Help with 1 year old english springer

MrsAtobe

I’ve been thinking about this for a while and I’m not sure that we’re not missing something. Here are a few things that the OP has said that have made me think, especially given that the OP works from home (sorry, can’t do multiple quotes and pasted in from Word as I needed to make sense of my thoughts before posting):

“he doesnt seem to want to be free as if I let go of the lead he just stands there!!!”
“off the lead he is a dream - its like he is on a string - I just call or whistle and straight back he comes.”
“He really isnt 'manic' - quite the opposite in fact - it makes me laugh to even think of that as he is laid at my feet and has been for the past two hours... he will lay there until our walk this afternoon.”
“Another problem that I have had before with the classes is when I took him before (to both the personal trainer and the class) - he was perfect whilst we were there and then seemed to forget when we were on our walks!”

My first thought when reading the first two comments were ‘Are you sure he’s a springer?’ :rotfl: OP, how were you interacting with the dog during the training classes, were you talking to him more than you do when you walk him now? What I’m trying to get at, is this some sort of anxiety, as you seem to be the main care giver. I’m wondering if he pulls when you walk him to reassure himself that you are still there, so that he can concentrate on everything else that’s around him iyswim. Also, how is your dog when you leave the house when the rest of the family are there? How is he being left on his own?
By the way, I think he’s a really lovely intelligent lad. I hope you get this sorted so that you can have the joy with him that I had with my welsh springer. Please feel free to tell me if I’ve over-thought this, it’s a bad habit of mine.:(

vwcampervan72

Sorry not had time to read all the thread, i was drawn into the title, ive had springers for over 20 years and they really are amazing dogs, hard work but please persevere (sp) as theyre fab dogs and will reward you with love and happiness, mine have been girlie dogs, but friends have had male dogs and theyre well trained, keep up the good work its worth it

The 1st one we had, we had to have her put to sleep when she was 15 1/2 and the morning of the vet appt i took them for a huge walk and even though she was very poorly she still pulled and pulled

Lifeisbutadream

MrsAtobe wrote: »

I’ve been thinking about this for a while and I’m not sure that we’re not missing something. Here are a few things that the OP has said that have made me think, especially given that the OP works from home (sorry, can’t do multiple quotes and pasted in from Word as I needed to make sense of my thoughts before posting):

“he doesnt seem to want to be free as if I let go of the lead he just stands there!!!”
“off the lead he is a dream - its like he is on a string - I just call or whistle and straight back he comes.”
“He really isnt 'manic' - quite the opposite in fact - it makes me laugh to even think of that as he is laid at my feet and has been for the past two hours... he will lay there until our walk this afternoon.”
“Another problem that I have had before with the classes is when I took him before (to both the personal trainer and the class) - he was perfect whilst we were there and then seemed to forget when we were on our walks!”

My first thought when reading the first two comments were ‘Are you sure he’s a springer?’ :rotfl: OP, how were you interacting with the dog during the training classes, were you talking to him more than you do when you walk him now? What I’m trying to get at, is this some sort of anxiety, as you seem to be the main care giver. I’m wondering if he pulls when you walk him to reassure himself that you are still there, so that he can concentrate on everything else that’s around him iyswim. Also, how is your dog when you leave the house when the rest of the family are there? How is he being left on his own?
By the way, I think he’s a really lovely intelligent lad. I hope you get this sorted so that you can have the joy with him that I had with my welsh springer. Please feel free to tell me if I’ve over-thought this, it’s a bad habit of mine.:(

No you have not overthought!!! thank you!!! these are the things that I dont understand about him - it doesnt seem like the usual problems to me!!!

He is fine when I leavethe house - in fact although I am the main 'carer' he has a special bond with my husband and my DD (12) - not so much DS (8) as he teases him a bit (nothing serious before anyone starts!) - he seems to love us all and just loves being with someone - anyone!!!

Dont get me wrong I do enjoy him most of the time - it just gets me down sometimes when I see people happily walking along with their dog on a lead and I cant do that!!!

vwcampervan72

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Dont get me wrong I do enjoy him most of the time - it just gets me down sometimes when I see people happily walking along with their dog on a lead and I cant do that!!!

snipped your quote a bit, but thats the joy of springers im afraid :j

killywillykaz

As the owner of 4 springies, trust me, I know where you're coming from - angels and devils all rolled into one
Take a look at this website http://springthing.3.forumer.com/index.php?
- if these guys can't point you in the right direction, I don't know who can.
Try to read through a few of the posts on pulling, adolescent behaviour and boundary pushing first - you are not alone !!
Good luck

Lifeisbutadream

killywillykaz wrote: »

As the owner of 4 springies, trust me, I know where you're coming from - angels and devils all rolled into one
Take a look at this website http://springthing.3.forumer.com/index.php?
- if these guys can't point you in the right direction, I don't know who can.
Try to read through a few of the posts on pulling, adolescent behaviour and boundary pushing first - you are not alone !!
Good luck

Thank you!!!

A whole forum of people who know where I am coming from!!!

:T


ETA - 4 :eek: !!!!!!!!!!

Fleago

I'd also recommend the stopping and making your dog sit every time he pulls method. It can feel frustrating in the early days as you seem to get nowhere, but it does eventually click.

I have a gundog breed, considerably larger than springers, and had three of them at one point, all trained to walk on lead by the stop and start method. It wasn't an option for them not to be as I hate to think where I might have ended up if they'd decide to take advantage of their combined pulling power! :eek: