Training: what should my 16 week old spaniel be able to do

[aloneinthenight]

You know with babies you get that guide of when they should be able to smile and rollover etc.

Well, I was just wondering what our puppy should be able to do. Training started well but progress seems to have tailed off (no pun intended).

I'm not sure whether I am expecting too much or too little.

He knows sit and down with treats and sometimes without, but this is not reliable.

He walks on the lead but still pulling. It's hard to take him any other way.

He recognises his name and will come when called but again, not reliably so we haven't let him off the lead yet. Having said that, he's still quite clingy so it's difficult to practice as he doesn't go far from us even in the garden.

He keeps jumping on the sofa no matter how many times we tell him Off and put him back on the floor.

He will Stay to about 5 paces and back again.

I am no expert but this what you have described sounds about right for a 16 week old.
I have an 18 week old puppy who sounds very similar to yours. We do let her off lead from time to time and she doesn’t seem to stray far and just loves playing with other dogs who are also off lead. I tend to find that if her recall isn’t great, I run away like a mad loon calling her name and she follows!

Definitely focus on recall while he still has the instinct to come back to you. Then, when he reaches teenagerhood, the behaviour will be more ingrained and (hopefully) there won’t be such a regression. Well that’s my hope anyway, I’ve yet to see if it’ll come into fruition as our pup is 5 months.

I have always had spaniels. They have been off lead, for at least part of their walk, as soon as they can go out.

When very small they don't really leave your side. However, we only do this in places they are very quiet and secluded. On the field near out house we can see all the gates while walking round so can keep an eye on them. And make sure you keep putting them on the lead, then off then on. So they don't associate the lead going on with only the walk being finished.

But where you are in training sounds fairly normal. I would really concentrate on recall (total recall, by Pippa mattinson) its fantastic. We have used it for our last 3 and never had the teenage 'RUN!!!!' Phase.
Practice recall by one staying in the garden and one moving away. We do this alot. The kids will go to the other side of the garden or in the house with a treat while I stay outside. The kids toot the whistle and then I let the dog go find them. Great game for the kids and dog.

Stay and lay down are both really important ones from a safety point of view, imo.

The one thing I would say owning a spaniel is get recall sorted both to name and whistle now before they get to the stroppy phase and stick a paw up at you when they find a scent.

Even when we had done that we had many moments when he was a teenager where he knew he should come back but thought stuff you

@BiteyShark

The one thing I would say owning a spaniel is get recall sorted both to name and whistle now before they get to the stroppy phase and stick a paw up at you when they find a scent.

Even when we had done that we had many moments when he was a teenager where he knew he should come back but thought stuff you

Absolutely this. This is the most important thing by far.

This is the lovely phase with a spaniel (I've got 2). Teach them sit, stay, down. And to recall...... making it as fun, effusively praised and exciting as you can. Cooked chicken and cheese in small cubes in large quantities at all times in the fridge.

10 months to 18 months is a horror story and involves long training lines and that feeling of "what the fuck happened "............. by 2, they'll be the love of your life again.

Enjoy every moment

we are on 13 months and ours sticks the proverbial paw up at us all the time

Work on relationship now rather than poistions training and you will have an easier teenage time.

Reward eye contact indoors and outdoors always

Reward orientation back to you and encourage this by throwing food away from you and mark the turn back to you - do this will all meals at this age

Reward proximity to you so when they are near you they get rewarded

Hand touch is fab and brilliant to help with recall and loose lead walking and so many other things. Handling at vets,moving your puppy to places you want them to be, distraction, focus etc etc - the easiet, best and most useful behaviour to teach any puppy

Teach middle - have you dog happy to go behind you legs and sit between your legs. Fab for recall games and also helps with relationship that great things happen close to you.

I teach "in your bed" from day one as this helps to teach stays, settle and create calmness.

Nearly all puppies are born knowing sit so you can build on that and use it as a cornerstone for the down and stand behaviours.

Tug games (gently as your pup may have sore teeth so be guided by them)

Scenting games and simple find it games - this helps loads with sniffy spaniels if you have sniffing on a cue.

Sometimes, reward with your voice only - dogs love praise. If you take him outside make sure he is encouraged to walk to hell not bounding about and likely to trip people. If you do this from the start he will have good manners. Don't let him pull - it can be dangerous for him and you.