spriner spaniels

[donbella]

5 months ago my family became the proud owners of an eight week old springer spaniel puppy, wot a joy she has been to have. She is coming on with her training, she is very eager to please, great fun and very loving, but oh my god SHE IS ABSOLUTELY HYPER. I know shes only a pup but everyone i speak to about springers say oh their mental, there crazy, they never calm down. may I add she has an hours walk in the morning, half hour at lunch and evening and numerous small walks in between any suggestions how to tire her.

[divegirl]

Hi, what are you feeding her?

[kita1]

Try scent games - hide things (treats, toys, kids if you have them! etc) round the house and on walks and tell her 'find it'. Hide her favourite toy in a room somewhere then let her into the room and tell her to find the toy (find teddy, ball etc).

This will excercise her mind and hopefully mentally tire her out. You need to keep her thinking - not just physically walk her.

Springers are bred to hunt with their nose and dive into all sorts of 'cover' - that is why the police use them as drug sniffer dogs, they train them to find a toy.

[lankeela]

Springers are bred to be able to work all day in all weathers in all sorts of ground. Try joining a gundog club and train her for field trials or to go picking up on shoots.
This is one way to not so much tire her out as to channel her energy.

Didn't you ask before you got one what they were like?

[donbella]

shes eating james wellbeloved puppy complete. whish i was recommended by my vet. We did not plan on getting her my mums friend got a springer from a rescue centre and two weeks later she had eight pups on her hand. we actually got her for nothing. i did do some research before we got her and i knew they were very active dogs, just not as active, but her hyperness adds to her funny personality, i would just like her to be a little sleepier at night, dont get me wrong she doesnt cause any problems really apart from hearing her running from one end of the hall to the other at night playing with her toys.

[hammerman]

I have a 4 year old springer and he's fantastic. An absolute nutcase and would be on the go for 25 hours a day if he could.

We occasionally hide some biscuits in the house and let he find them and he loves this game. A swim (doesn't matter how cold the water is) once a week is a welcome treat too.

Good luck with your springer, i love my boy to bits.