I want a pet English Springer Spaniel, and have been told to get a show springer as they will be less likely to destroy my house if left unattended. Is this true?
I have a bench bred springer, anyone who tells you that they are more laid back than the fieldies doe not know of what he speaks!!
This is my 3rd Springer - the first 2 were fields. My field dogs were much mellower than Favre. Don't get me wrong, he is a wonderful dog, I couldn't love him more, but he was "Tigger" incarnate and required a lot of work and training to keep him on all fours when he was a puppy.
He is now 2 1/2 and still full of energy. He loves to run and flush birds - yes, benches love to hunt too! He will fetch the ball and bring it back as long as you are willing the keep throwing it. They are wonderful with children!
Feb 19, 2010 Rating
Bobby by: Guythegardener
I agree with all the comments here. I own a working springer and he is a fantastic dog. He doesn't destroy things, but is very high maintenance. As a professional landscaper I am able to bring him with me to work annd he gets at least two to threé hours of exercise a day. My advice is to think about your lifesyle and whether this type of dog is the right one to go for. In the right home they make a fantastic loyal loving pet and are excellent with kids. Good luck.
Feb 18, 2010 Rating
show vs working by: estie
This is a good subject! I'm not an expert, but will share with you what I know (which isn't much!! haha!) The scuttle-but is that benchies are more laid back than the fieldies (working). Probably, that might be true. We have 2 rescues - Sammy looks like a bench-bred and acts like a fieldie. He's a hunter! Cassy looks and acts like a fieldie, but she is petite, so who knows what her dna is!! We have had fosters - all fieldies. Have never had any problems in the house with any of them (except the occasional foster who is being house-trained). They get lots of exercise (1 long walk atleast, sometimes 1 long and 1 short daily). And I think that's the key.
I'm pro-rescue if at all possible. The springers that are in the national springer rescue are awesome, housetrained, etc. The rescue will tell you ALL that they know and what you can expect if adopting. Alot of the rescues these days are from wonderful homes that have hit hard financial times and can't afford to properly take care of them, so they turn them over to rescue. www.springerrescue.org and More Springer Spaniel Rescue Sites
Feb 18, 2010 Rating
house dog by: June
I have a "bench" bred springer. I started leaving her out of her kennel during the day when I was at work when she was 5 months old. Everyone told me I was asking for trouble, but she did fine. The only thing she tore up was a lampshade, that my son and I agreed wasn't too pretty to begin with! As long as you give them plenty of exercise, they are OK. You can't find a more loving companion. Good Luck!
Feb 18, 2010 Rating
Choosing a springer by: paul
If you want a good springer , do what i did, buy one which is six months old, you can then see what you are buying, and its temperament. I have the best dog i've ever had, they beat labs, and are keen to please, good luck
Feb 18, 2010 Rating
New pet by: Anonymous
Where did you get that idea?! There are two types of Springers; bench bred - which is probably what you are referring to as a show dog, and field bred, which likely is what you are thinking of as a working dog. Field bred Springers usually are used for hunting, but I know people who have bench bred Springers that hunt too.
Springers are great dogs and make wonderful pets, but they are high energy and require a lot of exercise. No matter what breed you decide on, do your homework first! Puppies are time consuming no matter the breed. Have you considered a rescue Springer? There is more info at this link: www.love-springer-spaniels.com - Springer Spaniel Rescue Sites
