The fostered dog has settled in really well with us (one week on). A handsome lad in honey, he is well sorted, no guarding, pacing and very little seperation anxiety. He is a cuddle monster and is at his happiest to be asleep in physical contact with me (I'm not really used to that !) His recall is fine and has been allowed to toilet and plytime off lead in the garden. The play is highly energetic (as expected) e.g. today it focused on a large flower pot, chucking it and catching on the fly and playing oit like a ball.
He's great on our walks, but not yet been off lead - lack of social contact means he avoids other dogs and one off lead Springer got a firm telling off when he came too close.
I take him every morning and late night around a block to toilet - as soon as he's done this all he wants to do is run home. I've never come across this before, any ideas on how to stop this ?
Last edited by: R.P. on Fri 16 Aug 24 at 00:03
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>>The play is
>> highly energetic (as expected) e.g. today it focused on a large flower pot, chucking it
>> and catching on the fly and playing oit like a ball.
Be careful, I used to take a boomerang on walks to try and tire one of my dogs. She quickly learned its characteristics and would catch it in the air. I packed it in when I noticed bleeding at the base of a tooth.
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Sounds like the family and he is doing well, and you have made huge progress.
Lets start with your main question. Wanting to go home as soon as he has toileted. This is a manifestation of separation anxiety. Not just the dog, but you as well. Its a new dog, you, naturally are not sure, have worries that evaporate when you are in home/garden, dog knows. Dog is happy there as well so, ergo, lets get back there ASAP. Dont forget you have non dog issues at home you are worried about. You both may have separation issues.
Its a bit early to start worrying about stuff like that, and its too picky and insignificant to focus and isolate on what you think is a "problem" that will resolve itself over time. However you can use it to your advantage*
Now the general lecture.
I'm sure you know operant conditioning. (clicker training)*, you think you know spaniels. Sure they are all bat crazy given the chance, but they are all different when the battery is pulled out. Its a new personality that you need to know. Its fab that its a "loves contact dog" makes them so much easier to bond with.
* The clicker reward Ball, Ball, Ball. They are not food driven, they want a ball. Blatantly Obviously have a ball in your pocket about your person.. Dog on long line. Do your walk, do your poo, show dog the ball, walk on to a safe area, chuck ball for dog. (long line helps here if you are still worried about recall) do that a few times. Extend the distance you walk between poo and play over time.
Meeting other dogs? Spaniels are not naturally social with other dogs.
Train a formal sit, in front of you. Other dogs approach call yours to your sit position. Dog will focus on you (you are ball source dont forget) when other dog has gone, reward with ball.
Finally think of a sport to do with your dog. Spaniels love Hoopers. And you dont have to move around too much!
Its only a week, stop worrying.
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Thanks Zero. We have a long line, worked very well with the last foster. He's not shown any SA when I go out which is great. I left him on the Thursday for a couple of hours under an indoor camera. Just fell asleep in his crate. I get the point that the returning home thing is likely to be separation anxiety. Will use his ball fixation to train him, (apart from my old Working Cocker) to a squeaky ball.
Mrs RP was due to have surgery today, now postoponned to tomorrow. It looks a lot worse than first feared.
He's a great little hound, he'll be spelndid to work with I'm sure.
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So glad things are going well with the pooch RP and best wishes for Mrs RP tomorrow.
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>> Mrs RP was due to have surgery today, now postoponned to tomorrow. It looks a
>> lot worse than first feared.
Sounded from your initial description that screws etc were going to be required. Best wishes from me too.
Can't offer any advice re the dog but I'm following because your 'lad' has some of the same characteristics my son's Spaniel, a neutered bitch, has displayed.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 17 Aug 24 at 15:55
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Mrs RP had surgery today. Three hour op from leaving ward to arriving on a post op ward. Still "in custody" as she said this evening, hoping to get conditional bail tomorrow. She broke one bone in three places and the other in two. I admire her stoicism although she admits the early post op nearly had her in tears. Luckily she kept paying her subs to the Police Re-hab centre in Harorgate so in due course will get a week there under first class physios. I'll need a holiday by then !
In other news, the dog has continued to settle, getting a little cheekier now, but still full of love for life and his new slave. The accidental mini-pees have stopped but the desire to return home after short toileting walks continue, but his fasicnation with his surroundings on the long mid day walk continue. He asked for his afternoon meal today, this was a first rather than being presented. He appears well trained and sits before his meal is presented and will only eat on the word "ok". He is different to the other spaniels I've owned !I've banned him from entering the bedroom area of our house, but sits pateintly at the connecting door (which is kept closed) this saves a lot of housework. He is crate trained and happily rests or goes to bed there. I'm not sure who is charge of who atm but his company is great I love him dearly.
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I managed 3 visits to Harrogate during my serice and still pay into the scheme.
Nothing better to speed up the healing process.
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Mrs RP carried on with her subs as well. At least she's home now and directing operations as per. Crutches caused a little wobble, adapted.
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Well, where are we now ! We went to Harrogate, I, along with the dog, had an AirBnB in the town centre and delivered on the need for a break. Allowed me a lot of head space, I didn't care about the weather. My wife received the news that her father was unwell, so had to leave the Treatmaent Centre two days early,we returned home and her father died the days earlier.
The dog has settled in well, now part of the family, not quite as embeded as the Springer was, but I guess time will improve that. Because of my wife's accident he seems to have bonded with me more than with her. He's a little better at getting in the car now as there is generally a decent walk at the other end of any trip. He still steals "trophy" items - shoes, slippers etc and will only give them back with a bribe...still trying to work on that. He was particularly difficult when family were staying here over the funeral period.
He follows me more or less everywhere and maintains a careful watch on what I do. He is well behaved on and off lead, with reasonable recall. Loves his crarte.
Mrs RP is on her way back to Harrogate start of March, I'll stay at home this time.
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oh, and he's a cuddle monster
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>> He still steals "trophy" items - shoes, slippers etc
>> and will only give them back with a bribe...still trying to work on that.
Sounds like he is working on you, doing a good job too.
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Condolences to Mrs RP. and yoirself. Hopefully she can benefit from the full period at the PTC in March.
You seem to be enjoying your Spaniels. We met a lovely steady Welsh Cocker today. Apparently bred for disturbing pheasants during the season.
The Spaniels we have had have been lovely. However they seem to have a switch which turns them into T**t Mode when let off the lead in open countryside. Head down and follow the scent :)
Last edited by: Fullchat on Mon 3 Feb 25 at 17:50
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Check that one. He's only let off the lead in places where we can control him, nearby beach and a forestry on Anglesey...he's let off lead briefly on a walk by a nearby riverside (away from the ducks /ducklings) as well..
People mistake him for a Welsh Spaniel - by chance he has Welsh ancestry (in common with my old Working Cocker as it happens) he's a fine dog...the odd quirk is acceptable.
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www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0dkj881e3o
Is there a dress code for retriever owners?
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In John Lewis yesterday. Women with small brown dog on lead got on descending escalator. I stepped on behind her. Dog panics, she attempts to climb up the descending escalator with dog. Lead wraps around my legs and almost pulls me over. She lets go of lead and dog makes it to the top. She continues to the bottom. Not a word of apology.
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>> In John Lewis yesterday. Women with small brown dog on lead got on descending escalator.
I recall seeing signs stating: "dogs must be carried on escalator". Isn't that still so? I certainly would never let a dog of mine onto an escalator - think of claws and sliding stair treads.
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>> I recall seeing signs stating: "dogs must be carried on escalator". Isn't that still so?
That's my understanding.
>> I certainly would never let a dog of mine onto an escalator - think of
>> claws and sliding stair treads.
>>
Doesn't bear thinking about!
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"Doesn't bear thinking abou!"
Wasn't too fussed about what happened to the the wretched dog. Still recovering from a bout of sciatica which left me unable to walk for a month. Could have been a nasty accident if I hadn't managed to remain upright.
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Mon 10 Mar 25 at 12:51
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>> Wasn't too fussed about what happened to the the wretched dog. Still recovering from a
>> bout of sciatica which left me unable to walk for a month.
Dont start playing the sympathy card for your curmudgeonly ways. Blame the owner, it should know better than the pooch.
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>>"dogs must be carried on escalator"
Will they lend you a dog if you don't have one of your own?
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Missed the edit on my post above...
Obstacles for dogs...
A couple of years ago we went to an RHS garden and there was a slatted bridge across a weir and you could see the fast flowing water through the gaps.
Most dogs happily walked across, following their owners, oblivious to the danger below.
Our Lhasa wasn't having any of that. She went right on her belly and commando crawled across very speedily and it was hilarious to watch. Imagine the Mission Impossible music playing in the background.
It looked amazing and I can still remember it clearly. I wish I had it on video.
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Not really, this retriever owner had to wear pink at Crufts in 2023, that was the team colours
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I'd never dream of taking a dog into John Lewis !, or any other shop for that matter !
Archie has been pretty stable. His irrational attitude to walks still baffles me - one day no pulling - next day pulls like a train. Hard work to get in the car...once in he's fine. Running around and around the garden is his favourite thing, garden now secure !
Another odd thing is refusal to walk along unknown walks. Stops stock still and refuses to budge !
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Sounds a bit like my dog. 12 year old rescue (ex-street dog from Greece) who we have had for 10 years.
Going for a walk (and being on a lead) was alien to start but we got there in the end. She will not go where she does not want to go though, and I am generally OK with that, although it can be a bit frustrating sometimes.....
Sometimes she just stops in her tracks and does not want to go forwards or back. She just stops.
I say that her brain has just slipped into neutral, and I wait for it to slowly engage gears again and we then head off in one direction or another. That can take 10 minutes or more (and in any weather). Some days she will walk a couple of miles and another day 100 yards if that. I view it as 'her time' and she can go pretty much where she likes and that seems to work for both of us now.
She comes to work with me every day now since the New Year and sits in her bed in my office for most of the day. When she wants to go out she tells me, but 90% of the time she just wants to go and see a couple of other staff in the open-plan outer office and refuses point-blank to go outside. The team nearly all adore her and to cross from the entrance of the building to my office and back is always a long trip as people want to say hello.
Also she's funny in that she will be really keen on someone one day (not bubbly, just wants strokes and tlc) and will totally blank them the next day.
A character, bless her!
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Dog Question - 2022 Working Cocker - bathtub tom
