Kids keep mythering for a Dog! Used to have a German Shepard before I had Kids and had the time to walk it. Got Zero free time with running a business and bikes so I've said no, full stop, as I know no fecker will be arsed to walk it come winter and I'll be fecked if I'm doing it! Does God make a Dog that's happy with a big garden and may be a walk or two at the weekends? (Not that I'm weakening ya knows! )
Call a dog what ever you want, but hunting dogs are fantastic on the whistle. Get them into it ASAP. Much better than shouting them IMO and it looks real cool when everyone else sees your dog run back after a sucsession of short sharp blasts, They will hear a whistle much better on a windy day than they will a human voice, and from a lot further away Theres loads of youtube vids, books/articles on the internet to look at and You could do much worse than booking on to a gun dog course it will teach you and the dog simple commands even if your not intending putting the dog to work My boys will go out on the hand, then with the whistle stop/sit/wait. Come in left or right, all for a few hours training and a pocket full of gravy bones, and the promise of a warm bed. Re the cage, don't use it as a punishment, it's intended to be a safe place for them, I'd you intend to use the cage in the car, make sure only good stuff happens, walks etc. So many peeps get a pup. Inevitably your pups got to go through this but break it up with good memory's. Usually it's 1st journey in a car, extracted from its family. 2nd trip injections. 3rd trip. More injections. 4th trip Its bollox off. By the times this has happened, it not only hates the car, but the cage too, many are "travel sick" it ain't the travel that's making them ill, it's the prospect of another visit to the Basta Vet who keeps doing shit to it that hurts Make it a pleasure for them, walk them plenty of treats and rewards. I know they ain't supposed to be out for so long without inoculations. Find somewhere quiet and less dogs, less chance of any issues. We used the beach for training and per inoculation walks. It's washed twice a day and coincide walks with the tides you have a safe clean environment. My boys love the car, they will sit in there all day if required without a murmur. A bit of effort in the early days really does go a long way for a strong character. Oo, toilet pads at the back door. This will get them used to going there, next step outside. And again a trait of the cocker, you think you got it toilet trained, boom, 18months in, I garuntee you it will piss in the house. Don't ask me why, they just do.
I was the same a few years ago but managed to hold out, when dad says NO, he mean NO kids have grown up now and at Uni, so we wont be getting one anytime soon. I like my Hobbies more than an Animal to feed and look after, I just don't have the time
Same here and why I have kept away from dogs since having kids. Work at the moment consists of 14 days on 1 day off. but including 24 hours on call and I have had to be in work at 2AM so not much time for family at the mo. But the wife and kids want the mutt so they will be doing most of the walking. feeding etc.. I'm happy to do my part when I get time And thanks for the handy replys. I know Springers needs lots of exercise and so does the wife and kids.
HAHA the fun of running a Family business that never closes. And when the family do away I'm on call and working extra
i do and don't mind doing it. just sometimes run off my feet but today is a quiet day thank god. Mon and Tues will be busy I know
