I thought it might be helpful to anyone considering a springer to say what my thoughts are after being the Mum of an approximately 3 year old rescue springer for a year this month. These views are based soley on my experience, I am no expert, so here goes:-
1)I would not recommend have a springer unless you have time to walk them at least two hours a day, most of that being off lead (we do more than that but he would cope with 2 hours)
2) They are the most rewarding dog to walk, Jack is so excited every day about going out into the fields and each day he acts as if he has never been there before, smelling and chasing the birds
3) You cannot imagine how messy your house will get, even if you have had another breed of dog before. I have never had such a dusty house with mud stained floors and carpets, no matter how much I hose him down and dry him.
4) He is a real 'people' dog (but only to the family and a few friends), follows me everywhere but not bothered at all about meeting other dogs when we are out - when he is out he is only interested in doing his job, sniffing for England (or Ireland as that is where he came from).
5) The difference between breeds has become very apparent to me, I have a rottie who wants to meet all other dogs, and she is very sight and prey orientated and good with other dogs and people verses the Springer who is very scent orientated and often doesn't even notice another dog walking by us, as he will only have his bum sticking out of the hedge whilst he is sniffing.
6) There are easier dogs to own, but I can't imagine that there are more rewarding dogs to own and ones that make you laugh out loud when you are out on your own in the fields with them
Would I do it again? absolutely, but only if I still have as much time as I do right now and if I am still fit enough to traipse around fields for hours every day. Jack would not be the dog he is if he only had lead walks around the streets, I think I would find him too reactive to everything I do, rather than enjoying a good nap after each walk.
1)I would not recommend have a springer unless you have time to walk them at least two hours a day, most of that being off lead (we do more than that but he would cope with 2 hours)
2) They are the most rewarding dog to walk, Jack is so excited every day about going out into the fields and each day he acts as if he has never been there before, smelling and chasing the birds
3) You cannot imagine how messy your house will get, even if you have had another breed of dog before. I have never had such a dusty house with mud stained floors and carpets, no matter how much I hose him down and dry him.
4) He is a real 'people' dog (but only to the family and a few friends), follows me everywhere but not bothered at all about meeting other dogs when we are out - when he is out he is only interested in doing his job, sniffing for England (or Ireland as that is where he came from).
5) The difference between breeds has become very apparent to me, I have a rottie who wants to meet all other dogs, and she is very sight and prey orientated and good with other dogs and people verses the Springer who is very scent orientated and often doesn't even notice another dog walking by us, as he will only have his bum sticking out of the hedge whilst he is sniffing.
6) There are easier dogs to own, but I can't imagine that there are more rewarding dogs to own and ones that make you laugh out loud when you are out on your own in the fields with them
Would I do it again? absolutely, but only if I still have as much time as I do right now and if I am still fit enough to traipse around fields for hours every day. Jack would not be the dog he is if he only had lead walks around the streets, I think I would find him too reactive to everything I do, rather than enjoying a good nap after each walk.
