New Pup!

[sugarhockeyicedtea]

Hi all,

We are on the waiting list for a pup and will hopefully be getting our Springer Spaniel pup in August if the pregnancy goes well.

Our breeder is brilliant, I used this and other forums a lot to ask all the important questions and the breeder interviewed me and was very thorough. I got a really good vibe from them.

I've got the easy peasy puppy book (although I know it won't be easy or peasy!) and just wondered if anyone had any further recommendations of must buys or things that were a waste of time?

Books:
Total Recall by Pippa Mattinson explains a really good approach.
Also The Pet Gundog by Lez Graham - she explains how to work with your dog's inbred drives.

Stuff:
There are plenty of guides to what to get (bowls, same food as breeder has to start with, make a vet appointment for first vaccinations, bed and bedding, some toys).
I'd also get a collar and tag, just in case your pup gets out (unlikely) but also to habituate it early. We use brass slide tags as they don't get lost the way that hanging tags do.
It's also worth getting a lead early, and just getting the puppy used to it around the house.

A lot of people are all in favour of crates, but we're four dogs in and have never had one (though this last puppy has tested us sorely!)

Good luck with your puppy. Working or show line? Working springers can make the most fantastic pets if they get enough input and exercise, but some of them are very driven to get their noses down and need solid recall training.

I agree the Pippa Mattinson book is brilliant.
My top tip is make sure you have good insurance with lifetime cover. It's has paid out more than it cost every year for the last 3.
We also don't use a crate. Somehow ddog has decided he sleeps on the bed 😱

Enjoy! And take loads of photos, they grow even faster than babies.

Thanks for the replies and the advice- I'll order those books too

We are getting a working strain-both the mum and dad are quite laid back and have great temperaments. We live in quite a rural area and have great paths and routes to burn off energy for the pup and my kids!

Ive been quite confused about cages- yes/no. My kids are quite little still so have read that it's good for them to have their own space but am still undecided.

I've just lost my springer after 11 wonderful years and I miss her with all my heart. She was honestly the best dog ever. The biggest advice I would have is around potential resource guarding. I can see how easily it would have turned into a big issue but with a but of time and consistency it never did. It's worth putting the time in early. Beyond that they are the absolute best dogs ever and I hope your puppy gives you as much pleasure as my gorgeous girl gave me.

I like crates but everyone is different.

We only ever used ours for overnight but it meant pup was completely safe.
We had him in a crate next to our bed to begin with then moved the crate little by little out the room into the room he sleeps in now. Couldn't have imagined doing that with a bed as can't imagine pup would have stayed put.

We didn't have young children but if we had I think I would have been even more inclined as it gives pup a safe space.

We used ours until he was 1.

@Soppyspanieleyes I'm sorry about your loss I was distraught when my family dog died and think of them often.

@Girlintheframe thanks for the crate advice. I'm leaning more towards them as my two kids can be quite inquisitive and I think it might be best for the pup to have space to call it's own (I'd quite like that for me!)

Try the Facebook group dog training advice and support. They have loads of resources dealing with puppies and children amongst other things.