Should my gundog live in the family house or a kennel?

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A small spaniel puppy will generally be very exuberant and probably test your existing pet to the limit.

Tuesday, 05 September 2006

I am a novice to the shooting field and will soon be acquiring my first puppy, probably an English springer spaniel, which must fit into a family home already shared by my bull terrier and children. Can it be kept as a house-dog or should it live in a kennel?

A:

Unless there is a conflict with your bull terrier there is no reason at all why the new spaniel should not live in the family home once it is fully mature.

A small spaniel puppy will generally be very exuberant and probably test your existing pet to the limit. To maintain harmony it is essential the introduction is done carefully on neutral territory and subsequent progress carefully monitored.

As the spaniel is to undergo thorough training for the gun, however, it may be more practical to keep it in a kennel away from any possible conflict in the home.

Your children must also realise the new addition needs its own free time and games are probably not conducive to the development of a gundog - especially tug-of-war!

Any puppy needs its own space in which to feel secure, whether a kennel or a separate room in the house. You, as the trainer, will need to be the focus of its attention and this aspect is easier to develop away from distractions caused by family life.

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Comments

lauren Cockburn

October 16 14:49

I would most definatly agree with the advice given. I have Two cocker spaniels and it is best to have the dogs in the house as often as possible so that they are able to socailise with the other dogs and the children.There is nothing worse than going to a shoot where someones dog is growling at you and the other dogs. Many gun dog enthusiasts would not agree about having a gun dog in the house. But I have found that to work best with the dog the best way is to form a frienship with it. My two dogs come in the house in the morning and at night and it is the attention and praise that make them work better for me. In the field they obey all my commands unlike others who keep their dog in the kennel all the time and wonder why the dog does not fully respond to their orders. They seem to think an electric collar is best. Whereas i believe a friendship between you and the dog is better!! And such measures like an electric collar only reflect on the owners teaching, and maybe the dogs age in some cases, especially if it is a young dog. Good luck

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