Great to see a video on French Spaniels, their “raison d’être” and desirable traits that flow from that, as well as the pitfalls of the breed, while touching lightly on how to manage for them. I’m really intrigued by this breed which is reputed to be gentle, and able to settle quietly when its training and exercise needs are met. Knowing some members of a particular breed tend to be prone to compulsive behavior should be a tip-off to the need for lots of mental stimulation, particularly if consisting of behaviors for which the dog is bred. Ideas for non-hunter owners might be: to play lots of searching and retrieving games, go for plenty of long-leash “sniffari” walks, and feed from puzzles, Toppl or Kong toys and snuffle mats (or use crumpled paper and cardboard boxes scattered about with kibble hidden amongst them), and/or using part of meals for training, rather than using a dog dish (at all!)-for us this has really enriched our border collie’s life and left him ready to doze away hours of every day. He’s not a self-mutilator but I’ve been right on top of any leg licking he does by showing instant concern, taking the leg in my hand, asking if he’s okay, etc. He’s all “I’m fine! Leave me alone!” and then tucks up into a nap. (If this kind of behavior continues OF COURSE check with your vet and/or veterinary behaviorist.) Weird, but it works for us! 😊 Regarding those feathers and being prone to matting, for sure keep on that! Same issues for our fluffy border collie mix. For many years I was so bent on him looking like a genuine border collie that I never trimmed these back, instead taking time to pick thru and comb out burrs after every walk. Oh, my aching back! Finally it dawned on me: do whatever’s best for him and me. So after experimenting myself, I began having our groomer scissors those feathers back closer to his legs just enough to foil the burrs and facilitate grooming. He’s more teddy-bearish looking now (and cuter!), and we’re both much happier. Thanks for making such a great breed video that actually shows only members of that breed! And one that is filled with video of them in action-it does help give an idea of their temperament and activity level. I love what I see here of the French Spaniel.
