I know only the other day I was writing about adopting a young springer, but I have been thinking about it, and the fact I have a cat, I have Maisie who is occasionally a bit weird with stuff and that I want to have children in the next year, makes me think I would be happier getting a puppy that I know I have socialised well etc etc. it would eliminate the unknown element that worries me. Iv read through 4 articles about springers I totally gundogs website which has been really interesting, and slightly worrying as well, the high drive to hunt worries me but then I know that I like to do thinks with my dogs when I'm walking them so it's not like I'm going to let them really free run. Iv found some pups that are for sale down in Bodmin. They will be ready the end of August. It says that the sire and dame are of excellent temperament and very family friendly with children of all ages, it also says there are 38 FTCH's in the 5 generation pedigree. I am going to email the breeder with some questions, I was going to ask whether either parents are working gundogs or just family pets, also how did the breeder find training the mum, was she biddable etc and also obviously health checks etc. is there anything else I should ask? I want a working line ESS because I want to be able to do agility and gundog stuff with it like I did with Murphy. But then I dont want one with a ridiculously high drive that I am going to struggle with. So yea, what other questions should I ask?
I would also ask if you will be able to see both parents , if not, you definitely need to see Mum with the pups . Also ask if you can see written evidence of health checks , the certificates , you`d be surprised how many breeders will say that the parents are health checked but have mislaid the paperwork I owned an ESS when my children were growing up, he was show bred but even so, he still needed an awful lot of training, he was very driven indeed so I would imagine that a field bred one will be a lot of hard work , mischief will definitely happen if the brain isn't engaged as well as the body
If you don't want to work them on shoots and you are just going to be dabbling in Gundog work I personally wouldn't be looking at something with loads of FTCh in the breeding. If you do you will likely get a dog who needs to be doing something more than being a family pet! Spaniels can be as mad as a box of frogs, I have a wcs so know all about this, and therefore choosing one from the right type of background for what you want to do with it is really important. Health checks in spaniels are just as important as in labs, I have copied this off of the website of a breeder local to me to explain about the health tests in ESS. http://www.torwindspaniels.co.uk/files/HEALTH TESTS . Doc 2..DNA TESTS.docx Hope this helps Chloe
I wouldn't go near a working line springer with a pedigree stuffed full of FTChs. Indeed, I don't really see a pedigree full of FTCh is remotely desirable in a puppy that I had no intention of trying to train to be a FTCh..... It's horses for courses, and if I wanted a springer spaniel as a pet to do agility with, I'd look for parents that were pets and had decent outings in agility. Sure, the odd FTCh in the pedigree would be fine, but I'd look for a dog who had a pedigree of dogs successful in what you want your pet to do (that might be gundog training to FTCH status of course).
Why not ask if they (breeder) think one of their puppies would be suitable for what you want and for your family etc. Hopefully they will be really honest with you and explain the dogs' needs clearly. One would hope that you could have a grown up chat with them. I don't know anything about ESS at all but I know what I want from the breeder. Or contact the ESS club if there is one? Best of luck!
All the FTCH's in the pedigree did make me concerned that they would be really highly driven. But then the breeder had said that they have been dew clawed but not had their tails docked because it is illegal to dock tails if there aren't going to be working dogs, which tells me they aren't assuming they are going to be working. I think really, it's too early days to think about things like this as it had only been a week since Murphy died, but actually researching and thinking about this has made me feel a bit happy rather than so dreadfully sad that Iv felt all week x
Go for a Lab! Springers are full of energy, always on the go and you would have to spend your time keeping it within a close circle of you, even a tweetie bird flying will set it off into the far distance! On the other hand, if you come down too hard on it, then you will find that it will not want to move away from you, so would be useless if you wanted to do agility. I thought it a good idea to have the rescue Springer because he sounded in need of love and care and I thought you would have that to give when you were feeling so sad.
If there is no mention of health tests on the advert then I doubt any health testing has been done as most breeder would be using this as a major selling point!
Yea it's hard, I think the fact that I can't decide on anything shows I am not emotionally ready to make a decision and I am very much relying on other people's opinions to sway me. I really don't think I could have another lab after Murphy. I want to get a boy and I just think I would constantly compare him to Murphy. But I know really getting another lab is the best option because I know them. I'm just trying to get all the information in my head so I can decide once we've moved. The rescue emailed me back about the rescue spaniel and they said he is a terrified puppy, extremely noise sensitive etc etc. I had told them in my email about the gundog stuff I dabble in and also agility and they were very dismissive and said they wanted him to go to a quiet home. I would like to rescue a dog at some point in my life though.
You could choose a Lab a different colour to Murphy, but I am sure you wouldn't compare him to Murphy, he would be his own little soul who you would become to love and Murphy would always be Murphy and in your heart.
And what could be nicer than thinking and talking about whether there is room for another dog in your family? Whether that's a springer, a rescue, a foster, another Lab - who knows? But it seems healthy to be thinking about the future, so you just keep doing that. And we are happy enough to talk about puppy choices until the cows come home.
I chose a chocolate lab because I had a yellow lab 40 years ago and couldn't face a yellow lab. When I decided I wanted a dog I looked at lots of different gun dog breeds because I couldn't entertain the thought of another lab. Even after 40 years. But I decided that a lab was best when I was meeting a Chesapeake Bay Retriever bitch; a 6 month old field line black lab was there and I fell in love with labs again. Choosing a different colour really worked for me.
How about going to the CLA game fair later this month Frankie? There will be so much information, people to talk too. Something might resonate with you
Allow yourself this time Frankie , its a part of the grieving process . You will know when the time is right , when you feel ready . I lost a much loved yellow Lab girl four years ago , I swore I would never have another one . One day, two months later, it hit me , I wanted another Lab but a black one and a boy , hence Sam . They are all so different that never once have I made a comparison , it was just a case of the right time, for me , this will be the same for you too I`m sure .
So sorry about Murphy. Take your time you'll know when the time is right and you'll find the right dog for you. When i look for a new dog I look at all breeds/crossbreeds but always end up with a labrador. Always, I don't intend to but they are just so lovely. I've had them for 28 years now each new one has filled a different part of my heart. hugs and best wishes S
