Anxious springer spaniel

sparxx89

Hi guys,

Was hoping someone can give some advice. I have a 10 month springer spaniel who's very anxious. We've tried EVERYTHING (literally: DAP diffuser, thunder jacket, calm aid, personal 1 to 1 training, and more). She's very well trained in terms of commands, she'll do nearly anything I ask, as well as off the lead, excellent recall. But she's sooo nervous of new people. I'm not sure why as we got her at 13 weeks & she hasn't had bad experiences with people. She also has separation anxiety, we can't leave her in the house alone at all if we want to come home to the furniture intact. She's also started to resource guard & has shown some aggression, but we're working on that & it's getting a little better.

-There's the background- but what I would like to know is if anyone has experienced anything similar?

-How much exercise would one recommend for young springers?

-Apart from walks/runs- is there any other exercise anyone can recommend for mental stimulation?

-Seeing as we can't leave her indoors when we go out, (thankfully there's someone who works from home so she's not alone during the day) how long is "ok" to leave her outdoors? (She doesn't get anxious outside that much)

Thanks in advance for any help!..

sparxx89

sparxx89 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Was hoping someone can give some advice. I have a 10 month springer spaniel who's very anxious. We've tried EVERYTHING (literally: DAP diffuser, thunder jacket, calm aid, personal 1 to 1 training, and more). She's very well trained in terms of commands, she'll do nearly anything I ask, as well as off the lead, excellent recall. But she's sooo nervous of new people. I'm not sure why as we got her at 13 weeks & she hasn't had bad experiences with people. She also has separation anxiety, we can't leave her in the house alone at all if we want to come home to the furniture intact. She's also started to resource guard & has shown some aggression, but we're working on that & it's getting a little better.

-There's the background- but what I would like to know is if anyone has experienced anything similar?

-How much exercise would one recommend for young springers?

-Apart from walks/runs- is there any other exercise anyone can recommend for mental stimulation?

-Seeing as we can't leave her indoors when we go out, (thankfully there's someone who works from home so she's not alone during the day) how long is "ok" to leave her outdoors? (She doesn't get anxious outside that much)

Thanks in advance for any help!..

Also, not sure if I posted in correct place,I've never started a thread before so please move to correct place if needs be! Thanks

Hunchback

I'm sorry, I don't have the answers to your questions, but hopefully (eventually) someone will! I am just interested because I am a fellow springer puppy owner.

Best of luck with her, it sounds like you are really looking after her anyway! :cool:

reeta

Hi, I am hoping you get some answers also. I have a 3yr. extremely anxious springer spaniel. She was well socialised with people and other dogs as a pup etc but she is afraid of nearly everything. She is great in the house and if we go up the mountains but when she comes across another dog her tail goes between her legs and she will do anything to avoid it. She is nervous of most people also ! I cannot describe how bad she is with the halloween bangers going off. I am taking the day off work tomorrow to bring her up the mountains to tire her out as she wont come out the door by tomorrow afternoon, and she is used to 4-5 walks a day. My vet claims springers can be very nervous, I think my one takes it to the extreme. So yes I am waiting to see what replies

dangerus06

i used to have one of these great dog never got tired full of energy ,had her for 2 yrs and went on holiday for a week left her in a kennel ,when we picked her up different dog if we put on washing machine she hid because of noise ,never seen anything like it if i went to toilet she cried at door .went to vet and he believed the kennel we put her in were cruel to her ,the kennel we put her in was run by a different vet it was behind her house ,anyway the new vet said he bring her home to where he lived and see how she got on they had couple animals ,misty had taken to a pet cow there best friends never leave each other alone so with a broken hear i let him keepher she play with rabbits to just didt like human must be in there breed try ad find out if someone been cruel best of luck

Lemlin

sparxx89 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Was hoping someone can give some advice. I have a 10 month springer spaniel who's very anxious. We've tried EVERYTHING (literally: DAP diffuser, thunder jacket, calm aid, personal 1 to 1 training, and more). She's very well trained in terms of commands, she'll do nearly anything I ask, as well as off the lead, excellent recall. But she's sooo nervous of new people. I'm not sure why as we got her at 13 weeks & she hasn't had bad experiences with people. She also has separation anxiety, we can't leave her in the house alone at all if we want to come home to the furniture intact. She's also started to resource guard & has shown some aggression, but we're working on that & it's getting a little better.

-There's the background- but what I would like to know is if anyone has experienced anything similar?

-How much exercise would one recommend for young springers?

-Apart from walks/runs- is there any other exercise anyone can recommend for mental stimulation?

-Seeing as we can't leave her indoors when we go out, (thankfully there's someone who works from home so she's not alone during the day) how long is "ok" to leave her outdoors? (She doesn't get anxious outside that much)

Thanks in advance for any help!..

One of the problems is that you got your Springer Spaniel pup too late IMO. A pup should go to its new home at 8 weeks or at the latest 9 weeks so it can get used to its new family and environment in a key behavioural stage of growth.

Springers are often bred by hunting men and are kept outside when born and aren't adequately socialised. This is often fine for a hunting dog but not good for a dog that is to be kept as a pet. I don't know the background to where you got your pup but this appears to be it.

All you can do is continue to show your Springer that new people aren't a threat. Have anyone who comes into your home gently approach her and interact with her. Have them give her a treat, a rub etc. so long as she doesn't seem too threatened.

Also find and try a socialisation class if you can and get her used to mixing with other dogs and people.

You could even try sending her to daycare the odd day if it didn't put too much stress on her. That would also help with the problem of her being left alone.

If tha above doesn't work, you will need to seek the help of a pet behaviourist.

As for exercise, get some Kong toys for when you are away. They should keep her entertained if you fill them with goodies and freeze them. Springers also love swimming so I would suggest you introduce a bit of that at a local pond, lake or river. It's the best form of exercise for a dog IMO.

I have seen the symptoms you state before in a Cocker Spaniel and that was due to poor socialisation by the breeder. That dog had far worse symptoms than your dog however and would literally pee herself and run away if a stranger approached. She could also become quite aggressive. Sadly the family in question ended up having to rehome her to an older man who lived on a large farm where she would have little interaction with strangers and would be away from kids.

jimf

that's the thing with springers they deff need interaction and handling asap after been born you can have 2 completely different pups from the same litter bold/brave or shy/timid

and as lemlin says a lot of that comes from breeding issues most hunting people will want a dog for themselves and do not think and consider the damage they are doing to the socialisation of the pups

but they are great dogs around kids and adults I have had them for years and have never seen an aggressive one