It's Labs every time for us. Show pedigree Labs are chunkier and more laid-back than their working counterparts, and they suit us.
Exercise has been mentioned. Don't over-exercise a Lab until she has made her bone, or you'll be putting stress on fast-growing joints and improve the risk of hip-dysplasia later on.
Just make absolutely sure that both dam and sire have been health-tested (hips scoring is imperative, with results as low and as even as possible: 0/0 being perfect, and both parents should hold a current BVA/KC eye test certificate). Make sure pups have been reared correctly and that the breeder has spent a lot of time with them, exposing them to lots of different things and handling them a lot, and make sure she asks you as many - or more - questions than you ask her!
What you put into the puppy comes out in the adult dog, IMHO, and Labs repay you in spades. They are gentle, trustworthy, loyal and loving companions, funny, intelligent and with huge characters. Treat a Lab right and they'll love you forever. And those eyes..
The only (minor) downside, as has been mentioned, is that they moult, terribly, and this can be a total pain if you are houseproud (I'm not, unfortunately!). Regular grooming with a 'Furminator' is worth doing.
Bitches can get a bit pongy just before - and during - their season, but that's true of any entire female dog, and you can have her spayed if you have no intention of breeding. I personally prefer bitches to dogs, but it is just that; personal preference.
Oh yes, and have I mentioned that they love to go camping? And, they generally travel well in the car (but need quite a bit of space, so you can't take as much stuff!).
I thought the original question was to which of two breeds would be most suitable
Not lets go to the pound and pick up some unloved "council house"Mongrel
lets get back to the main topic !
I amthe one who originally brought up a rescue and I can assure you my pure bred border collie certainly isn't a mongrel. Any breed of dog can end up in a rescue centre. Spaniels, Labs and Collies are amongst the most common breeds handed in sue to the amount of exercise and training they need.
The reason I suggested a rescue is that the staff there tend to know the dogs personalities and which will do well indifferent circumstances
------------- Good cakes aren't cheap. Cheap cakes aren't good
Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 14/1/2013
What you put into the puppy comes out in the adult dog, IMHO, and Labs repay you in spades. They are gentle, trustworthy, loyal and loving companions, funny, intelligent and with huge characters. Treat a Lab right and they'll love you forever. And those eyes..
The only (minor) downside, as has been mentioned, is that they moult, terribly, and this can be a total pain if you are houseproud
Based on experiences past and present if I had to make the choice it would be a Lab.
Several years ago I looked after a Springer belonging to a friend of a friend - now I know Springers are supposed to be very intelligent but this was the most stupid, senseless, disobedient creature I've ever come across and I was glad when it finally went back home. Not a fault of the dog by any means, it was the way it had been brought up by its owner, but it really put me right off the breed.
Contrast that with the Lab belonging to the boss at one of the places I now work - he's intelligent, affectionate, accompanies me round the offices while I'm working, waits nicely while I refill his water bowl and is generally a complete delight. His only downside is his moulting, I spend ages hoovering the office carpets to get rid of the hair, but when he looks at me with those eyes......
So - Lab or Springer? The decision is ultimately yours, but I know which one I would go for.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
Hi lots of good points on here for you to quandary.
This is a good sight to look at for all sorts of breeds, from a lovable mutt to a full loveable pedigree.
Lists from all sorts of rescues even in Europe. Dogsblog
Then on the negative side(sorry), a lot of spaniels and gun dogs are being stolen at present by unscrupulous scum bags. telegraph report
Sadly if you do loose your dog you can register your lost dog here lots of us from ukcampsite are already members and area co-coordinators they help return lost dogs and poster in the required areas. doglost
I hope you get your new chum soon, don't forget to post pictures for us to drool over
BUT don't get one, get two, we have a brother and sister from the same litter, having a pair virtually eliminates behavioural problems caused by keeping a pack animal on its own, do go to training classes and you won't have issues with controlling your animal (there are no bad dogs, only bad owners)
Yes they need ton's of exercise, but that's good for the owner too
Quote: Originally posted by markh1 on 15/1/2013
Always Springers
BUT don't get one, get two, we have a brother and sister from the same litter, having a pair virtually eliminates behavioural problems caused by keeping a pack animal on its own, do go to training classes and you won't have issues with controlling your animal (there are no bad dogs, only bad owners)
Yes they need ton's of exercise, but that's good for the owner too
Don't get two dogs from the same litter, rarely does it work, you need to be able to focus on training one dog especially a springer, it needs to bond with you not its sibling, one is doable two is madness.I do agree that they do better in pairs, but get one sorted and then look for another, and where do i get this from, i have 4 springers and a Springer x and i have spent the last 6 years working for springer rescue of which there are several up and down the country, our rescue alone rehomes 2 - 300 a year as do most of the others, there are 100's of springers in rescue from Cornwall to Scotland that have been handed in because the owners can't cope with their energy, they are a very different proposition to a collie, good luck in whatever you decide, and remember, both breeds have show and working strains
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Topic: Springer or a labrador
