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?

I think you should rehome the springer. You aren’t the right owner for him. That’s not intended as a criticism, just an observation based on what you have written.

No, I don't think it's too late, he's still young - he hopefully has plenty of years left ahead of him so by working with a behaviorist you'll hopefully be improving his quality of life so that he feels more comfortable and relaxed.

A clinical behaviourist could have a completely different approach to this issue, compared to trainers you've used before. You should speak to your vet about the separation anxiety and tell them you want to be referred to a suitable behaviourist. A general dog trainer and a clinical dog behaviourist are not the same thing. A behaviourist should have the qualifications, knowledge and experience to come up with a plan based on your dog's personality and his likes/dislikes, fears, etc. I hope you can find someone to help!

you've obviously never had a difficult dog in your life, you lucky girl.

thank you, we did say it to the vet he sees regularly. he said he is fine, bit manic, but perfect weight, perfect behaviour on the bench (he had a tooth issue), very gentle. It's just he starts running and forget it.

Nobody would have this fella. You would not be able for him, however much you think you would.

So two days a week, the springer roams free on a farm.
What happens for the other five days a week? Where does he live and how much exercise does he get?

Sorry, just to be clear, I was referring to the separation anxiety/non stop howling and speaking to your vet about getting help for that because I thought that was one of the main/most distressing issues?

@elfendom1why is he entire? Genuine question.

I train working dogs and gun dogs as a hobby line. I wouldn’t have an entire male unless I was breeding, which clearly you wouldn’t be with his quirks.

I actually agree that some dogs, like humans, have an unusual personality. It may be a friend does help.

is there scope for him having a job? Heading into shooting season now. Could he beat with someone? Doesn’t have to be you. Would give that focus and then differentiate between work and play zones.

I absolutely don’t think I would be the right owner for him. Why do you say that?

He is not breeding and I would ask you the rhetorical question (not in an bad way) why would you neuter? I find a lot of people have piles of answers when the dog or bitch they have is neutered. He is unusual. All trainers who have met him said that they know springers and he is extraordinarily wired. I must reiterate I have had 3 springers before him. I know what is odd. My dad has had various gundogs over the years and said he has never seen anything like him, breaking collars. He couldn't go shooting, he can't concentrate.

What about the other 5 days OP? Rather than a trainer find a good behviourist. Although dog training/ behaviour is completey unregulated. There are as some really high profile trained in the UK that people travel miles to see or residential training.

I also got my boxer at 8 months as he is wired wrong the previous family couldn’t cope as had tiny children. (Not sure a boxer puppy and a fresh baby is a good plan).

we do have some positives with our boxer compared to other ones in that he can be left and doesn’t counter surf or steal food and is fairly bidable for boxer.

boxers and springers to have form for being a bit nuts to start with.

I would honestly try the JR if it is a puppy. But that completely depends on what happens the other 5 days and if you can accommodate a puppy in your life as well.

Health, if not breeding, reduce risk of pyometra in mine. Males, reduce risk of cancer.

you could try a chemical castration. That would give an indication of whether his behaviour is hormone linked. Which it can be, but is reversible if it is not.

I agree he wouldn’t work to a gun at the moment, but he may beat or pick up.

more distance based to channel that energy.

it increases the risk of cancers in particular areas, you know that there is no middle line. 'That would give an indication of whether his behaviour is hormone linked. Which it can be, but is reversible if it is not.' I don't know about that, thank you, I will look at that. This is the gu.

Bringing another dog into the mix could be amazing or a complete disaster. Temperament matters more than sex/neutering and jack Russells are a very unpredictable breed. I'm not sure why you have a spaniel if you prefer a terrier but if you bring another dog in it needs to be rock solid as they learn from each other and it's more likely to adopt your current dog's attitude than sort it out.

''I'm not sure why you have a spaniel if you prefer a terrier' well then. what can you do, you have arses here with probably doodles of all sorts and dogs that can't breathe and then have gravestones when they lose them. I am not sure why either. Jack Russells are not unpredictable, unless you don't know how to manage them. They don't need to be rock solid, he'll just get on with it, like we all do in life. Sorry I even bothered asking.

It’s brilliant for a new pup to have an educated older dog to show it the ropes. That does not in any way negate the need for consistent training by the human.

If the older dog has anxiety or behavioural issues the new pup will learn them. Trouble shared is trouble doubled.

you are wrong.

No. My question was why you have a spaniel if you actually want a Jack Russell not why anyone would want a Jack Russell.

Why did you ask if you don't actually want to hear what anyone has to say?

What I said is absolutely correct, but you’ve asked a question and don’t want to hear the answer.

He is a full male?..huh?
What age abd did you get the springer as a pup or rescue?
Springers are a hypy dog so is it stimulated
I woypdnt match a jack Russell with a springer.
they are hyper breed.
Usually training and calming the springer would be wise before bringing in another dog.
Not a breed I would have.

Gosh it seems so i wish i had read her responses ...
No wonder the dogs demented

I have only read some of your replies to other posters ...
Personally I wouldn't get another dog just now. Instead get to the bottom of what your springer actually needs. You say he's not a working dog, but I wonder if he is from working lines? Maybe he is under stimulated and needs something to engage his brain, to get him to focus. In other words a job. As currently he seems to have too much time to worry about other things, including when you are coming back, as in separation anxiety.

Now I have now experience with Springers, the closest I have in terms of Spaniel is a cookerpoo. But she started to thrive once I started formal training, in my case Obedience & Agility. Maybe a bit of gun dog training or scent work for focus might be just what he needs to be truly happy and content in a Spaniel kind of way. Once he's more settled, absolutely get another dog!