Spaniel sniffing about and searching non-stop?

[marciagetscreamed]

My spaniel has spent the last two or three days consistently 'searching' for something in the hedges that surround our house. It's almost obsessive! She gets walked twice a day and has the rest of the time free to go in and out of a big garden as she pleases.

I have had a google and have read that it can be an anxiety thing? I want to convince myself it's because we have hedgehogs or something but can anyone advise?

As a side note, she is fed twice a day and doesn't whine for food, don't know if that's relevant.

Thanks!

When my spaniel wouldn't leave a certain bushy plant alone in the garden it turned out a mouse was hiding in it.

Yep, spaniel here. He has done the same thing for mice, fledgling sparrows and hedgehogs in our garden.

That nose of his will get him into trouble one day

Mine did this hunting out a burger bun the other day!

If it's new behaviour, then she's almost certainly doing her job and looking for that thing you can't see or smell, because being a human you just didn't notice it. I wouldn't worry.

FWIIW my Border Collie spent three days searching for that elusive thing he knew was there - I thought he'd lost a ball or something. It was a field mouse that had set up home under a kitchen unit!

Mine did this in my mum's garden but over the grass rather than a hedge. Turned out there was a mole under there!

Oh thanks for the replies, I feel better! I thought there was something (animal) in the hedges but then I got worried that my dog was being a bit repetitive in her behaviour.

She seems very happy searching around in the hedges, but I just wanted to check other peoples experiences. Thanks!

They are flushers and it's a totally natural trait for the breed.

My cocker once found a sausage from a bbq in my mum’s garden and so whenever we go over she won’t settle until she’s sniffed every single millimetre of the garden 100 times just to double check there aren’t anymore.

It’s a spaniel thing. Have you looked into doing some gundog training with her? Sounds like she’d love it.

My husband wants to start funding training with her and I think she would bloody love it. Thanks for the tip.

Gun dog training is what I meant , although if there is funding for spaniels I would be interested for more information

We have done gundog training, agility and scentwork with BiteyDog.

Out of all of them he appeared to enjoy the scentwork the best as he loved searching for the hidden scent.

Mine once started showing a great deal of interest in the wall by the fireplace.

Shortly afterwards a bird fell down the chimney. That was not a good morning.

They're just doing what they are bred for. Mine go mad when we've had squirrels in the garden.

My brother in laws spaniel once found a malteser down the side of our sofa. Every subsequent visit involved a 20 minute exploration down the sofa ......... for years after.

That's typical spaniel behaviour. My two do this often, searching for something using their noses. If they think something is there, it almost certainly is.