Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Secrets of Springer Spaniel Training

Training springer spaniels is great fun and to
train them to retrieve is a real pleasure. This
is because 'fetching' is one of their very strong
natural traits. So, you are not teaching them
anything new, just shaping their behaviour. The
retrieve we are teaching here is not the full
gundog retrieve.

The training is best done by one person in the
family, preferably the dog's ultimate master.
When the training is complete then the springer
will be able to work with other family members
with the same set of commands, but during
training it is best if only one person is ivolved.

By the time he is four months old, you should be
able to gain and hold your dog's attention. Basic
commands such as 'Sit' and 'Come' should be
working most of the time. Also, your dog should
by now be able to recognise when he is being
scolded.

Springers are possessive (want to fetch) and
submissive (eager to please and obedient) and
this makes them easy to train. You will have
noticed your pup carrying his toys, and from an
early age you can encourage him to release his
toy into your hand and then praise him. Then
return his toy. This behaviour should be
encouraged and praised. There are tricks for
training this 'easy' release.

You do need him to understand that there are
things he can carry and things he is not allowed
to carry. This will minimise later problems in
training the retrieve.

You may have an old sock or glove, and maybe a
tennis ball that you set aside for training the
fetch - ideally three or four articles to provide
variety. These should be kept separate for
training and your pup should not be allowed to
play with them - keeping them separate gives them
special meaning as your training dummies.
Encourage him to carry whilst walking at your
side, and then to Sit with the sock on his mouth
and to come on command, with the sock.

Before you move out into the field, teach the pup
to release gently. This is done by telling him to
sit and then whilst facing him with eye contact,
stroke him on the forehead and under the chin;
bring both hands forward along his cheeks whilst
saying 'good boy', 'give'. Praise him and return
the sock. Don't forget to vary the dummies.

Your pup should now be able to pick up the sock
or glove, carry it, come on command, deliver it
to your hand and give.

We move now to the throw. This is best done in
open space without too many distractions. If your
yard or garden is big enough then that is good as
it is all known territory to him. Your springer
should be told to sit by your side (remember firm
voice and eye contact). Hold his collar whilst
you throw a glove or stuffed sock a short
distance. Restrain him briefly by the collar then
say 'Fetch', with an excited tone, as you release
him. When he returns then tell him to sit and go
through the 'Give' procedure.

With some springers it may be necessary to use
the command 'Wait' whilst restraining them.

He should be understanding your enthusiasm for
the fetch, and gradually after sufficient
repetitions over a few days and various dummies,
you should be able to move away from the collar
restraint, as he starts to realise that he will
be able to go and fetch, but only on your command.

The whole cycle of retrieval should now be
working and you should both be enjoying it.

Train him further by teaching him the names of
the articles and getting him to retrieve a
specific article by name - be it sock, ball or
glove. As with all training, don't repeat the
exercises more than four or five times a day, as
your springer will get bored and lose interest.

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I have owned both rescue dogs and regular
springer spaniel pups. This has been a brief
introduction to training tips. Find out all about
training springer spaniels at
http://www.springerspanieladvice.com/training-an-e
nglish-springer-spaniel/ and a whole lot more
about owning one of these great dogs and how to
care for it at =>
http://www.springerspanieladvice.com .

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