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  • Best essential oils for working dogs?

    Best essential oils for working dogs?

    When we think about our dogs and ailments that they might suffer we often look at physical conditions and visible injuries that they may have picked up, either while out working or during the general day to day activities of life.

    It’s always a safe option to get the advice and expertise of a vet if you have any health concerns about your spaniel and wise to remember that what might be suitable for humans isn’t necessarily suitable for a dog.

    Most of us know that things like chocolate are dangerous for dogs but what about essential oils?

    Can we use essential oils and, if so, what are the best essential oils for working dogs that can be used safely and what can they help with?

    Many essential oils are suitable for use with dogs and they can provide a range of benefits providing they are used correctly and that they are organic and natural with no additives. Mix the oil with water to dilute before using for safety.

    The basics of how essential oil works

    Essential oils work primarily with our sense of smell.

    Smell is a powerful sense which can impact and affect our moods and behaviour.

    A good smell, such as freshly cut grass or baking bread can soothe and comfort us, whereas a bad smell such as burning plastics can revolt and be disgusting.

    Just as it is with humans, the same effects apply to our dogs – the key difference is that a dog’s sense of smell is massively superior to that of a human.

    For dogs the sense of smell is their prime sense, it is this sense that governs and determines the world in which they live and, above all of their other senses, is the one that they rely upon and trust the most.

    Essential oils contain powerful compounds and their use and reputation have been known of for centuries.

    There are many products on the market for humans, for example lavender infused wheat bags, that can be heated and used to help with aches and pains.

    The use of essential oils can also aid your  spaniel to rest and get to sleep. If your dog struggles to rest or sleep then you can also try these sleeping tips that we list in this article.

    These same principles can be useful in helping working dogs.

    Using essential oils with working dogs

    Spaniels have a highly developed and powerful sense of smell so it is important that if we use essential oils then we have to consider this.

    Any oil should always be heavily diluted and never used neat.

    The best way to use essential oils with your dog is via a diffuser or burner that heats the oil, the vapours then mix with the air in the room, creating the effect.

    Make sure that if you do this that your dog can ‘escape’ rather than keeping him trapped in the room.

    Oils should be mixed in the quantity of no more than 20 drops to 100ml of water (1% concentration).

    Key Points:

    Always consult a vet before using essential oils to treat a condition

    Never use neat essential oils always dilute to a 1% concentration using a carrier oil

    Never use essential oils orally and do not apply to drinking water

    Always monitor your dog to check for any adverse signs

    Safety tips for using essential oils on working dogs

    Keep essential oils out of reach of pets, they can be toxic if ingested.

    Make sure you have 100% pure essential oil, not a fragrance oil.

    Spot test with diluted essential oil to check for any reaction. Rinse the area if a reaction occurs.

    Never use undiluted oils e.g. Raindrop Therapy, always dilute in a carrier oil.

    Do not add essential oils to drinking water as the oil does not dilute and will rest on top.

    Essential oils should be used sparingly on dogs as they are more sensitive to them than we are.

    Excessive use can lead to sensitisation and irritation of the skin.

    Always monitor your pet during/following essential oil use.

    Signs of distress to watch for include vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, excessive drooling/salivation, seizures/tremors.

    Do not use in delicate areas such as around eyes, ears, nose and other mucous membranes.

    Avoid using essential oils over a long term period. Give your pet regular breaks.

    Dog essential oils reviewed

    Honeydew Natural Pet Spray

    Honeydew Products provide a wide range of petcare products that are developed from natural resources, cruelty free and environmentally friendly.

    In addition to petcare the company develop and offer household and male and female cosmetic based items also.

    Product Information

    This is an 8oz (236ml) sized spray bottle containing a nourishing Lavender Pet Spray which soothes and controls irritable skin and dog odours.

    It can be used for gentle grooming for dogs and puppies.

    The spray also contains Evening Primrose oil to nourish and promote healthy hair.

    Features

    This is a premium quality dog spray that contains Lavender and Evening Primrose Oils to help keep your dog’s coat in top condition while helping him to remain calm and relaxed from the essential oils.

    The spray is 100% cruelty free and contains no parabans or sulfates providing a tear free spray that will not irritate a dog’s eyes.

    The product comes with a 100% money back guarantee.

    What we like

    Helps dogs to relax and great for anxious dogs

    Lavender has a great smell and the spray does not cause any irritation

    100% money back guarantee if not satisfied

    What we don’t like

    The dog’s coat can be wet after application and needs time to dry

    My Peaceful Paws Essential Oil Calming Blend

    My Peaceful Paws are based in Texas, US with years of experience of working with dogs and other animals assisting them to recover from injury through therapy and massage.

    The business produce and provide a range of essential oil products to help dogs to recover from their injuries that can be safely used by their owners.

    Product Information

    This is a 5ml (.169 oz) bottle of calming essential oil that is applied with a pipette to the neck or chest of the dog, or it can be applied to a bandana and placed on the dog.

    Features

    An oil blend that helps your dog to feel calm and relaxed. The oil can be used to help with separation anxiety, fear of thunder, fireworks and other loud noises.

    The oil is a blend of mandarin, sweet majoram, petitgrain, neroli and spikenard. The oils are all blended together in safflower oil.

    The pipette applicator provides an accurate and safe way to apply the oil to your dog and is veterinary recommended for dogs over 10 weeks old.

    What we like

    Very effective and simple way to help dogs that are scared of loud noises and works well.

    Has a great smell that is not too powerful.

    What we don’t like

    Some dogs may not benefit from the oil and additional methods of help for the dog may be needed.

    Artizen Lavender Essential Oil

    Artizan Oils are based in Denver, Colorado, and provide a wide range of high quality essential oils for a wide range of uses and purposes.

    Their oils are sourced from high quality suppliers from around the world and they supply a wide range of customers from retail and online orders, to professionals working within the field.

    Product Information

    This is a 1oz (30ml) bottle of 100% pure Lavendet Therapeutic grade essential oil.

    The product is guaranteed as 100% pure and a full money back guarantee is provided.

    Features

    A potent lavender oil that is 100% pure and contains no other ingredients or additives.

    Comes in  a 1oz bottle.

    A wide range of aromas and oils are available.

    What we like

    Pure oil

    Money back guarantee offered

    What we don’t like

    Poor aroma when used in a diffuser

    No instructions for use with dogs so extra care is needed

    ThunderEase Dog Calming Essential Oil

    ThunderEase Dog Calming Oil is a product from the range of animal calming oils manufactured and produced by Thunderworks, a US business that supports animals and animal owner.

    The company began after the founder had difficulties with one of his dogs that experienced severe anxiety whenever exposed to loud noises.

    The business provide a range of solutions to help pets – essential oils being one of those product ranges.

    Product Information

    This is a 4 fl oz spray bottle containing natural essential oils that will help a dog to become naturally calmer.

    The product can be used for all manner of issues, such as when travelling, fireworks, loud noises, anxiety separation and more.

    The spray is veterinarian recommended.

    Features

    The spray bottle contains a natural blend of lavender, chamomile and Egyptian geranium.

    It can be used as an area or spray mist and is Ph balanced to prevent skin irritation or other adverse reactions in dogs.

    What we like

    A 100% natural blend of essential oils specifically blended for dogs

    Veterinarian recommended

    What we don’t like

    Doesn’t work for all dogs

    Canine Coddler Pet Anxiety Essential Oil

    Canine Coddler are a Canadian business that provide a range pf products for dogs to help them with anxiety and other issues.

    From weighted comfort blankets to essential oils and treats to assist dogs with anxiety the business develop and promote a wide range of dog calmness products.

    Product Information

    The Canine Coddler Anxiety Blend is a 100% pure blend of essential oils that can help a dog to relieve stress, improve calmness and reduce the effect of stressful situations.

    The product comes in a 1 oz (30ml) bottle and is produced in the USA.

    Features

    This 100% pure blend of essential oils can help a dog with anxiety related issues. The oil is a blend of frankincense, lavender, rose, vetiver, ylang ylang and chamomile.

    The oils have been sourced to ensure that they are safe for dogs as human oils can have different qualities.

    The oils is provided with a 100% money back guarantee.

    What we like

    100% natural oil blend

    Sourced specifically for animals and dogs

    Money back guarantee

    What we don’t like

    The odour might not be to everyone’s taste

    Warren London Dog Calming Essential Oil

    Warren London are a US based business specialising in the dog grooming marketplace.

    The business offer a wide range of dog grooming products including spa and grooming products, skin and hair treatments and essential oils.

    Product Information

    The Warren London Essential Oil Dog Calming Spray is a 2.5 fl oz spray bottle that can help a dog during everyday stressful situations.

    The spray is a natural formula containing 4 essential oils, it is non toxic and free from chemicals.

    The spray is easy to apply to the dog’s chest, back or bedding.

    Features

    The product is made in the USA and contains 4 essential oils to help a dog to calm down and deal with stress. 

    The oils, lavender, sweet orange, vetiver and sage are all 100% natural and are specially selected for dogs.

    What we like

    Selected for dogs 

    100% natural

    Easy to use

    What we don’t like

    Doesn’t work for all dogs, but to be fair to the manufacturers, they are upfront with this and state that the spray may need to be used alongside other solutions.

  • How To Get A Spaniel To Come Back To The Whistle

    How To Get A Spaniel To Come Back To The Whistle

    In this article we’ll look at how to get a spaniel to come back to the whistle.

    It’s an area that some people struggle with but, with a little bit of though and practice it’s not too difficult to get our dog to come back when told.

    There are many things that we need to work on when we are training our spaniel, either as a working dog or as a pet.

    Returning when needed and when told/asked is often a difficult aspect of training that some dog owners experience and find tricky to overcome.

    In this article we’ll look at some ways to get your spaniel to come back to the whistle.

    We’ve got more tips in our article on training a puppy which you can read here.

    how to get a spaniel to come back to the whistle

    What is the recall command?

    When we recall our spaniel we are telling him that we need him to come back to us – straightaway.

    For a pet spaniel this might be when we are out for a walk and he is running free.

    It could be that we are the end of the walk and we need to put him back on his lead.

    There may be other reasons to get our spaniel back to us, maybe there are other dogs that we don’t want him near, or people.

    Whatever the reason if we learn how to get a spaniel to come back to the whistle or other signal then we can control our dog more fully and he will be safer.

    For a working spaniel the reasons for getting him to return to the whistle are the same as for a pet but also necessary when retrieving and when required by shooting or other conditions.

    Regardless of the reasons behind needing our dog to return when called, this is an important area of spaniel training that you should focus upon.

    It will aid other areas of training in the future and will help to keep you to keep your dog under control and safe.

    How To Get A Spaniel To Come Back To The Whistle

    Call your spaniel by his name to recall

    From an early age, ideally as a puppy, when your spaniel comes home, you should introduce him to his name. 

    This will be the basis of how you get your spaniel to return, either when you call his name or, in the future when you use the whistle.

    As a little pup, your spaniel will want to scamper around and play, all you need to do every now and then, is call his name, crouch down and, chances are he’ll come running up to you.

    As soon as he does, make a great fuss of him, telling him what a great dog he is, stroking and fussing him.

    Make a big deal of him coming when called.

    Do this frequently and every time he comes to you make a great fuss of him.

    Call his name and watch him run up, be excited to see him.

    If, for some reason, your spaniel doesn’t come bounding up to you when you call his name, don’t panic.

    The chances are that, for a young dog, he’s probably interested in a smell or something and that he’s distracted from you.

    How To Get A Spaniel To Come Back To The Whistle

    Do what you can to get his attention, shout his name, crouch down, make silly noises, wave something like one of his toys, get his attention.

    If he still refuses to come, slowly run off in the other direction, calling his name as you do so.

    He won’t want to be alone and the sight of you running away will be enough to get him after you.

    As soon as he reaches you a massive fuss is needed from you to show him how pleased you are to see him.

    In the event of him being particularly stubborn I would use an edible treat to reward him when he comes up.

    I used this with Nimrod when he was little as, occasionally he would be reluctant.

    The reward of a tasty treat soon fixed his reluctance and he now bounds in whenever called and whistled.

    Using a check cord to get your dog to come back

    Some trainers recommend the use of a cord, lightly fastened around the puppy to help them to get the dog to return.

    I would only recommend this as  a last resort and would combine the use of a cord with an edible treat when the dog comes in.

    The way to use this is to fasten a lightweight cord gently around the dog’s neck or to his collar if he has one.

    The cord needs to be around 30 feet in length. Let the dog free while you hold the other end of the cord.

    Call his name, if he doesn’t return gently reel him in with the cord and give him a major reward when he gets to you.

    As soon as he does this straightaway dispense with the cord and use the other techniques to call him to you.

    How To Get A Spaniel To Come Back To The Whistle

    Never chase your spaniel

    Unless your spaniel is heading for danger and you cannot control him, you must never chase after him.

    The safety of your dog is the most important thing and, there may be a time when you have to, literally, leg it after him, but, under normal circumstances you should not chase him.

    If you get into the situation of chase then you dog will quickly view this as a great game to play and, generally he will win as, normally, you’ll be unable to get hold of him.

    Chasing your dog unnecessarily will undo any training that you are doing to encourage the development of his recall.

    Training a spaniel to come back to the whistle

    Once your spaniel is returning reliably when you call his name, you are able to progress onto getting him to return to the whistle.

    This is not a difficult step and is a simple progression in his training. 

    Firstly I’m assuming that you have a suitable whistle. I use the ACME range of whistles, I’ve always used them, they are solid, last years and I can get them delivered if I buy them via Amazon.

    [amazon box=”B06XB2MT2Z” /]

    The command for getting a spaniel to return to the whistle is a quick ‘peep, peep, peep, on the whistle.

    Normally three peeps but, sometimes, you may need to do more. 

    Often this can be the case if it is windy, or if your dog is hunting hard.

    Remember that he has to be able to hear the whistle and, if it’s windy or he is bashing in and out of cover then this may impede his ability to hear you.

    Always try to see things from your spaniel’s perspective and don’t instantly assume that he is ignoring you.

    The starting point for how to get a spaniel to come back to the whistle will need you to get to a place where the dog can’t get away from you easily.

    Training your spaniel to come back to the whistle

    Find a track, path, lane somewhere safe that preferably has fences or hedges on the sides and where there are few distractions.

    Let your spaniel run free and allow him to scamper and sniff around. 

    When he is a short distance in front of you, call his name and blow three short ‘peeps’ on your whistle.

    Now if he’s reliable at coming when you call his name then he should come running in quickly. If he does then praise him and make a fuss of him.

    If he doesn’t then call his name again, get his attention, blow the whistle and run off in the opposite direction. 

    The reason that we use a path is so that he cannot run away easily and he’s left with little option but to come to you.

    With practice and patience your spaniel will soon return to the whistle when you need him to.

    If he’s showing reluctance to come to you, an edible treat now and again is a good way to get him to enjoy this exercise.

    Make it tasty and after a few successful returns, limit the amount of times when you give him a treat, so he doesn’t know when to expect one.

    how to get a spaniel to come back to the whistle

    Introduce recall to the whistle daily

    It’s important to continue with your spaniel’s recall when out and about on walks or when training and doing other exercises.

    If your dog is running free then it’s a relatively easy task to whistle him up to you occasionally.

    When you do this and he gets to you, praise him then head off in a different direction.

    This reinforces your position as the leader of the pack and also demonstrates to your spaniel that when he comes back you are going to do something interesting ( in this case exploring new things in a different direction).

    You can do this in training too. When your spaniel is hunting, call him in with the whistle, make him hup ( sit ), wait a moment or two, and then head off in a different direction.

    By showing him that when he comes back he gets rewarded ( stroked, called a good dog, edible reward etc) and he then gets to do something else that is interesting too. ( we’re just trying to think a bit like a dog ).

    What to do when a spaniel won’t come back

    If our spaniel is normally compliant and comes when called or whistled, then, if he doesn’t return when you tell him one of two things has occurred.

    He either hasn’t heard you – maybe it’s windy or he’s crashing around making your voice or whistle difficult to hear, you must make sure that any commands that you give to your spaniel are clear to him.

    The second matter is that he isn’t obeying and he’s ignoring you and you need to deal with it.

    This is the one occasion where you need to get after him.

    Making as much noise as possible with a gruff voice, you need to run him down and stop him in his tracks. It may take some effort but you’ve got to catch him and stop him.

    Once you’ve got him, repeat the whistle command in his ear and show your general displeasure at having to chase him.

    You don’t need to hit or smack him or be physical with him, the sound of your voice should be enough.

    Sit him down, walk backwards from him and, after a few moments, blow the whistle three times ( short peeps)  and encourage him to you. Praise him, then do it again, put the lead on and take him home.

    Always end on a positive note and be aware of him next time that you are out – that he tried it and you had to correct him.

    Learn from your times out with him and try to anticipate any potential problems before they can occur.

    We have more information and videos to help you to train a spaniel to come back in this article.

    Final Words

    Be consistent and take your time with your dog. If it isn’t going well then take some time out and do something that your dog is good at.

    Always aim to finish on a positive note.

  • Are Clumber Spaniels Good Dogs?

    Are Clumber Spaniels Good Dogs?

    What is a Clumber Spaniel?

    Originally, the Clumber Spaniel was bred for hunting and retrieving game for the gun.  

    The Clumber Spaniel, as it is recognised and known today, originates in England and is named after Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire an area where the breed was developed into the dog that is known today. It is the largest spaniel breed that was bred to hunt thick and dense cover.

    Where do they come from?

    Like most of the spaniel breeds, however, the true heritage of the Clumber Spaniel is not fully known, it is thought that it may be a descendant of French dogs and is normally a white dog with either lemon or orange markings.

    The working Clumber Spaniel is a strong, low slung dog that specialises in hunting through thick and dense cover.

    For many years the Clumber Spaniel has suffered from questionable breeding practices to suit the show ring and good working bred dogs are difficult to locate.

    The breed is considered to be an ‘at risk’ breed in the United Kingdom, which means that there are less than 300 registrations annually at the UK Kennel Club.

    clumber spaniel good dog
    The Clumber spaniel can be an effective worker as well as a great pet

    Clumber Spaniel Temperament

    Clumber Spaniels, like all of the other spaniel breeds are lovable dogs that enjoy and thrive in a family environment.

    This spaniel breed with live happily alongside other dogs and pets, but it is recommended that introductions are made early in the dog’s life so as to minimise the risk of any potential problems.

    As a historic working breed the Clumber enjoys work and play and they are quite a ‘laid back’ dog with few tendencies to being aggressive.

    Clumber Spaniels make ideal companions as they love being around people and, although they can live outside, with their owners is the place that they enjoy the most.

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    Are Clumber Spaniels Easy to Train?

    Clumber spaniels are easy to train although they can, when they wish, be prone to being stubborn and developing a mind of their own.

    As a working dog, the Clumber has the necessary traits to enable it to be a good, trainable dog, however the use of the breed in working conditions has diminished over the years, resulting in a dog that may not perform to the best of it’s ability.

    As a pure shooting and working dog, the Clumber spaniel, in it’s present guise. may be disappointing when compared to working Cockers or English Springers.

    A trained Clumber will make a decent shooting dog for the hunter that wishes to go along at a steady pace as opposed to the sprint that a more popular spaniel may operate at.

    There are breeders that are working to restore the Clumber to an effective working breed, and this work continues but will take time to accomplish.

    Having said this, the Clumber is a reasonably easy dog to train.

    Clumber Spaniel Colours

    The Clumber Spaniel has a double coat that comprises a dense inner coat and a weather resistant outer.

    Generally a Clumber will be a combination of three colours – white, orange and lemon/yellow colour.  Often the coat will be mainly white with flecks and areas of orange/yellow.

    The coat is classic spaniel, with feathering on chest and legs, and can be straight or wavy.

    Are Clumber Spaniels Good Dogs?

    Are Clumber Spaniels Good Family Dogs?

    Clumbers make excellent pets, their personality is gentle and mild mannered and they rarely display aggression.

    As a pet the Clumber Spaniel enjoys his creature comforts and he will spend a lot of his time lying around. sleeping and generally conserving his energy – he can be a couch potato, just like most humans..

    Take him out for a walk though and he becomes a different creature and, typical of most spaniels, loves to chase his nose, finding scent and crashing through bushes and cover.

    The Clumber enjoys sitting on his owner’s knee, he slobbers ( a lot ), he has a tendency to break wind frequently, he needs regular grooming and he can be stubborn.

    They make great pets.

    Should I Get a Clumber Spaniel?

    Truly a matter of personal choice and need.

    For a shooting or hunting dog I’d be tempted to go for one of the more ‘established’ working spaniel breeds, but, if you want a shooting dog that plods rather than gallops, then, if you can find a well bred working Clumber, then it is certainly an an option for you.

    If you are thinking about buying a Clumber Spaniel then you should also consider the following:

    Will he get on with my other pets? Well the answer to this is yes, Clumbers are sociable dogs that enjoy the company of other pets.

    Does he enjoy exercise? Yes, is the short answer. Clumbers, although large and heavy spaniels enjoy the thrill of the chase and the hunt (just like other spaniels) and, although they may not be as fast, they can keep going all day long.

    Does a Clumber like training?  On this point the Clumber can be stubborn, but get him on a good day and he’ll do well.

    Grooming. Clumbers have thick coats that can shed, but this is true of other spaniels. A careful and regular grooming regime will soon deal with this.

    Slobber. Doggy goz is a common Clumber Spaniel trait.

    All dogs salivate and slobber, it’s just that Clumbers are the gold medal winners in this area.

    Combined with their desire to sit on your knee and show affection by licking, you’ll need to be a doggy person to be able to deal with this.

    Health. Clumbers can suffer from eye problems and hip dysplasia. Seeking out a responsible breeder should be a priority when seeking a Clumber Spaniel.

    Finding a Clumber spaniel puppy

    Locating a good Clumber Spaniel puppy may not be easy.

    In the UK the breed is classed as endangered by the UK Kennel Club and a similar situation exists with the United States.

    A puppy will be expensive and the better bred ones will fetch a premium price.

    Choose Carefully and Take Your Time

    No matter what breed of dog you are thinking of getting, whether a Clumber Spaniel or another breed, you should take your time and find out about the breed as much as you can.

    Speak to your vet about the breed, ask them if they know any breeders or anyone that may know.

    Developing and using your network when looking for a dog is the best choice for finding a puppy, if you can get a recommendation or referral then you can avoid lots of potential problems with breeders.

    Contact breed societies and ask them if they know of any breeders that they would recommend.

    Keep your eyes open, you may see someone with a Clumber and it’s always worth having a chat to find out about the dog, where they got him from etc.

    As with all things a little bit of time spent before making a decisions can reap rewards in the long term.

    Final Words

    Clumbers are great dogs and a Clumber spaniel would make a fantastic pet as well as working dog.

    They are a relaxed yet active breed of spaniel who enjoy their time outdoors as much as they enjoy lying in front of the fire on a miserable winter’s day.

  • Best Organic Dog Food for Gundogs

    Best Organic Dog Food for Gundogs

    In this article we are going to take a look at some of the organic dog foods that are available and see which are the best organic dog food for gundogs.

    Our favourite organic food for dogs

    We looked at a few options to try and decide on the best organic dog food for gundogs.

    We looked at ingredients, sourcing and the manufacturer’s story and approach, and, to be honest, all of the foods that we reviewed are excellent choices and a final decision was difficult.

    However we chose the Tender and True Organic Dog Food on this occasion as, unlike the other options, we really struggled to find anything that we didn’t like about the food.

    You can read more reviews about this food here at Natural Pet who specialise in natural feeds.

    You can also see reviews for this dog food on Amazon via this link.

    Thinking of organic dog food? A few considerations.

    Many mass manufactured dog foods contain a range of additives that do not suit some dogs and there are many gundogs that suffer allergies and other conditions that seem to be affected by some foods.

    Many of the organic dog food manufacturers avoid the use of artificial additives and preservatives and adopt the same approach as those taken by the organic food producers for the human market.

    There are no regulations that control the production of organic food for dogs, so those manufacturers that have adopted the human requirements have hing that they did not have to do legally.

    There are many reasons to consider the diet that your gundog has, from energy levels, growth, health and his enjoyment of his meals.

    The behaviour of your gundog can be affected by his meals which can have an impact upon his training.

    Just like children, dogs can be affected adversley by additives and food colorings and it may be that an organic food could be the thing that your gundog needs.

    I’m sure that just like you and me, dogs like different types of foods and what one dog may enjoy, another may not.

    Organic dog foods are becoming more and more popular. Many have been developed and are produced by people that have had pets and have identified a need for better nutrition for their animals and this has led to new foods and new businesses and ideas.

    We’ve reviewed several organic dog foods that are suitable for gundogs and we’ll regularly update and add additional reviews to help you to decide if organic foods are suitable for your gundogs.

    Organic dog foods that you might like

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    Organic dog foods that we reviewed

    We were able to review four organic dog foods – something that we’ll increase in time. 

    The four manufacturers all have their own stories and approaches and we hope that you’ll find these reviews helpful.

    Nutro Max Mini Chunks Dry Dog Food

    Nutro Max is produced by the Nutro Company who produced a wide range of dog foods and have done so for almost a century.

    The recipes used for the variety of foods are clean, simple, purposeful and trustworthy using real, identifiable and non GMO ingredients.

    The company have rigorous testing processes in place to ensure food quality and consistency and only source from trusted farmers and suppliers.

    Nutro are USA based and are now part of the MARS group of businesses.

    Product Information

    Nutro Max MIni Chunks Dry Dog Food is an adult dog food produced from farm raised chicken and is available in bag sizes of 4lbs and 25lbs.

    This dry dog food is a natural food with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

    Nutro are based near Nashville, Tennessee.

    Features

    Nutro Max MIni Chunks is suitable for all adult dogs, as stated the kibble is a smaller size than many foods making this an ideal organic food for smaller breeds of spaniels.

    This food does contain grain as a source of fiber but grain free alternatives are available from the company.

    The protein source is organic, farm raised chicken and the food does not contain any preservatives, artificial flavors or colors.

    The Nutro MAx range is suitable for all life stages and breeds of dogs.

    What we like

    Good size kibble that suits most dogs – the food is easy to chew

    Good quality chicken based kibble is enjoyed by dogs

    Good value for money

    What we don’t like

    Limited range of flavors

    This particular food contains grain which does not suit all dogs – although grain free options are available from this manufacturer.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3GDfiFrEtU

    Get the latest price for Nutro Max Mini Chunks Dry Dog Food

    Tender and True Organic and Antibiotic Free Dry Dog Food

    Tender & True Organic & Antibiotic Free Dry Dog Food

    Tender & True are an independantly owned business based in the Midwestern United States of America.

    In 2014 the company developed the first and only certified humanely raised pet food that meets USDA organic food standards from farm to bowl.

    The business source and supply all of their own ingredients and, due to their long standing relationships with their suppliers, can be assured of the best quality ingredients for their pet feeds.

    Tender & True produce a wide range of feeds for dogs, wet and dry food and a range of organic treats.

    Product Introduction

    Tender & True Organic Dog Food comes in a range of bag sizes up to 23lb weight. This dry food uses chicken, liver and fish as it’s prime sources of protein, and all ingredients are certified as organic and the food is available in five flavors.

    [amazon box=”B01MUFMC7Z” /]

    Features

    Tender & True Organic Dry Dog Food is suitable for all dogs, regardless of size and breed. No matter the size of your dog, the comprehensive feeding guide will ensure that your dog gets the correct amount of food and optimal nutrition for his daily needs.

    The food is hormone and anti biotic free and contains no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.

    The feed contains no grain.

    All meat and seafood ingredients are certified as being sustainabley produced and in line with all animal welfare requirements.

    The food is a premium kibble based dog feed that is made with USDA organic and anti biotic free ingredients.

    What we like

    A good quality product that dogs love

    Picky eaters love this food

    Certified Organic Dog Food

    What we don’t like

    We find no real issues with this food, occasional skin complaints in some sensitive dogs but this is very rare.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28ot1utbsus

    Get the latest price for Tender & True Organic & Antibiotic Free Dog Food

    Honest Kitchen Whole Food Grain Free Clusters

    honest kitchen

    Honest Kitchen was founded in 2002 by Lucy Postins who was faced with a dog that had skin and ear problems.

    Thinking that diet could be a cause of her pet’s discomfort, she began making home made food for him in her home.

    So began a business that now produces a wide range of products to suit the various needs of pets.

    The company is based close to San Diego Bay and operates to the principles of honesty, quality, responsibility and joy.

    Their foods are produced from human grade ingredients and are only obtained from trusted sources that are able to evidence food handling, screening, origins and more.

    Product Introduction

    The Honest Kitchen Whole Food Grain Free Clusters Dry Dog Food is available in three flavors – Turkey, Beef and Chicken.

    It is a complete and balanced food for all dog ages and breeds. A natural food that contains no artificial ingredients.

    [amazon box=”B00A8O8LSQ” /]

    Features

    The Honest Kitchen Clusters Dry Dog Food is produced in the USA and is suitable for all ages of dogs and breeds. 

    Unlike other manufacturers, the food is produced in small batches with whole food ingredients that have been chosen by the Honest Kitchen’s Veterinary Nutritionist.

    The food is cold pressed, slow roasted and then dehydrated to preserve taste, goodness and the nutrients that are present in the whole foods.

    All ingredients used in the food, like the others from this producer, are human grade thus ensuring quality and consistency.

    What we like

    The honesty and transparency of the producer and the quality of the ingredients

    The food is made in small batches making quality control easier and more consistent

    Dogs really enjoy the food and it comes with a good feeding guide to ensure that your dog gets the right amount of daily nutrition

    What we don’t like

    Shorter shelf life than other foods

    https://youtu.be/cKehJkRTlck

    Get the latest price for Honest Kitchen Whole Food Grain Free Clusters Dry Dog Food

    I And Love and You Nude Food Dry Dog Food

    i and love and you nude food

    I and Love and You are based in Boulder, Colorado and began life in a pet store where they created raw food for dogs.

    As a business, and pet owners, they identified a need from other pet owner, for better food with real meat and real ingredients.

    Between 2010 and 2011 the business developed it’s own branding and became even more passionate about developing foods that pets are meant to eat.

    The company is employee owned and independent with a vision to help all pets to get the food that they truly deserve.

    Product Information

    This Nude Dry Dog Food is available in three flavors – Poultry Palooza, Red Meat Medley and Simply Sea. 

    All of the recipes are produced with whole de-boned meats accompanied by real fruits and vegetables.

    [amazon box=”B07NRVQ4N3″ /]

    Features

    The food is high protein and totally grain free and contains up to 60% fully natural animal ingredients and oils.

    In addition beans, lentils and sweet potatoes are used to help your dog to maintain good blood sugar levels and energy.

    The food contains no grains, no fillers, no by products, in fact nothing of an artificial nature.

    For dogs that have allergies the Simpy Sea version of the food contains only high quality fish and does not contain any meat based ingredients.

    The food contains no artificial colors or preservatives and it is made in a family owned facility in the USA.

    What we like

    Smells really fresh and dogs love it – if you have a cat then he’ll try to beat the dog to it

    Great for dogs that have health issues as it is gentle on the stomach

    A good food for picky eaters

    What we don’t like

    Follow the instructions as some dogs can get rather ‘active’ if the food is introduced too quickly

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFLIQimWTks

    Get the latest price for I and love and you Nude Food Dry Dog Food

    Conclusion

    Of the four organic foods that we were able to review we found that our favorite choice was the Tender and True Organic Dog Food.

    To be honest, we really liked all of the foods and there was very little between any of them – the decision was not an easy one to make.

    What swung it was the independent ownership and the USDA certification.

    If you’re interested in the Tender and True Range then you can get more information here at Only Natural Pet or you can see more of their range on Amazon via this link.

    You may also be interested whether Cocker spaniels can eat fruit and you can read our article here which will answer your question.

    Quinoa is also an option for feeding as an additional food and we have an article specifically dealing with feeding quinoa here.

    Read Next

  • Can a gun dog be a family pet? It’s possible

    Can a gun dog be a family pet? It’s possible

    Many people that are involved in the gun dog world keep their dogs purely for working purposes and the concept of the dog being a pet is not even considered. This, however is not an option for most people and many enjoy the company of their dogs outside of gun dog work.

    In reality, can a gun dog be a family pet without it spoiling him?

    All gun dogs, regardless of their breed, are intelligent and sociable animals that are perfectly suited to being family pets as well as working dogs. A well trained gun dog can be a pet and his working ability will not suffer as long as he is fit and some basic rules are followed.

    If you’ve been following the articles around training a cocker spaniel puppy, then you’ll have seen that I’ve been working with Nimrod, my Cocker Spaniel who is now 9 months old.

    Nimrod has been with us since he was eight weeks old and I’m pleased to say that he is doing really well with his training. I’ve done a few videos of him, when I’ve had the chance and, this morning I managed to get out onto the fell with him and Boris.

    You’ll see the video of how both of them are getting on at the bottom of this article.

    Spaniels as Pets and Gundogs

    I hope that when you see the video that you will agree that Nimrod ( and Boris) are both doing okay. 

    In the past the spaniels that I’ve had have all lived in a kennel, very rarely coming into the house and very much being outdoor dogs focussed upon being dogs and working.

    Don’t get me wrong they were also pets but the focus of their activities was working as spaniels.

    If you are interested in more about whether Cocker spaniels can live outside we have an article on that subject here. 

    Things are very different for Boris and Nimrod my two Cockers.  They are pets and family members, but they are also great working spaniels.

    When we decided that they would live in the house we had some rules about where they would sleep etc, but, when you have two dog mad children ( even if they are 23 years old ), that rule very much went out of the window – to the extent that the dogs enjoy the beds as much as the humans.

    I was always of the view that a working dog would give it’s best if in a kennel, but, once again, dogs taught me that that thnking wasn’t accurate and that comes across in the work rates and abilities of both Boris and Nimrod.

    They get lots of stimulation when in the home, from all of the family members.

    They play with their human pack, with each other, eat sleep and drink in the house, and, I don’t think that they have suffered as a result. In fact I feel that they are better dogs from being around people.

    nimrod cocker spaniel puppy gundog training

    Are Cocker Spaniels Hard to Train?

    When training any dog, the key to success is to take your time and to be consistent.

    Cocker Spaniels are no more difficult or easier to train than any other spaniel breed.

    The trick when training a cocker spaniel or any other dog, is to make the training sessions interesting and short and to always watch the reactions of your dog.

    Over the years I’ve learned that most modern spaniels are really soft dogs, they are normally very sensitive temperament and you need to offer lots of praise and encouragement.

    They can have their moments, however, and this is normally when you least expect it.

    Your dog will be doing well and then, he’s off, found a scent, had a rush of blood to the head, got over excited, distracted etc etc.

    This type of behaviour is common in young dogs, who are still finding their way, but older dogs can succumb as well.

    It’s always best to keep an eye on your dog. 

    Don’t be distracted by your mobile phone, talking to other people etc – if you do then that is when things will go haywire with your spaniel.

    Many of the articles that I have written are based around the training of spaniels and, if you start at the basics then you’ll see just how easy it is to train a spaniel.

    If you are patient, try to see things through the eyes of your dog and are prepared to learn then you’ll do fine.

    [amazon box=”1846890705″ template=”horizontal”]

    Working Spaniel Living in the House

    There is no reason at all for your spaniel not to be an effective gundog if he lives in the house.

    Boris and Nimrod do fine and I’m more than pleased with Nimrod’s progress for a young dog.

    Dog’s love company and I’m convinced that if you are able, you should incorporate a working spaniel into home life as much as possible.

    You will need to have rules, mainly for the humans as opposed to the dog, but these are minimal.

    The dog should always have his own space, somewhere where he can go to rest, relax, sleep and not be disturbed. 

    There are hundreds of dog beds and other doggy comforts available online at places such as Amazon, so making a choice is a matter of recommendation and personal preference.

    There are also some awesome, bespoke dog beds over on Etsy, so if you want a unique dog bed then this is the place to go. 

    You can see the beds on Etsy here.

    [amazon box=”B00E4QDCKQ” template=”horizontal”]

    Always make sure that your dog has clean water available and that you feed him good quality food – raw food is a good option – you can see our thoughts on raw food here.

    Let the children and adults play with him, he’ll enjoy it, become really sociable and it will wear him out and challenge him mentally.

    In all things though, the dog is at the bottom of the pack ladder, and you’ll need to make sure that you adopt this approach.

    This doesn’t mean that you need to be nasty, violent or horrible to your dog, just be the boss, and the dog has to understand that the kids are also the boss too – at least when it comes to child / dog relationship.

    If your kids are in charge of the house then think before you bring a spaniel indoors, it will be carnage.

    Address the family dynamic before you take the plunge – unless you like carnage of course.

    Spaniels are just like children.

    Seriously though, there is no reason at all why a spaniel that lives in the house cannot be a great working dog.

    All you have to do is understand that he is a dog and try to learn about how he sees the world.

    Work and Play for Spaniels

    Following on, if we apply a bit of human lifestyle to our dog living in the house we can begin to understand the principle a bit more.

    As a human ( well most ), you’ll get up, get sorted out and go out to work.

    You’ll work, come home, eat, get changed, relax, then probably sleep, and then you’ll do it all over again.

    It’s not so different for a working spaniel that lives in the house is it?

    Sleeps, sleeps a bit more, then sleeps a bit more.

    Then we take him out, do some training ( working in his mind), then he comes home, eats, sleeps, rests, and, the next day, maybe he does it again.

    So there are some similarities and, if your dog is living in the house, it might help you to view things in this way to help you along.

    Nimrod and Boris the Cockers and their training

    Conclusion – Can a gun dog be a family pet?

    Gun dogs most certainly can and should be family pets.

    They enjoy the company and family life and you should make every effort to involve your dog in the fun of the family.

    There is no reason for a gun dog to not be a pet if you adopt some basic rules and standards and your dog will, most likely, be a better and more sociable individual, and probably more intelligent individual than a dog which is not a pet.

    Read Next

    Are Clumber spaniels good dogs?

    Can I train a dog myself?

    Do dogs like indoor kennels?

  • How To Get a Spaniel to Stop on the Whistle

    How To Get a Spaniel to Stop on the Whistle

    A key area of spaniel training is that of steadiness and stopping on the whistle.

    In the shooting environment you will need your spaniel to stop when he flushes game and when you are handling him onto retrieves.

    The use of the stop whistle builds on the other areas of training that you will have undertaken and builds on the sit command and hand signal.

    Stopping on the whistle is a key area of spaniel work and will be one of the most important and probably demanding aspects of your spaniel training. With some care, thought and persistence your spaniel will soon stop when you blow your whistle and should do so every time.

    Why do we need a spaniel to stop on the whistle?

    Teaching a spaniel to stop on the whistle is the basis of steadiness to stopping when we are out on a shoot, beating or walked up shooting for example.

    If you consider the scene, we are walking up, looking for game, shotgun under arm.

    Our spaniel is out ahead of us, hunting the ground. A pheasant gets up, or a rabbit breaks cover.

    Now, if our dog chases the game then we cannot take the shot, to do so would be stupid and dangerous, there’s a chance that we would shoot the dog.

    So we lose the shot, the game escapes, the dog comes back when he feels like it – it’s tricky to get a dog back when he is in the full ‘blood to the head’ experience of chasing an animal.

    And we get frustrated.

    how to get a spaniel to stop on the whistle
    Stopping on the whistle is vital when shooting

    Rather than take the chance, we work with our young spaniel to steady him to the whistle first.

    This serves several purposes.

    First, we are able to have more control over him in general, not just when he finds game.

    We can stop him when hunting which we might need to do, to maybe adjust clothing, take a breather, decide which way we are going etc etc.

    Secondly, if our dog is compliant to the stop whistle, then we can stop him when he finds game and prevent him from chasing after it – which is what we need.

    Overall, a dog that stops to the whistle is safer, easier to control and much more capable as a gundog and  pleasant to work with.

    Stopping on the whistle is an important aspect of a spaniel’s training. It encourages steadiness and provides an extra way to control your dog while he is hunting.

    Before training a gundog to stop on the whistle

    If you have been reading the articles on the site that I have written then you’ll have seen that one of the first stages in training a spaniel puppy was that of the ‘sit’ or ‘hup’ command, where we get our puppy to sit down when told.

    This is an easy command to introduce your puppy to and, if you haven’t done this then you must start with the basics, you cannot work towards whistle steadiness and stopping on the whistle before you’ve got compliance with the sit command.

    To see how we get a puppy to sit down read the article here on introducing that command.

    Training a spaniel to stop on the whistle

    The stop whistle is an important progression in your dog’s training and, although it may seem complex and an advanced aspect of training, it is relatively straightforward to introduce.

    Once we have our puppy sitting when asked, either by the command’ hup’ or ‘sit’, we can progress.

    Your dog should also understand and recognise the hand signal that we use alongside the verbal command.

    Training is a step by step process

    Understanding that all spaniel training is like a chain of learning it becomes simple to introduce the whistle.

    As you tell your puppy to sit or hup, as he does so give a long blow on the whistle and hold your hand up to give the hand signal too.

    He won’t understand the whistle command, but he does know what hup means and he does know what the hand signal means, so he should sit down.

    When he does give the usual praise.

    From this point on, everytime you hup him give the whistle also.

    As you progress, rather than give the verbal command, give the hand signal and the whistle.

    Mix it up a bit and keep the exercise going.

    Like all things, little and often and don’t rush.

    More advanced stop whistle training

    I’ve titled this as more advanced stop whistle training but, in reality, it’s just taking things a little bit further.

    Take your spaniel out, either in the garden or somewhere where you can grab him easily.

    Let him run freely around, and, give the whistle command for him to stop.

    One of two things will happen, he’ll either drop quickly ( which is great ) or he’ll carry on running around.

    If he doesn’t stop ( and you’ve taken your time and got him sitting down before ) then, get after him without making a fuss, take him gently by the scruff and take him back to the spot where he should have stopped when you blew the whistle.

    Repeat the whistle command and reinforce it with the hand signal and the verbal command.

    Then, let him run and quickly repeat the whistle, reinforced with the verbal command and hand signal.

    Remember, if he doesn’t listen to the whistle at first, you’ve always got the verbal command, which you can shout, and the hand signal as back ups.

    Be prepared to use them while he gets good at stopping on the whistle.

    how to get a spaniel to stop on the whistle

    Stopping a spaniel while hunting

    Hopefully you’ll be getting an idea of the training strategy that we are adopting in training a spaniel puppy, with one exercise leading onto another, more advanced exercise.

    We start with easy to manage and control activities, where we can help our dog, and gently correct and show him when needed, this is true of everything including his hunting.

    Most spaniels will hunt freely and are quite happy to do so if we let them.

    Some can be a bit reluctant to do so, particularly if they are sensitive, so we have to be a bit measured in our approach to hunting and let a sensitive puppy get on with it a bit more without interference.

    When you start to stop your spaniel on the whistle when he is hunting, you may find that he becomes a little bit ‘sticky’. This is normal for many dogs.

    He’s simply wondering what you want. All you need to do is be economic with the amount of times that you stop him, in other words don’t do it a lot.

    Making progress

    If you’ve worked along with stopping your dog on the whistle, you should be at a stage where he sits when the whistle is blown, and he stops when he is running around the garden freely.

    It should not be too hard now to stop him when he is hunting.

    Go somewhere where there is a bit of light cover ( rushes or long grass are ideal).

    Set your puppy off hunting and remember the quartering exercises and the wind direction.

    Let him get going well and try to keep him close to you.

    As he crosses your path, when he is closest, blow a long blast on your whistle to stop him.

    If he ignores you, get him and drag him back to the spot where he should have stopped, and repeat the whistle command accompanied by the verbal and hand signal.

    Now, if the homework has been done then, chances are he’ll stop.

    He may not sit down, many spaniels don’t and this can be a sign of a clever dog, as he’s waiting to see what you want..are you sending him for a retrieve? Can he see if he’s sat down? 

    But, if he does stay standing then encourage him, as a youngster, to sit down.

    Progress carefully with this and don’t stop him more than maybe twice when he’s hunting, more than this and he’ll get sticky with his hunting.

    Again, little and often is the way. Don’t be in a rush, take your time and your spaniel will come along nicely.

    Final words

    Stopping on the whistle is an important step in your spaniel’s training and forms the basis of future steadiness work.

    Begin slowly and gradually work on the command with your dog in different environments and conditions, so that he becomes familiar with the instruction in a variety of situations.

  • The English Springer Spaniel

    The English Springer Spaniel

    I have owned three English Springer Spaniels, all female and all working dogs.

    I love Springers, they have great personalities, are friendly, intelligent dogs that make great pets, and, their temperament makes them ideal working companions for the shooter, regardless of the type of work that you do.

    If you are considering a spaniel as a pet, a worker, or a shooting companion then an English Springer is an ideal, all rounder dog. They are loyal, friendly an an ideal dog to have around for a family. With lots of energy and love for life, English Springer spaniels are great dogs.

    Where do English Springer Spaniels originate?

    The true origin of most of the spaniel breeds is not fully known but there is a clue in the name that many people suggest may divulge the origin as Spain.

    If this is so then as dog owners we own the Spanish a massive favour and thank you.

    Springer spaniels in the UK

    As a general type of breed the spaniel is thought to have originated in Spain and was introduced to Great Britain by the Romans.

    The spaniel is thought to have been present in Britain as early as 300AD .

    By the 17th century the spaniel was becoming successful at flushing game for the new invention, the firearm, so that game could be shot.

    By the 19th century the smaller spaniels in a litter were use for flushing smaller game birds such as Woodcocks – these spaniels became known as Cocker Spaniels.

    The larger puppies in the litter were used to hunt and flush and ‘spring’ larger game birds, these spaniels became known as ‘Springers’.

    Springer spaniels in the Americas

    In the United States Springers became a popular breed following the import of an English Springer into Canada, from the United Kingdom in 1913.

    Since then many changes have taken place through breeding and the show Springer spaniel and the working Springer, in both the USA and the UK, have become almost different breeds.

    For the true spaniel enthusiast there is nothing better than seeing a fit, competitive English Springer Spaniel , they are athletes and frequently display the ultimate in performance and fitness.

    English Springer Spaniel

    Are English Springer Spaniels Easy to Train?

    Modern spaniel breeds are extremely intelligent, biddable and easy to train.

    Having owned Springers, trained them and competed in numerous field trials and working tests, as well as worked with Springers on shooting days, I can testify that this breed of spaniel are very easy to train if you pay attention to the basics.

    In the past, spaniels used to be difficult dogs, head strong and tricky to manage.

    Years of good breeding and investment by many experienced and capable gundog trainers, have resulted in a breed that possesses all of the required criteria for a competent shooting companion or well behaved pet.

    If as an owner/trainer you are prepared to learn and understand dogs then you’ll have little if any difficulties training a Springer Spaniel.

    There are many resources available to help you to learn how to train a spaniel and Training Spaniels by Joe Irving, available on Amazon, is, in my view one of the best.

    You can get the latest price of the book here.

    Do English Springer Spaniels Make Good Family Dogs?

    This is a really easy answer. Yes.

    Springers are great family dogs. I can fully vouch for the breed as being a great addition to a family.

    If you have children then having a Springer in the family will be like having an extra child.

    They are great with kids.

    When my twins were born I had three English Springers, they were great with my children, even when they were babies.

    Although I would never dream of leaving any dog alone with young children, not once did I have any concerns about my spaniels, Bess, Twig and Fern.

    In fact as my children grew older, if they were naughty and I had to tell them off, the three dogs would stand between my children and myself and bark at me, protecting the kids.

    springer spaniels are great family dogs

    My children were brought up around spaniels and they truly are wonderful dogs for a family.

    You do need to remember that they are lively animals, full of energy and, as an owner, you need to help them to get rid of that energy.

    But, if you are looking for a dog that will make a great family member, and you have children, then an English Springer is a great dog to take a look at and consider.

    How Much Exercise Does a Springer Spaniel Need?

    The Springer spaniel is, to all intents and purposes, a working dog that enjoys the great outdoors.

    Like all of the spaniel breeds his genetics steer him towards hunting and chasing his nose.

    He likes nothing more than a light coating of rain on his coat, running free in an area where he can get his nose down and smell whatever has been around. 

    As a spaniel owner you will need to be aware of his needs as a dog.

    A Springer, like his Cocker Spaniel cousin, is a high energy dog, he loves to run, explore and get muddy and if you can fulfil his desire to get out and about then you will have a great relationship with this breed.

    This is not a dog for the person who likes to sit by the fire with his slippers on. Spaniels do enjoy some downtime but this is limited and he will need to run his energy off.

    If you have time ( and the space ) to allow a Springer to run free for about 30 minutes, twice a day ( and you enjoy it) then you’ll do okay with a Springer.

    If, on the other hand time and facilities are limited then why not consider one of the other spaniel breeds that are just as loveable but, in some cases, like the Clumber Spaniel, are less concerned about exercise?

    Are Springer Spaniels Easy to Look After?

    English Springer Spaniels can be relatively easy to look after, but it depends on the individual dog’s personality and needs.

    They are a high-energy breed that requires daily exercise and mental stimulation, such as walks, runs, or playtime in a fenced yard.

    They also need regular grooming to maintain their coat, which can be prone to matting and shedding.

    This includes brushing several times a week, as well as occasional baths and trimming of their nails and hair around their ears and paws.

    Additionally, English Springer Spaniels are social animals and may become anxious or destructive if left alone for long periods.

    They thrive on human companionship and benefit from consistent training and socialisation from an early age and time spent will result in a well behaved spaniel.

    Overall, if you are willing to provide the necessary exercise, grooming, and attention, an English Springer Spaniel can make a wonderful and rewarding companion.

    Costs of having an English Springer Spaniel

    There are costs with any dog and a responsible owner or prospective owner will consider the financial impact on family finances before committing to getting any dog breed.

    English Springer Spaniels are no exception to this need for consideration.

    Vets’

    As well as the initial cost of purchasing a puppy or adult dog, there are the costs associated with vaccinations and annual boosters. 

    Veterinary fees for illness and injuries can be substantial in some cases and the responsible owner may consider some form of pet insurance policy to help with vet’s fees.

    Food and equipment

    Your Springer needs a good quality food, that can be easily and reliably obtained. He’ll also need a selection of dog bowls, toys, leads and maybe a coat for bad weather conditions.

    You will also need to provide him with his own space – somewhere for him to sleep and rest and to escape to for some private, quiet time.

    Your car will need some adaptations to accommodate your dog when you go out. This might be a cage or harness or, you might even decide to change your vehicle to something more dog friendly.

    Registration fees

    Depending on where in the world you live, there may be a legal obligation to register your dog, and, as is normally the case, there’ll probably be a cost.

    Dog insurance

    With the high cost associated with vet’s fees most dog owners look to insure their pet in the event of illness or injury.

    Insurance can also cover aspects of third party liability in the event of say, your dog biting someone, so it’s worth thinking about too from this aspect.

    Of course, there’s a cost to insure your dog and shopping around can help to secure a good deal.

    Training & Puppy classes

    If you decide to enrol in puppy classes or use the services of a dog trainer then, of course, you’ll have to pay.

    English Springer spaniel puppies are very sociable dogs and enjoy being among other dogs and people, so a puppy class would be great fun for you and your pet.

    Rates vary and the best way to ensure that you get good service and value is to ask around and speak to people that have used the service in the past.

    Your knowledge

    If you are going to take spaniel ownership seriously then you’ll probably be interested in improving your knowledge of the breed.

    The internet is full of some great, free to use resources but there are also many great books, training videos and more that can help you with your spaniel owning journey.

    So, consider the cost of that too.

    How Much is an English Springer Spaniel?

    This is a difficult question to answer accurately as it is always changing and, sadly is partly driven by the popularity of a breed, and Springers are one of the most popular choices ( for working dogs and pets )

    This means that you’ll probably pay a premium price for a well bred spaniel and potentially more for a working puppy from proven parents.

    Currently a well bred Springer Spaniel, in the UK is anything from £1500 to £2000 upwards.

    In the USA you’ll be looking at anywhere from $2k and more.

    Final words

    The English Springer spaniel is a great dog both as a worker and as a pet.

    If you are looking for a great all rounder shooting dog then you’ll be hard pushed to do better than a Springer.

    For an active family or person a Springer makes a great companion, ideal for long walks, hikes and adventures.

    They are great with children with their playful character and ability to learn.

    However, with ownership comes responsibility and getting any breed of dog should not be a decision that you rush into.

    With an active dog, such as a Springer, you need to make sure that you can meet his exercise and mental stimulation needs and that you can dedicate the time, effort and cost to look after him properly.

  • Best Spaniel Puppy Food

    Best Spaniel Puppy Food

    You may be thinking about getting a spaniel puppy as your first dog or, you may have had other breeds and this is the first time that you have thought about getting a spaniel.

    Whatever your position it is always important to think about and research the type of food that you will feed your puppy as a youngster and then as a growing, lively adult.

    What is the best food for a spaniel puppy?  For us, raw food is the best type of food that you can feed to your young spaniel. Natural tripe based food is a great, tasty and healthy food for a young spaniel.

    Our favourite food for a growing spaniel

    We were able to look at and review several foods that are  suitable for spaniel puppies.

    Dry? Wet? Chicken based? Turkey flavoured?  Cereal or grain based? All good questions and in this article we’ve looked at some of the best quality puppy foods for a spaniel whether he will be a working dog or a pet.

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    All of the foods on this list are great for young spaniel puppies. They have been developed with dog’s health and well being as the prime focus, they use quality ingredients and the businesses that manufacture them are focused upon improving dog health through quality food and nutrition.

    They are all good foods but our choice is Eukanuba Puppy Food.

    I found some great deals on Eukanuba Puppy Food here on Amazon.

    Looking for organic puppy food?

    If you are looking for Organic Dog Food the we have a great article that covers a wide range of organic and raw dog foods which you can read here.

    One supplier that I recommend for organic food for your spaniel is Only Natural Pet who provide a full range of grain free, organic foods that are 100% carbon neutral and non GMO.

    They often have discounts and coupon codes that you can use and recently offered free shipping.

    You can find them here via this link.

    At a Glance our Top 5 Puppy Foods

    If you are in a rush and just want to get to the nitty gritty of the best spaniel puppy food that we have chosen then the table below will give you an idea of our choices and where you can get more information.

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    Our spaniel puppy food reviews

    We took a selection of puppy foods from some of the major dog food suppliers and looked at them in terms of quality, history, company reputation and, most important, the suitability for spaniel puppies.

    Eukanuba Puppy Food

    If you are new to the world of spaniels then you may not have heard of Eukanuba or be familiar with their products.

    Eukanuba are one of the leading pet food manufacturers, producing quality feed for dogs and cats, which are sold globally.

    Founded in 1969 by the IAMS company, Eukanuba was created on the basis that dogs and cats are carnivores and should be fed in accordance with their nutritional needs.

    Eukanuba only use high quality animal protein ingredients, chicken or lamb, as the basis for their dog foods which are traceable back to sources in the USA, New Zealand and Europe, thus ensuring continuing safety and consistency in the quality of their products.

    All suppliers to the company undergo strict checking and are required to certify all of their ingredients.

    Every product undergoes 120 individual tests to ensure quality and compliance  and independent expert inspections ensure that the highest quality processes are followed. Eukanuba’s food production processes are the same level as that required for human food production.

    Product Introduction

    Eukanuba Puppy Food comes in a variety of pack sizes up to 33lb in weight. 

    This dry puppy food uses quality chicken as it’s prime source of protein and provides for gentle digestion and immune system support which are both essential to a young, growing spaniel puppy.

    Features

    Eukanuba Puppy Food is available for all types of spaniel breeds with options for small, medium and large breeds. No matter his size, your spaniel is catered for with this food.

    Offering complete and balanced nutrition for puppies up to 12 months old this food supports muscle growth and bone health  through high quality protein and balanced calcium and phosphorous levels.

    Eukanuba Puppy Food is derived from high quality chicken based protein and contains clinically proven levels of DHA to support high levels of brain development making for a trainable and intelligent dog.

    Your puppy’s energy will be great with this food which contains optimized fat and carbohydrate levels to provide him with everything that he needs for his growth and active puppy lifestyle.

    The natural fiber within the food aid easy and gentle digestion, ideal for an active, growing puppy and the  guaranteed levels of Vitamin E support the healthy development of your puppy’s immune system.

    Throughout the life of your spaniel you will be able to provide him with food from the Eukanuba range.

    Once he has grown to an adult and his teeth and bones have developed then he can make a natural progression to Eukanuba Adult food, comprised of the same quality ingredients so that he won’t experience any dietary problems or upsets.

    Eukanuba offer a full range of quality dog foods for the lifetime of your spaniel.

    What We Like

    Dogs love this food .

    Veterinarians have recommended it

    Consistent product which is gentle on a puppy’s tummy

    Helps dogs to grow healthy bodies, eyes and coats

    What We Don’t Like

    The individual ‘nugget’ size can sometimes be too large for smaller dogs

    Check the latest price of Eukanuba Puppy Food


    Royal Canin Puppy

    Royal Canin is a high quality, premium product range that is frequently recommended by veterinary practices to dog owners.

    Royal Canin was formed in 1968 by French Vet Jean Cathay who believed that food could have a positive impact upon the health and wellbeing of animals.

    After creating the ‘yellow soup’ for dogs, Royal Canin expanded until it was sold across most of mainland Europe until in the early 1980s the company launched it’s first complete dog food – AGR which was hailed a major innovation and remained so for many years, and, in 1985, Royal Canin was introduced to the USA.

    After years of investment, research and innovation, the Royal Canin product range expanded in the mid 1990s with the introduction of dog feeds to suit the size and type of dog, followed in 1999, by breed specific dog food.

    Product Introduction

    Royal Canin Puppy Food comes in a range of pack sizes up to 30lb in weight. The food has adapted kibble size with tasty aromas to encourage your puppy and satisfying textures to help him to enjoy his meals.

    The food encourages good immune system development, high energy levels and digestive health all desirable in the development of your spaniel puppy.

    Features

    Royal Canin Puppy Food is tailor made for puppies up to 1 year old.

    The food contains all of the precise balanced nutritional elements to help and encourage the healthy growth and development of your puppy so that he grows into a strong, fit and healthy adult dog.

    With highly digestible proteins and prebiotics the food aids gentle and effective digestion, preventing upset tummies while helping your puppy with his rapid growth needs and aids his bone and immune system development, even if he is playing hard all day long.

    Chicken by product based, combined with chicken fats and fish oils the sources of protein are animal based encouraging your dog’s development through his natural, carnivore needs and instincts.

    The unique shapes and sizes of the kibble ensure that it is suitable for your dog making it easy to consume and digest thus reducing wastage and costs.

    The Royal Canin Puppy Food provides a good, healthy start for your spaniel puppy and, when he reaches a year old, he can switch to Royal Canin Adult Food with no ill effects due to the consistency of products across the dog food range.

    What We Like

    Dogs love this food

    Recommended by veterinarians

    Aids the development of healthy skin, coat and eyes

    A good food for fussy dogs

    What We Don’t Like

    Can occasionally result in some puppies getting upset tummies

    Check the latest price of Royal Canin Puppy Food

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    IAMS Puppy Food

    Founded in 1946 Paul F. Iams  looked for new ways to make high quality, premium pet foods. He spent large amounts of time with breeders and understood just how important fat and protein were in the diets of animals.

    He was an innovator and was the first person to see dogs and cats as carnivores, something that went onto revolutionise the entire pet food industry and he launched his first IAMS dog food in 1959, the first dog food to use animal protein as the main protein ingredient.

    Throughout the 1960s and 1970s IAMs contiuned to innovate and develop new pet feed products and in the 1980s introduced dog foods to meet the life stages of dogs, including a custom puppy food.

    Entering the 21st Century IAMS developed ranges of natural pet foods and published research to show that Omega 3 oils supported the development of coats and skin in dogs and cats.

    Product development is a continual priority at IAMS and in they continue to enhance dog feeds adding DHA to puppy foods to enhance brain development and intelligence levels of pups.

    Product Information

    IAMS Puppy Food comes in a variety of sack sizes up to 30lbs in weight for medium sized dogs ( which is the size of most spaniel breeds).

    The food is formulated from real, farm raised chicken and also contains beet pulp to aid digestion and DHA to help your puppy to develop into a healthy, intelligent and trainable dog.

    Features

    IAMS Proactive Health Puppy Food is veterinarian recommended for all puppy breeds.

    The food is made with real ingredients which include farm raised chicken, beet pulp and wholesome grains and vegetables.

    The quality of the ingredients provide a puppy with everything that he needs for strong, healthy growth and are easily digestible meaning strong immune support, good healthy coat and skin and strong bones.

    The addition of Omega-3 DHA gives your puppy the maximum opportunity to grow into an intelligent and trainable dog.

    The puppy food contains 22 key nutrients that are found in the mother’s milk thus helping your little one to develop quickly.

    What We Like

    Dogs like the food

    Provides good levels of energy for the most active of dogs

    Recommended by veterinarians

    Promotes healthy skin and coats

    What We Don’t Like

    Can sometimes cause upset tummies in some dogs

    Contains more grains and corn than some other foods which may not suit all dogs.


    Check the latest price of IAMS Puppy Food

    Hills Science Diet Puppy

    Hill’s Pet Food was started by veterinarain Dr. Mark Morris who believed that the healthcare of pets was as important as that of the owners, he was of the view that poor nutrition was a prime cause of ill health in pets.

    Dr. Morris developed a pet food that was superior to most on the market at the time.

    When he met a blind man who was travelling the USA with his guide dog Buddy, Dr. Morris set about developing a new food, you see Buddy was suffering from kidney failure, caused by poor quality dog food.

    This food became Hill’s Prescription Diet and it helped Buddy to enjoy many more happy years with his owner.

    Today Hill’s Pet Food products are sold in 86 countries around the world. The food is widely sold in veterinarian practices with many vets feeding the food to their own animals.

    Hill’s operate a Pet Nutrition Center in Kansas, where they develop new foods alongside veterinarians and specialist animal nutritionists. Their facility also houses a fully equipped animal hospital.

    Product Information

    Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food comes in pack sizes up to 15.5 lbs. 

    The food is formulated from chicken and barley and contains DHA from fish oil to help the puppy with healthy brain and eye development.

    Features

    Hills’s Science Diet Puppy is recommended by veterinarians and is rated #1 among US veterinarians.

    The food supports the development of puppies and provides DHA for healthy brain and eye development.

    The kibble is small to enable puppies to enjoy the food and to support easy digestion, the chicken flavor is great tasting making it suitable for all puppies.

    The food contains no artificial colorings or preservatives and it’s precise nutrition supports a healthy coat, skin and stools.

    What We Like

    Supports the development of healthy and growing puppies

    Puppies enjoy the food and kibble size

    Can help puppies that might have sensitive tummies

    Helps puppy to develop healthy skin and coat

    What We Don’t Like

    Quality of packaging can be questionable and is not tough as those of other sacks of food.

    Check the latest price of Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food

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    Puppy Food Buyer’s Guide

    Types of Spaniel Puppy Food

    You may be new to spaniels as a breed, either you’ve owned other breeds of dogs or you’ve never had a dog as a pet before and you’ve just got a puppy or you are looking at getting one, you’ll need to make sure that you get a puppy food that is suitable and safe for your dog.

    There are a number of different foods available, from various manufacturers, which contain different ingredients and you’ll want to make sure that you make the right choice.

    You’ll want to ensure that you don’t waste money and that you puppy likes the food that you buy.

    In this buyer’s guide we will consider a few questions that you might have and look at things that you will need to think about when selecting puppy food for your spaniel.

    Dry or Wet Puppy Food

    The majority of the major dog and puppy food manufacturers produce both dry and wet dog foods.

    Wet dog food is typically canned or in a tin, sometimes it can be frozen in the form of raw food that, once defrosted can be fed to the dog.

    Dry dog food typically comes in paper type sacks, of varying sizes. Dry feed is ‘kibble’ or biscuit based, like small nuggetts of food.

    Normally mass produced with effective quality mechanisms behind the production, this type of food is generally consistent and the major manufacturers start with puppy food, moving onto adult food and then senior food.

    This is good for your dog as it provides for consistency throughout his life.

    Any decision that you make when feeding your puppy will, at first, be determined by what the breeder has been fedding him. 

    You should always follow the breeder’s feeding regime initially before changing your spaniel puppy’s food, and this should be done gradually as he gets older.

    cocker spaniel puppy

    Size of the Kibble/Biscuit

    The size of the dry dog food kibble is important as your puppy needs to be able to eat it.

    Dry puppy food generally comes in different kibble sizes and the kibble size for a large breed, such as a Great Dane, would be difficult for a small breed ( terrier for example) to eat.

    When considering a dry puppy food for your spaniel puppy you should look at small to medium sized puppy food and be guided by the manufacturer’s instructions.

    Ingredients

    The contents of the puppy food are important. Dogs are carnivores and are at their healthiest when they are fed meals that comprise meat based products.

    Most dry dog foods are based around chicken, turkey or fish, all of which are good for dogs and are enjoyed by them.

    Most foods include grain or cereals and, whenever possible, in my experience, it is best to use foods that are low in this type of ingredient.

    There are dry foods available that look like rabbit food and you should avoid these. Dogs are not rabbits.

    How Long Will The Food Last?

    A good thing to consider is how long will any food last that you buy for your spaniel puppy.

    Sometimes cheaper foods work out to be more expensive in the long run as you have to feed more of it and thus buy it more frequently.

    How Much Food Does My Spaniel Puppy Need?

    The amount of food that you will need to feed will be an important consideration when selecting a food for your spaniel puppy.

    From experience dry food tends to be fed more efficiently that wet food and a puppy requires less volume of food from a good dry food than a typical can based food.

    A good quality dry puppy food may represent a seemingly high investment cost wise when buying it, but, the amount fed is less than other foods which will result in longer lasting and less cost per meal.

    Shelf Life

    Your spaniel puppy will grow quickly but you will need to make some purchases of food regularly during his puppyhood.

    The shelf life or time that the food will last until it cannot be fed is an important consideration to make.

    Thankfully, this is not a great problem with the dry, kibble based foods.

    Once opened the sacks can be re-sealed and, provided that they are kept in a dry and damp free environment, the food will last for several weeks, and you should be able to use it all without any problems.

    Is the Puppy Food Easily Available?

    An important consideration, that is often often overlooked by puppy owners, is simply that of ‘ where can I get the food?’ 

    Are there places nearby where you can buy the food that you want for your puppy?  Are these suppliers reliable? If they don’t have it can I get it elsewhere? Can it be purchased online?

    My two Cocker Spaniels are fed Eukanuba and normally I do not have any problems getting the food for them. I have on the odd occasion not been able to get the food, but, as Eukanuba and IAMS are produced by the same manufacturer, I have been able to use IAMS food short term, with no ill-effects for my dogs.

    Sometimes, it is worth looking at the options for backups if the food you choose is unavailable and well worth thinking about when you have a young dog.

    Veterinary Recommended

    Many of the dry puppy food and other dog food manufacturers work hand in hand with vets and specialist canine nutritionists. 

    There are some dog food manufacturers that were founded by vets and continue to operate to their original ideals.

    Food that is recommended by vets has been proven to be good for dogs and puppies and will most likely have a track record of success both in terms of general dog and puppy health and also in helping dogs with health problems to recover.

    Final Words

    All of the foods that we looked at here are worthy of feeding to your spaniel puppy. They are all produced by well known and credible manufacturers.

    The foods are widely available and are all produced from meat based ingredients which are crucial fro the development and growth of your puppy.

    We chose Eukanuba Puppy Food as our favourite food for a growing dog, you can read more reviews about this food here on Amazon where you can also check for the latest prices.

    Read Next

    The best diet for a spaniel’s health and energy

  • The Toughest Chew Toys for Spaniels

    The Toughest Chew Toys for Spaniels

    What is the toughest chew toy for a spaniel? We chose the Kong Classic Dog Toy, it is virtually indestructible and can be packed with tasty treats to keep your dog occupied.

    Are you looking to find the best chew toys for spaniels? If you are then we will help you with our list of chew toys that your spaniel will not tear to pieces.

    Getting the right type of chew toy for your dog is important as there are good and not so good. You’ll want to keep him occupied with his toy but will also want the toy to be safe and suitable for him to play with.

    You can find the Kong here on Amazon

    Why you need a tough chew toy

    Most spaniels will chew which presents a challenge when you are looking for a chew toy that won’t be ripped to pieces within minutes.

    Many dog product manufacturers claim that they have products that are ‘indestructible’  or as ‘tough as old boots’.

    The reality is often very different  and your spaniel simply pulls it apart before starting on your shoes, which is why you bought the toy in the first place, to preserve your precious loafers.

    You have to be on the guard with a dog, and often need to put things out of reach to protect them from being chewed up.

    Like all gundogs, spaniels love to carry things around.

    Boris and Nimrod, my two male Cocker spaniels, are always carrying things to and fro and, if we don’t catch them then we end up spending ages looking for stuff that they have helped themselves to – shoes, slippers, glasses, books all sorts.

    If you want to protect your belongings and furniture then you need to provide your spaniel with good quality, tough dog toys.

    Are Cavalier King Charles spaniels smart?
    All spaniel breeds like to chew

    Top recommendations

    There are some great chew toys out there that are tough enough for the most determined spaniel. 

    Before I look at a lot, let me give you my shortlist of four tough chew toys that my spaniels love.

    Kong chew toys are the best

    KONG Classic Dog Toy

    Goughnuts Indestructible Chew Toy

    BK Heavy Duty Rope Dog Toy

    KONG Jumbler Ball

    Chew toys are important

    Your spaniel needs a distraction and a good chew toy is really important and a necessity for your dog.

    Having something to chew, like a good chew toy, will provide a source of comfort for your spaniel when he is feeling stressed or anxious, or bored.

    Being able to chew on a toy will prevent him from chewing on your shoes, furniture or causing damage to other household items.

    Chew toy safety is essential

    When you are looking for a chew toy the most important consideration is the safety of your dog.

    There are a few things that you should consider when selecting a chew toy.

    The size – a chew toy that is too small could be swallowed by your dog, with tragic consequences.

    The material – a soft chew toy will not be a chew toy for long.

    They are often packed with pieces of man made materials that can be eaten, swallowed and scattered around the house.

    Squeaky Chew Toys – as well as the obvious noise, these toys are often made of plastic or other soft materials, which the dog will pull apart.

    Squeakers can be swallowed too.

    Dog teddy repair shop

    Boris and Nimrod have lots of soft toys, which are not ideal for dogs, but they’ve been acquired through presents and other sources.

    The house often resembles a hospital for dog teddy bears, with bits missing, holes chewed open, contents of the toys scattered everywhere.

    If you can avoid soft toys then I would suggest that you do, unless you are handy with a needle and thread.

    My daughter loves buying soft toys for the dogs so, we leave her to it, and the dogs enjoy the regular supply of ‘victims’.

    Choose your chew toys carefully

    There are many companies that claim that their chew toys are indestructible but the reality is often very different.

    Having bought ‘indestructible’ dog toys before I can tell you that some of these claims are not true.

    When you wake in the morning and stand on the remains of a tough dog toy that is in tiny pieces all across the floor, you know that you were duped.

    Yes, it might be indestructible for a nice, fancy handbag dog but let a spaniel at it and it can be in bits within minutes !

    It’s often best to ask other dog owners for their opinion and recommendations.

    Chew toys to avoid

    Spaniels and most dogs can destroy a chew toy within minutes if they are so minded.

    A bored or anxious dog will take his feelings out on anything that he can chew, this could be a toy, your shoes, the wallpaper, anything in fact that he can get his chops around.

    Among the worst things that you can buy are stuffed toys, although my spaniels have many, they are not tough, the dogs pull them apart and you end up with stuffing and body parts from teddy bears all over the house.

    Similarly you should avoid buying toys that are made of soft plastics, leather, or anything man made that is soft, a determined dog will shred it faster than fast thing.

    What are the best types of chew toy to buy?

    Rope Chew Toys for Spaniels

    Rope chew toys are an excellent choice for your spaniel, they are tough and will last for ages, probably longer than most other chew toys.

    The design and construction of these types of toys is also great for your dog’s teeth and gums.

    They help to maintain a healthy mouth due to the chewing nature of the dog.

    Keeping your spaniel’s teeth and gums in a healthy condition can be difficult and these rope toys help to do this.

    Most of the dog rope toys can be washed and have a long lifetime.

    They should suit the most determined chewer.

    Hard Plastic Chew Toys

    The rope toys are certainly the best types of dog chew toys that are available at this time, but, if these are difficult to find then hard plastic chew toys will also survive the efforts of a determined dog – just not for as long.

    My two dogs love the KONG Chew Toys, they are hard wearing and you can fill them with a variety of doggy treats to keep your pooch occupied.

    KONG have been making dog chew toys for many years and their products are recognised as hard wearing and suitable for all dog breeds.

    The KONG toys also come in different shapes making it a challenge for your dog to hold them and chase them around, increasing his mental activity. 

    They are very hard wearing and, so far, have resisted the efforts of Boris and Nimrod to destroy them.

    Bones and Antler Chew Toys

    Bones have always been a real favourite of dogs and all of my spaniels have loved the treat of a bone.

    I have found that the only real risk of a bone is that of possession if you have more than one dog, and I have had to break up more than one fight and dispute over bones in the past.

    They really are the icing on  the cake when it comes to doggy treasure.

    Be careful though if feeding bones.

    Never give your dog a bone if it is likely to splinter or break into tiny pieces, a bone that does this can cause all manner of problems for your dog. 

    The other thing to consider with bones is that they can have a rather undesirable effect upon your spaniel’s toilet manner after they have been consumed.

    Enough said but be prepared if you feed them.

    Bones do contain marrow which all dogs love and they are good for your dog’s teeth and gums.

    A more frequently popular product is antlers .

    You can get natural antlers that have been treated to preserve them and which last for ages, they are virtually indestructible, or, you can find antlers which have been filled with a type of paste that dogs love.

    Either sort are great as chew toys and will help to keep your dog’s teeth and gums in healthy condition.

    My favourite dog chew toys are…

    Now you are able to decide the best dog chew for your spaniel.

    Here are my top dog chew toys so, next time it’s your spaniel’s birthday or Christmas you can make an easy decision as to what to buy him.

    1. KONG Classic Dog Toy

    One of the toughest and most durable dog toys available.

    My dogs have done their best to pull their Kongs to pieces and they have survived all manner of destructive efforts.

    Made in the USA these chew toys are recommended by veterinarians and dog trainers worldwide .

    They are great for stuffing with treats and are easily cleaned being dishwasher compatible for easy cleaning.

    Certainly a dog toy that is at the top of my list.

    2. Goughnuts Indestructible Chew Toy

    A solid rubber chew ring that is really tough and guaranteed as being indestructible.

    The manufacturers are so confident in the strength of this product that they offer a full money back guarantee if you dog manages to chew through the outer layer.

    Made in the USA the Goughnuts float and are ideal for chewers and teething puppies.

    3. KILIKI Dog Rope Toy

    Rope toys are great for dogs, they are tough, resistant to chewing and they also help to maintain a healthy mouth, teeth and gums due to their shape and materials.

    The KILKI Dog Rope is 3 feet long and made of washable rope which is virtually indestructible, due to it’s size and materials it is stronger and more resilient than other rope based dog toys.

    4. KONG Wobbler Treat Dispenser Dog Toy

    The KONG Wobbler is an action base toy for your dog.

    It sits upright until your dog pushes it with it’ nose or paw and, at intervals, the toys dispenses treats for your dog to enjoy.

    The unpredictable nature of the treat provision keep your dog guessing and occupied.

    The KONG Wobbler rolls, wobbles and skids along the floor, making it more challenging and time consuming for your dog.

    It is made from the classic KONG tough rubber making it durable and chew resistant.

    Your spaniel will love this dog toy.

    5. KONG Extreme Goodie Bone

    KONG products are great dog products, whether as toys or as training aids, they are well made, strong and, in my view, have been developed with the dog in mind, from a doggy perspective.

    Having watched my spaniels with their KONG toys and seen how much enjoyment thet get from them, they are among my favourite dog toys.

    The KONG Extreme Goodie Bone is another excellent dog chew that is as tough as any of the other KONG items.

    You can fill the bone with treats at either end to keep your dog occupied and the bone shape makes it easy to hold and carry around.

    6. KONG Dental with Rope

    Made in the USA, the KONG Dental with Rope is designed for dogs that chew and will clean their teeth as they do so.

    The design of the rope cleans your dogs teeth and helps to remove plaque while polishing them at the same time.

    The chew has the added benefit that it can be filled with treats to keep your dog occupied for longer.

    7. EE Toys Dog Chew For Aggressive Chewers

    Non Toxic Dog Chew Toy with a lifetime guarantee.

    This chew toy is really tough and great for dogs that love to chew. The toy comes in a variety of flavors so you’ll find something that your dog loves.

    You can check the latest price on Amazon.

    8. Otterley Pets Dog Rope Toys

    These are good, non toxic dog rope toys for persistent chewers.

    You get five rope dog chews all of which are different colors and designs which are aimed at keeping your dog occupied.

    The designs help to keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy and the toys are 100% washable.

    9. Pet Qwerks Bark Bone

    The Pet Qwerks Bark Bone is stick shaped making it easy for dogs to pick up and carry around.

    The bone is hardwearing and fit for the most determined chewers, it is also peanut butter flavored which dogs love and the bone massages your dog’s teeth, helping to maintain a healthy mouth and gums.

    10. KONG Jumbler Ball

    The KONG Jumbler ball is a tough, hard rubber ball that is ideal for medium to large sized dogs.

    The ball is long lasting and contains a squeaker to keep your dog occupied.

    The Jumbler Ball bounces well making it ideal for games of fetch and for a chewer that enjoys playing.

    I like this toy because it’s tough, it bounces and, for my two spaniels who love playing ball, it is an ideal dog toy.

    Before you go

    When it comes to equipment for spaniels there are endless choices. If you’re looking for gear for your pet then take a look at Dog Gear section or, why not visit our shop?