Hi

i am temporarily looking after a springer spaniel cross (think with a cocker spaniel) - he is 13 months old.

How much exercise do you think he should have per day - bearing in mind it cannot be off lead. 

thanks

Maxine

I would say at least an hour to two hours. Have you got an extendy lead as he would benefit from one to do a bit of running around as they can be a bit hyper ;)

Have you got him now ? :)

I'd concentrate more on playing games indoors or in the garden, use the lead walks as training exercises, sits, heeling, waits, stays that kind of thing.

A few games you can play.
"Springer's Find The Lady" using upturned plant or yoghurt pot with a ball or treat under one of them.  Remember he only gets the treat if he guesses correctly.

Using dried food...... Hide his dinner (or a portion of it) around the house/room - another fun "Find it" game!

Save all your small boxes such as toilet roll tubes, toothpaste boxes etc and put a biscuit or two in them so your dog can rip the box open and earn himself a treat and expel extra energy.  
You can then go on to hide the box and teach your dog a Seek command so he then has to hunt to find the box before he gets his reward and use up even more energy.

Big box (crisp box size - but obviously no staples or tape) - 1 or 2 smelly treats (we use pigs tails) and lots of scrunched up newspaper. How well you hide the treat is up to you and your dog's ability to "find" before getting bored. Turn the box upside down so that the open bit is covered, tell him "It's yours" and sit back and watch the fun! You can also layer the boxes with a treat in each layer   using different sized boxes and paper.
Of course, if you also teach your dog "pick it up" then they will "help" you clear up the horrendous debris too! 

Treat balls are another excellent idea, the one shaped like 3 balls stuck together so it doesn't roll easily, there is also nothing on it for them to get caught and hurt themselves.  Buster cubes are another good activity toy for dispensing there dried kibble, keeps them busy for hours, and even when empty, they can't resist going up to it every so often and giving it a belt, 'just in case

thats fantastic - thank you - I shall try some of this tonight!  he is very very food orientated so the box games sound like a good idea....

Maxine

Having had a springer spaniel, they need a lot of mental stimulation, and I mean a lot, or they will drive you bonkers!!!!!  The games suggested are good, other than the fact you have to continue watching them the whole time, to make sure they dont eat anything but the treat.

I dont know if in the UK you can get them, but there are toys designed for Mental Stimulation.  Basically things like the Kong toys, where you can stuff a treat inside, and it is rather hard for them to get it out, so they are busy with it for a while.

As far as exercise, I would say at least an hour run with them twice a day.  Settles them right out.  A brisk walk is ok to, if you cant run that long, but maybe challenge them at the same time with some obedience training as well.  Find out what the people are working on with their dog (ie sit, stay, manners, etc). 

Also, a good game of fetch, which keeps the dog running, but you get to blissfully (hopefully) stay in the same spot, just having to throw the ball.

Have fun watching the Springer.  They are wonderful dogs, and can show you a lot of fun!!!!!!

Thanks for this suggestion too - I tried the long lead tonight - absolutely hilarious - he ended up doing somersaults where he was getting himself tied up in knots!  a bit more practice with that is necessary.I took him out for an hour and ten minutes this morning an he's had an hour and a half tonight - now I need to get him to play and stay awake till bedtime to see how we get on...

Maxine