Help! I need advice.

[Paper-Hearts]

Ok, so we adopted our Lab – we are still in the market for one more dog, and we’ve been looking. We haven’t found one yet, but a lady contacted me recently about her dog that they adopted out to another family. Later, the other family couldn’t handle the dog so they gave it to the shelter. Well now, she can’t have it back as her husband is not interested (the original reason they adopted him out) so she heard about me through a friend and has come knocking at my door.

Now, she has offered to pay the adoption fee and bring the dog to us – we have contacted the shelter, and they said that would be fine as she’d be bringing the paperwork along with her for us to fill out about the dog. She works for them, so it’d be returned. Now the dog is cute as a button, he is English Springer Spaniel mix who is a year and a half old. Now my question is, should I pursue this or go elsewhere? Anyone know anything about the breed English Spring Spaniel? I attached pictures of him.

If it doesn't work out we'll keep looking, we are in no big hurry.

 

[Fran27]

Tough situation to be in! I'd go there myself with your dog and see how everyone hits it off... In the end you need to find the right fit for your family.

 

[Paper-Hearts]

We plan on meeting up before I ever agree for sure to take the dog, we plan on meeting at the local dog park.

 

[Romy]

Being a springer mix, I'd expect it to be pretty active and into things. But then it is a mix, so who knows without meeting it in person. Definitely have it meet your current dog. The most important thing is to find an individual who fits into your family dynamic.

 

[Paper-Hearts]

My question kind was, do you think I should be worried? I mean why is she offering to pay the fee? I asked and she said "to find him a good home" but I mean, she doesn't know me - all she has is what my friends have told her. He is a pretty dog, but I was looking into a GSD or another Lab. I have never been a fan of Spaniels, but I don't know since he is a mix he could be different. The shelter said he was really sweet, a lap dog, they said as far as they can see he keeps his run clean, and the lady who owned him (the one offering to pay) said he was really good about letting you know he had to go potty. I plan on introducing Joans before I get any dog, but that aside should I be wary?

 

[jasmom87]

I have a 6 month ESS. She is high energy, needs to walked and will use her paws to direct me to what she wants to do. ESS are also velcro dogs. If she is not playing, she is leaning on one of us or right next to us touching. I absolutely adore her, she makes us laugh all the time and she is very intelligent. I owned cockers before, but Maddie is more animated and fun. She also is very strong both in mind and body, but I was used to a laid back cocker.

The dog is darling and if I was in the market for a second dog would want to bring her home. Good luck with your decision.

This one looks very much like a field spaniel.

 

[BDorman]

I'm a little confused. She works at the shelter? She re-homed her own dog to a family and that didn't work out?

Are you sure she wasn't "fostering" the dog? If the first adopting family already paid an adoption fee, it makes sense that the shelter wouldn't need to charge another fee, but I'd rather someone told me that...rather than "I'll pay the fee for you".

As previous posters mentioned, the most important thing is that the two dogs get along.

 

[Zoom]

Maybe she just wants the dog out of the shelter that badly?

ESS's are very high energy, and prone to the typical "spaniel" ailments--ears infections, skin issues, etc. Also quite loving.

Go with the dog you know you want, not the one you think you should take out of some sort of obligation.

 

[Paper-Hearts]

I'm a little confused. She works at the shelter? She re-homed her own dog to a family and that didn't work out?

Are you sure she wasn't "fostering" the dog? If the first adopting family already paid an adoption fee, it makes sense that the shelter wouldn't need to charge another fee, but I'd rather someone told me that...rather than "I'll pay the fee for you".

As previous posters mentioned, the most important thing is that the two dogs get along.

That is what confused me.

She said "We previously OWNED the dog, we adopted him out rather then take him to a shelter. He showed up at the shelter I work at because the people who adopted him said it wasn't working out"

That's what her e-mail read.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

I take it, she works at the shelter, and instead of adopting him out through the shelter, she adopted him out on her own terms to a family. The family didn't work out, so they actually dropped the dog off at the shelter, and now he's back looking for a new home. That's how I understood it.

And I agree with everyone else, take Joans up there to meet the spaniel, and see how things click. Beautiful dog though!

 

[Paper-Hearts]

I take it, she works at the shelter, and instead of adopting him out through the shelter, she adopted him out on her own terms to a family. The family didn't work out, so they actually dropped the dog off at the shelter, and now he's back looking for a new home. That's how I understood it.

And I agree with everyone else, take Joans up there to meet the spaniel, and see how things click. Beautiful dog though!

I have to wait, I have a German Shepherd coming out to meet me today. If it works out, we'll be keeping the GSD if not we are on the look out again.

He is pretty, but I was wary of the "paying the fee" part. I didn't really understand why she would do that.

 

[bubbatd]

She means that she has to pay the fee t spring the dog from the shelter .... I'd meet and if your gut says " No " then don't do it !

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

I really wouldn't be concerned over her paying the fee... that doesn't strike me as a red flag at all. It sounds like she desperately wants a good home for the dog, and is willing to make it as easy as possible for any prospective homes that sound like they can provide that for the dog.

 

[smkie]

IF your not a fan of spaniels, then i would hope this dog would go to someone that was a fan of spaniels. WIth that said, i was not a fan of terriers. THen i found Pepper. I wouldn't go out and get another terrier but if you tried to take Pepper away from me i would fight you. SHe is so my precious now.

 

[Paper-Hearts]

IF your not a fan of spaniels, then i would hope this dog would go to someone that was a fan of spaniels. WIth that said, i was not a fan of terriers. THen i found Pepper. I wouldn't go out and get another terrier but if you tried to take Pepper away from me i would fight you. SHe is so my precious now.

LOL I'll remember not to take Pepper away, I am not a fan of Spaniels because I've had quite a few bad run-ins with them. I wil however, be open to meeting him of course. I have to wait and discuss it with Hubby.

 

[aussiemyf7]

Oh isnt he/she precious.
I hope he/she finds a lovely home.
Poor baby.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I'm working with an ESS mix right now, and I agree with everything jasmom said about them. I'm a lot more familiar with cockers, never worked with an ESS before, and they certainly are VERY different! More animated, more active, cuter (IMO!), etc. MUCH too much energy for my taste, though, and if you like labs and GSDs, I'm not sure if you would like an ESS (UNLESS, of course, this dog is not typical of the breed, which is very possible).

I THINK that ESSs are kinda prone to neuroses, that might be something to ask about. The one I'm working with is EXTREMELY toy-driven, to the point where NOTHING else matters when a toy is around. Although the one exception is that she's obsessed with the water hose.... she would chase the spray of water around for hours, until she literally collapsed, I'm sure. I'm very afraid to see what she would be like around sprinklers (haven't tested her yet). Honestly I'm a little afraid to see what the next obsession is going to be.

BUT, again, she is a mix from a shelter, so we don't know what her parents were like and we don't really know anything about her upbringing. She has a lot of good qualities, to - she's very people-oriented, extremely smart, loves learning new things, has a sense of humor , etc. So yeah, it's probably at least worth a look.

 

[Fran27]

I don't find it fishy honestly.. If I had to rehome one of my dogs and found the new owners dropped him at the shelter, I'd do my best to get him out of there too, even if I had to pay the fee so he's more likely to be adopted. She probably heard good things about you and would rather see him go to a stable home that will keep him and not someone who might drop him at the shelter again.

But in the end, he might not be what you're looking for, and that's ok. Keep us posted about the GSD!

 

[sprintime]

Sounds like you are looking mopre for a GS than a spaniel. But I would give it a chance and meet the dog and see what your feelings are and most importantly how your dog gets along with it.
I don't find it fishy at all that she wants to pay the fee, sounds like she really cares about finding the right home for her dog and the fee isn't a concern. Word of mouth goes a long way and if she heard great things about you I'm sure she is thinking this is the perfect home for her dog.
No need to rush into a decision, meet the dog first and follow your heart.