A second Springer???

[jock mcsporran]

We have a 1 year old Springer. His training is coming along, still not great on a lead (but improving) and recall is decent. The wife has harboured an idea that two dogs would be good so we've been keeping an eye on some of the Springer Rescue sites with thoughts of an older (4-5 y.o.) one. She sent off a couple of emails but starting to wonder if we're nuts to have two Springers in the house.
There's always kids in the house, wife is a childminder and Oscar is great with the kids and very tolerant (although the kids have learnt to be quick if they drop a toy on the floor). She is only really working 3 days/week so plenty of walks and mental stimulation and Oscar is usually exhausted by dinner time. The kids probably tire him out a bit too.

I guess I'm just wondering what are other's experiences with two of the same breed or even just with two different breeds. Any issues with male-male or is it better to have male-female.

[elephantstone]

I have two 8 month old puppies that are not related. A yorkie/dachshund and a border terrier/dachshund (believe me they are not lapdogs they are bloody nutters).

Anyway we had the yorkie to begin with from a young pup but it became apparent that we would end up with another dog. We just could seem to satisfy his need to play and i was right, we got our second (a female) a couple months later. From what i read it is better to have a girl and a boy but to be honest my two do lose they're cool with each other from time to time, normally over toys.

I would recommend but i suppose two springers running at full whack in your house is a bit different to my two. There nothing better than letting your two dogs off the lead and chasing each other around!

[WildCards]

We've got two 7 month old pups, an English Pointer and a German Pointer, both males, two weeks age difference between them. We had the EP for roughly 2 months when we decided that a playmate would be a good thing.

They get along great, they do everything together and rarely get aggressive towards each other. With enough excercise they're not actually that mad around the house, they sleep alot of the time.

[bazza white]

Our springer never bothered with other dogs he preferred human company but was fine when he lived with other dogs temporarily. How is Oscar with other dogs.


Great dogs very clever I miss mine.

[jock mcsporran]

Oscar loves other dogs. It's like all his Christmases come at once when he can play with other dogs.

[FailHere]

It's not just having two dogs, it's the potential for different personalities/tempraments.

I had two Springers the one was quite laid back, but did have issues with some other dogs, definitely my dog. The second was like sharing a house with a helicopter, if you didn't keep her occupied she would find something to do, she learned how to open doors, windows, cupboards, etc. the only thing that kept her occupied was her ball. Two dogs that were definitely more than twice the work of one, but it kept me busy. They were joined by a German Shepherd. Pecking order was the smallest, oldest Springer, then second Springer then the German Shepherd.

Currently have two Working Cockers, I must like being kept busy

[jock mcsporran]

Since these threads generally need photos, here's the cheeky lad with his best friend.

[oddman]

Lovely dog

He's still a pup. Sounds like he's still got a way to go

This is what spaniels do http://www.amazon.co.uk/Training-Working-Spaniel-J...

Why not put all your efforts into making him the best dog he can be?

[elephantstone]

jock mcsporran said:

Since these threads generally need photos, here's the cheeky lad with his best friend.

I dont know wether this is a common thing but if your son is growing a strong bond with the one dog id maybe think twice about getting another as they probably wont be as interested in him then. I know when i got my second, our first pup would much rather play cat and mouse with the other then play fetch. Might not apply to all dogs though, i might just be boring!

[jock mcsporran]

She registered with a rescue centre as they had a couple of dogs that would have been perfect but they replied saying we are too far away (edinburgh to leeds). She'll probably wait now as the rescue centres near us seem more hesitant to re-home to houses with younger children.

[Never you mind]

oddman said:

Lovely dog

He's still a pup. Sounds like he's still got a way to go

This is what spaniels do http://www.amazon.co.uk/Training-Working-Spaniel-J...

Why not put all your efforts into making him the best dog he can be?

Superb book that. Helped me a lot with my cocker as did the joe Irvine book.

[Rhian159]

We Had a male, 5 year old Working Cocker when we introduced a Springer pup (male) into the family three and a half years ago now. They are generally best buddies apart from the odd squabble over toys. The Springer is a lot livelier than the cocker - no peace to be had, wants to play all day! They get a good hour and a half off-lead run through a local forest pretty much every day but it doesn't seem to tire him out for more than a few minutes.

They're both great dogs though and hard work as they can be I wouldn't be without them. Perhaps having the two means they entertain each other to a degree too.

[jock mcsporran]

Never you mind said:

oddman said:

Lovely dog

He's still a pup. Sounds like he's still got a way to go

This is what spaniels do http://www.amazon.co.uk/Training-Working-Spaniel-J...

Why not put all your efforts into making him the best dog he can be?

Superb book that. Helped me a lot with my cocker as did the joe Irvine book.

Cheers, I'll probably pick up a copy. Not sure I plan to do shoots with him but he's a quick learner when he wants to be so good to have training options.

We were working through the Total Recall book with him but when he hit adolescence he got a bit distracted so we went back to basics to teach him focus and to look at you for instruction. That seems to have kept him in check so it's going good again.

[WildCards]

Rhian159 said:

Great photo!

[oddman]

Never you mind said:

Superb book that. Helped me a lot with my cocker as did the joe Irvine book.

I've used Joe Irvine's for the step by step approach. Janet Menzies is less structured but is more in tune with the range of what you might encounter in shooting world

jock mcsporran said:

Cheers, I'll probably pick up a copy. Not sure I plan to do shoots with him but he's a quick learner when he wants to be so good to have training options.

Don't need to take him shooting to give him interesting training. They thrive on brain work.
My cocker is 14 months, trains every day and won't be introduced to a shooting day until October. I'll leave the gun at home until I'm happy with him - could be a long winter

[Never you mind]

jock mcsporran said:

Never you mind said:

oddman said:

Lovely dog

He's still a pup. Sounds like he's still got a way to go

This is what spaniels do http://www.amazon.co.uk/Training-Working-Spaniel-J...

Why not put all your efforts into making him the best dog he can be?

Superb book that. Helped me a lot with my cocker as did the joe Irvine book.

Cheers, I'll probably pick up a copy. Not sure I plan to do shoots with him but he's a quick learner when he wants to be so good to have training options.

We were working through the Total Recall book with him but when he hit adolescence he got a bit distracted so we went back to basics to teach him focus and to look at you for instruction. That seems to have kept him in check so it's going good again.

I don't shoot over mine but I've trained her up. Makes us a team I think and helps to build that relationship of trust. Keep at it, its great and very rewarding and when you see a spaniel doing what they are breed to do its a wonderful sight. Until they bogoff across 2 counties