Adolescent Dog Survival Thread - for teenage dirtbags

[Bupster]

I've buckled again, I can't take the pressure of being on page 40 😄

I said something similar to a German lady with a Large Munsterlander that I met recently and she was... not impressed @LandSharksAnonymous

I think Perfect Fit would be worth trying too. Brie is glorious! I bet Vinny could stand underneath her 😂 He is 16kg and if he pulls towards something he definitely drags me about, so I can’t imagine how difficult it is with a large breed.

Ah, that's helpful @Bupster Thank you for the endorsement of Perfect Fit, they do show one on a Newfie, which is why I thought it might be a good option. I'll try to measure her accurately and email them for advice. But yeah, you can all see what I mean about the neck and the wool now. I'm dreading the first big moult which could be anytime now 😰

To be truthful, after living with this breed for so long, I'm horribly blase about how they look, because, for me, it's all about their character. That's the reason I won't consider a different breed. They're clever and funny - very challenging in many ways, admittedly, but just amazing to be around. Their history is interesting and the LGD mindset is quite unique in dogdom. I know they're very beautiful, but for me that is secondary to their character. I just love their funny ways. I actually think you'd feel the same if you met her, she's quite eccentric, and I know you appreciate Bill for his quirks as much as for his handsome (and very cute) looks.

@brushingboots glad I’m not alone in thinking there’s a few dogs that are basically less intelligent, larger, spaniels! 😄

I’m so mean about Goldies as a breed, but it’s all said with love (mostly)

I love goldies and grew up with one. The only thing that stops me having one as an adult is their size. Hence the spaniels. 😂
(Nothing against large breeds, but it's the practicality of getting them to the vets if they can't walk.)

Awww, thanks @YorkshireFelix . It is a struggle at the moment, as it can be with any boisterous youngster regardless of size.

Brie would probably lie on her belly to greet Vinny, that's what she tends to do. She seems to quite like cockers, there are three locally that we encounter regularly. She's fearful of some very small yappy dogs though. She hid behind my husband when we recently met an elderly, snuffly Frenchie, because its breathing was so loud that she thought it was growling at her 😆She's a big wimp. Guard dog...yeah, right...🙄

My little one would be considered 'too small' for a lab really, even for working lines but she's a really useful size at 21.5kg 😁

I won't pretend that there are no drawbacks to living with a 60kg dog, but I'd never come across this "practicality of getting them to the vet" theory until last year when I joined MN.
The question is, does it also apply to horses, husbands, elderly parents and adult children...? I suppose it must. I cannot, after all, lift up and carry my husband in an emergency, but (well, most of the time at least) it doesn't seem like a good enough reason not to have him around any more...🤔

60kg is a really useful size too 😀 It makes an excellent draught excluder in the winter. It can cover a whole French door!

To be fair @CoubousAndTourmalet I am also quite fearful of small yappy dogs. Have never understood the urge to have one, but then again I don't quite understand any dogs that aren't gundogs either.

60kg!! She is more than four times pupsy's size!

Incidentally I met a lady the other day with a big clumber spaniel – still only about 30kg – who told me that he'd broken his shoulder out on a walk a couple of years ago and that she'd had to carry him about three miles back to the car. She managed to flag down a randomly passing police car to give her a lift to her car but I did think after about what I'd do in that situation.

(edited as I checked the breed size standard)

No! Said in jest. Our previous dog Algy was around 60kg fully mature. He was taller and leggier. Brie is currently approaching 50kg, which is bad enough!

Unrelated but I looooooove clumber spaniels.

Totally agree with you about idiosyncracies. I mean, it does no harm that he's gorgeous, but my favourite thing about Bill is always his character. Can't remember if I shared this photo with you guys of Bill a few days back when he adopted a pet potato. He wouldn't give it up for anything.

Me too. Not seen one for ages though, it's quite a rare breed these days, I fear.

Awww, a pet potato. How sweet ❤ Named Edward or Charlotte presumably? Brie had a pet carrot for about 2 minutes, not sure if he was named Kevin though, because sadly, he was eaten fairly quickly.
She's on healthy snacks now, no rawhide, because I'm being very, very strict 😁No nasties.

ive never seen one in real life! I am sure they are in the vulnerable breed list. They are so cute but I think prone to health problems 🙁

There used to be one in our village - maybe 20 years ago, we would meet it fairly regularly when we were walking Rose & Sylvie. Clumbers are very cute, yes, quite chunky and solidly built. The one we used to see was very calm and placid.
I think you're right that they do have some health issues though and that won't be helped by their limited gene pool, although I'm sure the breeders are very dedicated in trying to address the problem...

It's always nice to see the rarer breeds. We recently came across a Gordon Setter walking locally, and that is another lovely breed that we hadn't seen for years. We've seen the same bitch a few times now. It's sad that so many native breeds are numerically small and at risk these days. Fashions change, even in dogs so hopefully some of these breeds will see a revival at some point.

Yes it is funny re fashions with dogs. I was telling dd when I was a kid everyone had boxers and rough collies and I barely see either any more. Bloody spaniels are everywhere you turn though 😂

That's true about the Rough Collies and Boxers. Also Old English and Afghans were very popular when I was a kid, and you rarely see either of those now.

Around here these days it's mostly Labradoodles and Cockerpoos, still the odd Lab or Goldie, and yes, quite a few cockers. French Bulldogs and Pugs seem to be on the decline and being replaced by the Dachshund as the small dog of choice.

I've met a whole group (40 odd) of Clumber Spaniels at clumber park. They're not for me, something about the droopy eyes.

To answer the question - no it doesn't apply to horses, husbands etc. If my fictitious husband breaks his leg walking in the woods, I'll be phoning an ambulance, not carrying him back to the car and driving him to the hospital. And I may be wrong as I have never owned one, but I believe vets go out to horses so I wouldn't have to struggle lifting one of those either.
I've had to carry an injured spaniel back to the car. And also had one collapse at home that needed lifting into the car to take to the vets. I wouldn't be capable of lifting a 50kg dog in those circumstances. I'd struggle to carry anything over 20kg for any length of time to be honest.
I don't think there is anything wrong with considering the practicalities of dog ownership when choosing the breed for you.

Apparently there's been a big push to reinvigorate the breed. I can't remember where I read it, but there's been about 27 Clumber winners of field trials in the last decade compared to one winner in the previous two decades, or something like that. Don't know why my brain fastened on to this! Anyway, apparently Clumbers are doing relatively well for a breed that was in real trouble not long ago.

I interviewed someone who works her clumber today – I made an effort to include her in my piece to give the clumbers some more representation. They are nice dogs but too big for me.