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Bringing home a 14 week springer spaniel tomorrow. The wife and I both had dogs growing up but not in 20+ years. We've been doing research but I wanted to consult with the experts.

What are some key points we want to do or not do. Where is the mainstream advice (stuff we probably researched) wrong?

Open ended post so have at it.

BucketHead wrote:Where is the mainstream advice (stuff we probably researched) wrong?

Sometimes a pinch collar works wonders.

If the dog isn't house-broken, try crate training. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/do ... ining.html
(Although I didn't follow the "introduction" process outlined on the website. I just put him in the crate and he did fine.)

When puppy isn't in crate, you want to watch him like a hawk, so he doesn't pee inside. For that, it helps to tether him to your belt so that he stays right next to you.
IMO, the smacking with newspaper, squirting with a squirtgun, or rattling a can filled with coins isn't necessary. Just invest the time to teach puppy that outside is the place to pee.

BucketHead wrote:What are some key points we want to do or not do.

The first thing you do is take it back.

Dogs are a pain in the ass.

BucketHead wrote:Bringing home a 14 week springer spaniel tomorrow. The wife and I both had dogs growing up but not in 20+ years. We've been doing research but I wanted to consult with the experts.

What are some key points we want to do or not do. Where is the mainstream advice (stuff we probably researched) wrong?

Open ended post so have at it.

Springers are about as energetic as you can get. You'll need to walk for 5 miles a day to keep that dog sane. It's not fair to buy one unless you're going to do that. A tennis ball and a racquet will help. As will swimming. But they really do need to get out every single day. Enjoy.

Gorbachev wrote:

BucketHead wrote:Bringing home a 14 week springer spaniel tomorrow. The wife and I both had dogs growing up but not in 20+ years. We've been doing research but I wanted to consult with the experts.

What are some key points we want to do or not do. Where is the mainstream advice (stuff we probably researched) wrong?

Open ended post so have at it.

Springers are about as energetic as you can get. You'll need to walk for 5 miles a day to keep that dog sane. It's not fair to buy one unless you're going to do that. A tennis ball and a racquet will help. As will swimming. But they really do need to get out every single day. Enjoy.

That's good with me

this was the best product i could find for walking my dog. Learning curve was immediate for her.

While the dog is still very young but has began to bond with you:

Take him out to a field or large meadow, someplace where you can see for quite a distance. Walk with the dog. Watch him closely and when he becomes distracted, find someplace to hide. (You probably want to find a place where you can see what he's doing).

Soon enough the dog will realize he's lost you. Most dogs of that age will begin searching for you, sometime quite frantically.

Pull that trick on him several times until he gets in the habit of keeping you in his sight and checking on your where abouts.

This will make your long walks off leash a lot more pleasant later on.

seeahill wrote:While the dog is still very young but has began to bond with you:

Take him out to a field or large meadow, someplace where you can see for quite a distance. Walk with the dog. Watch him closely and when he becomes distracted, find someplace to hide. (You probably want to find a place where you can see what he's doing).

Soon enough the dog will realize he's lost you. Most dogs of that age will begin searching for you, sometime quite frantically.

Pull that trick on him several times until he gets in the habit of keeping you in his sight and checking on your where abouts.

This will make your long walks off leash a lot more pleasant later on.

This is good. Where'd you hear of such knowledges?

I believe I first read it in a classic book called Gun Dog by Richard Wolters (I think that's the spelling).

I've done this with two dogs I raised from pups and it worked well. My new guy, Dexter, was a year old when I got him and it didn't work at all. He was too fast, covered too much distance and was damn near out of sight before he began to wonder where I was. Other methods were required.

I've had very good luck with Canine Calming Signals. Turid Rugaas is a Norwegian dog trainer who has books/DVDs on the topic.

It's basically using the dog's natural body language to communicate with them. Reading these signals to determine a dog's intentions/mood and mimicking the signals to communicate your intentions to the dog. This is what "dog whisperers" do either by intentionally learning the technique or naturally being in tune with the signals.

Combined with plenty of exercise and being super consistent with my expectations of behavior, these techniques have worked great for my GSDs.

I have nothing useful to add, but the suggestions in this thread have been golden.

I am here only to request pictures of said puppy when you bring it home.

http://www.irongarmx.net/phpBB2/viewtop ... adio+fence

If you don't have a fenced yard. Or if your dog starts escaping from your fenced yard.

I once adopted an abused and abandoned Springer Spaniel. At the time I knew nothing about training dogs so he was what he was including having the attention span of a fly on crack, but he was the sweetest most loving creature I ever met.

Once I had him at Old Faithful at Yellowstone in early May when it was still snowy. In fact, a dead and frozen buffalo was right there in the middle of the tourist area. Scruffer got excited about something and started jumping vertically about 6 feet straight up. People were laughing and I was amazed. It's one of my favorite memories.

Your family will enjoy that pup.

I'm not a dog expert, but sleep with one (wife).

Our dog sleeps in a crate. It is His Turf. He gets a bacon snack each evening at crate time. Super stoked. The cats like to sleep in it during the daytime. The other night one of them was still in there when the dog went in. In the morning there was both them standing there next to each other, waiting for the crate to open.

We use a radio fence. He trained super quick on it, and it works flawlessly.

Gorbachev wrote:

BucketHead wrote:Bringing home a 14 week springer spaniel tomorrow. The wife and I both had dogs growing up but not in 20+ years. We've been doing research but I wanted to consult with the experts.

What are some key points we want to do or not do. Where is the mainstream advice (stuff we probably researched) wrong?

Open ended post so have at it.

Springers are about as energetic as you can get. You'll need to walk for 5 miles a day to keep that dog sane. It's not fair to buy one unless you're going to do that. A tennis ball and a racquet will help. As will swimming. But they really do need to get out every single day. Enjoy.

Take up rollerblading. In the summer I take my weim/lab rollerblading and it really helps with the exercise.

I've been told I'm nuts, and that my dogs are batshit crazy, so I have nothing to contribute, except my sincere best wishes to do your best to enjoy the puppy experience. It's over so quickly, and they're never, ever puppies again.

Heaven

Enjoy your puppy! The Cuteness!!!

I have plans to get a pup in June. My wife & daughter can't wait.

That puppy is a adorable.

I second the "line of sight" method that Seahill recommended. I have used that on my last 2 dogs for hiking and it works like a charm. I have never heard of the guy Neuman recommended but this is similar to what we do with my pups. Remember that he doesn't know our language and won't for a bit. It would be a helluva lot simpler if you learned his and used it in conjunction with ours. Other than that, enjoy it and don't get flustered. If you have any common sense this shit will pan out.

BucketHead wrote:Heaven

Awww. And he's got that white streak that starts to go up between his eyes. When they have a definite white streak to the forehead it's called "a spaniel mask." I'm partial to dogs that have a spaniel mask. Your guy has half of one and looks great. Also, he has a bit of white on his head. He may grow into a full mask yet...

Name him Barack. Nappy will be more likely to give pro bono training advices then.

Turdacious wrote:Name him Barack. Nappy will be more likely to give pro bono training advices then.

We decided to keep her name, Sadie.