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Original poster

Post walk zoomies and biting the lead

18 replies

sandwiches77 · 12/12/2021 07:49

Ddog goes crazy when home from a walk. Do I walk him too far? Do I not walk him far enough? Do I walk him in the wrong places?

Ddog is 6.5 months old spaniel. I usually take him for walks around the local neighbourhood and sometimes to our local park and let him off the lead.

Ddog also jumps up and bites his lead, before and during his walk. He jumps really high and manages to get near to the end of the lead that I'm holding. I've had the suggestion of a chain lead but DH just rolls his eyes (I'm having to train DH too but that is a whole other thread Hmm)

OP posts:
wetotter · 12/12/2021 07:57

He gets the zoomies because he's a puppy and that's what energetic ones do. Some keep doing it as an adult dog too

Hat training have you done? Are you taking classes at the moment. ? Walking nicely on lead an take a while to learn , but is one that is worth persisting with and getting cracked whilst still so young.

For jumping up, I'd usually stand up straight, arms folded, turned away from the dog ie no interaction during the bad behaviour. As soon as paws are back in floor then reward with attention and maybe a treat (do not teach accidentally that jumping up is the game that makes the human treat machine always pay out)

Goawayangryman · 12/12/2021 08:07

Probably under exercise/ wrong type of exercise. Lead walking shouldn't be their main exercise and definitely not for a spaniel. They need some good off lead haring about every day. I've got a retriever and with on lead walks she does as you describe. Couple of off leads a day and she is fine.

Goawayangryman · 12/12/2021 08:07

Ps am not an experienced dog owner. This is what our ex police dog handler trainer advised me for same issue.

AvocadoAndToast · 12/12/2021 08:40

Zoomies post walk are more likely to be overarousal than under exercise.
When they go out they get a huge hit of adrenaline and then when they get home they are like over tired toddlers causing chaos! Make sure your pup goes for an enforced nap at these times.
He does need to be getting daily off lead runs though too.. as PP says lead walks aren’t enough for spaniels and could be contributing to the increase in frustration/ arousal upon your return.

Onthetrain75 · 12/12/2021 09:01

My oldest spaniel is 14. He still does zoomies after his walks, which these days are 5.5km max. I do all kinds of mad things in the house and on walks to help him protect his joints…..then he goes absolutely nuts in the garden. He has always done it. It is who he is.

LaurieFairyCake · 12/12/2021 09:11

Yes to being over aroused

Separately to that a Spaniel is going to need hours of walks and off lead games when he gets a bit older Grin

Goawayangryman · 12/12/2021 09:16

I guess it can be either. With mine it is definitely under-exercise and frustration at being back innow. When much younger I'd say it was more often than not overstimulation and usually a sleep followed. Now it is more often than not under-excercise as Zoomies arent followed by sleeping. She has always been really good at getting the sleep she needs.

icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 09:21

Zoomies are generally due to overstimulation but in young puppies it's often because, well, they're young puppies lol.

Mine is four now and only gets the zoomies after his bath!

Ilikewinter · 12/12/2021 09:23

Our 7 month old collie sometimes does this, usually followed by him zonking out. I think its just him being a puppy.....he also has night time zoomies, which are also followed by him zonking out 😂

MrsSkrebensky · 12/12/2021 09:29

My dog used to do this a lot - he's 18 months old now and only does it when he's tired or we are walking in a busy area so I'd agree it is overstimulation mostly.
We looked for advice then and found that the turning your back and ignoring didn't work - he still jumped up and would bite hands instead. It was also suggested that you turn your back and stand on the lead so ddog can't jump up which worked sometimes. Honestly, what worked best for me and was a less stressful way of dealing with it was distraction. So if he jumps up I say 'look what's that' and point to a car or a tree or a person which diverts his attention. I could be writing about a toddler! You will have to do it a lot but it breaks the jumping up process and it has worked for us. We were desperate - my hands and wrists were horribly bruised.

ShakesFist · 12/12/2021 09:47

It's quite a common spaniel trait (the lead biting). At the start of the walk, if he's biting it before you've left, take it off and stand still and wait till he does a calm sit. Then try and put it on again. And if he tries and bites again, take it off. It can take ages to leave the house till they will calmly sit and calmly have the lead put on but it's worth it for later life. Lots of praise and a treat for nice sit and nice calm lead putting on!

If he does it while you're walking just stop and ask him to sit. And repeat if he does it again. It can take a while but it's such a good age for good lead training! Spaniels generally hate not being able to go forward! Nice treat for good calm lead walking and no biting!

Sometimes they will do lead biting when they are completely overtired and if that's the reason, I find it better just to get home!

Zoomies at that age is generally over arousal. Like the other spaniels on this thread, mine still does it after a bath and if he's had a long lovely walk and just needs to calm down at home!

capercaillie · 12/12/2021 10:17

Our 7 month lab does post walk zoomies- usually over arousal. Sometimes really focusing on lead walking at end of walk and then straight into crate helps.

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 12/12/2021 11:52

My 7 month old rescue mutt does this too. His foster carer said he always did it post walk for her too. I think it must be overstimulation as he does it largely at the end of walks and especially if exciting things happened eg getting to play with other dogs. He usually does not want to come home and will drag his heels and even sit and refuse to move but this happens however long or interesting the walk. I have come to the conclusion he doesn't know what's good for him and needs to be made to stop.

We do turn your back and fold your arms then ask him to sit and reward that if he does it calmly. You do feel a bit of an idiot doing it out and about but it usually works. If he does it on arriving home we just turf him out in the garden to get on with it and he will then usually tire himself out and lie down after a few minutes

It's hard because you get a lot of conflicting advice:
Don't take your puppy on long walks because of joint damage vs your puppy isn't getting enough exercise
Don't let your puppy off lead until they have bombproof recall vs don't just do on lead walks
We are trying to pick a middle way and going on moderate 45 mins-1hr walks and going off lead only at quieter times and in more deserted places with good sight lines so I can get him back if other dogs are coming.
Parks at popular times are a nightmare and very stressful to negotiate I find.

opalescent · 12/12/2021 20:48

@LaurieFairyCake

Yes to being over aroused

Separately to that a Spaniel is going to need hours of walks and off lead games when he gets a bit older Grin

I find comments like this worry me- I have a spaniel puppy, and was fully aware that he would need a good couple of off lead walks a day in adulthood. 2 hours max, more at weekends if there's time. I don't, and won't ever have more time than that each day to walk her. I have several close friends with cocker spaniels (adult), they walk theirs twice a day, off lead, for 45 minutes ish. Their dogs are happy and settled at home.
icedcoffees · 12/12/2021 21:12

@opalescent please don't worry - no dog (except maybe huskies) needs HOURS of walks a day. Honestly, they don't. Two hours is plenty.

It's all about quality over quantity. So use their brains on their walk - don't just let them run round like idiots. Hide their ball in long grass and get them to find it. Do some lead or heel work. Do some work on recall (with a longline), play with a tug etc.

Goawayangryman · 12/12/2021 22:43

Yeah I'm sure 2 hours is enough for any dog unless a working collie or something bred for serious work.

People have had these common breeds for decades and have lived happy family existences together. They can't all be doing it wrong/ walking or working their dogs for 4 hours per day.

LoveFall · 12/12/2021 22:48

Our 11 year old poodle cross gets the zoomies after a walk with DH, whom he adores. Not so much after walks with me as they are routine!

The dog roars into the house, then flies around with his stuffed toys, madly wagging his tail and wanting to play.

He is clearly very happy. If I am sitting down he then jumps up onto my lap and sits there looking like a happy goofball.

Gotta love it.

justasking111 · 12/12/2021 23:00

Buy a dog whistle and start training, they're a joy to see quartering. Training gives them pleasure too. There's loads of you tube tutorial help and books. You need to stretch their brains not just their bodies

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