Springer Pulling And Chasing Lights

[MonkeyTheNF]

Hi all, in need of some advice. We have a female, working springer spaniel who is 3 years old. We have had her since a puppy and did all the training possible. But she started pulling around 14 months old. We tried correcting it with treat training but she is not overly motivated by treats. We have tried everything under the sun every type of halter,harness and collar on the market. We even tried putting her on raw dog food as a friend's dog was put on it for weight reasons, who had pulled all his life and stopped within a week of eating raw but no luck. She is walked for 45 mins in the morning and for 30 mins in the evening.She is let offthe lead for at least 25 mins a day to give ourselves a rest more than anything. Also we have some dog agility things in the garden we use at least once a week for about 20 mins a time.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Also she likes to try a chase reflections/lights and had ruined paintwork as a puppy. She still does this now but doesnt eat paintwork anymore! Any suggestions for this are appreciated.

 

[AmyMay]

I've walked pullers and found that quickly changing direction works very well, as well as putting in to sit every now and again.

Could lack of exercise be a problem, though?

My Bichon gets about 3 hours a day, mostly off lead - and is obviously not a high energy breed.

Just a thought...

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Have you tried a fig 8 halter? They work to stop big Rottweilers pulling, so I expect they would work on a Springer, they do require a definite muzzle to go round, so would be no good for pug types. You might need to experiment to find the material that works best - and we also use a lead attached to a harness but that is because Rotter necks are conical and collars pull over their ears very easily.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I've walked pullers and found that quickly changing direction works very well, as well as putting in to sit every now and again.

Could lack of exercise be a problem, though?

My Bichon gets about 3 hours a day, mostly off lead - and is obviously not a high energy breed.

Just a thought...

I would expect a working-bred springer to need a *lot* of exercise and stimulation.

 

[MonkeyTheNF]

amymay
We originally thought this and upped her exercise to 3+ hours by getting my dad to take her to work with him for 2 hours (he's a self employed gardener) which actually made it worse and his costumers were rather sad not to see her as often! We also tried changinb directions but this causes her to pull in the opposite direction and sitting every now and again makes her more determined as well!

Pearlsasinger
Yes we have tried this type of halter and it caused her to pull harder.

I really am so frustrated with it as walking the dogs is no longer enjoyable and she is just so stubborn! Also the area we live in means she can't just be let off the lead for 3+ hours for exercise. We can't even take her on hacks or down to the yard as she is terrified of horses!

 

[vallin]

Do you run? We have a lab X pointer who pulls on the lead when walking (have tried numerous things and have managed to get her healing reasonably well off lead but still rubbish on lead) but runs beside us beautifully, I assume because it's just a far more natural pace for her. It does mean we've had to start running more but that's no bad thing if we're out walking and she needs to be on a lead I tend to use a hip belt and lead connected to harness as it's more comfortable for me (is an avoidance rather than a fix though! Lol )

 

[rara007]

I'd go back to training- with these guys unless you're a super spaniel trainer it's a journey not a destination! Yes they have boundless energy but they need boundaries. Mine is particularly driven (failed trials dog) but gets a bit less 'work' than yours on a normal day due to life commitments. We go to cani-cross club runs tuedays, agility thursday, and 2 weekend days a month he goes to either canicross/gun dog scurry/agility/dock diving/swimming etc. but a normal work day he'll get a 5km run or 30min walk.
Have you been to a gun dog trainer? I found 'pet' trainers generally struggle with such a driven dog in a group setting. You could walk mine all day, he's not going to tire at that pace! He's so explosive he does physically tire after about 30min of running but he still needs the brain exercise as otherwise after 5min he's ready to go again.

 

[MonkeyTheNF]

rara007
Thanks for the advice we are currently looking into training again but it only seems to be for puppies currently which is extremely frustrating.She will have to have her exercise time cut down soon though due to schooling which is why I am looking for advice as she is just mental. Thank you for the advice!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Do you use a sliplead? Change it to a figure of 8, she physically will not be able to pull. I walk my three on a finger each using that. Is she actually a working dog or just working bred? Does she need to be on lead? My lot are on between car/entrance to park, that's it.

 

[AmyMay]

rara007
She will have to have her exercise time cut down soon though due to schooling which is why I am looking for advice as she is just mental. Thank you for the advice!

The dog will be getting less exercise?

 

[Cinnamontoast]

rara007
Thanks for the advice we are currently looking into training again but it only seems to be for puppies currently which is extremely frustrating.She will have to have her exercise time cut down soon though due to schooling which is why I am looking for advice as she is just mental. Thank you for the advice!

Quite honestly, I'd be looking to re-home if you can't offer her what she needs. There's no shame in this, it is the best thing for the dog if she's frustrated and becoming a pain.

 

[ester]

I can confirm that Rara's is very full on, I've never known a dog like him, the game keepers workers were not like that.

He's definitely better with something to do though, I wondered what happens for the 25 mins off lead, is that just free running or searching for dummies/practicing training etc to do the brain work?

 

[CorvusCorax]

She's a working dog with no work to do. You need to occupy her brain and give her something that will fulfill her instincts.

My working bred dogs (different breed) could and would run for three hours a day offlead. But that's all they would be doing. Running. It wouldn't do them any good.

Some dogs dislike and evade leash pressure because they have never learned pressure and release. We teach horses, but not so much with dogs. They need to learn that pulling goes nowhere. We're usually too busy to train it, so they always get to where they want to go anyway, so they never learn. They just resist the pressure the whole way there.

 

[splashgirl45]

i would think she needs more exercise for her body and more brain stimulation as well. my 2 dogs get an hour off lead am and half hour off lead pm as a minimum it is sometimes longer... if i was only giving them lead walks my young terrier cross would be mental, he needs to run and play , he is currently asleep on my lap,very content...

 

[MonkeyTheNF]

She is working bred and we are willing to try everything for her. She seems perfectly content pulling us along it is just a pain for us! She was perfect until 14 months old and then it just changed and I know she can walk properly it is just the task of getting her too. She searches some days and free runs others.Re homing is the one thing I would hate to do as she is a joy in every other way. School commitments and work does mean at a max she would lose 20 minutes walking time regretfully

 

[CorvusCorax]

Dogs don't change they reach maturity and then you see what genetics has given them.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Pearlsasinger
Yes we have tried this type of halter and it caused her to pull harder.

I really am so frustrated with it as walking the dogs is no longer enjoyable and she is just so stubborn! Also the area we live in means she can't just be let off the lead for 3+ hours for exercise. We can't even take her on hacks or down to the yard as she is terrified of horses!

If you have other dogs, they should keep her exercised and stimulated, so long as they have access to the space they need.
We found that different fig 8 leads work differently on different dogs, so I recommend that you try a few different ones. I wouldn't use Halti types they really seem to not like those (we had JRTs who just walked along on their back legs with those on).

Do you take treats on your walks. One of our Rotters is very treat focussed, so she walks to heel happily if she knows that you have treats.

 

[MonkeyTheNF]

splashgirl45
In the morning it is dark when we walk her so don't feel extremely safe over fields,commons,heaths etc with loose dog.But I will try and take her straight to a place to run in afternoons/evenings thanks!
CorvusCorax
Well I guess more off lead time will have to be the answer!

Thank you all for your help!

 

[CorvusCorax]

If you have a favourite soap or TV show, forego 30 minutes a night to do some training. In the house or go somewhere under lights. You could look up brain training games on YouTube. Make her work for her dinner or breakfast, if she is foody.

She's not stubborn, she just doesn't understand what you want. If you try and think a bit more dog and a bit less human, things will get easier

 

[MonkeyTheNF]

CorvusCorax
Will do thanks again!

 

[CorvusCorax]

And if she is obsessed with lights you could get her obsessed with a ball, dummy or tug instead!

 

[Clodagh]

Do you use a sliplead? Change it to a figure of 8, she physically will not be able to pull. I walk my three on a finger each using that. Is she actually a working dog or just working bred? Does she need to be on lead? My lot are on between car/entrance to park, that's it.

This advice changed my life with my spaniel. Pullung stressed her as much as me she didn't enjoy it, it just became an almost panic/stress habit.
In the evening you can hide dummies and balls around the house for them to search for.

 

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rara007
Thanks for the advice we are currently looking into training again but it only seems to be for puppies currently which is extremely frustrating.She will have to have her exercise time cut down soon though due to schooling which is why I am looking for advice as she is just mental. Thank you for the advice!

Find a good gundog trainer who works/trials spaniels - even if you have no intention of working her, these dogs need "work" they need such a huge amount of mental stimulataion rather than just running free.. I have a working Cocker with a huge hunting drive, you can walk him all day and he still won't feel he's "worked" we don't do walks as such we do some obedience work, his off lead heel is often better than his on lead actually!! does your dog retrieve at all?? if so do some retrieves, but don't just chuck a dummy/ball and keep repeating it...get the dog steady, throw a dummy sit the dog and fetch it yourself, do directional work send for retrieves left a right - again a gundog trainer will help you here, hide some rabbit fur tennis balls and get the dog to find them....

As for the pulling - squarebashing is the way forward, dog pulls, push him out of the way and change direction sharpish...they soon learn but it's repeat repeat repeat....sounds like a bit of a respect issue in that the dog is seeing it's self as the leader and not you - you will get there! If I can so will you!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Do you use a sliplead? Change it to a figure of 8, she physically will not be able to pull. I walk my three on a finger each using that. Is she actually a working dog or just working bred? Does she need to be on lead? My lot are on between car/entrance to park, that's it.

OP says she has tried this and it doesn't work. I'm with you though - fig 8's work for our Rottweilers.

 

[Karran]

I walk Mrs Spaniel for two hours a day and she doesn't even notice we've been out! She's also from working lines although I don't know if bred specifically to work.
But I need to keep her mind busy so we do flyball and have started agility classes. I definitely notice the difference behaviourwise if we miss out on our activities. I'd definitely look for something to keep the brain out of mischief if I was you!

 

[Clodagh]

I think op is misunderstanding a figure of eight slip lead as I cannot see how they can pull with one on. Training wears them out, not running around, that just gets them fitter.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

OP says she has tried this and it doesn't work. I'm with you though - fig 8's work for our Rottweilers.

OP also said her friend's dog stopped pulling after being on raw food for a week!

 

[SadKen]

CC's suggestions certainly helped me with our extreme high drive GSD who had the same untireable issue.

We could have run him all day morning til night, he would have had 5 minutes rest and be ready to go again. He's 7 now and can still do 10 miles running next to a mountain bike at pace, without tiring. If I wanted more energy I'd just give him kibble - it's like crack to him. Wet food keeps him calmer.

It's the brain you need to tire, not the body. My lad can do 15-20 mins of training and it'll have more effect than 10 miles running.

Games you can play inside in the evening:

1. 'find it'. High value toy or treats. Hide it with her out of the room, let her in to find it. Get sneaky as she gets better.
2. Which pot is it in? 3 flower pots, put it under one of them, train her to select by doing a specific trick.
3. Tricks of all kinds - there are loads of youtube vids to give you ideas. She does a trick, she gets a treat or high value toy
4. Puzzle balls that dispense treats - nina ottoson ones are quite good.
5. 'bucket' - dog must collect all toys and put them in the right bucket. A good follow on from 'find it'.

You can play find it in the garden in the summer, with a handful of kibble. lasts ages as they are never sure they found it all.

I walk mine 45 mins a day in the week and he trains throughout the walk: heel, wait, fetch, down as I see fit - he never just 'walks'. It does mean you have to focus all your attention on the dog rather than relaxing - but that's why they like it!

 

[Moobli]

I have high drive working GSDs and border collies. The collies are working sheepdogs and sheep work tires them mentally and physically. The GSDs get daily training and games incorporated into our walks and both older dogs have trained in various disciplines from tracking/searching to agility and scentwork. The pup will be trained to track and search and I’m intending to do scentwork trials and mantrailing. When you buy a working bred dog you need to be prepared to provide that dog with an outlet for his inherent drives - whether that be “proper” work or a substitute which allows him to exhibit his natural inbuilt behaviours. In your case, I’d look at any kind of gundog type work - using her nose tracking, scentwork, even just finding hidden treats, dummies etc around the house and garden and also retrieve type work - loads of ideas on YouTube.

She sounds like a delight in other respects, so I hope you can find something that works for you both.