Spaniels have always been the traditional hunting or retriever dogs.
Getting ready for a new spaniel begins before you bring it home.
Choosing which breed of spaniel is sometime difficult as their are many traits in the spaniel family to look at.
All dogs belong to the same species, called the Canis familiaris. All dogs come equipped with the remarkable blend of high intelligence, fierce loyalty, human-like emotions, boundless love, and the ability to smell leftover meat two blocks away.
Here are a few common traits for different spaniel breeds:
American Cocker Spaniel average height is 13.5-15.5in average weight is 26-34lb bred for Small game retrieving Now mainly used as Companion dog and family pet.
Sussex Spaniel average height is 13-15in average weight is 35-45lb bred for Game Tracking Now mainly used as Companion or family pet.
Welsh Springer Spaniel average height is 17-19in average weight is 35-45lb bred for Game Flushing and Retrieving Now mainly used as Companion, or gundog.
Field Spaniel average height is 16-19in average weight is 35-50lb bred for Game retrieving Now mainly used as Companion or hunter.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel average height is 12-13in average weight is 13-18lb bred for Companion Now mainly used as Companion for retired hunters.
Choosing the trait you would like in your spaniel pup should be foremost in your mind. You don’t want to end up with a lap dog when you really wanted a hunting companion.
A puppy means a big change in your life and it helps, as the Boy Scouts say, to be prepared. Taking time now to plan and get things in order will make a big difference in the long run.
Here are a few Tips
While at the breeder’s kennel go through the following steps
1. Hold each puppy up so that its feet are a few inches off the floor. Watch what he does: Most pups wiggle around a bit then accept it. This mean he may not like it but will accept your authority. A dominant puppy will continue struggling and may howl and bite. A submissive puppy will just dangle passively and accept the situation or in severe cases, panic and submissively urinate.
2. Lay the new pup on its back. Comfort it by stroking its belly and talking to it softly. Observe its reaction: A normal puppy will struggle briefly, then settle. This is the response that most buyers should look for. A dominant puppy will struggle constantly, howl, and perhaps try to bite. A submissive puppy will succumb and perhaps urinate or, in an extreme case, panic.
3. Set the puppy on its feet on the floor. Then a crumpled piece of paper or a small stick away from the puppy and observe its reaction: A normal puppy will chase the object, play with it, and perhaps bring it back to you if you call out to it. It will allow you to take the object away without much fuss. A dominant puppy will chase the object, take it to a corner, and ignore you when you call out to it. It may growl at you if you attempt to reclaim the object. A submissive puppy may not react at all to the object or may actually be afraid of it.
4. Crouch down a few feet from the puppy and encourage it to come to you by clapping and calling out. Observe its reaction: A normal puppy will happily come over to you in a confident, playful manner. A dominant puppy will either charge you and jump up on you recklessly or completely ignore you. A submissive puppy may come over cautiously and expose its belly, perhaps even urinating upon being touched.
Let us consider extremely submissive behavior to be far left of center, normal to be at the center, and extremely dominant to be far right of center. Most buyers who are looking for a loving, trainable family pet should consider a puppy that performs as close to the center as possible.
When dealing with a dominant breed such as the Rottweiler, Mastiff, or German Shepherd, you would do well to consider a puppy that is slightly left of center. When dealing with a submissive breed such as the Pomeranian, Beagle, or Yorkie Terrier, you might wish to consider a puppy that is slightly right of center. In all cases, avoid the extremes.
Start out with the right attitude. The first weeks of your new puppy’s life with you will be busy and demanding. There may be times when you wonder if getting a puppy was such a good idea. Things will go better if you have patience and keep your sense of humor. Remember that puppyhood only happens once. The extra effort you put into it now will pay off in the future.
A note on discipline:
Physical discipline should be reserved for serious dog crimes only, and not to be used for every episode of bad behavior. Verbal correction will suffice for many dogs, but you should know more than one method of discipline before the unfortunate necessity of using one arises.
For an extreme situation the best and I feel the only method of physical punishment is the shake down.
The shakedown is simply grabbing with one hand the scruff of the neck and giving it a good shake. This method approximates the technique a mother of a litter uses to keep order in the litter, to stop fighting between litter members, or to help wean her pups away from her to solid food. Discipline methods that reflect instinctual canine behavior will communicate displeasure in ways a dog can understand. Other corrections like throwing or hitting the dog with objects, spanking with newspapers, or simple pleading only serve human, not canine, ends, and do not communicate displeasure clearly to the dog.
Darin Lawson Hosking
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/bringing-home-the-right-spaniel-pup-102873.html
I brought a puppy home today and she will not eat a thing and only sleeps! She is 9 weeks! Is this normal??
My dog is a 9 week old lab/spaniel mix and I just brought her home and she is not even trying food! She will drink water but will not eat food or treats. She pees but has liquid when she goes #2. I’m just concerned cuz people are saying something is wrong with her and i don’t know if they are right or she is just not adjusted yet. She has slept all day and it is really hard to wake her. Can anyone help me?
Sleeping is norm….i wouldn’t worry too much just yet…You’ve taken her out of the only environment she’s ever known…it will take a little while to get adjusted….the runny poop might be if you are giving her a different food then what she was used to. She’ll perk up when she’s ready…just keep an eye on her
References :
It’s normal for dog to lose their appetite on their first day home and sleep a lot due to the stress of leaving their mama, but if she’s acting sick, it may be something more serious.
If it’s not better tomorrow, I’d take her to the vet.
Also, if you adopted the puppy from a shelter or a pet store, they are breeding grounds for illnesses, and I would have the puppy checked by a vet regardless of if she gets better or not.
References :
well shes depressed and thinking about her old family, wondering where she is and how long she has to stay. she probably expects to go back to her hold place soon thinking she doesnt have to eat, that shell wat when she gets back. but just be nice and gently and have a calm area for her, dont harass her, maybe offer her treats and let her sleep on your bed with you, just be nice and welcoming and accomodating for her. soon shell forget all about the first few days with you and shell love you very very much, and wont even miss the old place. shes just adjusting. as long as she isnt going over a day without eating she should be okay, offer her tasty treats and spend some alone calm time with her
References :
hi… i wouldnt stress too much at the moment…. she is only nine weeks old. She has had a BIG day… she has been moved away from mum and brothers and sisters… She will need time to adjust… Little puppies do sleep alot and when the wake they usually like to play…. give her time to rest… she needs that… Try placing a soft toy in her basket with a nice soft blanket… under the blanket i would put a clock that ticks…. she will hear the ticking and think its her mums heart beat. Im sure she will be fine in a day or two… hope that helps… good luck
References :
She’s tired. Leave her alone and give her some time to adjust. Are you offering her the exact same food that her breeder fed her? If not, that’s why she has diarrhea and it’s also why she probably doesn’t want any. You need to ask what food she was being fed and offer her that. Change her food over gradually over 4-7 days using the old food and the food you want to feed her. She may not want anything just yet – be patient.
References :
Your dog has diarrhea if her #2 is liquid. This means she is sick. It may just be from stress, but usually it is bacterial. Where did you get her? If from a person, call them to see if she had diarrhea before you got her and if they were treating her with anything. If from a pet store, for sure she had diarrhea before, because they often sell sick pups. Tomorrow, if she still has diarrhea, she needs to go to the vet and get medicine. Keep her hydrated by giving her water, and don’t worry if she doesn’t eat until she feels better. You wouldn’t be eating either if you had tummy aches and diarrhea.
References :
That normal she’s only a baby, they sleep a lot.But watch the loose bowels! Give her rice and raw chicken, if it does not improve in 24 hours see the Vet. Make sure she gets all her injections.(most important) Watch for dehydration.
References :
typically it is normal for a puppy who has just been brought home to a new enviroment to sleep all the time, and not eat much. she most likely is dehydrated which is why she is drinking so much water. As for the sleeping part being hard to wake her up, i would closely monitor her, if there is no change by tomorrow night i would suggest to call the vet and see what they might think. i wish you the best of luck!
References :
please take her to the vet she sounds sick it could just be an intestinal parasite ie worms which puppies commonly get or it could be something More serious like the parvo virus which one of the symptom’s of is diarrhea. anytime a puppy or dog is that fatigued it is a sigh something is wrong.a puppy should be energetic even if she is scared again please get her to the vet like now
References :
dogs get really tired when they are stressed. They also don’t eat when they are stressed, and they usually get the runs. Keep her in a smaller space so she can get used to her surroundings a little at a time, spend a lot of time with her, and relax! After a day or two if she is still pooping runny and stuff you might want to see a vet…it’s easy for puppies to get intestinal problems from stress, and it’s also easy to treat. Remember with the food that she is used to other puppies competing for food or maybe even leading her to it, so try leaving it down. Don’t try to force her to eat.
References :
Drinking water is all she needs right now. Too early to worry. As everyone else has said, she had a big day. And, like babies of all species are wont to do, expect her to sleep a whole lot in the first few weeks. It will also take a few days for her to understand that this is her new family. It usually happens quickly: puppies need someone to look up to, to make them feel secure. Be there for her, and she will repay you with years of unconditional love.
It is always a good idea to take a new pup to the vet soon after you get her, even if the dog is healthy, to establish a relationship with someone who will be a very important ally in the years to come. If you can, bring a stool sample, since most vets like to do an analysis to rule out worms anyway. At least you’ll be prepared.
Her gut is still adjusting to not having mother’s milk in her diet. When you visit the vet, ask them to recommend a diet to use for that "problem." All vets have a favorite that they like to give to all their patients.
Congrats on the new arrival, and all the best with your new puppy.
References :
9 weeks old mmmmmmmm well she is just a baby dear and she misses her mama. she needs to have a soft stufty in her bed with her (some are made with a battery opperated heart beating in side which makes her think she is near her mama or siblings.
on the food thing she needs to eat puppy chow mixed with warmed evaperatored milk (1 part) and 2-3 parts water. let it set for a bit till the puppy chow is soft and mushy. yes she will drink most of the liquid first but she will also get her nose in the food as well and smell it at the same time which will make her eat it as well. it will be soft enough for her to eat so she should dig in . her stools are watery because she is only drinking water. the milk mixture with the puppy chow will change this. remember to just warm the mixture… not to hot and not cold… shes a baby they like warm food. when she starts eating it regulary then you can start weening her on to just warm water and smaller bits of the evaperatored milk mixed with her puppy chow and then ween her off the soft stuff all together. but remember this could take as much as a few weeks . keep in mind she is still a baby. but sooner or later she will start eating the puppy chow dry . only give treets as rewards for doing well like potty training and tricks. its a myth to feed a dog only once a day especially when they are babys. always make sure she has food on a regular basis till 6-8 months old then you can feed her in AM & PM cheers josie
References :
I had a similar situation with my lhasa apso the day I brought her home from the pet store (before I knew NOT to buy dogs from pet stores). She didn’t eat the following day, either, so I took her to the vet (the pet store paid). She was dehydrated so they had to give her a shot. I had a REALLY difficult time feeding her for several weeks even though we hadn’t changed her food. Find out your dog’s history. If you bought her from a pet store, she was likely born in a puppy mill out in the midwest. She probably arrived by plane a few days ago, so she it exhausted and stressed from all the activity. If she’s not eating tomorrow, take her to the vet because it’s dangerous for a puppy this young to go without food for too long!
References :
When I first got my dog he was like that. I think he was just having trouble adjusting. I was really worried and even tried spoon feeding him. But after a few days he got over it and livened up. Hes still a picky eater though. Maybe give it a day or two and if it still persists take her to a vet.
References :
can u feed him milk?
References :
You mean she has diarrhea?? She won’t eat, and has diarrhea and sleeps all day long?? You aren’t serious.. You should find somewhere else to ask silly questions.. The dog is sick and going to die.. Is that the response you are looking for?? Having fun now??
Giggling?? Grow up!
References :
Hey. Just stop for a minute and think what that pup has gone through in one day. It has lost the warmth and companionship of it’s siblings. It has lost the warmth, attention and milk of it’s mother. It has changed surroundings.It has changed it’s bed. Has probably been in a car for the first time. It has had different food put in front of it.
There is not a lot more you can throw at that pup is there? just give it a chance and it will come round.
Good luck (and patience)
References :