Springer Spaniel Adoption - Is this a Good or Bad Idea?

The_Jim

WKR
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Nebraska
Hoping some of the bird dog guys on here can give me some advice. Our family dog died a couple years ago and between a newborn and moving around that time we decided it was best to be pet free. We've been tossing around the idea of getting a dog again and buddy's uncle has a 4 year old Springer Spaniel that he would give us. This would be my first hunting dog, but most importantly it has to be a family dog as we have 4 kids ranging from 4-13.

The dog will have to be good with kids, live indoors, and I would love to be able to take him bird hunting.

What do I need to look out for and if this is a terrible idea let me know!
 
My aunt had a springer for years. If you can get it plenty of exercise, you shouldn’t have any issues. I find that to be true of all the indoor dogs I’ve owned or been around. I wouldn’t own a little “yap dog, lap dog, wishes it was a cat dog.” All my dogs have been “useful” breeds designed for outdoor work. And even if I couldn’t use them for their breed’s intended role, I get them plenty of exercise.

The “idle mind is the devil’s playground” definitely applies to dogs. When my dog and I get at least an hour outdoors every day, we are much happier. Lucy and I try for 5-6 miles walking every day.
 
I owned a male Springer for 13 years. He was a fantastic hunter, but an outside dog. My last 2 dogs were Labs (they both hunted) and were inside dogs.
My Springer was great with kids, plus everyone else. One problem you will have is getting the dog used to your commands while hunting. They probably will be different than the original owner. If you take the dog, work with him prior to taking him hunting so he knows what you will want him to do.

Enjoy him if you take him, they are great dogs.
 
Do it. We are Boykin Spaniel people. We recently rescued two Boykin females - one 2 and one 6 years. They are loving critters. We have a big fenced in yard for them to explore then they are very happy sleeping on their dog beds or sofas.
 
It could be a setter - my information os second had from my buddy and I won’t be able to talk to the owner until after lunch.

I’m not set on a breed so that’s not a deal breaker.

My wife is a homemaker so she is home all day. We live in a small town with a large yard and a 2x2 block green space across the street from our home so it’s not like we’re in some urban downtown area. My favorite place to hunt peasants is 1600 acres and a 12 minute drive from my house.
 
That is an English Setter. Does it have any hunting training?

Not a bad idea. A lot of bird dogs that are given away are gun shy. If that is the case good luck. Very hard to fix and often times can't be fixed. With and adult dog you need to be prepared to have a pet, if it hunts just a bonus.
 
They are 2 entirely different dogs in the way they hunt. The Springer is a "flusher". Works until it finds a bird and they flushes it for your shot. It has to stay within gun range while it is working. The Setter is a pointer. Points (as the dog in the picture is doing) when it finds a bird (s). It will range quite a distance from you when it is working. Points and waits for you to get there and you command to flush the bird. Pointers are larger dogs than Springers. The dog in the picture is wearing a shock collar. Ask if you need one for the dog. If they are trained with the collar, you probably need one.
 
We have an English Springer Spaniel.

At age 4 he's probably fine. That's about how old ours is. But man he was a handful from maybe 0-3. He's a great kid's or family dog. He is also very 'helpful' (lol) around the farm. He loves to 'help' herd cows and pigs and chickens and goats.
 
Our English Setter was the most beautiful dog and the best family/children friendly dog that I have ever seen. Definitely not the smartest dog but as long as she had plenty of exercise EVERY day, she was amazing. She was incredible with birds.
 
I appreciate the feedback. We’re definitely not set on this dog or any breed in particular.

Just got off the phone with the owner. He kept 3 dogs back from his last litter just to see how they turned out. He’s done breeding and is trying to downsize from having 5 dogs. He’s not gun shy and sounds like he’s decent hunter. We’re going to meet him this week and see what happens.

The dog is good around kids, but both of us are concerned about going from his outdoor kennel to living in a house in town. Anyone had a success with that situation?
 
The dog in the photo is a setter.
Both springers and setters often have a great off-switch--blow the place up in the field, but settle great int he house. They are both amazing hunting dogs. Both can be great with kids too. At the same time, both breeds can also be a nightmare. You can make some breed generalizations, but you really have to see for yourself. Assuming both breeds actually come from a hunting line (which is a legit question in both breeds. the dog in the photo LOOKS like a field bred setter, not a show bred though) my main concern would be if you and your family and lifestyle jive with the dog. A springer is bred to be a close working dog. Even an "out of control" springer stays very close if you are comparing to an aa setter. Wheras a setter ranges what may seem like WAAAAY far away from you even when under control, and if out of control can be in the next county literally in seconds. They are simply more independent dogs, and no amount of training will change that--so simple things like letting a dog out to pee in the morning can look very different depending on the breed and your setup. You have to go and meet the dog, see how it settles in the house, if its house trained, etc, and also see how it hunts, and then decide if thats what you want. If you havent ever hunted with a decent flushing dog and a decent pointing dog I would highly encourage you to actually go and watch some dogs in action, or at a minimum watch some youtube videos, just to see what it looks like to get a real "feel" for what you are talking about. Both very cool, both very effective, but wildly different.

regarding going from outdoor living to indoor: There are a wide range of situations that might be described that way, everything from very well trained and mannered dogs, all the way through half-feral dogs that have never set foot inside and havent a clue about indoor manners, house-training, etc. Plenty of dogs that live in a kennel do great inside, you just cant count on it. Go meet the dog and see. ask if its house trained, manners, etc. If this is a breeder that is either no longer breeding, or kept some dogs and isnt planning to breed those particular dogs, this could be a great situation, or it could be a tough one. You have to just go and find out. Ask about any health issues, ask about what training they have (both general OB and hunting), and try to meet the dog and get a feel for what that actually means.
 
Macintosh is spot on. It is really important if you want to hunt the dog, to find out his lines, show or hunt. I assume because the owner is breeding that he has AKC papers on the dog. Some sporting and hunting breeds have been bred for show for such a long time they have lost the hunting instinct.
 
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