Hi

I acquired a springer spaniel that had been neglected, he lived in a 2nd floor flat and was tied up everynight.
From what i can tell he was not ill treated, the RSPCA were called in because the dog was left on its own a lot.
I got him from the foster parent, so luckily he did not end up in a rescue centre.
The first walk we took him on, he cut his pads, the vet said they were very soft because he had not had exercise.
He is 3 and a half years of age, still entire. I have had him 2 and a half months, his exercise now is 2-3 walks a day, 2 of these are over an hour and always off road and off the lead.
These are my POINTS about JACK
a.  He is like a lamb indoors, but seems obsessed when out!
b.  He has to have a ball in his mouth, he will run for over an hour with the ball in his mouth while he chases rabbits etc.,
c.  He squats to wee, and never marks his territory.
d.  He totally blanks all dogs.
e.  Totally obsessed for a ball, he will chase children to get their ball ( he was brought up with young children)
f.. I have two other springer spaniels, 8 and 4, they are so laid back in comparison to JACK. mY 8 YR old is also entire, but they get along .
g.  I do not know too much about pedigree,s as i do not show mine or work them, but i have Jack pedigree and have been informed it is good,
please could someone confirm, these are some of the names on his pedigree:

FT CH LAGANMILL - MALVERN
FT CH DENFORD DANNY OF BELVDEN
FT CH MAGNAHILL BASIL
FT CH KEN NE ROBB OF RYTEX
FT CH MAGNAHILL BASIL
RYTEX RACHAEL
FT CH RYTEX ROD
FT CH RAFFLE OF RYTEX                                   
FT CH RYTEX RIA                                         THESE ARE ALL ON HIS MOTHERS SIDE

FATHERS SIDEFT CH  CORTMAN LANE
FT CH BADGERCOURT DRUID
FT CH FLINTWOOD FINCH

Is it too late to try him at trials, or would he make a good stud dog considering he is immature for his age.
Thanks for any advice

Nuala

Why would you want to use him as a stud dog considering he is a rescue,you don't know his parentage and you don't show or work your dogs ?

His parentage is known, Lucy. ;-)

Nuala, he has a 'working' pedigree rather than a 'show' pedigree, so the only people who'd want to use him at stud would be 'working' people - and they'd only want to use him if he was a good 'worker' himself. So if you plan to offer him at stud (is he KC registered with no endorsements?) you'd need to have his hips scored, his eyes tested by a specialist ophthamologist, and start with gundog training.

Awww poor boy. He will be seeing the world as though he was only 8 weeks again. He probably dose not understand dog language  and needs time to lean how to communicate with dogs, he probably feels nervous  when on walks as its still new to him, he may be using a ball a bit like a safety blanket to help him feel more secure. He may be ignoring other dogs as he has no clue how to greet them. Give him  plenty of time to learn how to be a dog  again .

Poor  boy I wonder how he ended up in a second floor flat with a pedigree like that. He really needs a job and some means of challenging all that ability. If you can do it try to get him some gundog training. The gundog club (sorry can't do links) have specialist spaniel groups or you could find a trainer nearby. He'll love the walks but he needs brain work as well. Hide some balls in hedges etc and get him to find them etc. I don't have spaniels but even my working (sometimes!) Flatcoat is not that fussed with playing with other dogs, he obviously has a high hunting drive and other dogs are boring in comparison. Again I'm not a spaniel expert but there are some well respected lines in there and  with all those FTCH's in there I'm not surprised he's so hot. With regard to trialling he might be a bit to old to start now but there are working tests, get him assessed by someone who knows. Bless him sounds like he's fallen on his poor little paws at last. Good luck with him.

With that pedigree you've answered why he's so obsessed as his lineage are all field trial champions.   I would not breed from him though just have him for the great dog he will be.

We had a working Springer and she was just like him.  She was obsessed with holding something in her mouth and although she probably at one point lived with 9 other dogs, she saw no need to recognise any of them, and certainly would pay no attention to a strange dog in the park.

I agree with the idea of stimulating play etc, or possibly field trial training, but I wouldn't ever consider studding a rescue, no matter how good the pedigree :-)

If he is toy motivated how about channelling some of his energy into agility or flyball ?

Yes sorry JG didn't read it properly

Hi
Yes i do know his parentage, the reason i mentioned field trials is because he is highly energetic.

Hi

Yes   he is KC registered, and I know about hips and eyes. Nuala

Hi

Yes   he is KC registered, and I know about hips and eyes. Nuala

Yes I am trying to find some local gundogs and specialist spaniel groups. Not much in yellow pages.

Thanks, flyballing sounds good, i will try a local club

> Yes   he is KC registered

In your name?  That is highly unusual for a rescue particularly from the RSPCA!

Maybe this website would be of some help with regard to gundog training:

http://www.thegundogclub.co.uk/