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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

Advice please from spaniel owners

51 replies

Facem81 · 09/04/2023 18:20

We have just confirmed that we will be buying a simply beautiful KC spaniel from a KC registered breeder. The dog has been health tested and the breeder comes highly recommended (plus I have a nice feeling from them too).

anyway - now on to making their welcome as comfortable as possible

any recommendations?
things to buy?

any and all advice gratefully received

thank you

OP posts:

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 09/04/2023 19:05

Spaniel puppies are absolute lunatics… so spades and spades of patience!

JussathoB · 09/04/2023 19:07

Vetbed is very good - hardwearing, comfy and easy to wash if you need to.
Consider using a crate for sleeping and in the car, and or a stair gate at home or to keep the dog in/out of certain rooms.
Kongs to fill and freeze.

JussathoB · 09/04/2023 19:08

Wellies, walking boots, cagoule, walking trousers and fleeces ( Rohan very good) for yourself - out in all weathers !

Bluebells1970 · 09/04/2023 19:15

Lots and lots of chew toys! Mine loved deer antlers (the split ones), Yaks milk chews, and Kong toys. They have very sharp teeth to start with. And be prepared for the "witching hour" which was around 7pm with mine... cue lots of zoomies around the house. We used a crate for the first year, and then moved onto a proper bed once the worst of the chewing was over. We also just moved anything delicate up out of reach - a bit like toddler proofing, especially exposed wires.

We have survived two spaniel puppies... and now mine are grown up, DD has got a 9 month old rescue so we've started over again when they're here!

Morningcoffeeview · 09/04/2023 19:16

Find a local agility or gun dog trainer and give them a job. They are super intelligent and training them shouldn’t be underestimated.

DominoRules · 09/04/2023 19:16

Spaniels are total crazy puppies - gorgeous but will definitely test your patience 😂 plenty of good chewing toys and puzzles - snuffle mats etc

Get a good trainer lined up, they are so clever and their brains needs to be challenged and used as much as physical exercise.

Also agree with good all weather gear - they will go out in any and all weathers!

Mostly just enjoy the chaos, my springer is now 16 months and I cannot describe how adored he is and how much happiness he has brought to us all x

roundcork · 09/04/2023 19:19

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the user.

Original poster

Facem81 · 09/04/2023 19:31

Thank you all!

things to buy?
is a crate absolution necessary?

OP posts:

roundcork · 09/04/2023 19:34

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the user.

Helenloveslee4eva · 09/04/2023 19:36

King Charles spaniel or cavalier King Charles spaniel ?
the latter are amazing . King Charles spaniels look too brachycephalic to enjoy life 😢
mine and his sis. Just easy beautiful natures dogs - but don’t be fooled. They are “ big dogs “ too. Walk miles and chase sniffs in the woods - just unlikely to have enough brain to catch that squirrel / rabbit 😂

bizzywiththefizzy · 09/04/2023 19:42

From previous experience with puppies a big bottle of puppy shampoo . 😲

Morningcoffeeview · 09/04/2023 19:45

Crate training is really helpful. It’s beneficial for the dog to have a safe space they can withdraw when they want to. Even if it’s once in a blue moon you might get a guest that doesn’t like dogs and if the dog is happy in a crate it’s all so much simpler.

spanieleyes · 09/04/2023 19:46

What type of spaniel? There is a huge difference between a King Charles and a Springer! Mine was a springer, he came from field blood lines and was an absolute dream. Very energetic, he covered the ground so fast , it was very hard to keep up. We had to find deserted places where he could run free. He wasn't very good on a lead, but probably my fault rather than his, he had instant recall however and avoided other dogs and humans alike!

Spinige · 09/04/2023 19:51

Crates - these aren't to be used like cages in a zoo. Our DSpaniel loves his crate which is filled with comfy blankets and has covers over it which you can buy.

Crates are never to be used to punish a dog; the crate should be their safe space; somewhere they can rest and where small children aren't allowed to go into.

Apart from very early on we never shut him in his crate. Lots of information via google to be found as to how to use crates well and with kindness.

Mix56 · 09/04/2023 19:54

Love love love water.
So you need big rubber mat in the back of your car, & bars to keep dog in the back, ( you can look on Amazon for both cheaply) or waterproof it so that the car isnt ruined !!!
We had rules, not allowed on sofa or in bedrooms. Never ever feed from the table. Make sure noone feeds them scraps from their plate...
They absolutely love rules, you need to be consistent, aim for meal times at the same time of day, in the same place (outdoors)
Our late Cocker, & present Springer have been the best fun, loyal, loving dogs we have had.
You'll need to keep on top of the grooming too

Paddingtonsmarmlade · 09/04/2023 19:56

Puzzle toys
chew toys
door bells (ribbon with bells on for the door so they can ring to go out for the toilet)
acme 210 dog whistle
waterproof trousers
waterproof coat
good wellies
Towels to dry dog

Babyroobs · 09/04/2023 19:58

We have a working cocker, we have never used a crate. He really tested our patience as a puppy, I was on the verge of a breakdown ! Once he settled down though he has been a lovely boy. Destroys every toy he gets even the toughened ones. Used to swallow whole socks then regurgitate them a few days later when he was a young dog, so watch out for that type of thing !

Tiredmummaoftwo · 09/04/2023 20:01

Good luck!!

No I'm joking they're absolutely gorgeous animals (I'm talking working cockers). Super loving and great with other dogs / kids

Best advice would be walk them a lot. Train them well. Crate them at first. Play games with them.

They are really intelligent and get bored very easily. I'm sure you've done your research and know you've got your work cut out but you'll be shocked at just how nuts they actually are. They need to be kept stimulated.

Do that well and you'll get lovely chilled cuddles on the sofa at night!

Junegirl15 · 09/04/2023 20:07

Also recommend crate training- they sometimes need that space to just go and chill otherwise they just keep going like the Duracell bunny. Recommend antlers to chew, and strong rubber balls etc - ours destroyed anything made of material. Plenty of play time but lots of consistent training. The most loving and friendly dogs.

KILM · 09/04/2023 20:11

You don't need a crate but if you can get a puppy pen it will save your sanity!

Rocketpants50 · 09/04/2023 20:12

A pair of good waterproof boots, old towels and lots of balls. Good luck!

PicpoulDeMeNay · 09/04/2023 20:13

I have a sprocker who is now 2. Still acts like a puppy at times (we still get zoomies!), but if you put the effort in with training, it will pay off.

After a 6 mile walk this afternoon she’s now curled up next to me asleep!

I used a crate just so she had somewhere to go to chill and sleep. Puppies need lots of it. I would say the worse thing as a puppy was the teething. She wasn’t known as a sprockerdile for nothing!

Bluebells1970 · 09/04/2023 20:16

I personally think a crate is a safe space for them. You can leave them in it if you need to answer the phone/do something and they're safe in it - plus ours loved theirs to retreat to if we had a busy house. I think they were both a bit bereft when we withdrew them after a year but I couldn't cope with them cluttering up the kitchen!

GuyFawkesDay · 09/04/2023 20:21

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RedBonnet · 09/04/2023 20:25

We have a springer just over 10 months old. Apart from a crate and a harness and lead I wouldn't buy anything until you work out their personality. For example will they play with toys, destroy toys or eat toys? Ours eats toys so we don't buy him any. He has a ball and a tuggy. He eats rubber, fabric, plastic etc. I'm just amazed he hasn't had a blockage yet.

Also my top tip, put him on a lightweight house lead and use it to teach boundaries: Off the sofa unless invited. Sofa is for sleeping not playing. Use the lead to teach him what he is/isn't allowed to do.

Enforce naps - very important - some pups refuse to go to sleep and they need 20h per day. We had to lock ours in his crate and tell him bedtime stories to get him to sleep (voice droning on does it).

Pay special attention to diet. Their behaviour can be really bad if they have a bad belly and they'll find it difficult to be calm or to listen to training. Ours was allergic to chicken and we used chicken for training, high value rewards, even gave him rice and chicken for his bad belly 😭😭 we didn't realise we were just making him worse and worse. The first 3 months we had him were a nightmare. I hated him and wanted to give him back to the breeder 2 or 3 times a day. Once we stopped chicken in his diet and started using a house lead he's been like a new dog

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