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

[The_Jim]

Sounds like he’s been hunted a lot. I’ll press the owner a little more on what he was bred for.

 

[Hydra6]

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?

Our two Boykin rescues were from a kennel life. Key is giving them plenty of chances to go out and lots of "Good girls" reinforcement outside. We have a kennel cage in the house on synthetic hardwood with a rug plus lots of dog blankets - we kept them there at night for several months. We have a 18+ year old Dachsund also - we keep dog pee pads in the most likely dog bathroom areas for her (and the two Boykins) - the old dog is like me and cannot make it through the night. Key to success is the "last chance" out late as possible and I get up ASAP and let them out first thing in morning. Our house is open floor plan with the common areas synthetic hardwood but bedrooms carpet - no dogs allowed in carpet areas.

 

[TSAMP]

Most outdoor dogs i know dont really enjoy being indoors. I think your on the right track being worried about that adjustment. Ill go against the guys asking u to dig into the dogs lineage. Its a free dog thats 4 years old. If its what you guys want and the personalities all fit. Get after it, dont sweat who his great grandfather was. Id bet this fella would let you hunt the dog and spend some time to see if its a good fit.

 

[Hydra6]

I promise you these two Boykin Spaniels are ecstatic about living their lives indoors now. Their only complaint would be not sleeping in the bed with me!

 

[Macintosh]

Most outdoor dogs i know dont really enjoy being indoors. I think your on the right track being worried about that adjustment. Ill go against the guys asking u to dig into the dogs lineage. Its a free dog thats 4 years old. If its what you guys want and the personalities all fit. Get after it, dont sweat who his great grandfather was. Id bet this fella would let you hunt the dog and spend some time to see if its a good fit.

Just to be clear, I wouldnt give a rats behind what the lineage is as far as specific dogs in a pedigree. The point is simply to know what you are getting and be clear eyed about whether that is what you want. Lots of show or pet bred dogs simply dont have the drive to hunt, regardless of what the breeder says or thinks…lack of drive makes training more difficult, and if you are looking for a hunting dog it may not be the best fit. At the same time not everyone wants a firebreather in the field. And its not necessarily an either/or, its absolutely possible to have a decent hunting dog that is great to live with. Just get a sense of what the dog is. This stuff is hard-wired in the dog, you can shape whats already there but you arent going to fundamentally change it thru training, and you’re committing the next 10ish years of your life to it, so just be clear as possible what you are signing up for, thats all.

 

[yfarm]

My dog was feral, living in a junkyard at 5 months of age with a pack. Had never been on a leash, felt sorry for her and took her. Within 2 months was civilized, board her now and she won’t mess in the kennel run.

 

[SC HUNTER]

I'll give my opinion and it is only that. I wouldn't do it having small kids and bringing the dog inside to live without really knowing the dog.

My labs died about a year apart last year. A girl my wife works with was getting divorced and had two dogs she needed to get rid of. 1 a female springer spaniel and the other a boykin/schnauzer mix. My parents got the boykin/schnauzer mix and he is wonderful. My son whos 3 goes over regularly and their like peas and carrots together. Little dude is about 2 now and freaking awesome, I'd take that dog in a second if I needed too. He's just funny and loves my son.

The Springer. She did good in the house and wanted cuddles, played with our Great Pyrenees, didn't bother the chickens at all but then she got comfortable. I went to sit down on the couch one evening and she was asleep on the other end and she woke up and tried her best to bite me. I said maybe I startled her or something, lets figure this out. If I hadn't grabbed her collar and took control of the situation I would have been bitten. About 3 days later my wife went to take a sock from her one morning getting kids ready for school and she gave her the ears back, teeth showing growl of bitch I'm going to bite you. I snatched her up and we went to the kennel. I told my wife we need to find her a home before I take care of it. The last straw was when she growled at our son because he had a ball that she wanted. My nephew and niece had their son at our house playing outside and the ball growing episode happened. I let her out of the kennel to play and she was just laying in the yard hanging out until she saw the kids had a ball and she wanted it. Got up and walked over to them, ears back, teeth showing because the kids had a ball and she tried to get it about the time my nephew snatched her up. I was done with it.

She was 4 years old and we were told never had an issue. We don't have her anymore and I doubt I'll ever get another grown dog.

I hope you have better luck than us.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Most outdoor dogs i know dont really enjoy being indoors.

Mine are absolutely fine indoors. They like being around their humans.