crichbish Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Looking for some advice. I've been offered a pup from a litter of golden retriever cross Welsh springer. It's not a natural choice but the time is nearing when I need another dog and this had stirred an interest. The dam is the retriever and has working lines a few generations back in her pedigree but doesn't work, I am banking on some natural instinct being passed. The sire doesnt have any working history and I've never seen a Welsh springer work and understand there aren't many working lines. My main shooting is wildfowling with lots of water and whilst I realise in an ideal world I'd go for a chespeake or a big strong lab the dog is primarily a family pet with its gundog work being a minor part of its life. I currently have a clumber and he is not built for the marsh and restricts my shooting. So in short, does anyone have experience of Welsh springers and what are your thoughts on working potential? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Interesting mix. I believe that often you get out of a dog what you put in. I have seen a couple of working Welsh Springers and you wouldn't know them from regular springers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 people always say golden retriever are fantastic water dogs, was the mating deliberate or accidental? fella near where I used to live had a couple of welsh so fingers, there weren't worked but looked like they could be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crichbish Posted January 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Mating was accidental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Welsh were i think originally working, then the show brigade got hold of them. Interesting mix, as has been said, you get out what you out in. So train well, and you should get a good dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malmick Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Welsh only has one type unlike ESS which have show and working types. My sister and bro-in-law have two male Welsh Springers, the older one is two and a half years old now with not much in the way of working instincts. The younger one is seventeen weeks old, or so. It's a feisty little pup and I can see real working potential in it. They both come from different breeders but I don't know much about the lineages. Have to say I'm not that keen on the show look they get when groomed . Much prefer my working ESS but each to their own an' all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted January 23, 2018 Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 While to some extent most are right in most cases u get wot u put in, but at the same time "u can't polish a @@@@" Personally I wouldn't take the risk when both are not from working stock as ur stuck with it for next 10 plus years, It sounds like u have already had that problem. I'd wait and put the feelers out for a decent lab pup from fowling stock. it costs the same to feed a rubbish dog as a good 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted January 23, 2018 Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 8 minutes ago, scotslad said: While to some extent most are right in most cases u get wot u put in, but at the same time "u can't polish a @@@@" Personally I wouldn't take the risk when both are not from working stock as ur stuck with it for next 10 plus years, It sounds like u have already had that problem. I'd wait and put the feelers out for a decent lab pup from fowling stock. it costs the same to feed a rubbish dog as a good 1 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crichbish Posted January 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 Thanks all. Decided to give it miss and wait for lab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIDES EDGE Posted January 23, 2018 Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 There is a chessie x lab pup on Face Book gun dog page now that should be a wildfowling dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crichbish Posted January 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 The reputation of chessie's puts me off, its primarily a family dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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