Rehoming a Spaniel
Discussion
We have had out simply wonderful collie cross, Poppy, since we rehomed her about 6 years ago. Shes now about 12 or 13.
We have an opportunity to offer a home to another dog and this time a young lady Spaniel. Fate is working towards this one as I first really thought about Spaniels as a breed I like when this one was handed into the kennels where my daughter works.
Shes about 2 or 3, they think and I have taken out dog to meet her. Now our dog can be a little possessive at times but is very social. The Spaniel (possibly called Sally) is delightful, alert interested and seemed to defer to Poppy as the dominant one.
What I am interested in is advice on Spaniels, she needs some training, do they mix we in the family pack, anything particular traits I should look out for and so on.
We are going to take her on Saturday for a weeks foster to make sure they get on ok and want to use that time to the best advantage.
She was brought in my one of the LA Dog Wardens having apparently been deliberately left out side a shop by the owner. Not microchipped.
If there is anything I can add please ask. I love the fact that we can give dogs a loving busy home. We gain as much from them as they from us.
We have an opportunity to offer a home to another dog and this time a young lady Spaniel. Fate is working towards this one as I first really thought about Spaniels as a breed I like when this one was handed into the kennels where my daughter works.
Shes about 2 or 3, they think and I have taken out dog to meet her. Now our dog can be a little possessive at times but is very social. The Spaniel (possibly called Sally) is delightful, alert interested and seemed to defer to Poppy as the dominant one.
What I am interested in is advice on Spaniels, she needs some training, do they mix we in the family pack, anything particular traits I should look out for and so on.
We are going to take her on Saturday for a weeks foster to make sure they get on ok and want to use that time to the best advantage.
She was brought in my one of the LA Dog Wardens having apparently been deliberately left out side a shop by the owner. Not microchipped.
If there is anything I can add please ask. I love the fact that we can give dogs a loving busy home. We gain as much from them as they from us.
Spaniels can be wonderful dogs, ours is now nearly 11 & has grown up with our two children aged 13 & 10 along with a Westie & 2 cats.
They need lots of stimulation, not just exercise, they are essentially a working breed. Mine gets a 30min+ walk once a day (longer at weekends) but it's in open countryside with lots to see, smell & do & he is perfectly behaved. I know other spaniel owners who think walking to the park & throwing a ball for an hour (or less) is sufficient & their dogs are challenging shall we say!
Good luck, they make wonderful companions
They need lots of stimulation, not just exercise, they are essentially a working breed. Mine gets a 30min+ walk once a day (longer at weekends) but it's in open countryside with lots to see, smell & do & he is perfectly behaved. I know other spaniel owners who think walking to the park & throwing a ball for an hour (or less) is sufficient & their dogs are challenging shall we say!
Good luck, they make wonderful companions
I take the view that dogs are happiest when muddy and/or wet through. As a result I couldn't bear something that tiptoed around the smelly mud and water in Epping Forest. Most Spaniels I see there are dirty as anything.
My little 306 Cabrio is now dog taxi and leather seats clean quite easily so I'm not bothered.
I will post a couple of pics a bit later.
My little 306 Cabrio is now dog taxi and leather seats clean quite easily so I'm not bothered.
I will post a couple of pics a bit later.
silverthorn2151 said:
I take the view that dogs are happiest when muddy and/or wet through. As a result I couldn't bear something that tiptoed around the smelly mud and water in Epping Forest. Most Spaniels I see there are dirty as anything.
My little 306 Cabrio is now dog taxi and leather seats clean quite easily so I'm not bothered.
I will post a couple of pics a bit later.
As my kids would tell you, a wet/muddy spaniel is a happy spaniel My little 306 Cabrio is now dog taxi and leather seats clean quite easily so I'm not bothered.
I will post a couple of pics a bit later.
My Clio is full of sand from the dogs trip to the beach on Sunday, that'll soon be replaced by mud I'm sure!
I'm guessing it's an English Springer you're thinking of rehoming?
We spent a very interesting 15 mins chatting to the hydro-therapist and dog psychologist who works at the kennels. She thought that there was very good body language between the dogs and that she started bonding very readily, as evidenced by her sitting at my heel on her own and leaning in against my leg. Like she is looking for a home as she feels a bit lost.
Realistically, there will be times when the dogs are left alone for a few hours. The collie cross just says 'thank f
k for that' and flops down asleep for a few hours, waking up with bed hair when we come in! How do Spaniels cope with that?
Realistically, there will be times when the dogs are left alone for a few hours. The collie cross just says 'thank f
k for that' and flops down asleep for a few hours, waking up with bed hair when we come in! How do Spaniels cope with that?She's a beauty.
Mine never gets left for more than 4 hours & nearly always has the Westie for company, never been a problem. I am very fortunate that both of mine come into the office with me every day. They sleep all day anyway!
I suspect a spaniel would get bored very easily & possibly become destructive if left for long periods.
Mine never gets left for more than 4 hours & nearly always has the Westie for company, never been a problem. I am very fortunate that both of mine come into the office with me every day. They sleep all day anyway!
I suspect a spaniel would get bored very easily & possibly become destructive if left for long periods.
I'm just trying to be realistic about the situation. Our house is always full of comings and goings. My mum call in lunchtime to walk poppy or take her home and we have 4 grown up kids at home mostly. They all work odd hours and days. The dogs get masses of attention when the house is busy and plenty of walks i rather hope that they enjoy the downtime.
mrmaggit said:
They're pals. What are you waiting for?
This. Spaniels are bloody brilliant. Full of character / occasional mayhem. Seriously intelligent and utter morons at the same time, and yes they love mud and water.
They can get a bit bored, but ours have never been a problem once they're out of the puppy stage, much better when there's other dogs around.
Looks a beauty, stick a roof over it's head!
Picking her up tomorrow Ali. Going to go down with Poppy and take them for a longer walk round the park, then off home.
All sorts of things going through my mind. Where to put her bed in relation to our dog, will she want to go upstairs, which we don't allow, how best to make her feel at home, do we feed them together and so on.
All sorts of things going through my mind. Where to put her bed in relation to our dog, will she want to go upstairs, which we don't allow, how best to make her feel at home, do we feed them together and so on.
The only snag may be having a dog and a bh - unless they have been sorted!
I have a "legacy" Spring Collie, who was my late mother's "carer". Out last dog died a the end of 2001, just as Mother's Alzheimer's was getting noticeable. She was lost without a dog and I got this one from the RSPCA. Her only vice is that she doesn't "do" cars - only in the car twice since we got her (to bring her home and to go to a vet). It took her three or four months to settle and realise that she was a carer for Mother - and did a superb job when she worked things out.
As other posts have said, Spaniels are as daft as can be, but full of love and, certainly when mixed with Collie, are about the most intelligent (when they want to be).
Mine is thirteen now, did her cruciate ligaments when she was young (which is why we took her to the vet - too late to fix them though) and has arthritis in most joints - and plagued by "fatty lumps" - so much so she looks as if she's heavily in pup!
However, after a bit of a struggle along the road to the river, she spends about quarter of an hour in the water every day (unless the tide is in) and can hardly waddle home sometimes! An Alsatian shied away from her yesterday - our dog is top dog in the village and most of the others remember only too well!! After a lie in front of the fire, she will go out for a game in the evening - struggling to catch a Frisbee, but still trying to "Spring"!
She doesn't fuss if she's left alone (and never has fussed), but can sulk for a while if I forget to give her a treat when I come home!
I told her to look after the dust sheet that I had carefully laid on the floor when I knocked a hole through between kitchen and dining room last winter. She took me too literally:
Enjoy the new dog - I suspect the "old chap" will enjoy the company and will soon realise he is no longer top dog (females are like that!), but he'll probably spend a lot of time showing off to her - a typically male response to a female...
h - unless they have been sorted!I have a "legacy" Spring Collie, who was my late mother's "carer". Out last dog died a the end of 2001, just as Mother's Alzheimer's was getting noticeable. She was lost without a dog and I got this one from the RSPCA. Her only vice is that she doesn't "do" cars - only in the car twice since we got her (to bring her home and to go to a vet). It took her three or four months to settle and realise that she was a carer for Mother - and did a superb job when she worked things out.
As other posts have said, Spaniels are as daft as can be, but full of love and, certainly when mixed with Collie, are about the most intelligent (when they want to be).
Mine is thirteen now, did her cruciate ligaments when she was young (which is why we took her to the vet - too late to fix them though) and has arthritis in most joints - and plagued by "fatty lumps" - so much so she looks as if she's heavily in pup!
However, after a bit of a struggle along the road to the river, she spends about quarter of an hour in the water every day (unless the tide is in) and can hardly waddle home sometimes! An Alsatian shied away from her yesterday - our dog is top dog in the village and most of the others remember only too well!! After a lie in front of the fire, she will go out for a game in the evening - struggling to catch a Frisbee, but still trying to "Spring"!
She doesn't fuss if she's left alone (and never has fussed), but can sulk for a while if I forget to give her a treat when I come home!
I told her to look after the dust sheet that I had carefully laid on the floor when I knocked a hole through between kitchen and dining room last winter. She took me too literally:
Enjoy the new dog - I suspect the "old chap" will enjoy the company and will soon realise he is no longer top dog (females are like that!), but he'll probably spend a lot of time showing off to her - a typically male response to a female...
Yey, Sally looks lovely!
Our Springers are far from "mental". They do love doing things, and if you stimulate their mind it knackers them out far quicker than physical exercise, so once she has settled in keep teaching her new stuff and she'll love you for it. You shouldn't have any problems with Sally. We have two springer bhes and a male collie x spaniel on foster with no issues.
Our Springers are far from "mental". They do love doing things, and if you stimulate their mind it knackers them out far quicker than physical exercise, so once she has settled in keep teaching her new stuff and she'll love you for it. You shouldn't have any problems with Sally. We have two springer b
hes and a male collie x spaniel on foster with no issues.
dbfan said:
I have a "legacy" Spring Collie, who was my late mother's "carer". Out last dog died a the end of 2001, just as Mother's Alzheimer's was getting noticeable. She was lost without a dog and I got this one from the RSPCA. Her only vice is that she doesn't "do" cars - only in the car twice since we got her (to bring her home and to go to a vet). It took her three or four months to settle and realise that she was a carer for Mother - and did a superb job when she worked things out.
Completely off topic here, but how did you do this?Dad has Alzheimer's an my Brother's Fiance has a Staffy that will be living with him come the summer (my Brother is Dad's carer, currently he lives with Dad & his Fiance & the kids in their house - the houses will be merged into one over the Summer - with luck!)
It would be fabulous if you could give me (and others) some pointers on how you trained the Dog to be your Mum's carer - perhaps worthy of a thread in it's own right?
Thank you
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