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Concidering a first dog


Nik_B

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I've never had a dog before and I have a few questions.

 

One day I would like to shoot with a dog, I also would like a dog for companionship/long walks and also as a family pet.

 

Unfortunately my job makes anything I do very difficult because I work away overseas for 4-5 weeks at a time. When I am off I have plenty of time to walk and train a dog but when I am away my wife and kids would have to walk it.

 

Can dogs pick up where you left off with respect to training/retrieving? Can a family pet also be a reasonable gun dog or does the training have to be intense and very regular?

 

I am not planning to leap in to getting a dog soon, I am more looking to the future maybe a year or more off (if I ever get in to a decent shooting syndicate/club).

 

Any comments are appreciated

 

cheers

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Well I think it is possible, the key to the whole situation would be that when your away,your family don't allow bad habits or let training go slack.

 

You could definitely train a dog to a level which is suitable for yourself, ie a good family pet,who is well behaved in the house and around the family but also a dog who can work in the field with you. (What tasks do you want the dog for) This will help in your choice of dog, what breeds do you like??

 

In my opinion the popular gundog breeds, lab,ess,cocker have got great temperaments, ideal around children if raised correctly.

 

Look forward to a bit more info on your part and I am sure you will have some good knowledgeable answers Nik.

 

Regards RS

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Well I think it is possible, the key to the whole situation would be that when your away,your family don't allow bad habits or let training go slack.

 

You could definitely train a dog to a level which is suitable for yourself, ie a good family pet,who is well behaved in the house and around the family but also a dog who can work in the field with you. (What tasks do you want the dog for) This will help in your choice of dog, what breeds do you like??

 

In my opinion the popular gundog breeds, lab,ess,cocker have got great temperaments, ideal around children if raised correctly.

 

Look forward to a bit more info on your part and I am sure you will have some good knowledgeable answers Nik.

 

Regards RS

 

Thanks for all the replies!

 

Firstly your first comment is a concern that my family will have the time and inclination to keep the training up. Without being sure of their commitment I won't go ahead. One reason for a dog is to try to get them outside more for their own benefit.

 

Your second point is exactly the kind of dog I would like, one that is good round kids, a family member but when I am home one that could come with me fishing and shooting so well behaved and disciplined.

 

As I have not started sport shooting yet I am just planning ahead but the kind of shooting that appeals to me is that which involves lots of walking so maybe wildfowling or rough shooting. Basically able to retrieve and maybe later down the line flush.

 

I do like Springers but I've heard they can be a bit mad and quite a handful so I will also consider labs which have an excellent reputation.

 

I do wish I had a normal job sometimes most people probably don’t have to put half the thought into having a pet or taking up any sport!

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Nik, I would personally go for a labrador then mate, alot more steady than a springer or cocker, a lab could definitely sit still with you whilst fishing and also are great wildfowlers,retrievers and family companions.

 

I am a spaniel man myself but for yourself i think a lab will be ideal, they are very biddable, and will be more suited to your lifestyle I would think, with a spaniel if you let bad habits set in, its very hard to get them back to a good standard. I learnt that the hardway haha.

 

I think you have thought about your options very carefully, and you will know whats best for yourself. IMO though how great would it be that when you get home from 5 weeks away, to have a companion to go shooting with or fishing with and then whilst you are away the family have a dog to get them out.

 

Kind Regards RS

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IMO though how great would it be that when you get home from 5 weeks away, to have a companion to go shooting with or fishing with and then whilst you are away the family have a dog to get them out.

 

This is what really appeals to me.

 

I have to put alot more thought in to this though, my wife does work so I want to make sure we would be able to make sure the dog felt secure and got enough attention. As the wife is a teacher she does get a fair few holidays, but she'll need to be able to walk a dog in the morning and either her or my eldest daughter could walk it in the afternoon. The best time to get a dog for us would be in the summer when my wife could be off for a good few weeks to start getting the dog used to be alone in the day and build up to longer periods of time.

 

On the last point are dogs ok being left alone during the day, what provisions should I concider? I've seen different opinions on the internet.

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I have a cocker but i would say that a spaniel isnt the dog for your situation! (i wouldt have one if it wasnt working)

 

Remember that your family have to look after the dog a lot and IMO there is a lot more margin for error in a retriever than with a spaniel and the training is easier. This means that when you are away the family will not ruin the dog (in fact they will train it).

 

This will cause up roar but here we go. A retriever can be a useful (ish) shooting companion if it will:

Come straight back

Not chase

Sit on command and stay sat

Retrieve, obviously

 

All the family need to do is ensure that the recall stays good and that when they throw a stick they make the dog wait before sending it.

 

With a spaniel they have to be always on its case and making sure it stays close enough to shoot over.

 

If i wanted a pet that i could take for nice walks then there is no way i would have a working spaniel, my cocker gets very little in the ways of walks because its not enjoyable. He gets short walks where i throw in training and keep him close but you have to concentrate the whole time. People come to my house and decide that we have to go walking up some mountain or other and then are disappointed the dog isnt coming but like a keeper i know says 'they cant do wrong in the kennel' and this isnt how you want a pet dog to be.

 

My feeling would be go for a retriever as the safer option because its a simpler job and there is less temptation.

 

Im not saying a retriever is easy but in your situation you are more likely to end up with a dog that wont show you up out shooting

 

Dan

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Thanks

 

On the subject of leaving it alone in the day i would say that there is not really a problem especially with a walk first thing and potentialy one in the afternoon.

 

It might be an idea though to have a kennel outside for the dog in the day, that way you dont have to worry aboutmess in the house. It also means that you have somewhere to put it out of the way if you have guests etc.

 

Dogs are on a basic level very lazy, they are happy to spend the day sleeping and waiting for you to get back. Even the spaniels will sleep most of the day, its you being around that keeps them on their toes.

 

My dog lives in the back of my pickup in the day all year round and has a 10 minute stretch of his legs at lunchtime (but sometimes i dont have time) he is always just waking up when i go out there!

 

Good luck with the dog, there are times when you will dispair but its all worth it overall!

 

If you want anything else just ask

 

Dan

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Thanks alot for all of the replies! There's been some great advice. The last point has put my mind at ease as there are some pretty odd opinions out on the net and I would like to give a dog a good quality life. I think the idea of having a kennel is soemthing I would definately do, it would allow the dog to keep itself occupied during the day and yes I don't want my house destroyed nor allow bad habits to set in such as sleeping in bedrooms etc.

 

My next step is to seriously test out the wife and teenager who are both a bit lazy, they could do with a good walk every day rather than watching the bloody telly.

 

If we do this I think we'll have to do it during the summer holidays so there are people at home to train it, I've read about training them to be alone and not bark for attention. And as a puppy I guess they won't need tons of excercise just a couple of little walks untill they start to mature.

 

My 3 year old would absolutely love to have a dog, she interrogates every dog and their owner when I take her through the park on her way to nursery which is funny but you can feel the dog owners sometimes feel a bit awkward, still makes me chuckle everytime. As I've never even concidered having a dog before it was this that made me realise that good dog owners actually provide quite a public service especially to children.

 

Cheers

Edited by Nik_B
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one last thing pal, its all good setting the foundations for the summer hols, but you could do it whatever time to be honest pal, don't make exceptions for the dog at first, set the dog to live around your lifestyle, because if not there will be a huge shock to the system when the holidays are over!

 

Good Luck with the search for a dog in the coming months and keep us all informed.

 

RS

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We have a black lab who is descended from a working line, however we do not use it for working. It is more a pet for the wife and my son. We did not have any problems with regards to house training etc. Sure, she chewed a couple of things, but nothing major. Overall, she is a good dog and pretty obiedient (not to the standards of a full time working dog of course).

I work away and my wife works also, so we started off just leaving her for a short period of time, say an hour or so and gradually worked up to the full time that we would be out during the day. She got used to it pretty quick and we were coming home from work to no mess, chewed items etc after a short space of time. We walk her for an hour or so most days which she enjoys, plus its good exercise fo r the family.

IMO, a lab would be ideal for your needs. Ours is brilliant with my son and i am quite sure that if she came shooting with me, she would pick it up with no problems.

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