The list of pets in the White House pets include lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Also elephants, zebra, hyena, badger, bobcat, wallaby, coyote, pigmy hippo, alligators, snakes, silkworms, turkeys, roosters, and a goose too! Other pets were horses, ponies, donkeys, sheep, cows, goats, pigs, raccoons, rabbits, lizards, an owl, parrots, a mockingbird, parakeets, lovebirds, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and mice! Of course, there were cats and dogs as well!

Our 5th President of the US, James Monroe (1817 to 1825) had the first spaniel in the White House. The spaniel was owned by his daughter, Alice. Since the English Springer Spaniel was recognized in 1930 as a separate breed, the spaniel owned by Alice could have been any one of the spaniel breeds we know today.

Our 41st President, George H. W. Bush (1989 to 1993) had two English Springer Spaniels in the White House, Millie, being the most famous and her son, Ranger.

Our 43rd President, George W. Bush (2001 to present) had Spot, who was born in the White House, and a daughter of Millie. I am sad to learn that Spot at age 11 has recently passed away.

Will the new US President have an English Springer Spaniel? We all know how intelligent English Springer Spaniels are, and I think every US President can use intelligent people and dogs on his side!

Recently, a friend of mine from California said that if he could be reincarnated, he would want to come back as a dog. “Not just any old dog, but a dog just like yours or mine.” He said. (He and his wife have two champion Newfoundland dogs.) His dogs as well as Eliot are pampered and have every one of their needs attended to! Eliot lays in the air conditioning (usually on the sofa with the tv on for noise) while it is hot and I go out in the heat to make a living and bring him home the bacon!

Just today, Eliot went to visit the groomer and had a bath and haircut! I am the one that drove him there, paid for the fuel and vehicle to get there and then paid the bill. I do not know who said “It’s a dog’s life.” But for my dog and I am sure there are many others, truly it’s a dog’s life! And if I could be reincarnated, I would want to come back as a dog, just like mine!

How much food does your Springer need?  There is no set answer to that question.  First of all, start by feeding your Springer a quality dog food.  While the cost is higher it will be less expensive in the long run.  If you feed your dog cheaper dog food, he will require more food to get the nutrition he needs.  You will also have more waste to clean up.  Second, use the label as a starting point for the correct amount.  Keep in mind that label is for all types of dogs and there is a big difference in dog breeds, sizes, puppy growth rates, skin and coat types, activity levels and living conditions in the dog world.

A Springer will require different amounts of dog food throughout his lifetime based on his age as well as other factors.  A growing puppy will require more than the average amount.  This is a good time to buy a quality dog food just for puppies because they need the proper nutrients to develop over a short period of time.   Also a pregnant dog in her first 42 days will require more than an average amount.  A pregnant dog in her last 21 days will require even more food and a lactating female will require even more than during pregnancy.

If your Springer is a hard working hunter then he/she will require more due to a high activity level. A neutered or spayed dog will require less food than a dog that is intact of same age and activity level.  A senior dog that is less active will require less than a younger dog.

If your dog is underweight he/she will be more likely to suffer from poor muscle tone, energy loss, delayed healing and metabolic and reproductive disorders.  If your dog is overweight he/she is more likely to suffer from arthritis, increased risk of diabetes, liver problems, skin problems and lack of energy.

Your breeder is a good source of information about dog food.  Your puppy has already been introduced to a solid food and the breeder will let you know what it is and how much your puppy requires.  Your veterinarian is another good source of information about dog food throughout all the stages of your dog’s life.>

Elevated dog feeders — are they just a fad?  While I do not think so, there are several reasons why every pet owner (dog or cat) should use them.  Veterinarians recommend them because of comfort for your pet while eating and drinking.  Older pets with arthritis and neck or back problems can benefit by using elevated dog feeders.  Also dogs with stiff muscles and sore joints can benefit as well.  The elevation aids with difficulty swallowing problems as well as the digestion of their food.   It also reduces bloat in the larger breeds.    

Elevated dog feeders also benefit the owner!  It helps keep your pet’s eating area cleaner. Better hygiene and cleanliness is always a plus!   Dogs are less likely to drip water on the floor with elevated feeders.  It helps the owners with physical disabilities.  Less clean up and the elevation keeps you from bending down to the floor is another plus! 

I use an elevated feeder for Eliot and yes, there is less water on the floor!  Even though he can not speak for himself, I think that he loves his elevated dog feeder!  I do too.

I think that all Springers, when they are young, are crazy!  They all have crazy things that they love to do, and sometimes it drives their owners crazy too!

The crazy thing that Spencer loved was to run around the living room and use the back of the sofa as a spring board!  I still do not know how he managed not to break anything, thank goodness!  After flying around the living room in circles for several laps, then he would race up and down the hallway!   As he was making the turns in the hallway, he would slip and slide all over the hardwood floor, struggling to get traction and keep up the extreme fast pace!  It always made my daughter and company laugh and this was great encouragement for him!

The crazy thing that Eliot loved was to play with empty milk jugs while he was outside.  He would borrow them out of the recycle bin and while he held the milk jug in his mouth, he would run up and down the sidewalk, scrapping the milk jug on the walkway!    It was like scrapping your fingernails on a chalkboard!  But Eliot thought this was great fun, and at least this crazy activity was outside!   When he was finished the milk jug had all kinds of holes and was flat as a pancake! 

What crazy activities does your Springer engage in?  I am amazed at a Springer’s thoughts for such crazy adventures! 

After your precious pet is several weeks old, this question will arise, to neuter or not to neuter, and in the case of a female, to spay or not to spay. 

If you bought a dog with a great pedigree line and plan to show him or her, do not neuter or spay.  You can not show a dog that has been neutered or spayed.  And if that is the case, please do not let your dog run free.  Be a responsible pet owner and keep track of your dog’s whereabouts 24/7!   My second Springer, Spencer, was out in his fenced in yard and I was shocked to see a female of mixed pedigree that was in heat squeeze herself through the gate to get to him!  However, the joke was on her, he had already been neutered!

If you purchased your dog for a companion, friend, and pet, then by all means neuter and spay.  In today’s world, approximately 7 million pets are put to sleep each year and some of these are pedigrees!  In the United States on any given day of the year, 10,000 babies are born and that same day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born!  We all know there are just not enough homes for each and every pet!  In 6 years a dog and her offspring can produce as many as 67,000 puppies!   

Neutering and spaying does prolong their lives!  For females, spaying reduces the risk of breast cancer, and practically eliminates ovarian and uterine cancer.  For males, neutering reduces testicular cancer and prostrate problems as well as avoiding problems such as hernias.  There are other advantages to getting your pet neutered or spayed, such as your pet is less likely to roam, another is a cheaper dog license.

Whatever decision you make, make an educated one based on you and your dog’s future!   

For the last 70 years Springers have been bred for either the field or the show ring.  A litter of Springers will only produce one specific type of dog, either dogs for show or dogs for the field.  That does not mean that a show dog can not accompany you hunting.  It means that his true identity in the Springer world was for show.  Just like everyone can sing, but not everyone can be a singer! 

To find out your Springer’s true identity, you need to look no further than his AKC registration.  If his parents and grandparents are registered with the title Ch preceding their name, that means they are a Show Champion.  Therefore, your Springer was bred for show! 

If you find the title of AFC, FC, NAFC, NFC preceding his parents and grandparents’ name, then you have a field Springer.  All of these titles are for Field Champions!  Four titles are awarded by the AKC Field Trials.  AFC means Amateur Field Champion.  This title is awarded to a dog whose owner trains and runs his own dog and is not in the business of training field dogs for a living.  FC means Field Champion.  While an amateur can run his own dog for this title, he will be competing with professional trainers.

NAFC and NFC are titles from the National Event that is held once each year.  NAFC means National Amateur Field Champion and NFC means National Field Champion.  To compete in the nationals you must have won a field trial within the last year.  The Nationals only award one Springer the coveted title each year!  

Other titles you may find are CFC (Canadian Field Champion) or NCFC (National Canadian Field Champion) or FTCH (which is the UK’s field champion title).

These working titles follow the dog’s name, CD, CDX, UD, TX, TDX (all of these are obedience titles) and JH (Junior Hunter), SH (Senior Hunter), MH (Master Hunter). 

The last dual champion Springer was a Show Champion and a Field Champion in 1947, as the standards for show Springers and field Springers are constantly spreading in different directions.