Hi all, I wonder if anyone can help? I have 2 Springer Spaniels, Jazz my boy (18 month) and Angie 9 month old bitch.They have been getting on fine together ever since Angie came along at 4 weeks old. I have them in a cage in the kitchen. They don't have the run of the house but on very rare occasions I will let them in the living romm with me for an hour or so. They have a dogflap (which I close at night now the weather is getting colder) and have the run of a large Garden and the cage door is open to the kitchen. They both love the cage, but Angie has been crying and sratching the door for the last 3 nights when we go to bed. Ian my partner is only home the weekends and she get lots of attention on Fridays when he get back. She never done that before, and generaly goes to bed about 10 pm. I don't know whats best to do. On Friday I was up most of the night...last night I closed the cage (so she couldn't scratch the kitchen door) and left her to it. She cryed for about an hour or so. Has anyone had a similar experience? Or can anybody give me some advise on how I should handle the situation? I haven't done anything different to upsad her.
Thanks

Petra

hi. i have one thing to say THEY ARE SPRINGERS! They need lots of excersise, and keeping thi em to the garden ant the cage is not enough. they are not rabbits. Springers, as you should know, are very livel.y How much excersise do you give? why cant you lte them have run of the house (or alteast part of it)? getting a dog is about commiitment, you shouldnt have got springers if you were not allowing them to be free.

Edited to say- your bitch may be crying because she needs somewhere to call her own? or somewhere that she doesnt live- ie- a small crate jst for sleep. How big is the crate?

So basiclly she gets now attention until your partner gets homw. What is the point in haveing a dog when the only get an hr of attention each day.
Pups need lots off attention to stimulate there minds.

Co, no she get lots of attention everyday...my afternoon are committed to my dogs...training, play...long walk in the hills...by the lakes etc. Basically...my house work sufferes...lol. Seriously, I spend all afternoons with them...every day...and they love it...the more the get near the field..the better...troubble is...south wales is full of sheep....a nightmare...and the dogs love the water...so chasing the ducks is nothing new....I love the breed because of there natural ways to seek things out...Thanks for your message...much appriceated...Petra

Hi Tots, sorry about the way my story came across...but both of my dogs get daily exercise...eg,a walk by the lakeor a run in the field...they love it...and there is no way I would deprive them of that. On top they get at least 15 minutes training twice a day...Jazz is doing some disply work as well as drug search...and Angie the little one...well she just copies Jazz...so jumping the loops etc...is second nature to her as well....I'm sorry it came across like I don't have much time for them...I guess I thought it was taking for granted that they get a walk and have lots of fun...but I do appriciate your advise...thanks

is there any chance your bitch is coming into season?

Reading your post I would guess their routine is upset when your partner comes home for the weekend. I would think perhaps they are not getting as much attention from you as they do during the week.

Try spending a bit of quality time with them before you go to bed, a little bit of training would excercise their mind or play with them for a while. A good run in the park before it gets dark should also prove benificial so they are tired when you retire to bed. Have they got a favorite toy or stuffed kong you could keep for bedtime at the weekend as a treat. You just need to break this before it becomes a habit.

Hope this helps
Sandra

Before i start please don't read this in the aggressive, snappy manor in which it comes accross!
I have three Akitas, as some of you probably know already. They LIVE with me and my husband. That means they share our sofa, bed, baths and yes even our meals. We are a family. They are our children. If you are going to have dogs you must be prepared to share your life with them. They are not ornaments or accessories, they are living breathing creatures with social and emotional needs just like a person.
Please review your dogs' quality of life. Are you really giving them the best that you can offer them? Would an extra hour of your time be so taxing? A 30 minute run in a secure field or a run along a quiet street with you would do them, and you, the world of good. Spend 10 minutes a day playing on the living room floor with them, have a cuddle while you are down there, break all the house rules and get them on the sofa (covered first!) for a lie down while you watch tv! If you make them a part of your everyday life you will probably see an improvement in youe bitch's behaviour. They need you to be there to reassure them, they are not just dogs, they have personalities and feelings. You need to meet every one of their needs, dog ownership is no different to parenting and its just as big a responsibility.
I hope you manage to sort out your relationship with your dogs soon,
Good luck
Caz x

Hiya, I know hwat you are saying....however....as you will know Springers are full of life...and yes, I know what some people might say...if you are not prepared...don't have dogs, but I believe it has to be a harmony relationship...and they are happiest in there cage which is thier bed...and we do have a huge kitchen and grounds. I did not put them in the cage...they choose to make it their bed. I had it initially because of Angie being so small when I first had her and Jazz is a big dog...when Angie was a bit older I made what was a doubble cage into one big cage...and they now cuddle up together. I know some people might find it difficult for dogs to be in cages...but they choose to go in it...even though they both have a coozy bed in the kitchen as well...what can I do...I can;t stop them from sleeping in it? Unkess I take it away?

Anyway, I do appriciate your comments...Thanks and yes, perhaps I should try to have them in the other rooms as well...BUT...there is the Cat as well......lololol who rules the rest of the house.....lolol

Thaks Petra

You weren't that clear in your post! Caz strikes again with her hasty replies to posts, well done Caz!!!!!
My friend puts the cat upstairs while her dogs are in the room, usually for a couple of hours a day broken up into 20 minute stints.
I'm not against crates at all, they are my only option as every bed my two older dogs have gad ended up in 2 inch pieces after ten minutes.
Maby it is her season coming then, it's quite scary for them the first time round so thats maby the problem with her.
Hope she settles for you soon.
Caz x

Hiya, I don't know....maybe in human terms...but at the weekend their routine changes...I guess you are right there. On weekends Ian takes them for a walk down to the lakes....and they have a massive ground at home as well....I sometimes think that it is more jealousy with Angie....cant be sure though...thanks for your comments

Petra

Hi Pink, thats what I have been thinking...maybe she is?
Thanks for that
Petra

Sorry everyone who thinks I don't exercise my dogs...they get plenty each day...otherwise I would not have got myself 2 crazy springer....lol. They also get 2 x 15 minutes intense training a day....some days more than others....they also go to training class every monday night for an hour each....apart from the gardens which are hhuge...we also have an 1/2 acre of field at the back which they have the run of....more than some people have...so please forgive me for ginving the wrong impression...I love my dogs and hope to do everything to keep them healthy and happy...hope this makes it a bit clearer,,,,
Ps. I do understand your concerns and reading back on my post....you are right to ask those questions.

Hi Petra

I think it may be that she is about to come in to season. My bitch got a bit whiny/crying before her first season. Mine are also Springers.

Brinny

Thanks Brinny, I think thats what it must be...I will check her regularly...last night she was as good as gold...I left the lights on and she was fine. They are both of to their weekly training session tonight...they love it. Will keep you informed.

Thanks

Petra

Hi Petra

Re reading your post you say you now lock the dog flap as the weatehr is getting colder. Could it be that she wants to get out. I know my dogs love to be outside and my girl will cry loads if i try and keep her in when she wants to be outside. Just a thought perhaps she spends a lot of the night outside without you knowing??

Brinny

Mine cry when they want to go out all summer the door is rarely shut and they go in and out as they please now they whine to let us know they want us to open the door.
why arn't they allowed in all of the house mine are the only rules are no on tables beds and no barking in the house they come on the sofa and live as one of the family why not try for a few hours a night letting them have free run of the house put an old duvet cover on the sofa let them slob. have you thought of giving her a food kong incase she is bored. try walking her aswell before you put her to bed.
hope some of these help
Hannah

Hi Hannah,
thanks for all your good advise...I will try some of your ideas...actually Angie the little one is great around the house...it's the big one Jazz who is the naughty one...picking up everything. But now my partner is away again I will let them have some more freedom...its about keeping the harmony when he is around to. Although her loves them to bits, he is far more diciplined when it comes to what they cann and can't do...I am worried that if I let them have the run of the house, they will want to have it when he is here which might cause some issues. I am the one who looks after the dogs, in everyway, Iam concerned that when they are confined to the kitchen when he is back it might causes more harm than good....what do you think? I think I better talk to him first......although come to think of it.....he has a choise hasn't he.....lololol

Take care Petra

Hi Brinny,
good point....I will wait and see hwta happens tonight...but yes...it might be the reason...they love the outdoors...my door is always open and they are in and out....
Thanks

Hi Petra

Yes i have 4 springers at the moment. 1 actually lives outside all year round. But my girl has been spoilt rotten since i got her. But she loves being around our older dog and often whines to get outside if i have got the door shut purely because she enjoys being out there, So as i say it may be that your 2 spend more time outside than you realise at night and perhaps she is to hot??M y girl is funny like that, she loves all the comforts of being on the bed etc but as she spends so much time outside (all day and most of the evening) she gets to hot really easily now i have the heating on!!! Also if it is that she is coming into season be very careful having your 2 sleep together as if you search my old posts i was one of the irresonsibles who allowed an accident to happen(hence why i now have 4 springers)

Brinny

Petra, if she hasn't come into season then start preparing now for the onslaught that will hit you when she does! You will not be able to keep them together for probably 2 weeks, and that means never, not even for a second!

Secondly, although you have a large garden and kitchen you have mentioned in other posts that your dogs are from the working strain. My spaniels both work and it has been 'in their blood' from a very young age. They have needed training and their energies channeling but they really do live to work. It could be that now your dogs are reaching maturity they need a more challenging environment than a house and garden. If their pedigrees are as good as you say they are then it will come naturally to them to hunt and their current amount of exercise won't be enough for them. I feel that when you have seen a spaniel after a days work in the field you can actually appreciate what challenges them. Their minds and bodies need to be occupied to the full, then they will sleep like babies. Also, if you intend breeding from a working bitch, it is surely best to do so from a dog who is proven in some way in her field, it may not be that she needs letters after her name (FTcH) but that she is known for what she does well.

Spaniels can certainly be challenging and need lots of attention. I also agree with Brinny that they could be hot, we haven't had too much in the way of cold weather yet and dogs are hardier than we think when it comes to temperature.

Good luck

hahahaha...yes I can't imagine 4 of them....but no, Jazz has been done, the poor chap. i didn't have any intention initially to have a second dog, but I wanted companionship for Jazz...the two of them get on great and as Angie was only 4 weeks old when I had her, he was the gentle giant. Now at 9 month Angie stands her own ground...and she loves all the conforts to. How do you manage with 4 of them? They must be a handful. Do you show them? or are they working line? I live in the Valleys, South Wales and any classes such as ring craft or even field trial are miles away, so it would be difficult for me to get to them. When I had Jazz at 8 weeks, the owners unfortunately didn't register him...so he has no pedigree. Angie has, and I am trying to find out as much as possible in advance before making the decision wether to let her have one litter or not. I've been told that bitches should have at least one litter...I am not sure why? but there you are.
Anyway, its nice to meet people with the same intrests on this webside...I think you are the first one with SS. It would be nice to meet some more people with SS to communicate with.
Take care

Petra

When Angie comes into season it will be a weight off of your mind that Jazz has been 'done'. I don't agree that every bitch has to have at least one litter, after all, where would we be with every female dog producing about 6 more pups? I understand that she has a good pedigree, but that isn't always a sign of having a bitch worth breeding from. I am sure there will be many of our show friends on this forum who can tell you tales of ideal parentage not producing perfect pups. What I would suggest is that you buy yourself a book on working spaniels and get some idea as to what they have been bred to do, Joe Irving - Training Spaniels will give you an idea. I know that Wales is full of gundog enthusiasts and it shouldn't be too difficult to track down local groups that could support you in training your dogs and I am sure you won't have to travel too far. Do you know any local farmers who might have shooting friends who could point you in the right direction?

Hi Petra

Yes my 4 are a handful. i have Fergie who is 10 he is a yard dog and has been all his life- i have Rosie who is 16 months and i now have Lucy and Tiny Tim who are both 12 weeks old and from the aboves litter- I do not show or work my dogs, they are family pets, although Rosie is addicted to a ball and she will chase that 24 hrs a day if allowed. But i am lucky in the sense that we have 5 acres of land which the dogs have free run of!!!!
I have now had my Rosie "done" , as i dont intend doing anymore breeding i shall leave it to the experts, it was more hard work than i had imagined!!!!!

Take care
Brinny