Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Spaniel impossible after a walk

40 replies

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 13:15

I have a rehomed English Springer Spaniel staying with us, he’s a very clever teenage boy. I’ve successfully put in some boundaries and he is responding nicely, he is a bit mouthy for my liking but we are working on this.

However, he has at least 2 walks, mostly off lead and swim a day totalling about 3.5-4 hours. The issue is that he absolutely bonkers for hours after exercise, zooming about, won’t settle, annoys our other ( elderly) dog. Constantly chews his toys etc… and the not settling lasts for hours. I’ve had spaniels ( show line) before and cannot work out what I am doing wrong. We do some training on top of walks which he is responding to. He is desexed, in good health.

He has been rehomed with us temporarily and we may very well be his last chance. He is honestly creating chaos in a home that is set up, used to and welcomes dogs, his previous owners seem perplexed but I can get literally nothing done.

I have contacted a professional but it will take a month before a session can be booked and I need to get some work done in the interim/ if he stays.

Any ideas, very much appreciated.

OP posts:

crazyBadger · 04/09/2023 13:20

After walk zoomies....

We throw a handful of his kibble in an old towel and tightly roll up adding a few more treaty bits... then tie in a knot tight..

Takes my lab a good 20min or so to undo and eat the treats by then he has calmed down enough to think about a snooze...
A frozen Kong or licky Matt might also be worth a go.

DominoRules · 04/09/2023 13:23

Is he perhaps having too much exercise/stimulation and becoming overtired? Springers don’t have a natural off switch so they need to be taught steadiness and how to calm themselves and settle.

I have a Springer he would run and play all day if I let him but he can get a bit ‘silly’ when he gets tired and I often have to enforce naps like an overtired toddler!

Original poster

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 13:31

@crazyBadger he has puzzle toys which I stuff with peanut butter after his walk etc … he almost cannot settle to one thing. I’ve heard of this but never ever knew it could last all day until his evening walk.

@DominoRules he almost doesn’t know how to settle, he came with a crate which is in my bedroom and he hates it. I leave the door open and it has more cushions, towels and blankets than John Lewis but he doesn’t like it/ won’t go in there and anyway we have always been a basket sort of house. I don’t push the crate thing. It’s almost like he doesn’t know how to settle. I have taught him ‘bed’ for one of the many baskets but he doesn’t seem to find those comfy either ( could hardly prise my other dogs out of them and they have a queen feather/down duvet with duvet cover so I would say they are comfortable). I have never forced him into his crate. How do you enforce naps?

OP posts:

DominoRules · 04/09/2023 13:39

Bless him, sounds like he’s never really learned to settle so is constantly a bit wired. Could you try going into a quiet room after walks just with him and shut the door and see if he can calm down a bit easier with minimal distractions around?

Similar on the bed things here - I bought so many comfy ones and blankets yet his favourite thing is an old towel on the kitchen floor!!

DominoRules · 04/09/2023 13:42

In terms of enforcing maps I go with mine into the lounge where he has no toys, shut the door and quietly repeat ‘calm’ and he will faff about then flop down into a big sleep - if I move he jumps up so I just sit in there with him for a good hour and his behaviour is so much better after a sleep. I had to do this a lot as a puppy and adolescent but he’s now 20 months and is so much better at settling himself now

Duttercup · 04/09/2023 13:43

My springer didn't settle a day of his life until he turned 10. So... give it time, lol.

neenahnee · 04/09/2023 13:45

My 2y sprocker was exactly like this. I realised after awhile he was totally over stimulated and I now have to enforce rest. I shut him in the kitchen alone and he goes to sleep. Otherwise he's wired to the moon!!

harriethoyle · 04/09/2023 13:45

@SpanielsMatter I'm on my fifth spaniel, 4 of whom have been springers, all have been very different - happy to send you the details of our behaviourist who has worked wonders with number 5, who was a foreign rescue with ALL the neuroses!

AnSolas · 04/09/2023 13:47

Can you to put him to work while out
I would google hunting training and try organise his activities to be productive through out the day.
When out some of the training should require the dog to come back and sit /lie down and be quiet. So when you are back indoors you actively hold him to sit and lie down by you. So if he goes into a zoomie you stop and redirect to an indoor fetch which is a fetch and sit

Original poster

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 13:52

@DominoRules oh yes I will try this, darkened room. Thank you

I’ve never met a dog without an ‘off’ switch. We are very much last chance saloon, he made a terrible mistake in his last home and if we cannot get him to settle (so I can continue to work) I’m not sure he would fit any other home/ they would take a chance on him.

I have discovered since he moved in that he was the only one in the litter, his breeder was contacted but told the owners they were on their own. I’d say this explains his mouthy nature.

I just want to give him the best chance possible at not being euthanised.

OP posts:

CassiniG · 04/09/2023 13:56

What's he like in the car?

All of our dogs go straight to sleep the minute they are put in the car.

DominoRules · 04/09/2023 14:00

I really hope he starts to settle for you, sounds like he’s had a tough start.

If you’re in Sussex I can recommend a fantastic trainer who knows everything there is to know about spaniels

Original poster

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 14:01

harriethoyle · 04/09/2023 13:45

Many thanks have messaged you.

@CassiniG He is incredibly excited in the car and I use a harness just for safety and he doesn’t sleep. We drive to the beach/ walk area (5mins) because he’s learning lead skills and has had me over. Usual techniques are not working.

I’ve never ever felt such a failure with a dog before, if I couldn’t see the calm well trained other dog in our house, I would believe I had no idea, and with this one I appear to be a complete dog novice.

OP posts:

CassiniG · 04/09/2023 14:02

What about his diet? Could there be an ingredient that excites him?

Original poster

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 14:03

We are not in the UK unfortunately. When I called the behaviourist the length of waiting list really shocked me, and I did couch it in could I please be trained, as it’s usually not the dog but the human and I fully accept that.

OP posts:

Jacqsw · 04/09/2023 14:09

Hi, I have two working line cocker spaniels. You will not wear these dogs out through exercise, they need mental stimulation. So much more than others, yours sounds particularly bright so needs more. My youngest dog is also a complete nutcase, I have her training currently in scentwork which wears her out far more than exercise.

Original poster

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 14:10

He is eating a vet endorsed high protein kibble, plus training treats. Our other dog is raw fed but he’s had a big change and I’ve kept as much the same as possible, like not washing the bedding in his crate etc… even if he hates his crate at least it smells of him?

Interestingly, the other morning I was going out with him a bit later, gave him breakfast and he wouldn’t eat it ( rang vet immediately as a spaniel not eating breakfast, to me is an emergency) but turns out he wanted his walk first before eating! I have never known a spaniel leave a bowl of food, ever. He did eat after his exercise. He is ok and not zoomy before exercise, a friend suggested not walking him but to me that seems cruel, he’s a clever, muscular dog and not walking him to me seems wrong.

OP posts:

Original poster

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 14:12

Ok will Google more brain games. Thanks.

He has more toys and puzzle games than a pet superstore.

OP posts:

harriethoyle · 04/09/2023 14:27

Have pm-ed you @SpanielsMatter

TeenLifeMum · 04/09/2023 14:54

I would try to go back to basics with crate training in a routine so after a walk, 30 minutes in the crate, ignore him, no stimulation at all. Get him out with treats a plenty. Try to get him up to an hour so he rests and keep to a strict routine.

Good luck!

AnSolas · 04/09/2023 15:07

Can I suggest that you google dog fieldtrials and gun clubs local to you and see if they have any experienced owners who will be willing to help you with some training tips. And if nothing resolves you have opened a window to a group of dog owners who love energiser bunny dogs.

Springers are scent dogs who flush birds etc out so laying a trail will be more exciting than a visual toy in middle of a room.

Plus you should not feed a hyper dog before exercise. They should eat and then be given time to digest before they are allowed to exercise as there is a risk of them developing a twisted gut.

Original poster

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 15:27

Unfortunately I am not in the UK and there are no Gundog/ field trial groups within a days’ drive. I have enquired re duck hunting but the season doesn’t open until May. Hunting with dogs is common but it involves baling up wild pigs and the dogs are often seriously injured/ gored by tusks and I just cannot go there.

It it now obvious it is about mental not physical stimulation that I am not providing, never ever seen this level of energy in a dog before. Will look out if there are scent groups of some sort. I really want it to work with this boy but am obviously going about it all wrong, my show line spaniels were so different, even the rescue I took in when he annoyed his original owners.

OP posts:

TeenLifeMum · 04/09/2023 15:32

While some will be that he needs mental stimulation, he will be getting that on walks (is he off lead?). I think he needs to learn to self settle.

TeenLifeMum · 04/09/2023 15:35

Pressed send too soon. My cocker spaniel is a dream at home, curls up and sleeps bit wide awake at the mention of a walk or a game. However, when we go to visit my parents, he won’t settle until day 2. He’s like a toddler worried he’ll miss out on something.

Original poster

SpanielsMatter · 04/09/2023 16:01

Yes, he’s mostly off lead. Is a dream at recall, on lead he’s a serious work in progress. He is not pleased to meet other dogs, a very lovely cairn terrier and owner tried a gentle introduction today and he was having none of it, growled and just wanted them to go away, which they did. We did a careful intro with our dog over days.

He has gone from city to very rural and was very attached to his previous owner, some resource guarding there.

@TeenLifeMum your boy is beautiful and love his hedgehog bed!

OP posts:

Flip

1 2