esp shoes
He lives with cats, chickens, ducks and small furries and is good with them all. Was quite surprised that he doesn’t eat the chickens tbh, as he wouldn’t hesitate with a pheasant!
I would definitely have another.

Agree with drama - you will never wear them out. I run with mine regularly and have walked and biked 10-15 miles and he will sit down then look at me as if to say what next?

But, he is very good and gets one long walk a day which he is usually filthy and stinky after. If he doesn’t get this he is fine, doesn’t chew or cause any issues, but could equally walk/run for 10 hours and look completely rested and ready for more.

Didn't you ask this on the Facebook springer group too? I don't see why you're concerned.

We thought about a Springer but ds best friend has one and said they are absolutely and totally crazy zoomies. We went for a lab who has 10 minute zoomies followed but a nice long nap :)

Spaniels are great family dogs but they need mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.
It’s all very well biking or running miles and miles with the dog, but then they come to expect and need that level.
I have two spaniels and they get one walk of about 3-4 miles in the morning, and a short walk in the evening. But alongside that they get ongoing training while out on the walk. They both go to a few shoots during the season, beating and picking up, so training is around that. But they love the fun of it all and it keeps their minds active too.
I would say go for it if you think you have time, and if you are going to train for trials and do it properly then I would say you would all get on very well.

I've got a cocker who is 5 and a sprocker puppy aged 16 weeks. They're both very people focused, and our older dog equally happy with a ten minute or ten mile walk. He's also really calm in the house. He's a bloody nightmare to recall if he's got the smell of a pheasant..... but I wouldn't swap either for the world. My grandkids are all under 6 and the dogs even the puppy are so gentle with them.

I think a dog is what you teach it to be. Early teaching, lots of boundaries and lots of love - you won't go wrong.

I grew up with springers and labs and now have working cockers. All very high energy breeds who need a good amount of physical and mental stimulation. Our springers all lived to 15-16 years and never really slowed down until they were 13-14. Our Cockers are 9 now and still as lively. They get a a short morning walk of 1/2 an hour off lead and an hour off lead on a busy day. Longer walks and we try and vary locations, for them. I used to do agility with them but struggled the last few years with pregnancy. They still get regular training, playtime, games, to keep them busy. However they are content to also snooze in front of the fire, and relax. We have 3 young kids and with boundaries, training, love and respect it can. And does work. If you have the time and energy for a Springer, go for it. They are a wonderful breed and I believe you get back from a dog, what you give it.

I have a springer spaniel. She turned 1 in January. She's the sweetest most loyal dog ever. However....she was hard work in the beginning and has ruined my garden with her love for digging!
If not have her any other way though.

We have a Springer but she is very untypical in her attitude...sleeps til you take her out then runs like a loon, back home crashes out. Repeat in evening. Beyond that all she wants is cuddles and company. We didn't have her as a pup though. Loves people, indifferent to most other dogs but sometimes finds one she likes. She has converted lots of 'don't like dogs' people like my brother and mum!

Your two older kids would probably be well-placed to do lots of the brain stimulating stuff that 'normal' springers need even if you don't get to classes, and if you're out and about a lot as a family anyway then you may as well take a dog too

My sister has a cocker spaniel. She's still a puppy. She's disobedient. She jumps on everyone and anything. She's eats her own shit and licks anyone she can find
right after. Sister visited me after I had a new carpet put down and the dog did her business not once not twice - three times in one hour. She whines and barks all night, Chasing a spaniel around the garden and house is hard work especially if your garden/house is big.

I won't ever get a dog!

Desperately want to add a dog to our family. We love country walks, and just generally going out as a family.

I want to get into trials and gun dog training but not actually hunting.

I have a cocker but met many springers at gun dog training.

Here is where I would apply a bit of caution. If you want a hunting dog then you need to be aware that strolling along chatting to your children on a walk might not be as relaxing as you think. I can never fully relax with my cocker as I need to be feeding his hunting urge all the bloody time on walks. If I don't he gets bored and will go hunting on his own and trust me if they pick up a scent and decide you are boring then they will go for it.

nugget900 depending on the age of the puppy, that sounds like not so much of a dog problem, more of an owner problem. Is your sister addressing these problems, training regularly and consistently? If she is and the puppy is still young then it's behaviour should improve, if she's not then she's setting the family up for years of untrained dog behaviour.

@AgathaF

Sisters dog was taken to several dog training sessions. She to this day is still disobedient, it's honestly just her personality and there is no guarantee, as with any dog, that they will behave even after being trained.

This is one of the many reasons I don't suggest getting a dog.

Not to mention their hair can even turn up in the fridge

nugget well there's the problem then. "Taken to several training sessions" just isn't enough. Training should be ongoing, day in and day out. If she's still disobedient now then it's because she's not been trained properly and/or thoroughly. Generally speaking, with badly behaved dogs, it's an owner problem and not a dog problem.

Springers - the good (imo):

• They are eternally curious and will want to be involved in everything you do
• They are always up for fun and games
• They are biddable which makes (most) training easy.
• They are smart and learn routine quickly.
• They tend not to be barky.
• They are loyal little beans who bond strongest with one person but who can still show the whole family affection
• When clean, they smell like everything good and comforting in the world.
• They are active
• They love a sofa

The bad:

• Their noses lead them astray, both on and off lead. This makes recall trickier.
• They do not like being left alone (how much they dislike it varies by individual and training)
• They chew your stuff; the more it stinks of you, the more they want to chew. Shoes are especially vulnerable.
• They are always up for fun and, if not supplied, are up for mischief
• When dirty, they smell like the fox shit they rolled in.
• They are active
• They love a sofa
• They take ages to grow up

As long as you remember the age-old adage:

• labradors come into the world half-trained
• springers go out half-trained

they are the most amazing loving beautiful dogs - I have had two and miss them dearly - just get one and enjoy...

I wouldn’t with a three year old. Wait a bit. They are bitey little buggers as pups! All
Pups are.
You don’t mention your day to day set up. Hours you work? Time you can give to grooming? I love my dog but she’s been hard work.
Consider approaching the breed club or similar to find a pup if you do go for it. NEVER shop online.