Gundog Training Forum

My in-laws have been fostering an 8 year old springer since last oct. He was surrendered as his owner was terminally ill. This 8 year old male hasn’t left the house not even for a walk for several years due to owners ill health.
From the off it was evident he suffers from severe separation anxiety which has improved slightly since being with my in-laws although he is happy in the crate in the car so they tend to take him with them wherever they go. He sleeps in a crate in their bedroom at night and is good in the house.
The main problem is this dog has absolutely no recall with an extremely high prey drive…he will do back flips if he sees something moving whether it be a bird in the sky or a horse. He is interested in nothing (treats/ball/fuss) and won’t even make eye contact…he is in the zone and nothing else matters. So letting him off the lead isn’t an option. He’s been taken to a freedom field and spent 20 minutes looking for an escape. He is a nightmare on the lead and very strong he has pulled over my in-laws and they’ve needed medical attention.
I’m young and fit and his strength is something else. Gencon/halti/antipull harness nothing gets him out of the zone he goes into. My in-laws have tried their best by him but physically cant walk him. The rescue found him a forever home but after just two days they have said they can’t control him. It’s a desperate situation. He needs someone with a secure paddock where he can get rid of some of that energy safely. He is supercharged as he isn’t getting the exercise needed.
He is the loviest boy and has a lovely nature and character.
Struggling to know what to do. He’s great in the house and with children and the resident dog.
Any advice greatly received as I’m worried about his options.

welcome. I am not experienced enough to offer any guidance but just wanted to say hi and well done your in laws for taking him in he is lucky to have them by sound of it

You need to find something that can focus the dog with the handler, basic `mental' games where the dog is interacting with you and remains focused and calm ( Check out place board training ). This needs to be done first in house then in garden or confined space. Train the stop like there's no tomorrow, and probably all the way to a drop rather than a sit. This should give you a little more confidence once you are ready to start going out. Tennis ball retrieving, even chuck and chase can keep the dog focused if you keep it interesting. Remember when out you have to be the main point of interest, not everything else.
Forget the `he needs exercise' and needs to burn of excess energy, all you end up doing is making him fitter and requiring more exercise " He spent twenty minutes looking for an escape" Was he, or was he hunting? Either way he was not interested in the handler, so your first question should be why not? If you don't give a dog purpose it will find its own ( probably why I get so many dogs out on walks wanting to come with mine )
Check the food your putting into him, some dogs can't handle both the amount and the content.
I can't emphasise enough going back to basics and baby steps. He may be 8 but as far as training goes he's a BIG STRONG pup. If you can find a good obedience trainer it might well be worth getting their help for heel work. Failing that, and heads up JUDY can of worms time as a lesser of two evils, you might consider a prong collar ... There proper use will quickly stop a strong dog pulling, and although you will get `hate' for even considering it , it can be the best for the dog in the bigger picture.

Thanks I really appreciate your time in replying.
He is an escape artist. He opens doors and even got his paw behind the iron driveway gates and opened it so now doors are locked and the gate is chained.
In the house and garden he will do what ever you would like him to in terms of obedience. He will sit and wait the length of the garden, come when called. Play with a ball, scent games. All my dogs walk to heel, but the only way I can explain it is he goes into a zone where he doesn’t respond or react to anything. He’s on a mission…I’m not even sure he knows where.
Tried scent games and playing with a ball. Fine in the garden but I can’t get him engaged at all outside of the house.

I’ve told my in-laws a play in the garden is better than nothing at present. It’s probably more than he was getting before. Lead walking is not enjoyable for him and my in laws were at risk of serious injury.

The rescue are desperately trying to place him in a forever home but no one has come forward. Any ideas where I might be able to reach out. He really deserves a chance and despite his faults he really is a lovely dog.

Thanks again.

Have you tried tug or a flirt pole. They can be powerful reinforcers that work with the dog’s prey drive.

Thanks Naj it’s worth a try

I do not have the experience of people who have responded already. I only have experience of one excitable puppy. Please consider this accordingly.
When I couldn't walk my pup on a lead, anywhere new or with the least distraction, because she tugged, I just made her sit, sniff and watch the world go by. First she sat outside my front door, then at the end of my drive and then at the back of my car.
I drove with her in her crate in the car to various places, let her hop out and just sit. I started with a fews seconds in quiet places and gradually increased the time and distractions. I think this is fairly standard puppy socialisation which has presumably been missed for this dog.
My pup was fine off lead, so I appreciate this is a different situation, but I found she would sit calmly, whereas even one step was too much and she was 'past herself'. It might be an option for your inlaws as you mention that the dog will travel in their car. Presumably he can jump in and out of the car, and putting the lead on in the car is fine.
I have had good advice from this forum and just wanted to contribute.

Thanks Kibble, I have a background in training and behaviour myself but trying to offer assistance from a distance is difficult. They are in Scotland and I am on the South coast. His strength and drive is something that my in-laws can’t manage. If I didn’t have a houseful myself I would have taken him.
I thought I’d reach out to the gun dog community.
I’m really worried what will happen if they can’t place this dog as we all instantly fell in love with him.
He is absolutely a puppy in an 8 year olds body. He is also the biggest Springer I have ever come across.

First you have my admiration for the effort you are putting into this old boy and my sympathy I can feel your pain worrying both about both the dog and your in-laws. You mention a home "with a secure paddock where he can get rid of energy". Sadly in my experience that this rarely works. Dogs are such social creatures that even in an enclosure of several acres after a day or two them spend 90% of their time lying at the back door or gate waiting for someone to come. They are rarely motivated to get exercise on their own in this situation even with a large and attractive yard. A standard size kennel is just as good for the dog.

I agree with the others above that the solution for a happy second half of this boys life lies in training. If your in-laws aren't able or inclined hopefully he can be rehomed to someone who will take charge of him.

Are you positive that he is a Springer and not a Large Munsterlander?