Hello all

I have been wanting to have a dog for sometime now and am considering which breed to have. I would like a medium-sized intelligent dog.

My brother-in-law has an English Springer Spaniel called Jed. Jed's a bit dopey but seems to be an excellent companion, good with children and very friendly.

I wondered what English Springer Spaniels were like as a breed and also if they need a lot of training.

thanks

Snoopy

Hello Snoopy.

Yes, Springers are brilliant dogs. They are just about the best tempered of the spaniels, they train very well and they look great. However, they need a huge amount of exercise, so be prepared to spend a lot of time in the park.

Originally Posted by Snoopy

I wondered what English Springer Spaniels were like as a breed and also if they need a lot of training.

All 3 of my Springers were active, intelligent dogs. They don't need any more training than average, but you must be prepared for moderate grooming needs. Their beautiful floppy ears need to be trimmed of excess fur on the inside and cleaned regularly. Their feet need to be kept trimmed so as not to collect burrs and foxtails which can become embedded in the skin causing infection and requiring surgery.

There are 2 types of Springers: bench-bred and field-bred. Bench bred are bred for the conformation ring at dog shows, they are larger, heavier and have MUCH more coat. Field-bred are bred for hunting ability, they are smaller. lighter and do not have the glamorous feathering and ears of a show Springer. Bench-bred have much more of a blanket of color for their markings, whereas field-bred are usually primarily white with small freckles of color called "ticking". Field-bred are MUCH more active! I have had and truely love both types!

As with any fairly common breed, you must be very careful of the breeder you purchase your Springer from! Be sure any breeder you choose has screened their breeding stock for: PRA (progressive retinal atrophy); RD (retinal dysplasia); CHD (canine hip dysplasia); epilepsy/seizure disorders; and thyroid function. These health clearances should be certified annually by CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) and OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). Less common diseases found in the breed are: PFK (an enzyme deficiency) and von Willebrand's Disease (a bleeding disorder). Any breeder who says their dogs don't need these health clearances, RUN DON'T WALK AWAY from them!

I don't think they are the best dogs for people who never had dogs before. My friend had a girl who after some training just couldn't behave. She was just to hyper, active and pulled like hell when you took her for a walk. On the other hand, she has the dog's mum who's an absolute angel! I think it's because they got her when she's older and the previous owner treated her differntly. Although the new dog is brilliant companion, exellent with kids biut is also a perfect hunter and agility dog. So if you have experience in training, I say go for it.