Yeah, they end up losing those needle-sharp baby teeth as their adult teeth grow in. Which can be kind of freaky, as you can sometimes find teeth lying around on the floor, where they have fallen out. LOL!
Shiner is actually an English Springer Spaniel. They are very similar to Cockers and, historically, were bred in the same litters. Their body shape, head shape, posture, and the way their fur grows is all very similar. I think their coloring can also be similar, although you typically don't see solid-color Springers. (Like you can see solid-color buff or white cockers, from what I understand.) Historically, the main difference between them was size. Cockers tend to top out at about 20 pounds or so. Springers, depending on what strain they are from, can weigh from around 45-60 pounds. There are "field" springers, which are used for hunting and bred for those qualities. And there are "show" springers, which are bred for certain appearance and breed characteristics, such as the shape of their head, length of neck, a "proud" head, which sits higher up on the neck, shape of body and conformation, etc. Show springers usually have the longer, flowing hair, and Field springers typically have shorter, curlier hair. Also, show springers are usually a bit larger. Shiner is from a show line, although he would never qualify to show -- which is why his breeder was willing to sell him to a private home as a pet. He will probably weigh about 50-60 pounds when he's full-grown.
Springers are considered "gun dogs", much like Labs, Golden Retrievers, Pointers, etc. Their function, as I understand it, is to "point" the game ... and, then, at a signal from their owner, they will "spring" the game from the brush/grass/whatever. Once their owner shoots the game, the springer will then retrieve it. Although he's very rough now, as Shiner grows older, he (probably) will instinctively develop a "soft" mouth, which means he might mouth things (like your hand, etc.) but apply no pressure. This is typically an inbred instinct with them so that they don't damage whatever game they retrieve. Show springers have a lot of the same instincts that field dogs have. Even as a puppy, Shiner already points and springs. It's pure instinct with him, which is totally cute and really funny.
So far, he really hasn't been that bad, puppy-wise. My previous springer, Tex, who died about 4 years ago, was the worst puppy ever. He was super destructive. He chewed up my mattress multiple times, broke several baby teeth on my metal bed frame, pulled the stuffing out of my couch, toilet-papered my apartment pretty much every day, shopped in the fridge when he figured out how to open the door, ate many many shoes ... and pencils ... and even a calculator >.O, chewed a hole in the wall of one of my apartments, etc. So, whenever Shiner tries my patience, I try to take a deep breath ... remind myself of what a horrible puppy Tex was and what a fantastic dog he became ... and just hope the same is true for Shiner. It doesn't always work ... but it's better than totally going out of my mind. Hee!
I can totally understand that feeling of "man, i should get rid of this pet" when you are faced with a new pet that is so super-destructive. It is painful to think of getting rid of them, but having something that destructive in your house is super stressful. You just never know what you will come home to find. And it's painful when they destroy your stuff! I can't tell you how many shoes I cried over after Tex ate them. -.-"
I looked up Fennecs on the interwebs! I knew basically what they looked like but didn't know much else about them. It seems like they are really great pets if you know how to "fennec proof" your yard and house so they won't escape. I'm sure you are more than prepared, since you've always had exotic pets. (Which I think is so awesomely cool!!)
Sorry for the super long comment -- and the boring "springer spaniel" tutorial, too. Yikes! >.O *shame*
no subject
Shiner is actually an English Springer Spaniel. They are very similar to Cockers and, historically, were bred in the same litters. Their body shape, head shape, posture, and the way their fur grows is all very similar. I think their coloring can also be similar, although you typically don't see solid-color Springers. (Like you can see solid-color buff or white cockers, from what I understand.) Historically, the main difference between them was size. Cockers tend to top out at about 20 pounds or so. Springers, depending on what strain they are from, can weigh from around 45-60 pounds. There are "field" springers, which are used for hunting and bred for those qualities. And there are "show" springers, which are bred for certain appearance and breed characteristics, such as the shape of their head, length of neck, a "proud" head, which sits higher up on the neck, shape of body and conformation, etc. Show springers usually have the longer, flowing hair, and Field springers typically have shorter, curlier hair. Also, show springers are usually a bit larger. Shiner is from a show line, although he would never qualify to show -- which is why his breeder was willing to sell him to a private home as a pet. He will probably weigh about 50-60 pounds when he's full-grown.
Springers are considered "gun dogs", much like Labs, Golden Retrievers, Pointers, etc. Their function, as I understand it, is to "point" the game ... and, then, at a signal from their owner, they will "spring" the game from the brush/grass/whatever. Once their owner shoots the game, the springer will then retrieve it. Although he's very rough now, as Shiner grows older, he (probably) will instinctively develop a "soft" mouth, which means he might mouth things (like your hand, etc.) but apply no pressure. This is typically an inbred instinct with them so that they don't damage whatever game they retrieve. Show springers have a lot of the same instincts that field dogs have. Even as a puppy, Shiner already points and springs. It's pure instinct with him, which is totally cute and really funny.
So far, he really hasn't been that bad, puppy-wise. My previous springer, Tex, who died about 4 years ago, was the worst puppy ever. He was super destructive. He chewed up my mattress multiple times, broke several baby teeth on my metal bed frame, pulled the stuffing out of my couch, toilet-papered my apartment pretty much every day, shopped in the fridge when he figured out how to open the door, ate many many shoes ... and pencils ... and even a calculator >.O, chewed a hole in the wall of one of my apartments, etc. So, whenever Shiner tries my patience, I try to take a deep breath ... remind myself of what a horrible puppy Tex was and what a fantastic dog he became ... and just hope the same is true for Shiner. It doesn't always work ... but it's better than totally going out of my mind. Hee!
I can totally understand that feeling of "man, i should get rid of this pet" when you are faced with a new pet that is so super-destructive. It is painful to think of getting rid of them, but having something that destructive in your house is super stressful. You just never know what you will come home to find. And it's painful when they destroy your stuff! I can't tell you how many shoes I cried over after Tex ate them. -.-"
I looked up Fennecs on the interwebs! I knew basically what they looked like but didn't know much else about them. It seems like they are really great pets if you know how to "fennec proof" your yard and house so they won't escape. I'm sure you are more than prepared, since you've always had exotic pets. (Which I think is so awesomely cool!!)
Sorry for the super long comment -- and the boring "springer spaniel" tutorial, too. Yikes! >.O *shame*