Fudge40 Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 I'm looking at getting a dog ideally I wanted a labrador due to knowing they make good gun dogs once trained. However the other half is not too keen on them, She likes springer spaniel's. There is a Springador which is a mix of both which she likes the pictures of I have found but do they make good gun dogs? Many thanks for the advise or points you can give me as this would be my first gun dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee-kinsman Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 (edited) No doubt with the right parentage make excellent gundogs however since you can't have them with a pedigree I'd stick to either a Lab or springer. I have both and I honestly wouldn't want to choose between them. My lab is a big athletic, strong, bold, type, will retrieve anything and has a faultless nose and very intelligent. He'll go as far as is necessary to get the retrieve. He's loyal, a real good mate.I wouldn't go out without him. (21months old) My springer she is very athletic, fast, bold, and a very quick learner only needs showing once or twice and she gets it. Loves the retrieve, has a good hunting pattern. Also very loving and loyal. (6 months old) I'll enjoy her first season come September. You won't go far wrong with any of these. ATB, Lee Edited February 28, 2013 by lee-kinsman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontbeck Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 I've come across a few springadors and all of them looked the same.Slightly smaller than a Lab with a big white blaze on the chest. A friend has one, mis mating of two FTCH and she's the best beating dog on the shoot but I don't know of anyone who would make that mating intentionally Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMcC Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 I have a 'Springador' but, unfortunately, it was kept in a horse box from birth to at least six months so had no inter action with anything in it's early stages. It is very nervous of loud noise, in fact even adverts on the TV make her very wary - so is gun shy. BUT she has the instinct of a hunting dog, she can smell or sense a pheasant in the middle of a belt of trees and search it out and when the bird is flushed stops and waits for my instructions. She will be running free in fields and suddenly 'stops on her nose' and pounces to ther ground and within seconds has a rat or mouse dug up. So her hearing, eyesight and smell is fantastic but to work her over a gun is impossible !! Had I had her as a pup I reckon she would have been one of my best dogs and I have had some good Springers over the years before I retired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee-kinsman Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 She looks like a lovely dog. Cracking shiny coat on her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge40 Posted February 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 She looks a lovely dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 (edited) If my memory serves me correctly didn't somebody called Teal 27 here on the forum have a Springador which they worked? Don't know if they still visit? Cheers Aled Edited February 28, 2013 by Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontbeck Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 I have a 'Springador' but, unfortunately, it was kept in a horse box from birth to at least six months so had no inter action with anything in it's early stages. It is very nervous of loud noise, in fact even adverts on the TV make her very wary - so is gun shy. BUT she has the instinct of a hunting dog, she can smell or sense a pheasant in the middle of a belt of trees and search it out and when the bird is flushed stops and waits for my instructions. She will be running free in fields and suddenly 'stops on her nose' and pounces to ther ground and within seconds has a rat or mouse dug up. So her hearing, eyesight and smell is fantastic but to work her over a gun is impossible !! Had I had her as a pup I reckon she would have been one of my best dogs and I have had some good Springers over the years before I retired. But she looks like a Lab, nothing like a springer which his wife likes likes the look. All the ones I've seen look like a Lab, so may as well buy a Lab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMcC Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Mines now coming up to five years old an nowhere near the size of a Lab so there is an advantage. She is classed as 'Small' when we take her with us to Hotels, and we get away with it, as some charge or do not allow dogs to stay in their Hotels due to size. Oh yes, she doesn't eat as much as a Lab either so that's another advantage too ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beeredup Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 i think Eto has two Springadors if i remember correctly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barraboy Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 i shot with two lads who had springadors, from the same litter. one looked as most said a small lab with a white chest her sister could have passed for a full liver and white ESS. no guarantees of what you'll get. both were decent enough dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 I agree with pontbeck, none I have ever seen look like a spaniel. If you are buying a dog because of how it looks (presumably you are and the difference isn't that you want a peg dog and your wife wants a beating dog?) then buy a breed, not a cross - at least you know what you will get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barraboy Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/234761-springadors-lincoln.html not see many but there are a few out there that take after the spaniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshAndy Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/234761-springadors-lincoln.html not see many but there are a few out there that take after the spaniel These are 3 parts springer mum is a springador(?!) Like WGD has said if its for looks alone buy a pure breed, most springer lab crosses look like a lab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave C Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Lad i know has a 3/4 Springer 1/4 Lab, is white and black dog with a broad Labs head, looks quite smart really and hunts well, good alrounder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 If ya buy a springadore I should imagine there cheap to insure and may not carry some of the health implications from pedigree dogs and inherent inter breeding that takes place. Mongrel all the way for me lol, me beddy whippet is 9quid a month to insure. Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreadedFlapper Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Here are my brothers two! They are brother and sister, again more of the lab than the springer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 (edited) Get a lab or a spaniel don't get a mongrel. Years of breeding get spoiled by people crossing working breeds Next thing is a lab is put over the Springador and they get sold as 3/4 labs. then a lab sire is used again and sold as labs with no papers Edited February 28, 2013 by Actionpigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 I agree with pontbeck, none I have ever seen look like a spaniel. If you are buying a dog because of how it looks (presumably you are and the difference isn't that you want a peg dog and your wife wants a beating dog?) then buy a breed, not a cross - at least you know what you will get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Next thing is a lab is put over the Springador and they get sold as 3/4 labs. then a lab sire is used again and sold as labs with no papers Without this getting like the mutual appreciation society that is another very good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedeerman Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 I have a cockerdor. She is a wonderful dog! I got her as a rescue dog at 4 years old, and she has bad points because of this. She has an amazing nose, and picks birds that spaniels refuse to. She won't hunt the bramble like a springer, but if you see her going in bramble you know to get your gun ready! Her best retrieve for me last season was blind, across a brook and from about 150yards. I wouldn't have another though, because as with any cross, you don't know what you'll end up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 A very balanced post, the last line is the most important. I have never known an owner of this cross to be disappointed with their dog but without wishing to sound rude their aspirations and standards in terms of their dogs ability in the field have not in my experience been very high. As Actionpigeons said, years and generations of breeding go into fine tuning breeding to suit the job the breed is required to do. I don't subscribe to the hybrid vigour argument having had pedigree dogs since I was a boy and never had one with any health issues that could be attributed to the breeding, providing that the breeding has been done responsibly and with due consideration to the breeding behind the sire and dam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 I have a cockerdor. She is a wonderful dog! I got her as a rescue dog at 4 years old, and she has bad points because of this. She has an amazing nose, and picks birds that spaniels refuse to. She won't hunt the bramble like a springer, but if you see her going in bramble you know to get your gun ready! Her best retrieve for me last season was blind, across a brook and from about 150yards. I wouldn't have another though, because as with any cross, you don't know what you'll end up with. Don't matter what you have there's no grantees what you will end up with. There's plenty of failed *top dogs* out there and of course the trainer is always to blame.. You just edge your bets with a top pedigree. But there's plenty of unscrupulous breeders out there who couldn't give a monkeys. Some folks get through dogs like I get through loo roll. Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker boy Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Every shooter in the land has a story about "old jims" mongrel (insert silly money grabbing name), that retrieved a goose across the north sea after 15 ftch labradors had failed. Or "old jacks" mongrel (insert silly money grabbing name),that was still in the beating line after 9 championship winning springers had to be carried off home. Cut to the chase and get a ess or lab. Dead simple really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Don't matter what you have there's no grantees what you will end up with. There's plenty of failed *top dogs* out there and of course the trainer is always to blame.. You just edge your bets with a top pedigree. But there's plenty of unscrupulous breeders out there who couldn't give a monkeys. Some folks get through dogs like I get through loo roll. Karpman With respect mate you referred to your bed x whippet and lurchers, which I don't profess to have any great knowledge of, are always crosses. Peg, rough shooting, wildfowling, picking up and trialling dogs are a different story having their skills honed to the job they are doing through selective breeding. Hence my comment about selective breeding, plenty of **** bitches have a top stud put over them but don't bring anything to the gene pool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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