is there anyone who could give me some breed info?? i know they can be a little stubborn, but what kind of exercise do they need a day? good with same sex ?

Thanks,
Chloex

They have terrific 'noses' when working to the gun - they can locate a bird half a mile away! However they are very slow developers and need to be given time to reach their best.

Hi Chloe

Where to start, and remember, these are just my thoughts on the breed, others who have them may find them to be different! MB is right, they are slow developers and do need time! Our 4.5 year old is now only really coming to full maturity and the 2.5 year old is still very much a raw youth.

You mentioned the stubborness, and yes I would agree they can be. However, its not a "dense" sort of stubborness, quite the opposite, they are very intelligent and are masters of doing a quick cost/benefit analysis to decide if its actually worth doing something. If it ain't, the stubborness kicks in :) Training needs to be firm but fair; shouting etc will get you nowhere with a Spinone. Keep training interesting and with a point and you will do fine, because on the whole the Spin is a dog who likes to please its owners. It's also a breed that adore company, be it human or other dogs. They also enjoy sitting on your lap, sleeping on the bed and lounging on the furniture:)

With regards to exercise, I think you mentioned on another post 80 minutes a day? A Spinone will exercise all day if you wanted it to. However, 80 minutes a day would be fine, but I would advise you to look closely at the type of exercise you can give during this time. I know my two wouldn't appreciate ball throwing type of exercise one little bit. Rather, could you take a spin to the type of place where they can spend the time "hunting", somewhere where there are plenty of scents and cover for them to go through? Running about on a big flat public park type environment wouldn't do it for them I'm afraid, but put them somewhere where they can "work" and they are in seventh heaven.

Swimming, hmm, well that's the strange thing about Spins. Some will take to water no problem and some will act like you are asking them to commit a gross indignity against themselves by getting in water! We've got one of each! However, if you start them early enough with swimming you should be able to get them interested in it and happy to be in the water.

Now, if you are houseproud, forget a spinone! You have heard about the slime haven't you :D Some will slime more than others, but they all do it and it has the consistency of wallpaper paste, but a damn sight more adhesive. Be prepared to have it on your walls, ceiling, the interior of your car, etc etc etc. The coat needs work, they need to be stripped regularly and the beard needs attention to keep it clean - you will need to wash it regularly, preferably with Carex or Hibiscrub or similar. Also, the ears will need to be kept clean too. They are also mud magnets and can be extremely messy by the end of a walk in inclement weather.

The best thing I think would be to contact the ISCGB This website will give you loads of info and you'll be able to find contacts there who could perhaps put you in touch with some owners who would let you see their spins and tell you about how they find living with them! With regards to an undocked litter, I'm not aware of any breeders who would keep the whole litter undocked, but the ISCGB should help you with this too.

It's a breed people either love or hate :) I've had various gundog breeds in the past and hubby had EBT's but neither of us had experienced anything like a Spinone before ;) But now we have them, we adore them and wouldn't have anything else. However, like any breed, research as much as you can, meet as many of them as you can, and speak to as many breeders as you can before making your final decision.

Hope this helps, and if there's anything else you want to know, please ask :)

Lesley

Edited to say: just noticed elsewhere that you have children Chloe. Spins have an excellent reputation with children, they instinctively know when they have to be gentle, so I would have no worries there. But, as was also said about Munsterlanders, this is a working breed. You'll have to put in a lot to get a lot out. The spin can also be sensitive like the Munster, and wouldn't take kindly to being left alone in a kennel for hours on end. Good luck choosing, meet both breeds in as many situations as you can and take it from there :) !!

Echo all of that.

We took on an IS just a year ago. We already have English Setters, so she fitted in straighy away.

I would agree about the keen game sense, even more then the Setters.

Loves food, food and even more food. Yes, can be slobbery...
Big dog, big feet, so can leave mud all over the place. But easy to keep feet in trim.

Has a gentleness for such a large breed.

Research and see as many as you can - living in the house.

As with any 'gundog' breed they will take as 'much' exercise as you can give them. But they do need to run and have fun, and also exercise that brain. They are like the ES in that area, they work out exactly what is in it for them 'them' and then come and join you.

They are a happy and jolly breed to own.
But echo the sentiments they are not everyone's cup of tea.

Coleen

The gentleness is astonishing! Even Cadmus, who is exuberant to say the least, knows when to be gentle. An example is when I take him to see people at work, he will be excited and ecstatic with everyone until he goes up to the lady who uses a wheelchair and then he will sit and ever so gently offer her his paw. When he wants to get on eye level with her he goes round her desk and puts his front paws on it so that she can see him. He did this from a youngster without being told. One of the nicest characteristics of them I think :)

Lesley

You forgot to mention their beards which are always wet and if you've got one like one like my friends who loves food soooo much that second time around is best, well :D :) and they love people and if your the sitting down all the better to get you with that pooey beard :) :) :)

Oh yes, the sopping wet beard is lovely, not :D You can always spot a spin owner by the "chops rag" hanging out of the pocket!!! Ours are trained to the "Chops" command which means they have to come to get the beard dried, like it or not!

Edited to say; But if you keep it regularly washed with Carex, at least its a fragrant slimey drippiness :D

Does anyone else's make strange noises when sleeping?

Yes the wet soppy beard treatment is a must for people you just want to get rid off!!

Coleen

Yes, ours make strange noises when sleeping - grunts and gibbers etc, oh and snoring :) The the older one also does a fantastic impression of Chewbacca the Wookie when awake! He does this when he is running about with the obligatory present in his mouth for whoever has come in! The younger one is not nearly so vocal, the best he can come up with when he has a toy in his gob is a gentle little excited squeek! Then of course there is the sighing and harumphing they do when something doesn't suit them!

Lesley