Are Springer Spaniels Good Family Dogs?

Choosing a pet for your family is a special time. It is a big decision as well as a serious commitment. However, if chosen wisely, the new pet can bring a lot of joy and happiness to your life. This pet will become an extra member of your family.

Springer Spaniels can make great family companions. These springers with floppy ears are a sociable breed, who will want to take part in family activities.

A Springer Spaniel will thrive in a home with people around him. They are one of those dog breeds that are always up for a game or a walk.

However, while this all sounds perfect, it is worth remembering, that the owner's lifestyle needs to match the demands of a dog to make sure everyone is happy and satisfied.

This article will discuss how suitable Springer Spaniels are as part of a family, around kids and other pets as well as areas to consider when choosing an English Springer Spaniel.

Choosing a Family Dog

Congratulations- you have decided to expand your family.

Now, how to know which dog breed is the one? It is necessary to consider your daily life and then find a dog whose temperament matches your family's lifestyle and personality.

Things to Consider When Picking Your Pet:

Here are some things to consider when choosing the right animal for the family:

• Exercise requirement
• Size
• Living Conditions (house/apartment)
• Health problems
• Compatibility with kids and other animals in the household
• Temperament
• Health issues

Springer Spaniel Temperament and Personality

The first thing to consider when picking an English Springer Spaniel as your family pet is the dog's personality and temperament.

Thankfully, the English Springer Spaniel temperament makes this dog breed perfect for families. English Springers are very affectionate and friendly. That will make them great in a family environment where they are given lots of attention.

Most English Springer Spaniels love people so much that they will even get along with strangers and visitors. This will mean a Springer can fail as a guard dog.

A Springer is a highly active dog which makes him a great playmate to kids as well as other dogs in the household.

English Springer Spaniels have an even temper and gentle disposition which means they are also eager to please their owner. But, without mental stimulation, this highly intelligent breed can have temperament issues as well as excessive barking.

Also, a springer can be very boisterous, especially as a puppy, which might not suit every family.

While your English Springer Spaniel will spend time with everyone in the family, they often pick one person and become extra attached to that individual.

So, Springer Spaniels have a great personality as they are affectionate and friendly.

Can Springer Spaniels Live With Other Pets?

English Springer Spaniels generally get along well with further pets, even cats.

Living With Other Dogs

Springer Spaniels love attention, so they will be happy to have another dog in the house to play with. Be aware, that if you have two Springer Spaniels they can get rowdy playing together and this can, in turn, get quite noisy.

However, their compatibility with pets will also depend on their age and experience with other animals.

Introducing a New Pet

If you have had your Springer Spaniel for a while and decide to get a new pet, take your time to introduce them. It is best to first introduce two pets slowly in neutral territory.

Once the pets know each other, they can become great friends who spend a lot of time playing or cuddling together.

Other Pets and Hunting Dog Instincts

Springer Spaniel dog breed can be a bit more difficult to accept birds or small rodents as your pet. Springer is a gun dog and his natural hunting instincts can kick in. They might see birds as prey.

It may be possible to introduce these pets when your English Springer Spaniel is a puppy. Also, it is possible to train the dog recall and to stop chasing. Overall, most springers love living with other pets.

Are Springers Good With Children?

Because of the English Springer Spaniel personality, this dog breed is also good for kids. Springer Spaniels are attentive and fun-loving which makes them superb for kids to grow up with.

The dog will be protective of their family including children, however, because of their friendly nature, it will not be an issue when kid's friends come around to play.

However, it is always important to supervise the playtime between children and dogs. This will ensure that everyone is safe and minimise the chances of any accidents.

Living With Small Kids

Springer spaniels can get quite bouncy and even over-zealous when playing which can be too much for smaller children. This is especially the case with Springer Spaniel puppies that can almost seem to have hyperactivity. Also, it is important to teach children how to respect dogs and their space.

English Springer Spaniel Exercise Needs

English Springer Spaniels are highly intelligent and active dogs. This means they need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy.

Being part of a family can mean there are enough people to keep up with this dog's daily needs. However, it is important to consider whether you have enough time to fulfil the breed's exercise requirements.

Daily walks and time in the garden should be part of the springer's daily routine. As highly active dogs, springers are great at dog sports. They can excel in sports like flyball, agility and are great swimmers.

Health and Grooming Needs

English Springer Spaniels are also great as a family pet as there are not many health concerns.

With an average life expectancy according to American Kennel Club 12 to 14 years, this breed can be a companion for a long time.

To ensure you have a healthy dog, it is essential to offer nutritious dog food and take care of your Springer's daily needs.

English Springer Spaniels can be prone to ear infections in the ear canal. Most ear infections cause dog discomfort and prevention is best to keep these at bay.

Their long double coat also requires to be looked after by regular brushing to avoid knots. A healthy coat is silky and clean.

Some Springers, like many dogs, can have bad breath, so daily brushing is required to keep teeth healthy.

Some health conditions that can affect springers are heart disease, progressive retinal atrophy and other eye issues, diabetes and elbow dysplasia.

You should always get pet insurance and get regular vet checkups to ensure your pup is healthy and has a strong immune system.

Things To Consider When Picking English Springer Spaniels

English Springer Spaniels are loving and affectionate family dogs. However, there are a few things to consider when deciding to pick this dog breed.

Can Springers Be Left Alone?

While extremely loyal and social, Springers might not always act well when away from their owners for long periods of time. They are their happiest when together with their pack and can suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for too long.

They can get easily bored and get destructive or start barking loudly when alone.

However, with proper training and practice they can get used to spending some time alone. It is worth making sure that there are plenty of toys around to keep the pup entertained when alone.

What Kind of Home Does a Springer Spaniel Need?

A Springer Spaniel requires a lot of space to run around as this is a very high-energy dog breed. Still, they are very adaptable and can live in an apartment or a house.

It is important the English Springer Spaniel dog has their own bed and space where it can retreat for some quiet time. Teach your kids to let the dog be undisturbed in their resting area.

They also need to be let out for exercise daily. A dog who is unstimulated can become destructive out of boredom.

A big fenced yard is great to help them burn off some of the energy during the day. However, they will still require their daily walks to be able to run, explore new areas and exercise.

Are Springers Aggressive?

Springers are generally very gentle and friendly dogs. To be a good family pet, it is essential that the dog has a gentle nature. That is why this breed is very suitable, as they are rarely aggressive.

However, Springers are very active and can have bad behaviours when they are not getting enough mental stimulation and physical exercise. Mental and physical stimulation can keep negative behaviours away.

Conclusion

Finding a good family dog takes time. There are many things to consider when making the big decision of growing your family. The pet needs to suit your family's lifestyle.

What makes Springer Spaniel's great family companions is their active, energetic and social nature. This breed loves to be around people and will enjoy taking part in activities.

Springers are good with kids. They are gentle and affectionate as well as high energy. The children will love to play with the dog who will not get bored, however long the games go on.

Due to their social nature, Springers can also happily accept other pets in the household. However, be aware, if that pet is a bird as their prey instincts can kick in.

While this breed is good around family, it is always important to supervise playtime with kids as Springers can sometimes get too boisterous. This might not be suitable for small kids.

The only thing left to remember is to consider if you have enough energy to keep up with this active and full-of-life pup.