Agree they are great dogs but very high energy, even more than the working Springers I used to have. Gundogs are fine and I personally love them (especially Springers), but if your not the 'outdoors' type they may not be for you. As has been said, they are very active and need mental stimulation and spaniels of anynany kind need constant training if they're not to run riot. A Lab is born half trained and a Springer dies half trained as they say . Any dog can get destructive and develop behavioural problems if allowed to get lonely or bored, but gundogs especially so. Best read up about the different breeds characteristics and meet and speak with as many owners as possible before you commit. Don't forget the rescue homes too, your best furry friend might actually be found there? Having said all that, it's really difficult to get to meet and see any breeders at the moment in the current COVID situation, so I'd suggest you hold off such a big commitment till things are a bit more settled.
Perhaps big for you but ticks a lot of boxes. My boys are 9 and 11 and love her and she loves them back She is a bit dim but is very low maintenance but is very well looked after Black working lines lab bitch 25kg and very leggy! Use the kennel club breed selector see what pops out. Its useful.
Had them in my life ever since I can remember. And I’m 55 now. Would recommend a staffie to anyone. Fab dogs
When they're bought up well just like any dog they're good, it's just they do attract a wrong owner which has lead to an unfounded reputation IMO.
I've had a boxer, working springer and Jack Russell all at the same time and I'm now down to just one Jack Russell cross. Easy to train but spunky which I like. Mine very rarely goes on a lead unless circumstances are a must. I don't ever think I will be without a JR although another Spaniel or Boxer will be on the cards one day but both of those breeds are hard work initially.
Can’t go wrong with a Lab. had westies when lived with parents and they still have one but I wanted a lab when I moved out. Ended up getting my chocolate lab when I stayed in Oman and he is an amazing dog. Only problem is he loves people.
I have had Rottweilers (6), Heinz (4), Bijone, Shitzu, Border Collie, Bulldog, 2 St Bernard... Bulldog is best family pet... by far... but that's too much exercise for them... like to sleep and cuddle all day.. few short walks and 1 medium walk a week (if your lucky) is all ours will do... actively goes and hides when I get out the harnesses.. St Bernard - great dog - WAY too messy unless your an absolute dog lover - hair and slobber everywhere.. happy with 1 to 4 miles a day exercise. My suggestion would be the Rottweiler... great around kids and family... would serve as protection.. when your away on rigs (I think)... but males can be a little overprotective... and the Males need to be bossed.. so if you are away... they may take your role and boss the family around... I loved our male...but he was a handful for wife when I was not there. The females... much easier. But also Labrador too is another good choice... Not that many dogs that do not shed... As above smaller spaniels - may be a good choice..
Our dog which was a cross between a Boxer and a Staffordshire terrier died last week after suffering a brain lesion. The last few weeks with her were very difficult as she had total dementia. She was a fantastic dog though and lived until she was over twelve years old. We have decided that we will get another dog although it can be restricting particularly at holiday time, luckily we do have someone to look after it, if and when we get one. It can be quite expensive though when we go away for a longer period though. My main point, which has been mentioned, is that getting any sort of dog is very difficult at the moment. The annoying thing is that all contacts made and received back have been scammers looking for easy cash and it's been hard to find anyone who seems to be genuine and not after a fast buck. Prices are also ridiculously high which makes me feel that even though we would like a dog now we will have to wait until things settle down again. There is a Website and Facebook page that a friend of mine told me about where they got an imported dog from Bulgaria as a puppy. I have seen the dog and it seems fine. Not sure what's involved but I know he was interviewed about having a suitable home etc. Might be worth a try and it wasn't overpriced at the time. Santerpawsbulgarianrescue.com There is also Lucy's Law which came into force on 06/04/20 which mean there are now restrictions on who can sell and how you can buy a puppy.
A Labrador is worthy of consideration, very dedicated and gentle breed in my experience. Great family pet. Needs some exercise but not excessive, walk mine 3-4 times a day, just out and about with a couple of longer walks a week. They do shed a bit though. Reccomend training classes both for disapline and, just as important, socialisation. Can't abide dogs that haven't been allowed to be dogs... i.e. bought as baby substitutes, soley for companionship etc. Dog need to mix with other dogs, they're pack animals. Whilst you should be their Alpha if they don't socialise your family will be their only pack and they'll then react badly to other dogs when on walks etc. which can be a real PITA. If you have friends with dogs walk with them, join a local walk group (meetup is perfect for this I'm a member of 4 mu. dog walking groups). Whilst rescues are a laudible option be careful as you could be adopting a dog with issues that might require a lot if work to rectify. The two locally I know who have done this both have issues. One, a rescue black lab from Romania, lived on the streets before being in a pound for several months. No idea how he was treated before that but he goes on the defensive attack mode with any other dog. Two dogs better than one. Have a Golden Retriever as well. He's the Obi-wan, black lab is the Jedi apprentice...
Gundogs were originally bred just for that, to be dogs used to either work alongside the guns as retrievers of game that was shot, spaniels of different sorts to drive and flush the birds in thick cover or Pointers and Setters to hunt and 'point' to the location of hidden birds on the Moors and open ground. In the latter case the guns usually walk up to the location of the pointing or 'setting' dog before they are flushed as these breeds are expected to work further away from the handler to cover more ground. Nowadays, particularly with Labs and Spaniels, two distinct types or bloodlines have developed and diverged, the 'show' and 'working' lines. The physical characteristics are often marked, Google a 'show' Cocker Spaniel and a 'working' one for instance. The Show lines have been breed to closely conform with the Kennel Club Breed Standards, whereas the 'Working' lines are primarily bred to retain and enhance the physical and mental characteristics most useful in the field. Obviously not all 'Working' dogs are used in the field and many end up as pets, which is fine. Just be aware that those from working bloodlines are generally higher energy than their 'Show' counterparts and need a good deal of exercise and mental stimulation. To confuse you further (remember you did ask!), some bloodlines have been bred to be shown and to work. If they win prizes at dog shows they may become 'Show Campions' and if they win prizes in Field Trials they may become 'Field Trial Champions'. Those that win both types of competition are granted the title plain old 'Champion'. Finally, a word of caution. The word 'Working' is often used to hide the fact that the pups in question are not actually Pedigree and are a bit of a 'Heinz'. They may look initially like a Springer Spaniel for instance but they may have some Cocker or even pointer in their ancestry. If the breeder can't produce a Kennel Club Pedigree certificate then don't expect to pay top Dollar. Good pedigree Show or Working dogs of any breed will be up around the £1000+ mark, those with more dubious liniage about half that. Sorry you asked now aren't you
Unpopular opinion: If a breeder shows you a genuine Kennel Club Pedigree certificate ... walk away. Just one individual's strongly held belief. Try not to take offence (or offense).
Love dogs. Our dog was a rescue and whilst he was house trained you don’t really know what your getting until you get them home. I would walk him and feed him but he wouldn’t show me any affection at all. He adored my wife and would follow her around the house, sit and wait for her at the foot of the stairs, even if I was carving a roast chicken in the kitchen. Bonkers, good fun but deffo bonkers. I’d go for a whippet, and probably will at some point.
Thankfully he’s more or less housebroken now. He does his No.2s outside and there’s just the occasional puddle of piddle to clean up. Any accidents are now mostly as a result of him getting over excited when someone comes home or when you try to pick him up to carry him down the stairs, which for some reason he thinks is a game, part of which includes him jumping in the washing baskets.
I have no problems with non-pedigree dogs myself, I've had both, my last Springer was from non-pedigree 'working' stock. I used him beating on a local shoot until he developed a serious abcess near his spine and had to be put down at only 4 years old. He was a cracking dog too. What I would point out that if a potential purchaser were intending on entering shows or field trials, then a Kennel Club Pedigree Certificate is a must, regardless of your personal feelings on the matter. I get where your coming from and have a certain sympathy with your views, although we may differ to a degree. I just think that it's important for a potential purchaser to be fully aware of all factors so that they can ultimately make up their own mind. I'm certain the OP has absolutely no intention of working or showing but someone in his family or another reader may, in which case they don't want to be disappointed when they are told that they can't enter a particular show or trial. The main thing to take away is that an animal like a dog is a more serious commitment than some boring old Honda and bears some careful research and consideration. You can't just 'trade them in' if you find out you made a mistake like a drunken eBay bike purchase
We rescued a Japanese Akita and had to be kept on a lead due to being "unsociable". What really annoyed me was all the dogs off lead with no recall. However, apart from that a fantastic dog, little or no barking, didn't need extra long walks, happy with his own company, but would follow you from room to room when your in, did slober and shed quite a bit. TB
