Spanieltraining.com So far, in fact, that you can’t call him back. In these cases, the dog feels no need for human company, and certainly nothing to draw him back from the thrill of his hunting drive. Therefore, any English Springer Spaniel has a set of instincts that are part of his DNA, and top of the list is his hunting drive. Give it in a playful tone and keep it light-hearted. The good news is, if you have started with a puppy, recall can be taught, and those long relaxing walks can be achieved. It works by using a long leash and something that your dog wants to get to (like a person, treed squirrel, or exciting food). If they’re not trained to walk nicely, Spaniels can pull like a steam train. The Complete Guide to English Springer Spaniels: Learn the Basics of Training, Nutrition, Recall, Hunting, Grooming, Health Care and more by Dr. Joanna de Klerk | May 23, 2019 4.4 out of 5 stars 152 Practice this until he is convinced that the only way to get to what he wants is by coming to you first. But if your dog is older and stubborn, with years of running away under their belt, then you may need a couple of months. This is hardly surprising. Once they do find you, shower them in verbal praise and give them some food or a toy. First, use a long leash for training and practice your recall around distractions, like birds, using the long leash. And if you feel you are getting nowhere, seek the help of a professional behaviorist. You should not overexert a puppy, but ending the session with a game serves the dual purpose of a lesson and a reward. You can also hold out a treat to lure them over. Here are my 10 Facts about English Springer Spaniels: #1 Spaniels were considered dogs that flushed out game, sometimes actually causing the game to “spring”. Whether you actually wish to hunt with your dog, or simply enjoy off-leash walks in open countryside, the most important thing is that you can call your dog back. The same advice is recommended for owners of show-bred pets, even though their prey-drive is not quite as intense as that of their working cousins. You’ll need a large yard or local fields to practice in. We trained his recall by using high value rewards like cheese and sausage. As soon as they do come to you, hand over a tasty reward. As soon as he reaches them they should praise and reward him with a game of tug or a food reward. This series takes a look at the ‘lot’ of the working Springer Spaniel in our modern society ... on a daily hike through a nearby park letting her run around on the paths and the recall is the single most important training tool. Although this is not direct recall training, it does teach your dog to look to you for his cues the whole time, which will improve his recall out on his walks. Springer Spaniels usually bond closely with their primary caretaker, so you are off to a good start. Note you can use any word or phrase you like. Training a spaniel to come back to the whistle Once your spaniel is returning reliably when you call his name, you are able to progress onto getting him to return to the whistle. You can do that with consistent training and an effective incentive. Try not to use his name or the cue word but talk excitedly to ‘gee’ him up. A solid recall will keep the dog safe and the owner stress free. You would also work on building pup's overall respect and trust for you in other ways, not allowing pup on furniture anymore, and teaching directional commands - like Off, Leave It, Place, and Out - which means leave the area. The most effective way to keep your dog’s attention on you when faced with multiple distractions is to keep changing direction. So, where recall cannot be achieved, the dog needs to be kept indoors, and always supervised outdoors. If you can whistle using your hands or mouth, that is fine instead. To your puppy, you need to be the center of his world. The e-collar simply allows you to enforce the training at a distance and consistency that you otherwise wouldn't be able to. Now your dog knows what the word “come” means you can use the cue word to call him to you while adding a hand signal to the word. Head out into your yard with your dog and some treats or their favorite toy.