In the effort to heal from our multiple dog losses this year I reached out to my long-time friend and early Toller mentor, Patty Beran, to ask about a few breeds I had seen over the years and admired. She was able to help me make some amazing connections with both a Welsh Springer Spaniel and Field Spaniel breeder who've been in their respective breeds far longer than I've been in Tollers (which is currently 26 years). I found much to admire in both breeds as I researched and got to know them better, but in the end, George and I were completely smitten with the Welsh Springer Spaniel. We found them lovely, lively, and engaging.
It seemed like serendipity that a handsome male puppy was available. That he was a singleton, like Koan, tugged at our hearts. The fact that there are multiple UDs on the dam's side of the pedigree clinched it, since as with Tollers, I primarily want a dog to "do stuff" with.
I guess I thought spaniels would be more fawning and subservient than their retriever counterparts but I couldn't have been more wrong. He's got moxie, or "spanieltude", and really doesn't seem too far removed from the Tollers we've raised over the years.
✅ - Super smart
✅ - Very food motivated
✅ - Likes to retrieve
✅ - Likes to pick up and carry things he finds on our walks
✅ - Preferred sleeping position is upside down on his back
✅ - Stands on open door of the dishwasher when I am loading or unloading it (remind you of anyone, Amanda?)
✅ - When corrected he repeats the infraction, just to be sure you meant it
One thing that's different is the amount of closeness he likes to have. Over the years I've had my Toller entourage, primarily June and Baco, who liked to follow me around the house. Angws takes it up a notch. If I sit or stand in one place too long I often discover his head draped over my feet.
Koan has decided Angws is ok most of the time, which is a good thing because she helps to wear him out. He is pretty good about downtime while I'm working, but is definitely revved up both early and later in the day. He already knows sit, down and come on command, and is catching on quickly to the idea of getting rewarded for finding odor as I plan to do scent work with him. We hope to have wait, stand, and an around finish pretty solid by the end of puppy class. He's a lot of fun to train and it will be interesting to see where he takes us.
