rest. Field Spaniels are notorious for training their owners to give them their way by using vocalizations. Here are
some ideas for management. Most pups will out grow this stage in a couple of weeks if you are consistent in their
training.
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As we have previously emphasized, getting your dog involving in an obedience class early in life is essential. Field
Spaniels are versatile dogs who love to learn. Becoming involved in additional organized training is fun and enjoyable
for both of you. Agility, hunting, therapy dogs, competition obedience, rally, tracking and other activities are fun, and
afford the opportunity to make new friends and advance your dog's training even further. Organized activities and
competitions are not for everyone.
For those of you who prefer to take your Field Spaniel on long walks and come home and sit by the TV, I have listed
some activities below that will keep your dog busy, with out a lot of effort. Remember, Field Spaniels need challenges. If
you want a dog that will just lay at your feet and sleep all day, DON'T buy a Field Spaniel. Practicing the following
activities will not only provide your dog with stimulation for their busy mind, but make them a more enjoyable,
well-mannered pet.
Games to Play in Your Home:
Sit/Down Stay. Place your pup on a leash and practice sit or down stays while you watch TV. Start during the
commercials at first, but work up to longer periods of "stay." Alternate between down and sit stays. After he is good at
this, begin to have him practice while you eat a snack (never feed him during this time) and eventually while you have
your dinner. Soon you will have a well behaved dog, who can lay quietly on the floor at your feet, while your family
enjoys dinner.
Delivery Dog. Teach your dog to retrieve. Practice with different items to retrieve. Start with soft, smaller items first (
dish towel, toy, ball, rolled up newspaper) and then add new challenges. (brush, hammer, broom, dog dishes) Once
your dog is proficient at retrieving, give him the item and then tell him "take it to Joanne" (or what ever the name of the
person who you want him to take it to) and have the other person clap and call the dog to them. If they are successful,
the "receiver" should praise and have a cookie ready to give the dog after they take the item from them. Practice this
both ways and keep it fun. Soon you will have an enthusiastic Delivery Dog who you will find very helpful around the
house. This is how Joanne and I get newspaper sections back and forth between our easy chairs on lazy Sunday
mornings. The dog LOVE it and after a successful delivery, will go back to their doggy bed and lay down with a satisfied
"sigh" of a job well done. Be warned, there is a period during the learning process of this that your dog may bring you
EVERYTHING in the house to show you how talented he is. Gromit once delivered 8 items to me, including a carving
knife! Just say thank you, but do not praise him enthusiastically. He is learning and trying to please you, so you don't
want to squelch his interest, but save the big praise for when he brings you the correct item and he will figure it out.
"Find It!" Most dogs love to use their noses, but Field Spaniels are particularly nose oriented. This is a fun game for
both of you that will really help on those nights when it is too ugly to go out, but your pup is driving you nuts wanting to
play.
Sit your dog or have someone hold them. Show them a dog cookie and go about 8 feet away and place the cookie on
the ground. Tell them "find it" and let them go. Zoom -- cookie gone! That should not be too hard for him. Next step is
repeat this same process, but place a pillow or edge of a small rug over the cookie. Your pup with quickly push and dig
for the cookie until he gets it. Repeat this at increasing distances while the dog watches, each time hiding the cookie a
little further under the covering object.
Next let your pup see you go around the corner or hide the cookie just out of site behind a chair or couch. Let him go
with the "Find it" command and watch him really use his nose to "track" that cookie down! Each night, make the difficulty
level a little harder. Eventually have some one hold the dog as you go completely out of site into the next room. Initially,
keep the cookie in an obvious spot, but in a short time you will be able to hide the cookie anywhere in the house and
you pup will work until he "rescues" that lost cookie! WARNING: I highly recommend NOT putting the cookie on top of
furniture, tables, etc. He will find it, but may turn your house into an obstacle course to do so! Trust me - we learned
this by experience.
The Shell Game: This is a great one to teach the kids. Take three large plastic containers (4 or 6 inch potting
containers from flowers or tomato plants are great ) It is a bit easier for the dog if the container has a hole in it, but not
necessary. Place the containers in front of the dog, show him a treat and put it under one of the containers. Tell him
"find it." he will knock the container over, eat the treat and think you are weird, but wonderful. Praise him for his
success.
Now show him the treat, put it under one of the containers and then "shuffle" them. Tell him "find it." Some dog will
knock over the correct one right away, others will randomly knock them over until they find the treat. With a small
amount of practice, he will become very efficient at always knocking over the correct container to find the treat.
Now the fun starts. Begin to use a tennis ball instead of the treat. Each time he gets it correct, pull a treat out of your
pocket and reward him. Now you are ready to entertain the neighborhood kids and make your pup the center of
attention at our next party.
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help in the future.
