So, a little profile.
Merlin, my English Springer (working lines) is nearing 13 years old. He's a little arthritic in his back end but is extremely laid back, content and happy. Even our vet remarks on how chilled out he is. He's also gotten a bit tubby over the last couple of years. This is likely to have been helped along by the fact that we've had to endure a couple of house moves, my mum has been having ongoing health problems and we lost our Setter, his companion of 11 years. i.e. it's been a stressful couple of years. We're amazed the old boy hasn't gotten paranoid and neurotic. When I say he's 'tubby' we're looking at weight of around 30kg BUT he is big for a worker, always has been. He's very long in the back and leg when you sit him next to others, many of which seem tiny by comparison.
Health-wise, the vet is happy with him, although he does have a number of fatty lumps these days that we keep an eye on. The weight concern has been raised and is being addressed through careful diet and strict treat control. So that side of things is under control.
However. The exercise side of things is proving a bit problematic. We live near several lovely wooded areas and beaches which we love to take him to. Whilst he is a bit naughty (he was our first dog so we made a few mistakes in his training), he's generally well behaved off the lead. But every time you let him off the lead, he tries to run like he's 2 years old. Or just gets so fixated on a scent (a problem of ours) that he disappears off into the wilderness until he remembers he's with someone. Which means, suffice to say, that he ends up over-doing it in the space of about 30 minutes and the next few days are confined to short lead walks because he's unable to do much.
What this means is that per week, Merlin is likely only getting 2-3 'proper' walking sessions, filled in-between, by lead walks that can vary from 15 mins to 30 or so depending on his movement and I'm not sure that this is proving the most effective way to help get his weight under control. We're going to go back to the vet to discuss the arthritis concern, but he really doesn't help himself by going bonkers off the lead. Unfortunately I'm still working on the way I can get him to understand 'take it easy, old chap'
I'd be very interested in hearing the thoughts and advice of people who have perhaps had to manage similar situations or who may have general tips for working with a very stubborn Springer :P
Thanks in advance.
R.
, I had an old springer who would get very stiff after 30 mins of thinking he was a 2 year old I just would let him do it his way and rest him for a few days much the same as you are at the moment, the only other way is lead only walking and I am sorry but my old Drakey deserved to have a bit of fun in his old age even if he hurt for a day or 2.
Our thoughts have been pretty much the same. At 13 we're happiest knowing that HE'S content and enjoying himself. It's why we take him up the woods as much as we can as you can see that he is just in his element. Diving head-first into the bushes, tail wagging so fast that his backside ought to be levitating off the ground! As much as he loves being 'out' in general, you really see him come to life in wooded areas. The biggest 'offender' has been his scent fixation. He'll just follow and follow it until either it runs out or we manage to distract him from it. I don't want to submit him to an intense regime if it means he'll be miserable, but I do want to take his health on board at the same time (if that makes sense).
