cherish

Echo, thanks very much for that very helpful advice. We knew the whistle had to be tuned but didn't know we needed to pull off the outer cover in order to do it. We will give it a go! We live in a coastal town near the beach and love to take the dogs to the local dog friendly beach but have found if they get away from us they can run way too far and our voices are drowned out by the noise of the waves (not that they'd probably come back even if they could hear us!). Thanks again!

Yes, it is a silent whistle.

We have two spaniels, a Springer and a Springer/Cocker cross. The Springer is 18 months and the cross is just over 12 months old. We are wanting to train them to recall using a Sprenger whistle but they take absolutely no notice of it. We figure we haven't tuned it properly, but it came with no instructions. Can anyone tell us how to tune it to the correct pitch?

Thanks aussielover. The younger pup is now 4 months old and he was just 6 weeks when we introduced him to Shiloh. There is about four and a half months aged difference between them. I guess we were feeding Shiloh first to avoid any jealousy problems (on Shiloh's part). They are fed at the same time on our back decking, but away from one another and we haven't had any problems over food, only the play issue. We do separate them when the young one, Hunter, gets too rough, but of course we are not always around and they spend the day together. They do seem to love each other, and cuddle up together at night in the laundry, and often in the day also. But the younger one does seem to have more of an aggressive temperament (not towards people, just Shiloh). I forgot to mention that Shiloh has been desexed (with an implant) but Hunter not yet as he's still too young. But we will definitely be getting him done at six months. I am wondering if that could be a factor also. I doubt desexing has anything to do with it- Hunter probably has a more boisterous play style. Do you mean that you brought hunter home at 6 weeks? Because at Persephone said, they learn importnant social skills from their mum and siblings up until around 8 weeks, which is why most breeders dont let pups go till 8 weeks. Or did you just introduce them to each other at 6 weeks at the breeders place? If you did bring him home earlier, it could account for his lack of social skills- most pups would stop or at least become more gentle when another pup yelps. Desexing is not going to greatly change a dogs personality. Hunter is not a purebred and was brought from a local family. There was no choice about the pick up age as they were not in a position to keep the pups any longer. We did meet mum (a springer) and dad (a cocker spaniel) though and both were happy and healthy. As it was three of the litter ended up going to a pet shop after we took Hunter. He was the largest of the litter of seven and seemed the most confident. Shiloh on the other hand is a purebred from a reputable breeder and was collected at nine weeks. So I take it people are saying Hunter may be behaving this way due to being removed from mum and siblings too early and is not sure how he should behave around other dogs? That's an interesting thought. Shiloh went to puppy pre-school where he met other pups, but Hunter has not had puppy school. Have added another photo.

Thanks aussielover. The younger pup is now 4 months old and he was just 6 weeks when we introduced him to Shiloh. There is about four and a half months aged difference between them. I guess we were feeding Shiloh first to avoid any jealousy problems (on Shiloh's part). They are fed at the same time on our back decking, but away from one another and we haven't had any problems over food, only the play issue. We do separate them when the young one, Hunter, gets too rough, but of course we are not always around and they spend the day together. They do seem to love each other, and cuddle up together at night in the laundry, and often in the day also. But the younger one does seem to have more of an aggressive temperament (not towards people, just Shiloh). I forgot to mention that Shiloh has been desexed (with an implant) but Hunter not yet as he's still too young. But we will definitely be getting him done at six months. I am wondering if that could be a factor also.

Hi, We have a purebred English Spring Spaniel, Shiloh, who is 8 months old. He has a fantastic temperament. A couple of months ago we added a new puppy, a Springer/Cocker spaniel cross. Shiloh immediately took him under his wing and they spend lots of time playing. As the little one gets older he is becoming rougher and rougher in play. He hangs off Shiloh's ears, tail, legs and cheeks as he's running for the ball etc., and lately has started trying to shake him with his teeth. Shiloh is still physically bigger though the new pup is rapidly growing and we expect he will soon be the same size. Shiloh often yelps when the pup hurts him, but continues to play with him. We have been waiting for Shiloh to correct the puppy somehow, but he just never does and we're concerned about how rough the younger one is getting towards him. We are trying not to interfere so they can work out which one is going to be dominant. We always feed Shiloh first. He is an extremely happy, friendly dog and very protective of 'his puppy" but we don't like him getting hurt by the younger one and this is increasing. Is it just that he is very tolerant, or is there a problem? Any advice would be appreciated, especially from ESS owners?

Thanks SAS, but we are not first time dog owners....have had dogs all our lives. Yes, we have read up on crate training, I have contacted the breeder but as yet no reply and have a vet appointment next week. I fully understand how the puppy feels about leaving his mum and littermates. As I said, we have been ignoring. Ignoring is not the problem, it is simply not working. We have also not been looking at him or interacting, but when pooh needs to be cleaned up you have to move the dog away from it and do what is necessary. I am trying to move him away from me little by little and as I said, praising him in the rare moments he's quiet, but it's still necessary to leave the house to buy dog food etc. He and I are the only ones home during the day. I take him outside for regular toilet breaks and a bit of play, but I am concerned the yapping, howling etc. is going to turn into a neighbour issue soon. My question was really about whether this could be separation anxiety and is that the reason he won't let me out of his sight without getting distressed. I will look into the DAP spray. You may not be first time owners but you are struggling with a very basic and common situation - if you read what I typed you'd understand that I was trying to help you understand how your puppy is feeling so you better know how to deal with it. Yes, thanks SAS I did read your reply and appreciate your help. It was not exactly what I was looking for. A lot of people have come in and helped me and all responses are appreciated. The pup has now settled down considerably and we have put into practice several of the suggestions made on this forum. Thanks everyone!

Thanks Stitch. Yes, I agree with all you've said. Puppy School starts next week. Things can only get better (I hope).

Thanks for the encouragement. All our previous pups have whined and yelped a little during the settling in period, but nothing like this one is doing. All the others were cocker spaniels, so this is our first Springer. Shiloh is a he by the way We are persevering.

Spotted Devil, thankyou. It helps just to know that someone else has had the same problem with an English Springer and that your springer has settled down. I hope it doesn't take 14 weeks for Shiloh to get to that stage. Thanks for the tip about the vitamin B also. I am going to try to upload a photo if I can work out how to do it.

OK, thanks. Yes, we are feeding him in the crate and he is happy to sleep in the crate at night as long as he can see me. I will take your advice and crate him for short times near me. It worked today for a short while anyway.

Thanks for the advice. He has lots of things to chew, including a kong, and other chewable treats, also toys. He doesn't show any interest whatsoever in the kong or the toys and only chews his treats for about a minute before he starts yelping. As I said, I am ignoring the yelping/barking/howling but it's getting worse, not better. I was hoping someone knowledgeable in the area could tell me if this sounds like separation anxiety? If so, then I will know we have a serious problem that will need to be addressed.

Yep, he's following me around as much as I can let him. There's a couple of rooms in my house I don't want him to be in, though. I work at home and need to keep him out of my study/computer area. Think I've found the solution to that one by putting him in the crate and putting him beside me where he can see me. That's where he is right now and it seems to be working as he's sleeping. My problem is more not being able to leave him. The backyard's not an option at the moment as we're on small acreage and it's unfenced.

Thanks SAS, but we are not first time dog owners....have had dogs all our lives. Yes, we have read up on crate training, I have contacted the breeder but as yet no reply and have a vet appointment next week. I fully understand how the puppy feels about leaving his mum and littermates. As I said, we have been ignoring. Ignoring is not the problem, it is simply not working. We have also not been looking at him or interacting, but when pooh needs to be cleaned up you have to move the dog away from it and do what is necessary. I am trying to move him away from me little by little and as I said, praising him in the rare moments he's quiet, but it's still necessary to leave the house to buy dog food etc. He and I are the only ones home during the day. I take him outside for regular toilet breaks and a bit of play, but I am concerned the yapping, howling etc. is going to turn into a neighbour issue soon. My question was really about whether this could be separation anxiety and is that the reason he won't let me out of his sight without getting distressed. I will look into the DAP spray.

We have a new English Springer (9 weeks old) who has been with us for 4 days now. Almost everything is going well including toilet training and settling at night. But day time is becoming increasingly stressful because unless he is either sitting/laying next to me or within about a metre from me, he barks and yaps, becoming increasingly distressed. (Even when he can see me). This is not ordinary barking or whining. He works himself into such a state he finishes up doing poos either in his crate or on the floor. Our tactic has been to ignore the yapping and go to him when he is quiet and reward him for his quietness. But it is getting worse, not better. It is at a stage where I can't go out, even for a short time, and he is yapping most of the day unless he's at my feet. He is sleeping in his crate of a night time next to my bed and is happy because he can see me. But if I crate him in the day time he goes ballistic and poos all through it and we are continually having to clean it out. He seems to be doing this out of distress, not naughtiness, because otherwise he doing well at toileting outside. I am becoming a prisoner to this puppy and am afraid to leave him for what I will find when I come back. By the way, he hasn't been punished harshly for anything, has a very loving, but not spoiling, environment. He has toys and we have tried treats, but nothing workis. Is this separation anxiety?