Why Would Anyone Choose To Have A Spaniel?

Now look. Look into those sad eyes. Do not be fooled. He is a well fed, well walked and a very well loved doggie. Would you believe it?

I must admit, I wasn't looking for a dog when Sam arrived. I was waiting until I had my own place and looking forward to having my very own chocolate lab. It was the chocolate lab that first pulled on my then 'I'm not really much of a dog person' heart string and made me fall head over heals for the four legged little beams of sunshine.

Border Collies also seemed to spring up everywhere in eyeshot when I moved in with my partner and her family a few years ago. They had five of them at the time as they were, and still continue to be, a dog agility household. Even, when I tagged along with them to agility shows up and down the country, the spaniels never really caught my attention, which, looking back, is quite strange as they are amazing at it.

My old housemate called me. I had not long been moved out and the puppy she had brought was just too much for her. I had bonded in a way with this little pup in my last few weeks of living there and I must say, I did half expect the question that was to follow. She did not want him going to just anyone, so with a bit of a sigh I agreed I would take him off her hands.

I'd kept my distance from Sam while I was still living in the old place, as I knew I was moving out soon and I did not want to have to leave completely heartbroken. However, Sam saw it a bit differently. He always came to me instead of his meant to be Master and saw me more as the person to look up to. I tried so hard to encourage him to go and sit with his owner etc etc but 90% of the time, he would be at my feet or following me everywhere I went. It was very cute though, I must admit.

I was living with my sister, Max and her family at this point, along with her chocolate lab, Pudsy, who was the very chocolate lab that melted my heart in the first place. Sam and Pudsy got on reasonably well with each other and Sam seemed to fall in love with my 18 month year old niece, however, there were some obvious puppy problems. Sam being a spaniel, his massive appetite created tons of trouble, while his toilet adjustment to his new environment caused many issues involving tissues.
This was all occurring in my house proud sister's home, so the fact that my dog was peeing on a carpet I didn't pay for, stealing food not cooked for just me and jumping around on sofas with muddy paws that did not belong to me, made the whole typical puppy months devastatingly hard.

I will openly admit, there were times, I thought about finding him a new home. I just wasn't ready for a dog at the time. My sister's home was slowly turning into a mud filled, hair shimmering, mad house which I simply couldn't keep on top of. If it was my own home, it would all just have been part of the experience. I was really down about the whole situation and I recall having a chat with Max about where Sam's future lay. I almost regretted helping out my friend by taking him on and then topped that off by slightly resenting the poor little guy. My sister described it as 'post puppy depression' and as soon as Sam started to shine into maturity things would feel a whole lot better. In my head, I could imagine packing all his stuff up, getting him on the lead and taking him to his new life with a tear in my eye. But, when it came to picturing me handing his lead over to someone else, my mind would shut off and there was then no question in my head. I could never let him go! Look at that little face! Could you?

My sister was right. Things did slightly improve as the weeks went by. He was still driving me mental at times but hey, gotta love 'em! Sam and I then relocated. We moved back in with my partner and her family. Yep, that's right, where all the border collies live. There were now a staggering six of them living there. A true, typical pack of dogs. I was worried how Sam would be with them and how they would be with him. Fresh meat anyone? We gave it a trial weekend to begin with. The initial meeting was in a mutual field where Sam decided to zoom around shrieking and until running into a fence. Onlookers were slightly bemused, I must say. The thing was though, not Shadow, nor Trixie, Demon, Sky, Saidy nor Ruby laid a single paw on him. But Sam being the drama king that he is had to make it seem like he was being brutally mutilated while his mother looked on. He still can be a right wimp sometimes.

We have been living here now for around four months and Sam appears very happy, having a playmate at every corner. He always has company, which for a puppy that did suffer with separation anxiety has done him the world of good. He is hardly top of the pack but as a pretty easygoing little guy, he isn't exactly bothered. Apart from when it comes to toys.

Pictured left to right: Demon, Sam, Saidy, Sky, Trixie, Shadow (Ruby was about somewhere but obviously didn't fancy her photo being taken)

Well, as much as I love him he still retains the ability to drive me more than crazy!

What you have let yourself in for:
(Please note these are all shining examples of Sam)

- Their obsessions with food - Can lead to them, given the opportunity, to leap on to a table (even straight from the floor) and eat from your plate. Their obsession can force them into bins and a like. To eat their meal so fast, they're sick afterwards. To steal food straight from children's fingers, without a second thought about it. Finish off road kill. Lead yanking to reach any available cat poo and diving into cooler bags and coming out with a large sized egg and ham sandwich, unwrapping in a matter of microseconds.

- Their Nose - Most spaniels enjoy following fascinating or even not so fascinating scents. Nose to the floor and gone! Farmers fields is usually a favourite. They won't listen to you calling them back, regardless of training (this is only my experience with Sam, there are ways of training spaniels to come back, just not my spaniel.) Please beware their nose is very important and will rule over most things.

- Their Houdini like ways - They are fantastic at escaping and do not underestimate their ability to jump. Beware of net cages, tables or worktops near dog gates and yes, open windows. Spaniels are not afraid to try!

- Their constant need for attention - I found this surprisingly difficult to get use to. If a spaniel sees you as their master or even a substitute they like to be with you. Lots and lots and lots. Watch where you walk, especially when they are young and tiny. Sometimes however, being around you simply isn't enough. If they want your attention, they might start to whine or Sam's favourite trick, grab a toy and simply walk little circuits around the room with it. Whining as he wonders. Also, make sure you are prepared to be jumped, bounced, laid on while they cover your entire face in slobber.

-Their Stubbornness - On some occasions, you may notice that your spaniel simply is raising two fingers to you with a point blank, no! Such as refusing to stay in the back seats of the car and insisting on riding shotgun no matter how many times you have tried to make it clear that their place in the car is the back. Mornings, when your spaniel simply is not ready to get up and go out to the toilet and has to be encouraged by their collar to start the day.

Obviously, training is required for all of the above and any dog needs to know their place, which is below you!!! You are top of their pack and they must not over step the barriers you set. Although, when they have a face like that, it's really really hard!

I apologise if I have given you the impression that I don't understand why anyone would choose to invite a spaniel into their family and home. I do. Thanks to Sam. Before this black and white, sprocker spaniel (we think) trotted in to my life, I probably would have thought 'why a spaniel?'

Now though, if anyone was to ask me that question, I would have no trouble answering it what so ever. It would more or less go something like this.

They are simply lovely!!!!! Need I say anymore....