A Puppy From Us
We have owned, bred and exhibited English Springer Spaniels for many, many years and it goes without saying that we very much love this breed. Our intention, when breeding, has always been to try to improve on the quality of the dogs we own and to produce healthy puppies of sound conformation and temperament. As breeders, we have always looked for the most suitable males for our bitches and have often travelled long distances for the right boy. We have also looked much further afield too as a way of increasing our own options for the future by importing youngsters or semen from males that we think will make a valuable contribution to our plans.
It is our policy to be open and honest about health issues that affect the breed and our dogs will be tested for relevant diseases using tests that are available to us. We subscribe wholeheartedly to responsible breeding practices not only in the way that our puppies are reared but in caring about the general well being and happiness of all our dogs. We always strive to breed for the very best health and temperament and will never compromise on that ever.
We try to find wonderful homes for the puppies we breed and loving, family homes are our priority. We feel that show prospect puppies also deserve caring homes where they will be given the best opportunity to flourish both in and outside of the show ring.
Breeding and exhibiting English Springer Spaniels has been a long term hobby for us, and in Dave's case, for more than 40 years! Peasblossom puppies are born and reared in our own home and not in kennels. At home, they will have the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of a normal household as part of their preparation to go out into the big wide world. Usually we have no more than one or two litters each year and do not breed on a commercial scale. Instead we put a lot of love and energy into the puppies we do have and do not want that to change. We take a lot of care over the rearing of our puppies and always aim to send babies to their new families full of confidence, well-rounded and happy. This may mean that you might have to wait for a puppy from us as we rarely have litters coming a long one after the other. However, we welcome every enquiry and are always happy to discuss our future puppy plans with prospective buyers.
About the Breed
So you are thinking about an English Springer Spaniel joining your family? This section will hopefully cover some of the questions that you might have about the breed but please don't hesitate to ask if you need more information.
First of all we are breeders of the 'show type' English Springer. It is important to understand the differences between the 'show' type and the 'working' type. In the UK the 'workers' out-number the show-bred dogs by a huge number in terms of kennel club registrations so the show type is much less common. In our opinion, however, it generally makes the better family pet. It is usually a bigger dog with stronger bone, a different head type and more coat. Most importantly, it tends to be less active, making it suit family life very well. That is not to say that working dogs cannot also make super pets, but it is fair to suggest that workers can sometimes be extremely active and far too much for a normal family to manage. The photos below shows the striking differences between the working springers (on the left) compared to the show-bred springers (right).
Probably most of us, on deciding on an English Springer Spaniel to join our family, will be told 'you are crazy! You will need to walk it for ten miles a day!' 'You will never be able to tire it out' and similar comments based on their perceptions of the breed. Springers definitely do get some bad press particularly related to their activity levels. Imagine my surprise to bring home a sweet little 'couch potato' as my first springer who was happy to do whatever we did, whether that was sitting watching television or going for a nice walk in the woods.
There is no doubt that it is an active breed however and some are very much more active than others! From our own experiences, we would say that English Springers just love to be with their families and to be completely immersed in family life. They are not dogs that suit kennel life or any life that deprives them of other family members. If you are looking for a dog that will occupy itself while you are out all day, then this is not the breed for you. Be fully prepared for never going to the bathroom alone again, for 'help' with the gardening and to have your personal space invaded as the norm!
They will require regular appointments with a groomer to keep their coats looking good and are definitely not a 'wash and go' kind of dog. All that said, they make the very best family dog that you could wish for - medium-sized, beautiful and with a wonderful, happy go lucky temperament. Also the breed is very versatile - a family dog absolutely but its eagerness to learn also makes it suitable for obedience, agility and even dancing to music. Photos below of Peasblossom Kastor and Peasblossom Over The Moon.
Another very important consideration before purchasing a puppy would be whether to take a dog or a bitch. We would say that from the puppy enquiries we receive, requests for girl puppies outweigh those for boys around three to one if not more. Many of us are pre-conditioned to somehow believe that girls are easier, quieter, more loving, smaller and cleaner than boys. Similarly that boys are more wilful, harder to train and will pee in the house! We have found our own boys to be absolutely 'the best' and if it wasn't for the fact that we breed, then I know we would keep only boys. They are always the same happy souls, less complicated and easily as loving and adoring as the girls. So there you have it. In respect of size, the Breed Standard gives a required height of 20" at the shoulder and does not differentiate between dogs and bitches. There is little difference in height between our own males and females in fact.
The Breed is generally considered to be a healthy one, with an average life expectancy of between 11 and 13 years. However, some inherited conditions are known to exist. Reputable breeders will routinely test for eye conditions such as PRA, MRD and Goniodysgenesis (Glaucoma). Breeding stock should also be DNA screened for Fucosidosis, a fatal disease of the nervous system. Using the DNA and clinical tests available, breeders are better placed to breed out these health issues from their lines. English Springers, like many other breeds, are predisposed to a number of auto-immune conditions as well as Hepatitis and Epilepsy. Hip Dysplasia in the English Springer is uncommon – the average hip score for the Breed is 14 out of a possible total of 106.
Taking your puppy home
The day will finally come when you are taking your new Springer puppy home and from then on your life will never be the same again :) A good breeder will of course guide you along the way and provide you with all the information you will need to get started on your journey together with the puppy.
At eight weeks of age, the puppies are usually on four meals a day, reducing to three at around twelve weeks old. For many years we have fed our own dogs on a raw food diet and strongly believe that this is the best possible way to feed for optimum health. We do, however, appreciate that not everyone will want to feed their dogs this way so our puppies are therefore reared on a combination of raw meats and high-quality kibble to prepare them for their lives ahead with their new families. Food will be provided to start the puppy off in his or her new home. Of course, you are at liberty to change the puppy's diet but this should be done gradually to avoid upset tummies. Some of our recommendations are shown at the bottom of the page.
Before your puppy is fully vaccinated it should not be taken to public places where other dogs have been. However, this does not stop you from inviting people of all ages to visit or from carrying your puppy in your arms so it can see some of the world. A well socialised puppy will pay dividends in the long term. After vaccinations, exercising and walks should be kept short. A very young puppy will get all the exercise it needs during play. Treat the puppy as you would a human baby making sure it gets plenty of undisturbed rest. On the subject of vaccinations, please proceed with caution. As breeders we have always felt that less is more when it comes to 'chemicals' and as a result, give only puppy vaccines to our dogs and no further boosters. Please also research the necessity for the vaccine against Leptospirosis. We no longer give this at all but please read, in particular, issues with the Lepto 4 vaccine.
Provide your puppy with plenty of toys. Soft toys, latex and squeaky toys are preferable for the soft mouth of a springer. We find that our adult dogs continue to prefer soft toys as they mature. Use toys to distract the puppy from undesirable behaviour such as chewing the furniture. This will happen when the puppy is teething!
A puppy should be taken for regular, short trips in the car so that it gets used to the motion. Many puppies are car sick initially and the only way is to get them used to it over time.
Worming: Puppies should have been wormed several times by the breeder by the time your new family member joins you. After that and up until six months of age, the pup should be wormed every month and then twice annually thereafter.
Fleas & Ticks: In the UK we did not have to worry about ticks at all! We found an occasional one after a walk but they were harmless. Here in Croatia, and in many countries, in fact, it is a different story. Ticks are killers and dogs need to be protected against them. In all honesty, we were fearful of using more chemicals but in this case they are a necessary evil.
Grooming: Try to get the puppy used to being groomed. A puppy that is happy to be handled will make it very much easier for any future groomer and of course the vet. The breeder will have groomed the puppy from the very start by keeping nails short, ears clean and coat tidy. This should be kept up with short grooming sessions. The more you practice, the more used to it the puppy will become.