boxst

Hello

I am having a 'playdate' with a dog on Saturday, a 9 month old Springer Spaniel. We will have it for most of the day. A strange way to phrase it, but that is what my 5 year old daughter is calling it! We miss our dog and one of her classmates needs someone to look after the dog for a day and I'm more than happy to do so.

Anyway, the question is whether it is safe to let the dog off of the lead on the forest? Will it run away? Springer Spaniels have a mind of their own anyway, but just wondering how long for a dog to get used to you and actually come back!

Steve

al4x1

don't do it especially with someone elses dog. Springers are born to hunt and go very deaf at the same time.

ScoobyWon't

I wouldn't risk it with someone elses dog.

Would you like to borrow one of my Golden Retrievers too?

rallymad_homer

Used to breed them with my grandparents on the farm as workers. Brilliant dogs !

Like others have said, i wouldnt with someone elses dog. what we do is get a long lead and just let them get into everything.

pooch will love it ! be sure to take him/her through a patch of those little sticky ball bushes.... the owner will love you for it. lol

RMH

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

dont let it off!!!

if you ever fancy walking another, I have a very friendly rottweiller that just loves to run and run and run and run!!! great with kids too

Clarebabes

I wish we could "borrow" a dog for weekends and evening walks. Working full-time and having a cat means we can't have one. Plus picking up poo is a bit off-putting...

ghg

you can claire

yours2share Sharing a dog

XRS

You can always walk a dog for someone who is housebound
The Cinnamon Trust - The National Charity for the elderly and their pets

boxst

Thank you for the replies, I will let the dog rummage around but on the lead.

All offers of dog-caring for a day for ones that don`t eat children considered

I like the idea of the Cinnamon Trust, and will see if there is anyone around where I live.

Steve

Clarebabes

Yeah, might give that a go. Wouldn't want to travel too far though....

CrisPDuk

I would say you will probably be OK, so long as you take time to let the dog get to know you first. Whilst Al4x1 is right in what he says about them getting their nose down and shutting their ears, they don't generally like to stray to far from whoever they're with.

This one;



Is quite happy to disappear deep into the undergrowth where you're well out of her sight, but if you stop moving or making noise, she's straight back out to check you're still there

If you stop making noise and hide, she goes mental trying to find you

CrisPDuk

PS: For the record, Springers don't have a mind of their own

They don't have a mind of any description :

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

ghg

that's rather small minded of you steve. im disapointed

boxst

I know, I'm sorry. I only have two children, so a child-eating dog would only be able to visit twice.

Steve

billythekid

Its very true some dogs will run off and never come back, one of ours can never go off the lead on open land as she realises its open land she will just bolt and run, can be very risky if there are roads etc around. Thankfully we have a very large fenced area that she runs in every day - would be a nightmare otherwise!

boxst

We did let him off in the end -- having played with him in the garden and he stayed quite close we risked it on the forest. Apart from playing 'hide and seek' in the bushes to freak me out all went well.



Steve