Hello! I am totally dog mad, and have finally convinced my hubbie that we need a dog! We're thinking about getting a springer and need some advice please!

We are thinking about getting a gundog, and we both think the best type for us would be a Springer Spaniel. I was brought up with a German Shepherd, so am very used to dogs, but feel that a german shepherd would be too big for us at the moment.

I work five hours a day during the termtime and am off during all the holidays. We thought if we get a dog we could get a dog flap so that when we're out it could get out of the house so it wasn't shut up for hours on end.

We have a 6 and 7 year old who both love dogs, two cats and two chickens, which would be best a dog or a bitch?

All advice accepted with thanks!

Doglover x