Advice?
Hi everyone,
I work from home and have had my Springer since he was a puppy. He’s just over a year old now and is generally a lovely dog, but we’ve started having a few issues and I’d love to hear if anyone else has experienced anything similar.
Ball obsession: He’s completely obsessed with balls. I know Springers can be prone to this, but it’s become the only thing he seems to care about. He’d choose a ball over any treat every single time.
Ignoring commands: He’s also started ignoring me more. I’m wondering if this is just the teenage phase, but he can be very stubborn, especially when I ask him to move in or out of a room. Sometimes it almost seems as though he’s worried I’m going to leave him, so he refuses to move.
Attachment to me: He also seems very attached to me. On the days I go into work, my parents say he’ll do some quiet howling for 15–20 minutes before settling down and behaving normally. However, if I’m at home and simply leave the room to go to the toilet or cook dinner, he’ll bark until I’m back. He follows me everywhere and seems to feel like he has to be with me all the time.
Has anyone else’s Springer gone through a similar stage around this age? Is this typical adolescent behaviour that improves with time and training, or does it sound like something I should be addressing more proactively?
Any advice would be really appreciated!