A Dog is Man's Best Friend

A well chosen rescue dog can make a great pet and companion, but you before you choose to get one then you need to consider a few aspects. I owned a great Springer Spaniel rescue dog. He was perfect for me and my family, but what are your personal circumstances? Do you have a family or live alone? Do you have for a pet, and do you have space for a dog? Rescue dogs may need patience and some re-training. These questions are considered here and may help you decide.

Firstly, the Springer Spaniel makes a great pet and companion - they are friendly, intelligent and affectionate, they are compact in size, so will easily fit into a small car or truck cab and they are not expensive to keep, with food costing maybe $7-10 a week (£4-7). They are generally healthy (though do have some weaknesses to watch out for), so veterinarian bills should not be a strain in the normal course of events.

They can walk all day, and love to retrieve, so they will be good for your health, too.

What about a springer rescue dog as an option instead of a puppy? There are some drawbacks are:

* You do not know their full history, therefore they cannot be showdogs (it's unlikely they will have any pedigree documentation, though that is not always the case).

* You cannot breed a pedigree from them.

* They may have been abused in a previous home so they could have personality issues (for example nervousness).

* Other physical or personality problems may not be immediately obvious (though the rescue center may have an idea about these).

* They might have come from a poor bloodline with hereditary weakness which might not show up till later in life.

* There could be some training difficulties, or perhaps none at all, depending on the dog's background and whether you want him as a family pet or as a working dog.

On the other hand:

* You can give him a name you like as his (or her) name is probably unknown.

* They are likely to cost a lot less to buy than a pedigree pup.

* You probably don't have to go through house training him.

* You will be saving one more unwanted dog. Many people see this as a major point.

* Springer rescue dogs can be very appreciative of a decent home, as they are so sociable and affectionate.

If you do want a Springer Spaniel, then a rescue dog is a reasonable option. If you have young children, you will need to be completely satisfied that the dog has no major personality problems; certainly I had three very young daughters when Jasper came into the household from a police pound, and he was a joy to us all.

They are energetic dogs and great fun, so you will need to have enough space in the yard for them, and the time (45 minutes a day) to give them a decent walk. Whilst being energetic, they are still fine company if you are middle aged and looking for a companion, provided you can give them that bit of exercise (or use a dog walker).

As a family pets and companions, Springers are ideal, and a much better choice than many other rescue dogs.