Hello everyone.  Can anyone please advise.  I am the proud owner of a young english springer spaniel....only 6.5 weeks.  I know he is quite young...I am not terribly happy about him being away from mum and siblings.  I did have a word with the breeder about it but he ensured me that the puppy no longer has any contact with the mum and that all the siblings were away this weekend.  He didn't seem very keen on keeping him for another 2 weeks so he's now home with me.

The puppy is settling in well, though I observed something that really pulled at my heart strings.  Perhaps it's me reading too much into things but here it goes.....

Our neighbour has a dog and my wee pup spied him whilst out for a toilet break.  They said "hello" to each other over the fence but since then, my little dog goes crazy at the front door, trying to get out and the first place he bolts to is our neighbours front door. 

I wonder if that's because the little man still has a deep connection to his mother and siblings and misses them all terribly.  What can I do to help him through this?  I know he is still very young and I am convinced that an extra two weeks would make such a difference...but I can't make that happen for him.  This is going to sound silly, but what is my dog missing out on?  What aspects of socialisation can I emulate from his family?  Can I even do that?  My neighbour explained that at 6 weeks, dogs learn a great deal from their siblings and mother.  They learn to be dogs....but I worry that as he came to us so young, he won't be able to experience that. 

It has crossed my mind to get one of his siblings who is still available, but I stopped myself.  Getting another dog for the one I love is not a good idea, obviously.....so short of that, what can I do?

I definately would not get one of his siblings.  He is only the same age as the guide dog puppies when they go out to their walkers and they all come to terms with that and grow into well adjusted animals.  What matters now is that he becomes a companion to you, a human being.  On the other hand it would be both nice for him and useful for future interaction with dogs that he does get the chance to continue learning about them and the communication between them.  Your neighbour sounds like they know something about dogs so if her dog is vaccinated you could ask if they could meet in one of your gardens now and again prior to you being able to get him out at classes.  He does have to learn that he cannot have free access on demand though so the best thing to deal with the running over to the front door is to distract him with other things, games etc.
Incidentally by going over to the front door I presume you mean still within a closed area.  I would not have him running loose about the street.

Incidentally by going over to the front door I presume you mean still within a closed area.  I would not have him running loose about the street.

Sorry, when I said he bolts to their front door, I meant he tries to squeeze through our fence to their front door.  I always manage to cut him off though.

Thank you for the advice, distraction is a great idea!  Will try it the next time.

i wouldnt say hes missing mum and litter mates he just see a play friend and wants to play !! ,mine are 5weeks now and my 1st pup will be going at 7weeks ,these kind of dogs are good at ajustment at a early age with ppl that know what there doing ( i dont mean you dont ;) ) i mean 1st timers that dont know how to look after a pup ,but mum is getting to the stage where she dont want them now ,but i still dont like them going till 7-8 weeks ,they still learn from each other , he will be fine as ong has you start taking him out (carry him ) and let him get use to all the differnt sounds ,i as a breeder do this ,i try my hardst to make them independent before they go to there new homes . good luck with your little chappy :) :) :)

It is natural for puppies to want to play with their own kind - if your neighbour is happy with it and the dog is friendly maybe some supervised and managed play sessions with the dog - and when you don't want him to play food\ squeaky toy\ fun exciting games so that you are more interesting to play with.

So agree with Isabel - distraction and definitely don't get another pup or you will be having a nervous breakdown!! I have friends who bred a litter of goldens (show goldens, health tested, good pedigree, mentored by breeder of their dog etc) - they couldn't decide which bitch to keep from the litter so they kept two - and their daughter also had one which comes to visit. So 4 dogs and occ 5, 2\3 of the same age. The owners are both just past retirement so retired with all their time for the dogs, fit and active... but the pups seem less responsive and more bonded to one another than their two adult dogs - which have an age gap - and there was sometimes rather a look of frazzlement on the owners faces when they were pups - haven't seen them recently.

I agree Springers adjust well at an early age as most spaniels do but I think you are underplaying it a bit to say they are a good dog for 1st timers who do not know how to look after a pup.  I can think of easier breeds.  They are a breed where you need to get on top of training and channeling of their energies and instincts right from the off and would definately recommend that a 1st timer gets as much guidance as they can from the breeder and training classes.

i have just read that back and its not ment to read the way it looks lol sorry !! i ment springers adjust well but i wouldnt let any have a pup at that age if theyve never had a springer before ,im very tired lol lol lol  :) ;)

This article may be of some interest :)

http://www.dogbehaviour.com/articles/dogs/socialisinglitter.htm as it gives info on the ideal background and this is also helpful to show what can be done by the owner:
http://www.dogbehaviour.com/articles/dogs/puppysocialisation.htm

We carried ours around the local town centre in the evenings when they were puppies (before vaccs complete). They met lots of people, heard a lot of strange noises and saw a few dogs too, but it wasn't so crowded and noisy that it scared them.

What is he missing out on?

Oh, just socialising, he should be running and playing with his siblings and tugging and pulling, chasing and learning all about if he bites too hard he causes a yelp or a snap back, he would already be learning his role in the litter, having silblings giving him the confidence to explore with and follow around, bonding with some members more than others and having his mum there for feeding still, teaching him how to clean himself and keeping a watchful eye. Exploring new foods, watching others taste first and following, and then all falling asleep together, at this age the pups work as one, play and sleep as one.

Two weeks from now it is different, the pups are far more independant and ready for their new homes, but he is missing out on all of these things.

Littermates give each other confidence and security.

He probably won't miss his siblings now, he won't think of them, but he will still think as a young pup with a need for them with all they teach and all the security they give.

So now, you will need to be all these things to him. Security and confidence you can give him as already advised socialising by carrying him around introducing him to all new things, sights, sounds, etc, plenty of love and cuddles and you can start even at this age teaching him commands like sit when you give him his food bowl or feeding him a little from your hands once he sits.  Sooner you start the better. ;-)

Play is very important and calling him to explore new textures and objects will be fun for you both, pups are notorious for bounding into things and learning silly things like the brush falls over, I get wet when I jump in the water fountain, the paw sinks when put in water, the watering can clatters when it is knocked into, the noise from the washing machine doesn't hurt me, they get scared but then one pup will go back and sniff and the others will follow (this is the part he's missing) to learn banging and noises don't hurt them, so look at the world as a pup does and be all exploring with him so that he sees you are not afraid so he is not afraid. :-)

He'll be ok, perhaps more clingy than he would have been but you are taking on the role of his mother and siblings have fun together and enjoy exploring it with him.

Carrington's post has just reminded me - JG has in the past posted an excellent article called 'The Bite Stops Here' about teaching a puppy how to inhibit their bite. Will see if I can find a link.

http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm

Found it.

Thank you everyone for your advice.  I am taking it all on board.  I have been carrying him around town in my son's old baby carrier when we go out.  My OH is away on a business trip for 2 months so effectively, it's me and my boy and our new dog about town!  It's hard work but very rewarding.  We don't go out for long, just nip to places quickly and of course, very vigilant about letting other dogs near.  But so far, so good.

Again...many, many thanks for everything. 

Carrington's advice and information is, as always, very sound and informative, but I just wanted to add that some pups are born as only ones and miss out on sibling play anyway, but can still go on to develop into well-rounded adults, so don't panic too much about him being away from the others. Having said that, there is even more need therefore, to get his to a good puppy class, so that he does learn to interact with other dogs.

If you like to share your love for English Springers then come and join this friendly forum, all Springer owners with loads of breed specific advice http://springthing.3.forumer.com/

Hope it is allowed to post this link :)

I am taking it all on board.  I have been carrying him around town in my son's old baby carrier when we go out.

Aww bless lol
Why dont you try carrying him around in your arms for a change now and then?
I loved cuddling our boy as I walked round shops etc and made meeting dogs a little easier for me too if I wanted them to have a good sniff of each other not on the ground tho till after his jabs of course lol :)

Sounds like your well prepared to give this pup everything it needs and its great to hear :) :)
He has been taken away a bit too early and thats sad, but I bet your pup and your son and you! Will have hours and hours of fun exploring together in the garden on walks and visiting places, the next few weeks as he gets a it older and more confident will be so so much fun!! :-D

Enjoy your new puppy! :)

Hi Rac85....the baby carrier is a sling that aI wrap around my body and put the puppy in.  My son was never put in a pram as I believed he needed my skin to skin contact.  So that's what I use for my new little puppy and it allows me to be hands free.  Puppy can easily just hide away when he sleeps or pop his head out when he's curious.  My son calls us the two-headed monster.  LOL.

Aww that sounds brilliant :)
I am going to get one of those for our next pup and save my arms lol
It sounds so cute with his head popping in and out, no wonder you boy loves it! lol

> My son was never put in a pram as I believed he needed my skin to skin contact

That is the nicest thing that I have heard in a long long time, the way things should be too in my eyes :)

xx

I can also vouch for the puppy carriers, sometimes I would have a pup that I was keeping for the new owner for a couple of weeks longer (once for 6 weeks) so obviously socialising was important, I would take the pups out on walks with me and his mum in the little carrier, they absolutely loved it and sat beautifully watching the world around them.

After the injections the pups could have a wee walk with mum too, but once they had done their time limits back into the carrier and my girl did not miss out on her long walk and the pup was not left alone at home whilst she had her exercise.

It certainly does help to bond, with owner and pup and keeps them safe too. :-)