I am really upset and confused and am hoping something that might get said here will help me find the answers. We have a springer, he is our first dog, he is just 17 weeks old.

My husband has been away for a few days and took the dog with him. He stayed with some family one of which use to breed springers. When they realised what breed we had got there first comment was 'i really wish you had spoken to us first' (this is my husbands family and I had no idea that they use to breed dogs but I guess now this could be where my husbands love of the breed came from). Whilst they thought he was a great dog they really dont think he is right for us or our lifestyle and asked if we had considered rehoming him as it would be easier to find a good home for him now rather than in 6 months time when we may find him all too much. They feel he will be best suited as a working dog, they saw he will be very big for a springer and already think he is particulary strong, they have said they are concerned about me being able to handle him and his boisterousness is likely to cause accidents with my youngest. My husband has given this some thought and he now also wants me to consider whether we should rehome him now and already apparently knows of two people who may be interested who would use him as a working dog.

Now I am wishing we had a crystal ball as I am getting worried about all the negative comments we have had for getting a springer. To be honest I havent had one positive comment about getting this breed. Everyone loves him and thinks he's cute etc but I keep being asked whether I understand what I have let myself in for etc, what a difficult dog we have chosen etc.

I have 4 young children and whilst they all love the dog I do find him very difficult around them and I have to watch him like a hawk as he targets my 3 year old. Apart from him upsetting her and taking my babies toys I do not have any issues with him at all. But I assume this would have been the same with any puppy? I do use a crate and have a play pen and he seems happy to spend time in these when I cant supervise 100%

I really love this dog already and feel that I have taken as much time as I can trying to train him. I do have issues walking him but am trying to get him to walk nicer, he sits, lays, stays (to a fashion ) he will fetch and retrieve, and roll over for me. We have started to practice his recall more as we would like to try him off lead but that still has a way to go but I think we have done ok so far. Maybe I am being naive?

I suppose I want to try to get some idea of the future with him? If we kept up the training etc would things be ok? We chose this dog as we'd read they are easy to train, good with kids and other dogs and were fully aware that when older will need long walks.

I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this and any helpful comments.

thankyou

Unfortunately no-one can predict the future and forecast exactly how this boy will turn out, he may well end up a fully socializedd wellbehaved but on the other hand he could just as likely end up a tearaway.

I hate to say this but I have to agree with your friends, and let's face it only REAL friends would be likely to suggest such, and they know your circumstances, aI suspect they had reason to say what they have, could it be that they have sensed that you are already finding the lad hard work?

We had springers 25 years ago, they never stop and need theirs minds occupying, they are primarily a working dog and do not like just laying in their beds allday playing 'good dog, with four children I personally think (unless you are supermum) that you be be able to apply to the dog the time is so deserves, and yes, far easier to get it into it's forever home now then to wait until he is fully grown.
Sorry - but you did ask
regards
sue

Thanks Sue I appreciate your honesty.

If your hubby hadn't have had those comments would he have suggested getting rid of the dog?
Yes they like to work, but so so other breeds like border collies and plenty of people manage to have them as pets. You need to make sure you keep up the training, find ways of making his brain workout - hide things for him to find etc;
He's still only a baby at the moment, he maybe a bit rough and takes things he shouldn't but training him will help with that. Perhaps you could do agility with him when he gets older or tracking, or something along those lines. Keep the dogs mind active and you'll have a really good dog I'm sure.
I used to have a border collie that I worked obedience with, I used to enter comps etc; now I have a pet dog but she still gets training everyday and still has to do some 'work' everyday to keep her mind active, if I didn't she'd probably be driving me mad as she so wants to please all the time.
I don't know the answer to your question I'm afraid, we don't have crystal balls, but unless there was a real problem that was dangerous to the kids then I would work with the dog rather than rehoming it. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Don't get me wrong please, and do not make any decisions on what I have said, I am basing what I have said on the knowledge that the breed do need stimulation coupled with the facts that your friends, who know yourselves and you lifestyle, know your far better then anyone her does.

Who knows, he could well turn out to be a wellbehaved adult, it's a chance we all take with our dogs. But picking up the pieces gets harder as they get older when things do go wrong
.

I admire you for being so honest, you obviously have his best interests at heart. Good luck with your final decision.
regards
sue

this is so sad...can i just say this...2 of my sisters had springers now my oldest is one of these that thinks she knows it all and just thought ah he's cute,had no idea about keeping any dog let alone a dog full of energy,and he recked the place...now my other sister was the opposite,she walked her dog he had loads of excersise and he was GREAT in everyway...keep him excersed and give him lots to think about, i think they are a great breed...any spelling mistakes are cos i'm thickish

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We own a nearly 5 year old English Springer Spaniel ( working X show ) we recently moved to Turkey and he came along too , he had never been with little kids / babys before , and my auntie visits us daily and brings her 1 year old with her and Jasper is so gentle with my cousin making sure not to knock him over , and lets him pull his ears and tail and if he has enough he just walks away and lies somewhere else , he plays fetch with my cousin and loves it when he throws his biscuits on the floor . We thought because how playfull he is and everything he would accidently knock the baby over and steal his toys but he learnt within about 5 days . Right now it summer and the heat is unbelievable so Jasper just lays around the house untill the evening time when we take him out for a jog and play fetch in the garden ect and he is fine with it ( when the weather cools down ofcourse I will take him out alot more often ! but he cant cope with this heat - 42 degrees celcius ) just lieing around chewing a bone ect .. though I realise this might just be Jasper . Jasper is our first dog ( Got him when I was about 9 and my brother was about 5 ) and the puppy stage was hard for us ! nipping and pulling on the leash , im going to be honest and that mom and dad did consider rehoming him he went to the dog shelter and we had 48 hours to change our mind ,I cried and screamed and well he only stayed in the shelter for an hour we came and picked him back up ( the women wasnt impressed though as she has a police officer interested in him as a 'sniffer' dog anyway .. ) but he has grown into a lovely loyal happy dog - I would never change him ever he is like my best friend .

But I mean its completely your choose and I understand your curcumstances are different , though if you do decide to keep him why not try puppy training classes ? if you havent already been that is , I think you are doing wonderfully with his commands and the offlead thing should come soon , We had so much trouble training Jasper to heel to and we took him to private lessons and everything no one could stop him pulling on the lead ( he walks off lead perfectly ) so now we use a halti , I would prefer fo him to heel and we are still training him to do so but the halti is very very helpfull , but your boy should learn to heel - I think Jas just likes to walk fast ( if you jog he dosent pull at all ! )

Good luck with whatever you decide to do
I hope I helped a bit

If you do decide to give your dog up please consider rehoming him from either a breed or reputable resuce. That way homes will be vetted, there will be resuce back up and will make sure your dog doesn't get in the wrong hands. Also consider having him neutered.

Whatever you decide - good luck.

I don't think it is a breed specific thing, to be honest. From what you have said, it sounds more like a 'kids and puppies' thing to an extent.

Kids and puppies are a BAD mix. For this reason, I only allow my own puppies with my younger two children (7 and 4) unless strictly supervised, (as in my focused on them 100% of the time, not just me there but cooking tea, washing up etc) until both puppy and child know how to behave appropriately around each other. Puppies jump up. Children do fun things (for the puppy) when they jump up, like wave their hands around and scream. So the puppy has more reason to jump up and get excited. I would imagine that is why he is 'targeting' your three year old. Unless your child can be taught to turn their back and fold their arms if the puppy jumps up, do not allow the puppy near the child unless you are holding the child, so the child can't inadvertantly encourage the pup's bad behaviour. Keep toys away from the puppy, as they can be dangerous to him apart from anything else.

If you love the dog, and feel that you would be prepared to keep him no matter what, or no matter how hard work he became, or what problems came up, then it will work. But do be aware that if you are finding it hard now, it will only get harder during adolescence. I would no more give my dog up than my children. That is how it should be as far as I am concerned.

It doesn't sound like you are going to a training class? This is an absolute must. Look on Puppy training classes, Puppy School is a network of UK schools for training young puppies. for a good one, and be quick as I think 20 weeks is the cut off for starting puppy classes. There is also a book called 'Puppy School' by Gwen Bailey, another book called 'The Perfect Puppy' by her, and a book called 'The Culture Clash' by Jean Donaldson. ALL are essential reading for any new dog owner, IMO. Thinsg will nto magically work out, you need ot put in a LOT of hard work for it to. With any breed, not just a springer.

What is your dog's breeder like? Are they available for a phone call if you run into problems at any time? This is a great help to most people.

Personally, I think his family have a cheek assuming you cannot handle your dog. They might be better placed offering more constructive advice. If it were me, I'd do my damnedest to prove them wrong!

The breeder should always be approached in the first instance if rehoming becomes the only option.