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.

[jock mcsporran]

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

[jock mcsporran]

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

[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.

[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.