Would you recommend spaniels as first dogs?

[spockerlife]

Family with children (will probably be ages about 8/9 and 5/6.) Sprocker specifically?

If not, are there any other recommended breeds? I do love Labradors but they are quite big.

We have a working cocker spaniel, she was our first dog. We got her when our youngest was five.

To be honest, it took 3 hours of one-to-one training a week for the 1st year to stop her running after and nipping the five-year-old and their friends.

She needs 1.5 hours of walking a day plus mental exercises to keep her calm.

She also seeks out and rolls in any poo she can find, I can’t ever take my eye off her in the garden.

Against that she is the most loving enthusiastic dog in the world, and we absolutely love her to bits.

But my God she’s hard work.

No, not a young one.
I have had spaniels and they are beautiful dogs, but they really are working dogs and they are just bonkers and hyperactive as family pets and don't seem to calm down till they're about 5.

We have a 4 and 7 year old and got a basset hound after lots of research and he is perfect. Yes he can be a bit stubborn but he's so relaxed around our children and will happily walk 30 minutes or an hour (no more until he is 1 for his joints). My sister in law has similar aged kids and a WCS. She is now 10 and whilst very well trained, lovely with kids- she is still a bit bonkers. My sister in law did say she wouldn't get another whilst her kids were young as the first few years with her needed so much work and she wouldn't have the time now with children (they are a very active household too!). Just thought I would chip in as your childhood experience of a basset hound would be very different to what it would be like with a spaniel! Both lovely but very different!

I adore bassets. Just that I know once they catch a scent of something they are often gone! Fabulous dogs though and utterly hilarious.

We have a 6 year old Springer, who is my first dog. Kids were 5 & 7 when we got him.

Outside of the home he is harder work than other dogs I see, but as always there's a lot of nuance. He's very much working stock (two of his siblings stayed with the breeder to be 'proper' gundogs) and the instinct is strong! Inside he's a dream, basically sleeps all day long. Just outside he's a nutcase.

One thing I will say is that I wanted a dog to join us as a family on long countryside walks and he's made that harder. If I'm not engaging with him then he goes off 'self-employed'. I'm sure that's a matter of training, but you do need to put the effort in.

I’ve had spaniels my whole life (currently sat with my coffee with my two curled up next to me!) I don’t love them as a dog to be around very young children. They are a bit more prone to resource guarding than other breeds, which combined with needing a lot of exercise and stimulation and really needing to be taught how to settle, as well as being a bit more prone to separation anxiety than other breeds can be a bit of a melting pot that makes them sometimes quite difficult.

Have a read of the reasons for relquishment for available dogs on spaniel aid to give yourself a realistic idea of the common issues that crop up

I’ve had spaniels growing up, no.
my sister doesn’t have children, brought a sprocker and says as much as she loves him she regrets it. The breed is too high energy and she’s a proper dog-dog person 🫣

I love a spaniel, they are fanatics dogs. But they’re working dogs tbh.unless you’re going on hiking trips every weekend and at bare minimum an hour walk twice a day (bare minimum) then it’s not for families. They’re extremely zoomy and kids are bound to get knocked down.

I’ve got children and a family, I only work 10 hours a week so have plenty of time for walks and getting out and I decided on a whippet. I genuinely don’t think I’ll ever consider another breed after having him only a couple months so far. A whippet would be my first choice, after researching.

A whistle is essential for working dogs. You don't want to be shouting Fenton like two fields away.

We've had 3 Springers. They are beautiful and highly intelligent, but very very hard work. As working dogs they are easily bored and need lots of stimulation and exercise. They are not a dog for chilling on the sofa with.
I'd have another in an instant but I know what I'd be letting myself in for.
Having been connected with dog rescue I'd say a disproportionate number of spaniels end up in rescue because of the very cute appearance as puppies, but owners can often struggle to meet their needs. And then that leads to heartbreak 💔

Depends on how your lives are and how sensible you are. We work ours - my house dog is a sprocker. Absolutely cracking breed, but they ARE working dogs and as such need the right training.

firstly they need a person. You are their entire world.
then you need to accept all socks and shoes are loaned to you on a temporary basis by them.
personal space is a myth.
seriously - training is key. Regular and consistent- start Gundog’s classes even if you never intend them to work
watch for any issues with resource guarding.
and lastly - do not make the error of thinking that extreme physical exercise = tired spaniel. Keep doing that and you will just have an incredibly fit spaniel. They also need brainwork.

however, get the balance right and you don’t actually need masses. Ours were out shooting on Saturday and did a full day. Gentle walks Sunday (probably actually about 45mins), training/walk Monday then Tuesday and Wednesday they’ve been on minimum as I’m ill! Currently snoozing and are as lazy as anything in the house.

nature wise they are beautiful with the kids, however can get overexcited and are pains in the arse as pups for shark behaviour. They need to be left alone too - when ours have worked all day and are exhausted it is a rule in our house the dogs are left alone. We’ve never had any issues but I can tell they don’t want to be fussed or engaged with.

it’s doable, but you need to be sensible.

photo for tax.

I've had working spaniels for years and lost our last one in the summer. DH is unwell and a spaniel just seemed like too much for us, so we have a Labrador puppy instead.

I CANNOT BELIEVE that nobody adequately conveyed to me before just how much easier a Labrador would be. I don't want to mislead you, he can still be a bit of a prick at times (this morning he gave a great demonstration of a dog that has never walked on a lead before) but 99% of the time he's a dream compared to the hooliganism wreaked by my spaniels.

Size is a consideration of course- I've just had my car written off and my dreams of having a much smaller, more economical car have been scuppered by the need to cart a big dog about. Once he needs a bigger cage (alarmingly soon) we will need to have a proper shuffle around and probably get rid of a piece of statement furniture to make it fit. However I wouldn't change him for the world and will never put myself through the tyranny of a spaniel again 🤣