Author: Phil

A long-term springer spaniel owner

Sinkhole Springer Spaniel Rescue

Carmen Cowart had just arrived at Jonesville Park on Friday evening when Joe, her 3-year-old English springer spaniel, started running about and took a dive down a 50′ deep sinkhole. Joe survived and was

springer spaniel rescue from sinkhole
Springer spaniel rescue from sinkhole

rescued by a team from the University of Florida Veterinarian School.

Thanks to www.gainesville.com for the story and picture, and to John H at the University of Florida for the tip – the guys there have carried out a few rescues.

Full story at  http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120319/ARTICLES/120319521

Springer Spaniels News Feed

Springer spaniel head from front
Springer Spaniel Head - good shot of nose and eyes

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Springer Spaniel Rescue from Quarry

The Medway Messenger reports the recovery of a six month old springer spaniel from Halling Quarry. Despite the 30′ fall the springer was well. Needless to say, the owner was delighted with the springer spaniel rescue. Full story:

Medway Messenger Springer Spaniel Rescue

Springer Spaniels Rage – An Urban Myth?

Is springer spaniels rage an urban myth, or does it really exist as a condition? Dog rage in general is also a term one hears. We do know that ‘mad dog’ harks back to rabies (which is usually fatal to humans), and we hear of ‘mad dogs’ in everyday speech, without any reference to rabies. Let’s be clear that we are not here associating dog rage or springer spaniels rage with rabies.

We are talking here about episodic (occasional) events where some sort of ‘rage’ behaviour occurs in otherwise well-behaved springer spaniels or other dogs. Symptoms might be any or all of:

  • Sudden aggression that happens without warning.
  • Aggressive behaviour in the absence of other dogs.
  • Snarling, growling, attack posture.
  • Changes to the eyes (temporary).

This usually happens when there are no obvious external triggers (though there may be exceptions), and the episode stops suddenly. Springer spaniels appear to suffer no after effects, or ill-effects. Their behaviour reverts to normal after the event, which typically lasts a few minutes.

The fact is that any biological organism is subject to disrupted behaviour, and higher mammals (which includes dogs), are included. The more complex the brain, then the more disorders it can be subject to. For the purposes of this discussion, springer spaniels brains (and dog brains in general) are broadly equivalent to ours, and any brain disorders to which we humans are subject are broadly presented in dogs – and therefore springer spaniels.

On balance, expert opinion is that ‘rage syndrome’ in springer spaniels (and other dogs) is caused by an epileptic fit. It is quite rare – typically, only 4 in 10,000 dogs are subject to these fits.

If you suspect that your springer may have this condition, keep the springer away from any children, then get expert advice. Diagnosis requires expert input, and there is evidence that springer spaniels are slightly more pre-disposed to this conditions than dogs in general, though suspect bloodlines are being terminated. In English springer spaniels, the condition is limited to the ‘show’ (US ‘bench’) bloodlines. It is not present in the field line of the breed.

In Welsh springers, the incidence is no different to that in all dogs, but Cocker spaniels have a slightly higher incidence than average.

Treatment for springer spaniels rage (and dog rage) is possible following accurate diagnosis.

If you decide to take the dog to a springer spaniels rescue center, then be sure to tell them that you suspect the dog of having the condition, so that the staff are not endangered.

Springer Spaniel Grooming – Are Dew Claws A Problem?

Just a quick note here about dew claws – a topic which crops up from time to time for springer spaniel owners.

Dew claws grow on the rear of the lower leg and are vestigial ‘thumbs’ left over from ancient genetic lines, originally used for gripping prey. They serve no practical purpose on springer spaniels, though in a few breeds (e.g. the Great Pyreneean) they are considered to be essential. On other breeds, where the dew claw is lower on the paw then they can grow inward (like an ingrowing toenail), giving rise to discomfort, even infection.

When the dog is running around in undergrowth, or a working springer is retrieving, then dew claws can snag and cause the dog injury. That in itself is a good reason for their removal – it is not a cosmetic surgery issue.

American Kennel Club breed standards allow the removal of dew claws for both English springer spaniels and Welsh springer spaniels.

In some countries, removal of dew claws other than from a pup whose eyes are still closed, must be done by a licensed veterinarian under anaesthetic, else the procedure is considered to be mutilation and may even be illegal.

Most breeders will remove dew claws from the new-born pups – the procedure is simple. Any trimming around the dew claws does not then become an issue for the adult springer spaniel grooming process.

Springer Spaniels Rescue – What’s It All About?

This is a large business – or more accurately a group of individual charities, worldwide, which specialise in springer spaniels rescue. That is, they take in springer spaniels, and look after them until a new owner is found, or until the dog has to be destroyed. When you multiply this up across all popular breeds, and add in the ‘all-breed’ rescue centers, then you see the scale of the unwanted dogs problem.

Fortunately, today, fewer dogs are having to be destroyed as a result of lack of resources to keep them. After all they have to be fed (cost) and exercised (staff – sometimes volunteers). Then, occasionally, some require veterinary attention. Most dogs will need to be checked over on arrival, and sometimes calling a veterinarian in would be necessary – and that could result in destruction of the dog. The realities of rescue centers can be very harsh.

The Dog’s Background

The reasons that the dogs end up at the springer spaniels rescue center are myriad, but in the case of the specialised breed rescue centers such as we are discussing here, then they are not usually stray dogs. This is an advantage of you are looking for such a family pet, because the rescue center will usually have some information about the dog’s background and history. In exceptional cases, they may even have pedigree papers available – a real bonus for the new adoptive owner.

The absence of pedigree papers would not be a problem for most adoptive owners, unless they wanted to show the dog or breed from it.

Springer Spaniels Rescue – The Reasons

If the dog has not arrived as a consequence of, say the death of the owner, or being aged and perhaps infirm and no longer properly to exercise the springer, then the reason may be problematical. Perhaps the dog has a behavioural problem, or has proved difficult to train (unusual in the case of springer spaniels). Perhaps the dog is too boisterous for new or very young children, or even barks excessively. These are all reasons for caution if you are looking for a springer, as additional and sometimes, corrective, training may be necessary.

The springer spaniels rescue center will not always know the reason that the dog has been brought in, though behavioural or barking problems would soon have become apparent. However, if the problem is thought to be one that cannot easily be trained out, then the center might have to make a tough decision about the dog’s future. Usually, if there is an obvious social problem with the dog that could be corrected, then the staff would advise prospective owners accordingly.

Advantages

Getting your next dog from a springer spaniels rescue center has many advantages. For example, house training will probably not be necessary, and that awkward ‘teething’ period would be in the past. However, there are disadvantages too – not least in relation to the reason for the dog being at the center.

Provided that the dog is healthy (and most are), then the basic decision revolves around your family and the dog’s suitability. Often the staff at the springer spaniels rescue center will be able to help you with the decision. They want to see the dog placed in an appropriate home, and not have him or her returned to the center – dogs get disappointed too!

So, that’s what it’s all about. The centers exist as temporary carers for springer spaniels whilst new homes are found for them. A simple concept, which has given many owners great new pets. If you are seriously considering springer spaniels rescue, though, then go in with your eyes open and do look at a few springers before you decide which one you will give a home to.

If you do think that a springer you fancy might be the one for you, then bear in mind that extra training might be necessary. There are plenty of springer spaniel training resources available here on this site.

Cash-hunting Springer Spaniel Sniffer Dogs Helping to Collar Criminals – Scotsman.com

Yet another job for springer spaniel sniffer dogs! I think it’s 8 jobs now and still counting. They are amazing dogs – I wish mine would sniff out some cash for me!

Edinburgh Evening News

Cash-hunting sniffer dogs helping to collar criminals

Sniffer dog Roddy at work in Edinburgh Airport

Published on Thursday 16 February 2012 12:10

POLICE today carried out a search operation at Edinburgh Airport with sniffer dogs deployed to track down criminals smuggling cash abroad.

The operation by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) saw specially trained dogs check passengers in the airport’s departure area as they prepared to take flights from 6am today.

The crackdown was mounted in a bid to detect money being taken out of Scotland to avoid tax, or to be hidden in foreign bank accounts.

Around 1800 passengers departing on international flights between 4am and 8am today were checked for cash.

A Lithuanian man flying out to Kaunis was stopped after a dog detected money in his jacket. The man was found to be carrying £2000 and interviewed by officials, but was released after officials determined he was taking the money back to his homeland after working in the UK.

Passengers departing on flights to Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Tenerife, Krakow, Prague, Alicante, Budapest, New York and Copenhagen were searched as part of the operation.

Security personnel, assisted by officers from Lothian and Borders Police, separated passengers leaving on domestic and international flights into sections, with the dogs a yellow labrador called Marley and a springer spaniel called Roddy checking the bags and clothing of anyone going abroad.

UKBA officers also checked domestic passengers using a profiling system to identify potential smugglers to be checked by the animals and their handlers for money.

A number of passengers were also stopped with small amounts of cash notes before being allowed to proceed. Colin Fraser, senior officer at UKBA, pledged that the cash spot-checks would be carried out on a very regular basis at the airport to snare criminals.

He added that locations such as Dubai and mainland Spain were popular with criminals taking money abroad.

As well as depositing cash in foreign accounts, criminals also take money abroad to buy drugs or cigarettes to be smuggled back into Britain.

Full Story: Cash Hunting Springer Spaniel

Acknowledgements: grateful thanks to www.scotsman.com

Springer Spaniels – Obedience Training

Here’s a video of a well trained English springer spaniel demonstrating obedience during a dog shop. You’ll note that the tail is docked, and the ‘stocky’ build is indicative of the show (bench) line of the breed (the field line is less stocky, and in my opinion, more agile).

Note the constant use of eye contact to maintain communication.

Springer spaniels are sociable, even with other dogs, and quite level-tempered. They are intelligent and eager to please (‘biddable’) so they are easier to train than some other breeds. The Springer was bred originally as a working dog. An outdoors dog has the genes for running, swimming, and staying active. So, they need exercise, but this makes training them a lot of fun – they keep the owners active too!

They want to get it right although they can be stubborn if trained the wrong way. If you take on a springer spaniel rescue dog, then bear in mind that some re-training may be necessary.

If you have a puppy, though, then it is much easier. Kennel Clubs usually run puppy training classes, and after the basic training – ‘boot camp’ – there are various levels, typically bronze, silver and gold. You and your springer must pass a test so that you can start training at the next level up. The course is straightforward though; different springers have different difficulties with exercises, but the trainers will help you and you dog surmount these hurdles (often literally). And so you and your springer progress from level to level.

Training field dogs is a completely different process – they need to get used to the sound of guns and learn to work in a team with another dog. They are also at a much greater distance fromt their owners, on average, and signalling techniques differ – they may be out of sight in undergrowth, or swimming to retrieve.

Here’s more on field training and exercises.

Rhys Itching To Sniff Out Deadly Ants – Science – NZ Herald News

I picked up this story and picture from the New Zealand Herald News, reporter John Weekes, with thanks. Yet another springer spaniel sniffer dog  job. That’s eight jobs and still counting. It’s great to see that the dog has a real Welsh name.

Springer spaniel sniffer dog - ant seeker
Rhys Jones, a Welsh springer spaniel sniffer dog.

“New Zealand’s first ant-sniffing canine is training for battle against hordes of Argentine invaders.

Local biosecurity experts hope Welsh springer spaniel Rhys Jones will soon hunt Argentine ants.

“He’s about halfway through his training and he’s ticking all the boxes,” said Auckland Council biosecurity manager Jack Craw.

The dog’s trainer, Brian Shields, said Argentine ants were notorious for attacking native bird species.

Rhys Jones will work on finding pheremone trails the ants leave when moving from their nests to food sources. “When he smells one, he’ll sit and get a reward,” Shields said. ”

…more (including details about this nasty ant) at

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/science/news/article.cfm?c_id=82&objectid=10773812

© Copyright 2012, APN Holdings NZ Limited

There’s another story here about springer spaniels being used to hunt termites attacking ancient buildings in South Korea. Enjoy!

Springer Spaniel Problems – A Guide

This article is a list of the most common springer spaniel problems, with links to the more detailed articles on this site. Click the underlined words for more information.

Hereditary Problems

Most hereditary problems with springers can be screened for, and may be known about by the breeder from the history of the parents and grandparents. Fortunately, the more common problems such as hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and retinal dysplasia are being bred out of the springer stock.

Some bloodlines may have a higher incidence of cataracts.

Growing Problems

If a young springer (less than 1 year old) is exercised too hard (particularly with jumping), then hip joints may not grow into a healthy adult shape, causing joint pain and arthritis in later life.

Eye Problems

Apart from the hereditary eye problems mentioned above, there are a couple of other conditions which are not uncommon.

Entropion is the inward growth of eyelashes. This can be corrected. Outward growth (ectropion) is less common.

Cataracts may occur with any dog (indeed, as with any older person).

Ear Problems

Inflammation of the ears (otitis) is fairly common in dogs with long hairy ears if the ears are not groomed and cleaned regularly.

Skin Problems

These are usually due to infectious diseases, damage or allergic reactions. In general, treatment is straightforward.

Behavioural Problems

Springers are, in general, well behaved. Although ‘rage’ is talked about from time to time, it has been hard to pin down, and evidence tends to be anecdotal. Springer spaniels have an even, affectionate and loyal temperament, though they love fun and can get excited. Any behavioural problems are usually due to a lack of, or poor, training.

Springers occasionally react when in the company of other dogs of the same sex.

General Problems

As with most domesticated animals, excessive feeding or poor diet, without exercise to compensate, can lead to other problems such as constipation, diabetes, weight problems and hypertension. Avoiding these is a matter of following suitable feeding and exercise guidelines for springer spaniels.

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