If your Cocker Spaniel is prone to run away you can use a long line or retractable leash. How the Panosteitis Disorder Can Affect Cocker Spaniel Puppies? Environmental enrichment is the process of making a dogs living space more engaging and interesting. You can do some training and some simple exercises such as teaching him how to stop on the whistle. Swimming is an ideal exercise as it burns energy fast and is a no-impact activity that doesnt put a strain on the joints and bones and builds and maintains muscle. Typically, your spaniel will need a good walk at least once daily, twice if possible. An hours walk, for a spaniel, is a great way to let him burn off energy and, if you are able to let him run freely off his lead, then he will run and run, chasing his nose ( which is what he loves best ) and will end the walk tired, ready for a drink and a meal followed, probably by a good sleep. These toys essentially involve your spaniel solving a simple problem in order to receive a treat. If your dog pushes or hits the ball it starts the play cycle again. Socializing with other puppies or friendly adult dogs is a great way to burn some of that puppy energy along with teaching them the social skills they need. Reward him with a pat and a treat! Oh no, we can play with our dogs too, and its surprisingly fun. 15 Best Dog Grooming Tools for Your Cocker Spaniel. But in general, the more the better. Mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise, yet it often isnt given the attention it needs! In addition, every dog is an individual and some may be highly active while others may be more laid back. Although this might not be as physically demanding as working out in the open on regular retrieving exercises, the mental stimulation will tire your dog while helping him to develop his scenting and finding skills. Plus its fun and easy to play anytime. This recommended exercise quantity and ideas are for a healthy adult Cocker Spaniel. You can also find similar toys to Kongs that are just as tough and easy to clean such as these West Paw Dog Toys. It may be that you are restricted as to what you can do or where you can go. These are some suggested exercise ideas for your Cocker spaniel. An easy game to play indoors with your dog. Overly strenuous walks are not necessary and in fact, could possibly cause harm. The best exercise for a young puppy is free play withage-appropriate toys. The American and English Cocker Spaniels are similar but distinct and different breeds of dogs. Of course, shell run right to the cushion, flip it, and get the treat. Call out a name and see if your spaniel chooses the right one. Reward with a praise and a treat so they become more enthusiastic as the game becomes more challenging! Daily walks are much better than nothing all week and a big walk at the weekend. The best type of activities for a Cocker Spaniel caters to their instinctive working traits. Call her name, and let her mind kick into action trying to find you. ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true});As the owner of two Cocker Spaniels, both of whom are working dogs and very, very active, this presents something of a challenge. Once your spaniel has learned the basics, try raising the difficulty. Cocker spaniels are little balls of energy and are always looking for something to do. Switch between the two for a few minutes. This can be just once a day, or two walks a day would be better if your schedule allows. Trust us when we say that dogs love this game. Working Cockers, as the name implies, are bred as working gundogs. Try to find puzzle toys that are a bit more challenging as they tend to work these out quite quickly. Having a dog thats always friendly makes our lives a lot easier. They will no doubt love it. If you can dedicate at least a solid hours worth of activities and games designed to mentally stimulate your spaniel, then youre on the right track. And you start playing games with it. All spaniels are from a working background, meaning these dogs MUST have their minds worked as well as their bodies. I hope to change that. Let us know in the comments how much exercise your Cocker Spaniel gets daily and ways you exercise them. Easy to use and clean, these toys can be stuffed with almost any type of dog food, which your dog then licks and tries to get out so he can eat it. Anything is better than nothing when your dogs exercise and welfare is concerned. In this mode, the Wicked ball has 10 minutes of play and 30 minutes of rest. Socialization is by far the most powerful form of mental stimulation for dogs. Popular: Keeping on top of cocker spaniel shedding. Puppies under three months probably havent had all their vaccinations so shouldnt be walked in public. Read Dog exercise for a senior dog to learn more. As he gets better and more familiar with the game, hide the treats when he is not looking, so you make the game more difficult and more challenging for him. The point is, shell be going bonkers with her nose trying to find the treat, and when she does, shell be immensely satisfied. These are some of the most energetic breeds with a generally happy disposition, making thema beloved canine companion of choice. You encourage your dog to find the treat, which cup is it underneath. They are a loving and very social dog. Show Cockers are bred for the show ring and appearance and meeting the show standard is the main goal. Thanks for reading! Another great way to play fetch with your Cocker Spaniel is to make it a scenting game by using a scenting kit. Do this a few more times until he gets acquainted tothe mechanics. All dogs need an outlet for their minds. The cocker spaniel belongs to the sporting group,andtheir competitive nature makes them great for outdoor activities that require physical strength and stamina. If you are playing for the first time, hide somewhere close and call out to them. Playing Fetch with your dog is another fantastic way to burn pent-up energy. Try different treats and if he gets it wrong encourage him.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'easyspanieltraining_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_18',817,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-easyspanieltraining_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0')}; This simple game encourages your dog to use his nose and think about which hand the treat is in. Check with your vet when it is alright to venture out to the park or street. If after a few minutes they still cant find you, call them once more. Most pet stores will have selections of toys of various quality and price but I tend to look for ones that are tough and can take some punishment such as these Dog Rope Toys from Pacific Pups. By giving two or three of your spaniels toys names, you can call them out and have your spaniel choose the right one. Do this regularly and, before long, your spaniel will associate the name with the toy. When he does open your hand and give him the treat. Make a conscious effort to visit more dog parks and encourage your cocker spaniel to mingle with others. When things are as they are at the moment with the Corona Virus outbreak, it can be tricky to keep a working dog, or any dog, occupied. My young Cocker, Nimrod, loves playing with his stuffed Kong toy. That was the point. This is why it is important to know which group your Cocker Spaniel comes from. Tail FAQ Guide. Boris and Nimrod, my Cocker Spaniels love being outside and, like most spaniels and other dogs, go pretty stir crazy if they arent kept busy and tired out.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'easyspanieltraining_com-leader-4','ezslot_12',857,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-easyspanieltraining_com-leader-4-0')}; There are a few things that we can do with our dogs to help them to stay occupied and it is important that we do our best to accommodate and care for our dogs while this pandemic is active. However, it is still important that they remain reasonably active to keep their joints and muscles mobile and to manage their weight. Provide your Cocker Spaniel toys with good strong chew toys. I like the regular Kong toys because they they are tough, they roll around so it is a challenge for a dog to hold it and they have to think about this as well as extracting the food contained inside. By giving your spaniel a puzzle toy every day, theyll be calmer, happier, and more content. Both styles are great but the set and forget ones are particularly good for when you need to leave your spaniel home alone. This usually manifests itself in bad behavior such as excessive barking, digging, escaping and other destructive behaviors. Sometimes, all it takes is for us to focus more on our dogs and give them some of our undivided attention. Spaniels live for smells and love playing nose games. This is not only great to burn energy and stimulate their mind, but teaches them important social skills. Whatever the strain they are busy, active little dogs with minds of their own. It is important to provide them with mental challenges to tire their mind also. Can My Cocker Spaniel Catch and Spread Coronavirus? See the bottom of this post for more on theexercise needs of an older dog. It does involve going out of your way, but the benefits of socializing your spaniel more will be absolutely worth it. Use a Stuffed Kong to Keep your Spaniel Occupied, treat underneath one of them and then let your dog. A complete guide on why does my Cocker spaniel pee on the bed? For more onmental stimulation for puppiessee here. Start at the bottom of the stairs and have your dog stay. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'easyspanieltraining_com-box-4','ezslot_22',690,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-easyspanieltraining_com-box-4-0')}; If you can do some training with your spaniel, either on a walk or at home, outside, then thats great and you can find some spaniel training tips and hints here which will help to get you started. Cocker Spaniels are active, energetic and playful dogs that require at least one hour a day of energy-burning activity, but more is preferred. The exercise suggestions above relate to a healthy adult Cocker Spaniel. What is the first thing you should teach your puppy. The wrong quantity and type of exercise can cause injury to a puppy with growing bones and joints. As long as the toy is dog proof and safe for him to carry around, and maybe tear up ( this is common and many of Nimrods toys have ended up chewed to bits), then get some. This game teachesself-control and also reinforces obedience. As your Cocker Spaniel puppy gets older you can take them for short informal walks allowing them to sniff and explore and get used to being on a leash. When he is successful let him eat the treat. To make the Kong last longer you can even put a stuffed Kong into the freezer to solidify it, like an iced lolly for dogs. When your spaniel is in a different room and not focusing on you, go to another room (perhaps upstairs) and hide behind the door, call your spaniel, and let the fun begin. Let him sniff it out this challenges him and will mentally test him and use energy up. One of the prime instincts of a spaniel is that of retrieving and finding and we employ these instincts in gundog training when we use dummies and other items for retriever training and practice. Playing scenting and nose games helps to provide mental stimulation. Is your Cocker Spaniel eating grass?, heres what you should know. Back to more Spaniel articles. Read Mental stimulation and mind enrichment for dogs to learn about the 6 types or categories of mind stimulation a mental enrichment and some great ideas to provide this. Lets get into it! Throw the ball to the top of the stairs and then say, Go! Let your dog dash up the stairs. This can result in destructive behavior, nuisance barking, and even escaping. Many dogs hold stress in the jaw.