Thinking of adopting a 4 yo F English Springer

[sarahdena]

Hi! I'm new here. It seems like a great place to be.

I have been thinking about getting a rescue dog for a while.
I now work from home so I have all the time in the world to spoil him/her rotten ;)
I placed an ad asking if anyone had an unwanted (I hate this term, don't you?) dog, breed and age irrelevant, for adoption.
I received a call from a local lady asking if I wanted to adopt a 4yo F English Springer- they are moving away and can no longer look after her.
She is coming round with the dog on Friday morning.
I love English Springers but I never owned one (I only ever had cross breeds).

Any tips and pointers on how to make a grown dog of the Spaniel family feel at home?
Any problems I will have to consider rehoming an adult Spaniel vs. a pup?

Does Springers' temperament vary according to their sex?
Many thanks :D
Sarah

[Borzoi mad]

Hi

First off welcome to the forum .

English Springers are a lovely breed but they are not for the faint hearted as they are very active dogs, and bred to work.


The breed was once known as the Norfolk spaniel, but has been known as the Springer spaniel since the 1900.
Probably the oldest of sporting dogs, the springer is an excellent all round gundog, and its original purpose was for springing game for the net, falcon or greyhound.
The coat is weather resistant, with moderate feathering, dogs bred for the ring tend to be bigger and carry more coat then working strains, the picture is of a working springer. colours are liver and white, black and white, or either of these colurs with tan markings
springers need plenty of exercise to keep them fit and prevent boredom, the springer is a happy and active dog and loves to please its owner.


Hope this is of help and do keep us updated on your upcoming new addition.

[sarahdena]

English Springers are a lovely breed but they are not for the faint hearted as they are very active dogs, and bred to work.


Hiya
yes I am aware of their love of running and playing :) which suits me cos I love walking, jogging and live across the road from a great big park.
I reckon 2 hours a day will suit us both fine!
Thanks for your advice! :cheers:
Sarah

[skunkstripe]

Hello Sarahdena and welcome to the forum!

I have no advice about Springers, but adopting an adult dog is different from getting puppy. You might get the benefit of someone else's careful training, or you might get the problems caused by neglect. It is hard to say without knowing more about exactly how you plan to get your dog so I could only offer generalities.

Good luck and do please keep us posted. :)

[happysaz133]

Oh well done on getting a rescue dog. First of all Springers make great pets, we look after one and she is like one of our own dogs, we love her so much. They do need a lot of excersise, but you seem perfectly willing to give her all what she needs there. And the coat can get matted (especially under the ears), so it needs brushed daily, but as you are getting her from previous owners then they will probably be able to explain all you need to know about her. I really hope this all works out for the best. Share pics of her if you can!

[KatzNK9]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Great to have you with us. I do hope things work out for you & this dog. They are high energy dogs but it sounds like you've got the time to get out & enjoy life with your new dog. Keep us posted & I can't wait to hear how your meeting goes. Good luck.

[Mom to Lil Buddy]

I am sure others will add to this list....

A dog being given up by a family should show good interaction between that family and dog, ask about training, ask to have any disciplines the dog has be demonstrated, ie sit, come etc. Ask about feeding habits, guarding of food etc. ask owner to demonstrate that treat can be offered and taken away without aggressive behavior.
Ask about vet visits, when last seen? teeth cleaned? health status?

Observe the coat condition, offer to brush the dog to see response. What is current exercise schedule? Ask about bad habits, chewing, crying when left alone. How does dog respond to having nails clipped? Is the dog crate trained? Is the dog a good car rider? Leash trained?

None of these in and of themselves probably wouldn't tell you if you want this dog or not, but put together should give you a picture of what you are getting.

You may not get all truthful answers, but sometimes you can tell if owner isn't being truthful.

[retriever crazy]

Congrats on rescusing a new dog. I don't know much about spaniels but good luck with your new addition :)

[For the Love of the Dog]

Looks like you're getting some great advise! :) I am a proud pet parent to two beautiful Springers, a male and female and have had others before as well. They are a wonderful breeds, nicknamed 'velcro' dogs because they do have a tendency to be very attached to their people. They enjoy their activity and definitely do need it but they also love to relax and most everyone I have had or know is happy at the end of the day to curl up next to you, or on your lap... LOL Yes, I have a 50lb and 60 lb lap dog.

Generally they have a very sweet and friendly temperament and are highly intelligent and can be pretty trainable. The two males I have had have been very easy going and the two females have been a bit more on the 'stubborn' side, possibly due to the fact that they have all been completely spoiled!

All in all, they really are a wonderful breed of dog. If you have any questions or anything, let me know. :D