New Pup!

Well, it’s been a long wait, but tomorrow, we will head home with our new puppy, Ripley! We have been following him with frequent pictures and reports, but today was our first meeting. He’s adorable, and we’re in love with him already!

I spent a lot of time researching breeds and looking for a dog that would most importantly be a great family dog, yet would hunt with me but be more calm than a typical sporting breed. I settled upon the Spinone Italiano.

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I’m confused, you kiss a sturgeon but not that cute puppy!
Congrats on the new family member.

Congrats on the new addition to the family.

Congratulations on the new pup! He is very adorable and I’m so happy for you guys! Who really needs that much sleep anyways, right?

Congrats to the fam!

Good lookin’ pup there. Congrats!

-J.

I’ve always been a fan of that breed, congrats! I bet he will own your couch soon! “oh, you want me to move so you can sit? There’s two couches…”

Nice looking pup. Interesting looking breed for sure. I have read up on them a bit. How hard was it to find a breeder?

Congrats!!

Great choice Ralph!

Here’s to many happy years!

Let the fun begin!

Mans Best Friend.! An a LOYAL Friend Forever.!! Enjoy. … rrr

Nice looking pup Ralph

CaptainMusky wrote:

Nice looking pup. Interesting looking breed for sure. I have read up on them a bit. How hard was it to find a breeder?

They are few and far between. I’ve been very happy with Ripley’s breeder.

Congratulations,nice looking pup.Hope he gets to own you a very long time.

Big feet on the hound. How large does this breed get? Cute dog.

75-85 lbs for males. He’ll be a good-sized dog.

We got home yesterday afternoon. Last night was a little rough, but nothing unexpected. Ripley has been a very sweet boy. Our kids (5 and almost 3) are having fun with him, and vice versa. He’s a big time talker–not barking, but talking. His tail rarely stops wagging.

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That’s a nice looking dog. Should be a good one.

I guess I’m not up to speed on that breed, are they pointers?

Grouse

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

I guess I’m not up to speed on that breed, are they pointers?

Yes, they do point. They’re considered a versatile hunting breed, so they do a bit of everything. They work more slowly than, say, a GSP, but they are also a more laid back dog.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

They work more slowly than, say, a GSP, but they are also a more laid back dog.

“Laid back dog”… I don’t understand that phrase.

Sharon wrote:

“Laid back dog”… I don’t understand that phrase.

Me either…

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Spins are nice dogs! Enjoy! I’m a versatile dog guy myself with two Drahthaar’s and a GWP.

Ripley’s 11 weeks old as of today, and he’s doing great! We’re working on manners and socialization. He loves to steal shoes!

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Not familiar with this breed.. thought the following comments from an online review of the breed a bit amusing…..

• Intelligence: They are exceptional in their ability to open things they shouldn’t; refrigerators, doors, cupboards, etc. Their innate curiosity can cause problems at times.
• Slime: Famous for their “Spinone Slime”. Particularly after drinking, a slime towel kept handy is a normal part of a Spinone owners décor!!

Enjoy the new family member!

Pete

trophy19 wrote:

• Slime: Famous for their “Spinone Slime”. Particularly after drinking, a slime towel kept handy is a normal part of a Spinone owners décor!!

That’s the truth. His beard is seldom dry, and it’ll only get longer as he gets older. Of course, I am used to having a Great Dane, and we’d routinely find slobber in places you can’t even imagine.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

we’d routinely find slobber in places you can’t even imagine.

at least that’s what you told company….

suzuki wrote:

at least that’s what you told company….

<Nearly spits water onto keyboard>
You guys always know how to make me laugh!

Well, Ripley is a tad over 4 months old, now, so I should provide an update with some recent photos!

He’s really doing well, and we’re happy with our breed decision and more than happy with his breeder–she’s fantastic. He’s really, really smart. Last week, he wanted to go outside, so he picked up the TV remote and brought it over by the front door. We’ve completed puppy kindergarten, and it was fun to watch him gain confidence and come out of his shell. We start obedience class soon.

He’s doing well with the kids, and they love him. He is still a little nippy at times and needs some reminders about some over-exuberance, but they’re getting along really well.

He’s growing like a weed and is up to 40 lbs already. He’s lost a bunch of teeth this past week–he’s currently nothing but gums on the bottom between his canines.

I get him in the field a few times a week to stretch his legs, build confidence, and work on some basic skills. He’s my first hunting dog, and I must say that I am amazed by the instinct! He’s doing really well, especially in the past 2-3 weeks. He’s found such treasures as a disemboweled rabbit, a rabbit leg, plenty of assorted wildlife poop…even some live rabbits and a wood duck. I have plans to send him to a trainer this spring, and I am excited to continue his development.

On to the pics! I really like the snow pictures because it shows his color better. He comes across as very white in most pictures, but there is actually a lot of orange in his coat.
DSC_1301 & DSC_1303: Enjoying the recent snow. He LOVES snow. I was not quite prepared for how much snow clings to his coat!
DSC_1288: Having a blast in the field.
DSC: DSC_1277: Practicing his manners (aka sitting on his blanket while we eat at the table).

And a short clip from this weekend: https://youtu.be/4w9azD5Ec0Y

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Wow, that is a handsome dog! Congrats Ryan!