For those who know dogs.

[elfendom1]

Can't find a pets forum. I have a springer spaniel. I've had three before him and maybe it's my age but this guy is a good man but a strange one. He is unfettered and yet anxious at both ends of the spectrum. He is not a working dog. He roams free 2 days a week (on a farm) and howls non stop when any family member leaves the house. He is bright but probably should be left on the farm. However that is not possible, for several reasons.

Now I want to introduce a terrier, a Jack Russell to be specific. I am going to get hate, I think. Very bad idea? If not male/female/ neutered/un-neutered? He is a full male. I know this breed better and love them and had great springers before with appropriate exercise levels. But I think this fella has beaten me. He is never put in kennels and is never aggressive, just wired. Is adding a pup to the mix going to be a bad thing?

And do not get a retired greyhound, they need a lot of patience.

you should be more mindful then. Obviously you rate yourself as a pet owner, but not great on human connections.

That's it, I'm out. OP is either very drunk or on a wind-up.

DFOD

Rght back at you pet. Hit where it hurt eh? you could have been kind, you had a choice.

😂

why did you suggest it so?

Stop calling posters pricks and being cuntish then.

I didn't, stop lying.

stop yourself now.

I have westies. A breed that I took a long time to research and make sure I could meet their needs

get yourself a cat @RocketPanda they are much nicer people. And then you can wallow again.

How do you think the Jack Russell will handle it?

I like you live in a farm environment, not
mine, neighbours. My rescue, working cocker spaniel, I know very different temperament from a springer, is a very sensitive, timid dog, who is frightened of his own shadow. But with lots of love and training he is confident, happy and thriving.

Now my neighbours Jack Russell, gets very excited when he meets my cocker on walks, he growls, barks and strains on leash. Is in full attack mode. It doesn’t upset me and my cocker. It does upset his owner though. So we avoid going that way now. My cocker does bark back, well he has to stick up for himself, but halfheartedly.

You have experience with dogs. They have personalities and no matter how hard and long the journey is, socialising training will always be in their best interests.

Good luck. I really don’t understand why you are getting such a hard time.

What do you mean he is bright but should be left on the farm? What happened the other 2 days.

FWIW. My neighbour got a springer with “wiring issues” and I have a boxer with “wiring issues” and until you come across one it is hard to convey to to other what it k like with a difficult dog as people just say see a trainer/ behaviourist/ i’d sort him out. In fact the springer owner said this when I got my boxer (fourth of this breed) and he was a bit sheepish when he asked for my behaviourists details.

Does he mix with other dogs and how does he react? The local behaviourist does an assessment and then if dog safe can go to stay and play with other dogs. This would be a good idea to see if he can handle other dogs.

My neighbours springer is so strong on the lead, I’d say worse than the boxer and 10kg lighter.

I did some recall training with the boxer so he is trained to an an acme 211. Which is a godsend but we can let him off but it is helpful as he escaped he came straight back and whistle or clicker training is good fun. So presently walk in lead by DH and it isn’t much fun.
Also if he is a free range on the farm and has springer craze that dog is going to be super fit- essentially you have created an Olympian springer.

I think your OP style is a bit cryptic to understand so apologies if I have missed the mark.

edited typos

Thank you, this is what I was asking for. I have also had 2 jack russells. 2 females and whilst they are very noisy and in your face (gone now), I thought it might be a good mix in the sense that he (the springer) mixes well with other dogs, never aggressive - he mixes well with 3 rottweilers and a jack russell and a westie at the farm - his main problem is the westie. That is all I was asking, as the new dog would be in his own home.

Exactly.

@elfendom1 Have you ever worked with a registered behaviourist to assess the separation anxiety? They are also the best person to advise on whether another dog is suitable in your home and whether that dog should be an adult or puppy.

I think you can get some of the cost of a behaviourist covered with pet insurance, if you have that, and the vet can help you find a good one? Whoever you work with make sure you do a lot of research into their qualifications and experience.

No you are most kind. I still struggle to see why my OP was so bad. But it is obviously and that is just me. He is very very good with other dogs, not neutered and a nice fella, but yes thank you - wiring issues - is the way to put it. He's not my first springer on the rodeo. The west highland terrier he meets hates him mind but he doesn't react. He is very fit, very, very strong and when he gets moving, I can't break through to him. I have always been able to with the other springers I've had. The bigger dogs see him asa nuisance but he is not even interested in them. Off he goes.

You say his main problem was the westie, how did it affect him? You could work from that experience then.

You say he is good with other dogs, which is good. My cocker is overly social, he thinks he has a duty to befriend every dog he meets. Whereas many dogs he meets just can’t be bothered with him, they are in their own worlds or bark at him in order to tell him to behave.

I personally can’t see that it would cause distress to your springer. He has separation anxiety, he howls, that is about human contact not problems with other dogs.

My cocker is a Velcro dog but because we have the space for him to run off lead freely he has gained in confidence.

He had separation anxiety at the beginning but we took the small steps, ignoring him method, which finally paid off. I can now leave him, “I say good boy, you stay, I wont be long”. His sad face though!

He is 5 now, I got trainers - they all had different approaches. To be honest I've never had to get a dog trainer before. Is 5 too late though? I didn't get him until he was 6 months old and he is very gentle, with children etc and then the switch happens, he just runs. I put a tracker on him on the farm. He covered 4 kilometres in 10 minutes and didn't stop once.

yes like yours he approaches nice. The westie, it's his (westies) territory, so that's normal. He does agitate the rottweilers because he just doesn't stop moving but they are very well-controlled. People have laid into me about not being able for him, but he is a bit more wired than I have ever experienced. I simply thought maybe a short sharp jack russell, the breed I love the most, could be introduced.

This is the most frustrating thread I have ever been on, op are you using AI to type or is it just a random stream of words, because I can't make head or tail of any of it !

Aren't you a charmer?

You got good advice and you result to name calling.

I personally would go for it. You have the space. He is not isolated and has contact with many other dogs.

As we do with our dogs due to embracing the commitment that they are, we find a way, make it work.

Having the farm, your experience with dogs over many generations and your weirdly wired springer all sounds like another day on the farm!

The home environment could cause a problem, can you have a couple of nights sleepover?

Anyway good luck. Love the 4km in 10 mins.

I'm not an expert, just love my dogs and have had many, so here's my two pennies worth. I had a clingy dog (Staffie) and thought a puppy would be company for him, and it was; but, he became overly protective of the puppy to the extent that he had to wear a muzzle when walked, as he would not tolerate off leash dogs sniffing her (Labradoodle and a total diva) Having said that they had the best relationship, were great family pets and we and particularly the grandchildren miss them both terribly. Try not to be so tunnel visioned on a Jack Russel though, it may derail the end result you're striving for. I would suggest you research best breed buddies for an anxious Springer. Good luck and well done for not giving up on him.

Thank you, I will note that and will take the advice.