Discussion
Just been to see the pup and the mum. Mum seems very placid, gundog trained but now lapsed, hales from Rytex stock. Have the number of the trainer who owns the stud, will try to organise a meet (apparently very highly trained). The lady seems very nice - lot of pups atm, only 2 springers but the rest are Border Terriers. Nice household all in all.
The only thing that does worry me is that there's a potential for me being away 2/3 days per week in next month or two. G/f will be there, so I guess she will become '1st in command', with me 2nd. Not so keen on that idea! In 3 months time, she will have to be away during the week, and I will be around. This is what gives me doubt about the timing, and training them. It's not set in stone that I will have to be away, but that's the potential. The pup won't be ready until 5th may (10 wks old, 2 vacs, chipped) - he's lovely, but will the situation be satisfactory for the pup and not confuse it? Will know more in the next week or so about my work. Am I worrying needlessly?
The only thing that does worry me is that there's a potential for me being away 2/3 days per week in next month or two. G/f will be there, so I guess she will become '1st in command', with me 2nd. Not so keen on that idea! In 3 months time, she will have to be away during the week, and I will be around. This is what gives me doubt about the timing, and training them. It's not set in stone that I will have to be away, but that's the potential. The pup won't be ready until 5th may (10 wks old, 2 vacs, chipped) - he's lovely, but will the situation be satisfactory for the pup and not confuse it? Will know more in the next week or so about my work. Am I worrying needlessly?
Tonsko said:
Just been to see the pup and the mum. Mum seems very placid, gundog trained but now lapsed, hales from Rytex stock. Have the number of the trainer who owns the stud, will try to organise a meet (apparently very highly trained). The lady seems very nice - lot of pups atm, only 2 springers but the rest are Border Terriers. Nice household all in all.
The only thing that does worry me is that there's a potential for me being away 2/3 days per week in next month or two. G/f will be there, so I guess she will become '1st in command', with me 2nd. Not so keen on that idea! In 3 months time, she will have to be away during the week, and I will be around. This is what gives me doubt about the timing, and training them. It's not set in stone that I will have to be away, but that's the potential. The pup won't be ready until 5th may (10 wks old, 2 vacs, chipped) - he's lovely, but will the situation be satisfactory for the pup and not confuse it? Will know more in the next week or so about my work. Am I worrying needlessly?
The only thing that does worry me is that there's a potential for me being away 2/3 days per week in next month or two. G/f will be there, so I guess she will become '1st in command', with me 2nd. Not so keen on that idea! In 3 months time, she will have to be away during the week, and I will be around. This is what gives me doubt about the timing, and training them. It's not set in stone that I will have to be away, but that's the potential. The pup won't be ready until 5th may (10 wks old, 2 vacs, chipped) - he's lovely, but will the situation be satisfactory for the pup and not confuse it? Will know more in the next week or so about my work. Am I worrying needlessly?
In a word, Yes.
tenex said:
Tonsko said:
Just been to see the pup and the mum. Mum seems very placid, gundog trained but now lapsed, hales from Rytex stock. Have the number of the trainer who owns the stud, will try to organise a meet (apparently very highly trained). The lady seems very nice - lot of pups atm, only 2 springers but the rest are Border Terriers. Nice household all in all.
The only thing that does worry me is that there's a potential for me being away 2/3 days per week in next month or two. G/f will be there, so I guess she will become '1st in command', with me 2nd. Not so keen on that idea! In 3 months time, she will have to be away during the week, and I will be around. This is what gives me doubt about the timing, and training them. It's not set in stone that I will have to be away, but that's the potential. The pup won't be ready until 5th may (10 wks old, 2 vacs, chipped) - he's lovely, but will the situation be satisfactory for the pup and not confuse it? Will know more in the next week or so about my work. Am I worrying needlessly?
The only thing that does worry me is that there's a potential for me being away 2/3 days per week in next month or two. G/f will be there, so I guess she will become '1st in command', with me 2nd. Not so keen on that idea! In 3 months time, she will have to be away during the week, and I will be around. This is what gives me doubt about the timing, and training them. It's not set in stone that I will have to be away, but that's the potential. The pup won't be ready until 5th may (10 wks old, 2 vacs, chipped) - he's lovely, but will the situation be satisfactory for the pup and not confuse it? Will know more in the next week or so about my work. Am I worrying needlessly?
In a word, Yes.
The lady said last night that she's paid for 2 injections, and that the 2nd one comes at 9-10 weeks. The way she explained it was that the vets in the area charge for the 2 injections - so if I were to get the 2nd one done, then I would pay for 2 as well. I didn't question it, as she seemed on the case and I know very little about them.
Is it really that much difference?
I haven't decided to get him yet though! Another reason that's giving me pause is that she wants 450 for him. Seems a bit pricey for a dog (as opposed to a b
h). He is quite big though, one of a litter of two. Bit fat as a result, as his mum has stloads of milk! 'Bit fat' is possibly a misnomer. You can still feel his ribs fine and the dock doesn't feel too bad.
Is it really that much difference?
I haven't decided to get him yet though! Another reason that's giving me pause is that she wants 450 for him. Seems a bit pricey for a dog (as opposed to a b
h). He is quite big though, one of a litter of two. Bit fat as a result, as his mum has stloads of milk! 'Bit fat' is possibly a misnomer. You can still feel his ribs fine and the dock doesn't feel too bad.450 isn't bad for a pedigree springer, not sure you'd get a dog you'd want for less.
All our dogs we've had at 8 weeks, after a first injection, then second injection at 12 weeks before they can go out in the world. Not sure if that has changed but with our current dogs being 4 and 2 it's not that long ago. Surely you could have him at 8 weeks and get the second injection locally.
All our dogs we've had at 8 weeks, after a first injection, then second injection at 12 weeks before they can go out in the world. Not sure if that has changed but with our current dogs being 4 and 2 it's not that long ago. Surely you could have him at 8 weeks and get the second injection locally.
Hi all,
As it turns out we didn't go for this pup in the end, for a couple of reasons: we were starting out on a new business (running a campsite) and also looking after mum and dad's dog. The latter wasn't so much of a problem, it was more the former - we're both learning how things work for the business and ultra busy until we organise things to run more smoothly (taken the business over from mum and dad). [There were a couple of things that niggled me such as the sire's owner never got back to us to meet him, but I guess he was super busy]. I was all up for getting him anyway, and just rolling with it, but my other half was being more pragmatic. Head over heart for her, heart over head for me
. Added to that, she has never lived/had a dog in her life before, so there was a lot more uncertainty on her behalf. However - she loves my mum and dad's dog (long haired Jack Russel), so this could have worked in my favour. When they come back from hols, I imagine she will feel a dog shaped hole in her life. She was really keen to get a springer, so when things settle down business wise, I think she will again be more up for the responsibility. So, I think I will start looking for pups again in the next few months or so to line up a potential new family member!
So - thanks for all the replies and the advice, it was not wasted - busy reading the manuals etc. in the meantime. The advantage for both of us is that we've really enjoyed taking little Sam out for walks and games in our fields and what have you. Perhaps the time was not right... but it will be soon!
As it turns out we didn't go for this pup in the end, for a couple of reasons: we were starting out on a new business (running a campsite) and also looking after mum and dad's dog. The latter wasn't so much of a problem, it was more the former - we're both learning how things work for the business and ultra busy until we organise things to run more smoothly (taken the business over from mum and dad). [There were a couple of things that niggled me such as the sire's owner never got back to us to meet him, but I guess he was super busy]. I was all up for getting him anyway, and just rolling with it, but my other half was being more pragmatic. Head over heart for her, heart over head for me
. Added to that, she has never lived/had a dog in her life before, so there was a lot more uncertainty on her behalf. However - she loves my mum and dad's dog (long haired Jack Russel), so this could have worked in my favour. When they come back from hols, I imagine she will feel a dog shaped hole in her life. She was really keen to get a springer, so when things settle down business wise, I think she will again be more up for the responsibility. So, I think I will start looking for pups again in the next few months or so to line up a potential new family member!So - thanks for all the replies and the advice, it was not wasted - busy reading the manuals etc. in the meantime. The advantage for both of us is that we've really enjoyed taking little Sam out for walks and games in our fields and what have you. Perhaps the time was not right... but it will be soon!
Further update. The g/f has started leaning towards a smaller dog - one that she can cuddle. So think we are more likely to go for a cocker. We've spent some time with a 5 year old bi-tch from a breeder in Warrington (and while you cannot guarantee the temperament of any given dog) she has a lovely one. It was this that made us start to think about a cocker over a springer, and think about this breeder in particular.
Reading those gundog manuals - man it looks complex! So many things to think about. It also strikes me that you need to be really careful in the first 6 months and don't introduce bad habits - habits that could well be very easy to introduce as a house pet/while playing/calling etc. I guess it really comes down to how you want him/her to turn out - and getting the balance right between a house pet that you can cuddle and a working dog is probably one of the more complex results.
Reading those gundog manuals - man it looks complex! So many things to think about. It also strikes me that you need to be really careful in the first 6 months and don't introduce bad habits - habits that could well be very easy to introduce as a house pet/while playing/calling etc. I guess it really comes down to how you want him/her to turn out - and getting the balance right between a house pet that you can cuddle and a working dog is probably one of the more complex results.
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