Help with a springer spaniel

[AW10]

Our neighbours have an 18 month old springer called Lucy who is a right handful. I think they’ve stopped with training far too soon and Lucy is just plain unruly. She will pinch food from the kitchen work surface, climb all over the lounge furniture and pulls on the lead when they walk her to the point where shoulder dislocation (of her 61 year old mistress) seems a distinct possibility. Lucy gets a lot of exercise but I’m not sure she gets much mental stimulation. She seems very anxious; she rolls on her back when a new dog approaches, no matter how small, she’s constantly circling when walking on the lead with them and she often repeatedly scratches the very same spot if stopped on a walk - it’s like a nervous tic. Recall is so-so, usually only when she’s good and ready. It’s their first dog and they seem to have given up on trying to correct her bad habits. And they’re inconsistent as can be - if Lucy wants to wade into a stream they alternate between telling her “no” and “come here”. In her enthusiasm for life she jumps up on people; one heavily pregnant dog owner who lives nearby is frightened to be near her lest she gets knocked over.

I’m far from a dog whisperer but I think Lucy thinks she’s the alpha dog and they do little to nothing to convince her otherwise. On top of that they’re so inconsistent with commands (WTF is the point of telling a dog she’s rude rather than “no!”) and also give up far too easily. For example, if Lucy is told to sit a few times and still doesn’t obey the treat is still given. Nothing like reinforcing bad behaviour!

But she’s actually amazingly well behaved when it’s just me and her. I give her lots of praise and can get her to walk pretty normally on the lead and she’ll sit and wait when crossing the road and come back when called. Not sure if it’s my deeper voice or that our dog is Lucy’s bestie and she is quite well behaved and Lucy somehow respects me for it. I’m trying to get the neighbours to see some of the mistakes they’re making but it’s a delicate task; they’re more “live and let live” than we are. And it seems a bit akin to telling someone they’re doing a crap job of raising their children.

The biggest issue I have with Lucy is that when I go to collect her for a 1 on 1 walk as I did this afternoon she has multiple small wees in the house while I’m putting her harness on her. Is it excitement? Fear? A sign of submission? Any which way, how do I get her to stop this? We’re due to have her for a week in May and I really don’t want her weeing in our house! She doesn’t do it when my partner or her owners put the harness on - it’s just me that seems to bring this out.

And any thoughts on how to make her less anxious?

[NordicCrankShaft]

Having had a Springer from a pup in a previous relationship, it is absolutely not an easy first dog. Like any dog they get used to the exercise.
We used give ours so much mental stimulation it was ridiculous and then came the dreaded teenager stage which sounds exactly like what's happening here.
This is another critical point like socialising a pup where if these behaviours aren't recitified with consistent training then Lucy will only get more difficult and given the nature of the breed for absolutely not wanting to switch off its a shame for the dog.
Biggest thing I learned with our springer was I had to change and adapt in order for the dog to also progress.

In terms of less anxious? Does she have her own "safe" space? We always used to leave the door for the crate open with a blanket over the top and she'd often go in by herself when she had enough.
Also, definitely more mental stimulation, plenty of. Videos available on YouTube.

Good luck.

[Challo]

She needs to spend time with a trainer to help the issues

We have a springer X and he pulls on the lead but much better off it. He is a nervous dog as well, and only really likes his older brother and doesn’t like other dogs. He used to wee when we tried to put the harness on him, it’s basically being scared. He is much better now.

It appears there is lots of little issues so they need to spend more time with a trainer

[K77 CTR]

I can highly recommend Chris Linney from Hampshire spaniel training. He provides support via WhatsApp and can make contact with him through his Facebook page hampshire spaniel training. He gets brilliant results with his clients, doesn't matter if they are nowhere near Hamsphire as its all done via videos and support. He has clients all over the world.

He also has a YouTube channel with a lot of supportive videos

Edited by K77 CTR on Sunday 10th April 20:55

[PositronicRay]

We have an inherited dog (still in training aren't they always? ) that does this weeing thing when we put on her harness or approach with the lead (only at home though)

I think it's excitement/anticipation, if I give her a treat at the same time she won't bother weeing. If she was afraid she wouldn't even take the treat.

After a few weeks, I could put the harness on without treat. However she's now reverted (ingrained behaviour can take a bit of breaking) so I'll resume the treat thing.

I've been putting her harness on outside in case of accidents.

Edited by PositronicRay on Monday 11th April 08:56