u/versidilibri

Lui è Baileys. Ha 4 mesi ed è un maltipoo?
Qualcuno può indicarmi come potrebbe crescere da qui ai prossimi mesi?

Fatico a superare la perdita del mio cane. A chi ha vissuto un'esperienza simile, come siete riusciti a superarla?

Sole came into my life as a little two-month-old puppy, and from the very beginning I felt there was something… different about her. And she has certainly made that clear!
She is only 10 weeks old, but she already growls and barks if my two cats come anywhere near her food bowls.
She bites me when she wants to start a “fight” or rough play.
She bites me if I pet her while she’s sleeping.
She bites me if I pet her when she simply doesn’t feel like being touched.
And when she gets irritated, she can really hurt me.
It doesn’t feel like a warning bite. It seems much more like she bites because she gets overwhelmed, frustrated or nervous.
But when she is calm, she is the sweetest little thing. She is also a complete scaredy-cat — she comes and stands between my legs and licks my face. ❤️
She is incredibly intelligent, determined and, honestly, unbelievably stubborn. And she is absolutely gorgeous, with her little markings on her face, her soft ears, her sweet little belly and that adorable soft muzzle. I’m completely in love with her.
The problem is that she is only 10 weeks old and I feel like I still haven’t found a way to communicate with her.
She is often extremely restless and overstimulated. There are moments when absolutely nothing seems to satisfy her or help her settle.
Not a walk.
Not a chew.
Not her toys.
Not even the balls she absolutely loves chasing.
During these episodes, she seems unable to focus on anything for more than a few minutes. She constantly switches from one toy to another, from one place to another, as if she simply cannot find a way to switch off.
And I honestly don’t know how to help her.
I often find myself wondering whether what she really needs is a life where she can run, chase, search, flush, retrieve, jump and use that incredible little brain of hers.
And then I wonder: what kind of life can I realistically give her?
A life mostly inside the house?
A life with my two cats, whom she still hasn’t learned to live peacefully alongside?
A life with me constantly telling her “no, don’t do that”?
She absolutely adores being with me and my family. She is completely comfortable with us and clearly loves being part of our family.
But when her needs and energy become overwhelming, I sometimes look at her and think:
She looks like a little tiger in a cage.
And this is where I’m really struggling.
Her breeder recently called me and told me that someone is interested in her — either to train her for hunting/retrieving, or potentially for breeding.
Now I feel completely torn.
I love this little girl enormously, but I also want to be honest with myself about what is best for her, not just what is best for me.
Am I simply dealing with a very young, very intense Springer puppy who needs time, guidance and the right kind of training?
Or could she genuinely be a dog who would thrive much more in a working/hunting environment?
I don’t want to give her away just because puppyhood is difficult. But I also don’t want to keep her if I cannot give her the kind of life she was born to enjoy.
For those of you who know and love Springers: what do you think?
Is this typical Springer puppy behaviour at 10 weeks?
How would you help a puppy like Sole learn to settle and communicate with her humans?
And most importantly, what would you consider when deciding whether to keep her or let her go to a working home?
I would really appreciate honest advice — especially from people who have raised working-line or very high-drive Springers.
I just want to make the right decision for my little girl. ❤️