While Springer spaniels Aren’t in the top 10 list of dogs that bark a lot, they can be quite vocal in certain situations. It also depends on what you define as “a lot”. For some dog owners, simple talkative barking is acceptable. For others, it can be considered as excessive barking.
Regardless of where you stand on this point, Springer spaniels do have the potential to bark a lot under the following circumstances:
Separation Anxiety Can Cause Excessive Barking
This breed doesn’t enjoy being alone, as they are very close to their family members. Being highly sociable dogs, the idea of having no one close to them for many hours can make Springer spaniels very anxious.
When Springer spaniels get anxious, they need some way to deal with it. The first thing they will most likely do is to start barking is a way to communicate with you or somebody close in the family in the hopes of grabbing your attention so that you can be close to them again.
Well, you can imagine how barking can become excessive when no one answers your Springer’s call.
Before you know it, it becomes a snowball reaction where the barking gets increasingly desperate, and this in turn can lead to other behaviors such as destructive chewing, biting and digging, whining and howling.
Bored Springers Can Bark a Lot
Springer spaniels can get bored very easily if you don’t provide them with enough mental stimulation and exercise on a daily basis. These dogs have a lot of energy to expend, and when they have all of that energy cooped up, they can become quite nervous.
One of the first things Springer spaniels will do is to let you know how bored they are, and they will do this by trying to “talk to you”. They will engage in talkative Barking while running around you in circles.
This is a natural behavior and shouldn’t be seen as something negative.
By simply giving your dog roughly two sessions of exercise per day, with each session being an hour-long, as well as taking them for a short after-lunch walk, you will find that your Springer spaniel won’t be so “talkative”. She’ll be too tired.
Your Springer Spaniel Is Looking for Attention
This point ties in very closely with the previous point. Springer spaniels are very good at trying to communicate with their owners. They will normally bark at you to express their feelings, needs and wants.
In the beginning, it can be very difficult to understand their language, but with enough patience and empathy, you will be able to figure out what your dog is trying to tell you.
So, when you find your Springer spaniel insistently barking at you, don’t just ignore her. Try to figure out what she wants or to find out what you haven’t been doing.
A great way to do this is by getting the help of dog behavior experts as they can give you a lot of insight into how to read your dog’s behaviors in general.
What you never want to do is to simply laugh every time your Springer barks at you.
You might think it’s cute in the beginning, but if you continue to do this, your Springer will think that it’s good to bark, and before you know it, you can turn it into an excessive behavior that is very difficult to stop.
Your Springer is Afraid or Alarmed
Like all dogs, if a Springer spaniel gets alarmed at something, she is most likely going to bark.
Let’s face it, it’s never fun having a dog suddenly bark in an aggressive manner in the middle of the night while you’re sleeping.
This is especially so if your dog sleeps in the same room as you.
If I count the times I felt my heart was about to explode every time my pooch did this to me, you would think by now I would be in the grave already.
Your Springer is doing this to alert you. So, the question is, should you yell at her or train her not to do it?
In my opinion, it really depends on why you have a Springer spaniel in the first place.
Did you adopt her to be a companion or a watchdog?
If you’re looking for a watchdog, then Springer spaniels are most likely not the best breed. These dogs are very friendly and normally quite welcoming to strangers.
Of course, it really does depend on the unique personality of each Springer.
Tips to Stop Your Springer Spaniel Excessively Barking
First of all, I think it’s always best not to use a reactive approach as this normally leads to negative reinforcement and improper training.
For example, if your Springer spaniel is barking more than you would like, by shouting at her you will simply be communicating that your joining in.
It can also scare your Springer spaniel, which in turn can make her more anxious in the long run.
I think it’s also important to understand that it’s impossible that your pooch will never bark and is something that every dog owner has to understand before deciding to adopt a Springer spaniel in the first place.
Springers need to bark just like we need to talk.
Before you start any type of behavior training, first try to ascertain why your Springer spaniel is barking.
Once you have this information, you will then be able to take the right steps to minimize the barking, or to at least find some type of balance so that you and everyone else can still live together peacefully.
If the barking is from separation anxiety, you will then be able to use the right training to allow your pooch to feel comfortable and calm, even when she’s alone.
If your Springer is barking because she is bored, this can easily be fixed by creating a healthy routine of exercise and mental stimulation sessions.
If your pooch is simply barking because she is afraid, you need to find out how to make her feel less afraid and keep her reassured.
If it’s because of sudden noises in the house, try to find if it’s possible to eliminate those noises or to create a soundproof environment so that she doesn’t hear noises from outside.
Lastly, understand that it might not be possible to figure out every problem that comes your way when dealing with excessive barking.
Sometimes, all you can do is try to manage the situation in the best way that you can.
Conclusion
Springer spaniels can bark excessively under certain situations. However, don’t confuse “talkative” barking with excessive barking.
When your Springer is being talkative, she is conveying that she is happy and comfortable to communicate with you and the rest of the family.
It is during this time that you should appreciate your pooch and feel grateful that she’s put all of her faith and trust in you.
However, there are times when you might need to do something about the barking. It could be that your neighbors feel the barking is excessive, or because you are not able to get a good night’s sleep.
Whatever the reason, always take the approach of using positive reinforcement in implementing the right type of training.
If you feel that you don’t have the know-how to do this, never hesitate to call a dog behavior expert. This will be a great learning experience for you, which in turn will only increase the bond between you and your Springer spaniel.