I had one for 17 yrs, great flusher of the pheasant, problem was i couldnt hit many birds for her

 

I have field bred springers. They are good hunting dogs. One thing to consider is that the field-bred springers can be really high strung. You definitely need to give them exercise or they can drive you crazy at home.

Also, the field-bred springers typically have lighter coats than the show springers but I wouldn't call it short. I keep mine shaved down most of the year but without clipping them the hair gets pretty long.

I really like springers but mine have been nothing like a lab in the house. They will not sit still most of the time. I grew up around golden retrievers and bernese mountain dogs. Friends had labs. The field bred springers are a different animal to deal with indoors unless they get a lot of exercise. At least this has been my experience. I know setters vary a lot in disposition but I would imagine most are pretty high strung too so you may be used to that.

 

growing up bird hunting and seeing many dogs the best dog we ever had was a ESS. we got him at 1 1/2 years old from some friends that were moving and and could not take him with them. i think i was about 10 at the time and i remember the guy telling my dad the dog catches robins in the yard all the time and we kinda thought that was weird. but sure enough he did catch robins kinda like a cat waiting for them and than jumping on them. anyway that dog turned out to be the best all around dog you could ever have. never lost a bird one with him from ducks phesants grouse you name it. He was great with kids and just loved life. now we have boykins and they are very high strung i have to run him all the time and there a lil stuborn. Mine is more laid back and timmid and seems to listen better in the feild and my dads is a lil more a loaner but that dog has the best nose since that ESS we had and always finds the birds and just goes CRAZY for geese! All in all a dog is what you make it. if he just a little but if "it" than with time you'll have a great dog and i think a springer is a great choice in dogs! good luck! theres nothing better than when a dog come back with a bird in his mouth!

 

I've got a five month old ESS sitting at my feet right now. I grew up with english setters but this is my second ESS. This current dog is nothing short of phenomenal! He's been retrieving LIVE birds since he was three months old. We've been shooting live pigeons over him now for two weeks. He is very biddable and calm. Yesterday I cleaned his ears with a Q-tip and he just sat there and let me wipe the wax out. He was house trained in TWO DAYS! Am I high on this dog......you bet! I got him from Royal Kennels in Franklin, Ohio. Ben Martin and his wife Rita run the kennel. Ben has many field trial championships to his credit and was even inducted into the Bird Dog Hall of Fame. Last I heard, Ben has one pup remaining from the litter my dog came from and he has five pups from another breeding available. Ben can be reached at 937-746-8507.

 

Check this out. It's a list of reputable breeders as well as a link to an article that explains the difference between field and bench dogs. I can personally recommend Janie Haworth of pheasant feathers kennels. She has some awesome dogs. I train with a couple of guys who have dogs from her. My next dog will be one of hers.

http://essft.com/breeder.html

 

I'm a little biased here being a springer owner, but I think their temperment, hunting ability and charisma is hard to beat in the dog world. Good family and house dogs as well. Match your dog with what you intend to hunt as well. Some prefer flushers over pointers and vice versa. You wont' be dissapointed with a good Springer as an all around hunting dog.

 

Thanks fellas!! Does any of your Springers have un-cropped tails? I love the longer tails on dogs.

 

I have 3 in the house right now (two field trial dogs and a 4 month old puppy) and they are great. When the puppy is not bothering them, the other two just lie around. Now, when the training whistle comes out, they really come to life. The field bred dogs' tails are cropped, but at longer lengths than show dogs. My two females have about 14" tails with nice white flags on the end. The pups tail is about 10" at this time. You can't go wrong with a field bred springer from a reputable breeder.

 

jack, love hunting behind my springer. if it's a flushing dog you want,hard to beat a springer. mine is pretty laid back until time to go,then he's a real go getter. this one has his tail docked. the one before him I didn't have her docked. but I can tell you this,just something(to me) watching that stub wag.

good luck with your quest for a springer. I think you'll be happy with one

 

When it comes to a hunting companion you would be hard pressed to find a better bird dog.The fact that they have been bred to hunt close and WITH you encourages a bond that few breeds can match.They will hunt their hearts out for you and enjoy every minute of it.They do well with all upland game birds,but pheasants are their specialty,here they have no equal!They can even do a decent job as a waterfowl retriever.They are not the bird finding machines like the Pointer or Setter, but if it's a hunting buddy your looking for, look no further.
When it comes to coat,looks,and physical characteristics they can vary greatly. Some bloodlines "NEVER" need to be trimmed so do your homework.
The tail length on a field bred dog should be 3/4 length,but some city vets miss this,but don't let that stop you if it's the right dog.
I have owned and hunted with many different breeds of dogs,and I enjoyed them all.But for me their is something special about the Springer,and I think I'll share my hunts with one until the good Lord calls me!

 

Ahmen field bred!!

 

Ahmen field bred!!

X2

 

Ahmen field bred!!

Is Ahmen a breeder? I noticed there is a breeder close to me in Chocranton, PA. Windrift Spaniels. Does anyone have one of their dogs? I like the fact that Sringers work close as my setter is a great pointer, but she can roam alot. My wife wants the god to lay on her lap also. Are they lap dogs? How are they when left alone in the house for a few hours?

Thanks guys!!

 

I see springers in my hunting dog futures. got a ways to go before I'm ready to get another dog but its fun to think about. are all springers close working or do they vary with different lines like pointing dogs generally do?

 

ours always had the tails docked

 

I see springers in my hunting dog futures. got a ways to go before I'm ready to get another dog but its fun to think about. are all springers close working or do they vary with different lines like pointing dogs generally do?

Generally speaking, the Springer is a naturally close working,quartering dog! They do have to be trained to "stay" within gun range while working scent.
Do your self a favor and attend a Springer Field Trial,most people come away from these very impressed!

 

Ahmen field bred!!

Is Ahmen a breeder? I noticed there is a breeder close to me in Chocranton, PA. Windrift Spaniels. Does anyone have one of their dogs? I like the fact that Sringers work close as my setter is a great pointer, but she can roam alot. My wife wants the god to lay on her lap also. Are they lap dogs? How are they when left alone in the house for a few hours?

Thanks guys!!

Windrift has top notch dogs.When selecting a Field Bred Springer,it is a good idea to see what bloodlines have the physical characteristics of what you are looking for.Then see if the Breeder you are looking at is breeding those lines.All field bred Springers from good hunting lines are probably going to satisfy your hunting needs, BUT they can vary greatly in the looks dept.!

Tell your wife not to worry,I haven't met a Springer yet that couldn't win a women's heart in a very short time!

Springers are GREAT house dogs,in fact they do much better in the house then in the kennel! I crate train my dogs when they are young so that they feel that they have their own space,but I let them have the run of the house with never any problems!

 

I have a springer I purchased as a started dog from Jeff Brooks of Brookwood Kennels in Glen Rock, PA. He's been a great gun dog for me, although he did have some ACL issues. You may also want to consider a field bred English Cocker. I have a 2-1/2 year old ECS and he's been a little ball of fire. Weighs approximately 30 lbs whereas my springer is 42 lbs. Does everything my springer can, but is easier to handle. As far as the hunting close issues, that's all a matter of training, if you roll birds in close for training they'll stay close and if you let them find planted birds out farther they'll go farther out. It's definitely a balance.

One thing I will say is having been around a number of springers and cockers in training, hunt tests and field trials, I prefer the ones that are out of or only a generation removed from UK imports. They seem to have much calmer temperments and not as leggy. Some U.S. field lines have gotten taller like setters, to get the big powerful sweeping runs that win trials, but then again maybe you'd like that if you're used to setters.

Windrift has nice dogs from UK imports. If the cockers interest you I'd call Fred Bradley of Hawthorne Kennels. They have springers as well from UK lines. http://www.hawthornekennel.com/

 

Listen to JDK7 about the dogs. We have trained and hunted over the pass 7 years and those dogs are great. I still prefer the pointing --- long tail dog.

 

I would also recommend Jeff brooks. My dogs have some brookwood blood in them. I have met and talked to Jeff at hunt tests. Very nice guy. I also train with some people who have dogs from him.

 

Most of the breeders listed on http://www.essft.com are reputable. I like Sunrise Kennels from the southern tier of New York. Check on the field trial dates on that site. There are a few trials coming up in the Altoona area where you can see some great dogs work.

 

Agreed. Jeff is really good. Spingspan do you have dogs from Copper's line?

pd

 

I have carry on jake in the lineage of my dogs. That dog is now gone to the fields in the sky though.