Help, need springer info

[wormburner]

I have heard these were hyper dogs, and we just got one about 2 months ago and it's true. Can anyone out there give any advice, he is about 8 months, he will listen somewhat but like today, i bring him to work with me everyday and today he sniffed up a rabbit and gone he was in the brush chasing, as i told him to come and so on, i might as well been talking to a wall. He did come back after about 2 minutes of doing circles and zig zags chasing the rabbit, but when you call for them, it's like the elevator isn't going to the top if ya know what i mean, is it just lack of command or is it something a guy could use a shock collar to correct, other wise for the most part he listens pretty well but give me some advice if ya can, i havn't hardly started working him on birds yet, just have been to busy at work, but for the most part he does listen to most commands, is it just the hunter comming out and needs to be refined? I can just imagine in the woods, on a scent and gone, what's the remedy or some what first step? We live about 10 minutes out of Duluth and have three acres with woods around, I was thinking maybe the first step, 15 ft. leash and a good walk in the woods and when he doesn't want to come put a little pressure on?

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[Guest]

I grew up with a springer, "skippy" and as far as I remember her, she never had 4 paws on the ground any given moment. Having said that, she was the best dog I have ever hunted with. Very hyper up to 18-20 months, after that I could call her off and thing she was chasing. Could be boy hood memories, but she was a real pleasure to hunt with.

years and years later, I'm hunting with an English Setter, My old hunting buddy (Cocker Spaniel) is now retired, living his days on the couch fat and happy. Both dogs are giving my daughter the same memories growing up with good family/hunting dogs.

off topic a bit, but in a nut shell, every breed will have its share of hyper dogs, some breeds more and some breeds a bit less.

[Guest]

Forgot to answer your questions.

Many different ways to train a dog to stay close. I train my dogs to work close in the woods, and range some what in the fields.

Every day or every other day I'll walk my dog off leash in a field, woods, just in the back yard. when she starts to get past the range I want I'll say "hup and change direction" then she will swing around front. after a few weeks of walking in circles I'll do the same but this time I wont change direction. By then every time I say "hup" she looks back, and soon starts keeping the distance I want her to keep.

Once she keeps the distance, then I start with "go" which gives her free range, to work at what ever distance. I use this for fields.

There is tons of training info out there, you just have to find what works for your type of dog, hunting style, and how much time you have to train with.

last but not least E-collars work wonders if used the right way.

[elusivecrappiecatcher]

My springer hunter is 4 years old and still hyper as ever. He does listen great though. I kinda taught him with a shock collar. When he would run off I would hit the shocker and shock his arse. after about 10 times of shocking, I started using the double beep feature. When you hit the b button it beeps twice kinda like it does just before the zapper zaps. So he knows when he hears the beep-beep he stops. after a few times of that he listens great.

[irvingdog]

Springer Spaniel = Peter Pan. The dogs never grow up. Remember to burn off some of the octane before training sessions. Even "hyper" dogs listen and learn, they just need their head cleared. Stay with it. Springers are intuitive, beautiful, loyal, intellegent and second to none.

As far as e-collars....remember this above all other kernels of wisdom. They only re-inforce understood commands. Use it, but only when you KNOW the dog is disobeying.

[MNice]

I've herard so many times that springers are hyper, and I have yet to see one. I am on springer #3 and have hunted with a few others and can't say I saw that behavior. Do you think genitics comes into play?? All of mine have been almost to mellow, but I'll take that over an uncontrolable dog any day!