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How To Conquer Your English Springer Spaniel’s Separation Anxiety, Sound Anxiety or Travel Anxiety
If your English Springer Spaniel is experiencing anxiety, life can be miserable both for you and your pup. I myself spent 2 years battling extreme separation anxiety with my dog, and we successfully came out on the other side. In this article I’ll share some of the resources and strategies that worked for us.
There are many forms of anxiety that your English Springer Spaniel may be suffering from. Typical causes of anxiety in English Springer Spaniel’s might be:
- Separation anxiety – Fear of being separated from their owner. This often manifests itself by your English Springer Spaniel pacing, drooling, biting, or being destructive while you’re away.
- Sound anxiety – Fear of loud noises like thunder, fireworks, or a vacuum cleaner
- Travel anxiety – Fear of traveling in a moving vehicle, or fear of intimidating places like your vet’s office or a boarding kennel
1. Experiment with Hemp Oil for Your English Springer Spaniel’s Anxiety
One of the tools I successfully used in treating my dog’s anxiety was hemp. While your results may vary, approximately 67% of the dog owners polled here claimed that hemp was ‘extremely effective’ or ‘somewhat effective’ in helping their dog’s anxiety.
In my experience, hemp helped my dog calm down enough to respond positively to the other training methods I was using to treat her anxiety. When choosing a hemp oil, always look for a certificate of analysis showing a pure and safe product. I’d also recommend a product with 0% THC.
If you’d rather not give an hemp oil tincture to your dog, there are also great full spectrum hemp treat options available for dogs on Amazon.
2. Desensitize Your English Springer Spaniel to The Cause of Their Anxiety
A key strategy for treating your English Springer Spaniel’s anxiety is desensitizing them to the trigger of their fear. For example, my dog’s anxiety was triggered anytime I walked out the door to leave the house. For other dogs, the trigger might be you grabbing your keys or putting on your coat.
Begin by doing the trigger activity, but then immediately reversing it. For example, I would grab my keys and walk out the door. Then I’d come back 5 seconds later. I did this literally hundreds of times over a period of a week. Eventually, my dog was desensitized and bored by the behavior.
Related: Best Calming Treat for Dogs
3. For Sound Anxiety, Trying Isolating Your English Springer Spaniel and Playing Loud Music
Many English Springer Spaniel’s that suffer from thunderstorm or fireworks anxiety experience relief in a smaller, more isolated room of the house where music can be played at a loud volume. A word of caution though, if your dog is also experiences separation anxiety leaving them alone in a room during may be counterproductive.
4. Try Using a Compression Wrap (Available in Many Sizes and Will Fit Your English Springer Spaniel)
Many dogs are comforted by the feeling of compression across their body. One popular product many have found success with is the Thundershirt (available on Amazon and Chewy. The product applies gentle, calming pressure that is very reassuring to many pups. The company claims the product to be helpful for about 80% of the dogs who tried it. It can be used to help calm your English Springer Spaniel during fireworks, thunder, separation, travel, or vet visits, with no training and no medication required.
5. Try an Herbal Supplement for Your English Springer Spaniel with Calming Herbs Like Chamomile, Passion Flower, Ginger Root or Valerian Root
Many calming supplements exist for dogs that are palatable for dogs, easy-to-feed, and can help quickly relieve your English Springer Spaniel’s stress and give a sense of safety and calm. Some supplements contain calming herbs like chamomile, passion flower, ginger root, and valerian root are a great option.
6. Experiment with a Pheromone Diffuser for Your English Springer Spaniel
Canine pheromone diffusers mimic the calming pheromone that a mother dog emits while nursing her puppies. The diffuser can help many dogs feel calmer and more comfortable in stressful situations. The same company that makes the Thundershirt above also makes a product called ThunderEase diffuser, which is also available on Amazon and Chewy.
7. Try an Anti-Anxiety Supplement Containing L-Tryptophan, L-Theanine or Melatonin
Other popular ingredients in anti-anxiety supplements include the amino acids L-Tryptophan and L-Theanine, both of which offer calming properties and increase the release of “feel good” serotonin in your dog’s body. In addition, some calming products for dogs contain a small amount of melatonin, which can help regulate and improve their sleep.
8. Experiment with Using Your Own Scent & Sound to Calm Your English Springer Spaniel
In my experience, using your own scent and sound to help calm your dog is a powerful strategy in beating anxiety. I stumbled upon this one day with my own dog by accident.
Typically, if I left the home my dog would instantly enter a panic. But one day I needed to take a long phone call, and left my dog outside my bedroom door where I took the call. During the call, she calmly lied next to the door, where she could obviously smell and hear me. It occurred to me that I could possibly mimic this tactic while I wasn’t at home.
I recorded my voice on a CD player and then put it on loop. Then I placed a used t-shirt on the inside of the door where she could easily smell it underneath. To my surprise, I was able to leave the house for a short time. (I monitored her on a video camera). I slowly increased the length of time I left, and always found her calm and sincerely believing that I was just behind the door!
If you’d like to read the full story of how I cured my dog’s extreme separation anxiety, go here.
Another popular calming product is the heartbeat puppy toy. Traditionally, these have been used to help calm puppies who have recently left their litter. The plush toys come with a warming features as well as a simulated heartbeat. While originally intended for puppies, many dog owners have found they can effectively calm dogs of all ages. This popular model is available on Amazon.
Defeating your English Springer Spaniel’s anxiety is absolutely possible—though every dog’s path to calm will be unique. The tools and strategies above can help you get started, but sometimes our pups need an extra layer of support. That’s why at iHeartDogs, we trust gentle, vet-formulated supplements designed to ease stress without harsh medications.
For best results, you can pair the Cannanine Ultra-Premium Broad Spectrum hemp Oil with our Cannanine Bacon-Flavored hemp Calming Chews. Together, these two supplements deliver 10 active, naturally calming ingredients—including hemp, melatonin, and valerian root—to promote relaxation and support emotional balance. Whether it’s fireworks, separation stress, or everyday anxiety, this powerful duo can help your dog feel safe, secure, and comforted.
Frequently Asked Questions About English Springer Spaniel Anxiety
Springers often suffer from separation anxiety. This dog type has an extreme desire to conform to its master’s will and become an integral part of the family. As a result, they have negative reactions if they are neglected. While there are occasions when separation from your dog is unavoidable, the Springer is one breed that suffers greatly from isolation. Take a look at what you can do to combat separation anxiety with your Springer Spaniel.
1. How To Calm A Springer Spaniel Down?
Separation anxiety can be treated using a variety of methods. Your dog’s goals, the intensity of separation anxiety, and symptoms will determine whether tactics succeed. Exercise is the strongest environmental element affecting a dog’s separation anxiety. You can also give your dog plenty of toys, including puzzle toys, and a safe, distraction-free place to relax.
However, independence training is the best thing you can do to help your dog calm down. Your dog can learn to be independent and calm without you. Start independence training at home if your dog follows you around and ensure they get proper socialization every day. If you cannot, get a dog sitter. If you leave your dog for longer than four hours, have someone check on them.
2. What Age Do Springer Spaniels Calm Down?
Springer spaniels are cute, friendly dogs that can bring a lot of happiness to a home. However, you will learn quickly how active these dogs are, which can test anyone’s patience, especially when they are young. Springer spaniels, like most dogs, usually calm down between the ages of 2 and 3. But because this breed is naturally very active, they will always be hard to train if they are not taught how to behave young.
3. Do Springer Spaniels Calm Down?
The springer spaniel is a type of dog that was made to hunt. Because of this, the springer spaniel is likely to be a bit more active than some other breeds. Depending on the dog, if this energy is not used correctly, it could make the dog easily excited. The springer spaniel is not a hyperactive dog, but they need to be trained and socialized as early as possible to avoid this problem. If they know what is expected of them and what to expect from them, springer spaniels are less likely to act up or get too excited and active for no reason.
4. Do Springer Spaniels Have Anxiety?
Yes, springer spaniels can get anxious when they are left alone. They love their family, and when their owners are home, they usually want to be close to them. When their family leaves them home alone, this can cause some trouble. Sometimes, the problem can be traced back to your pup’s parents if they were not properly bred.
The best thing to do is slowly get them used to being alone for very short amounts of time. Separation anxiety can be caused by a medical problem that has not been diagnosed. Additionally, separation anxiety could be caused by a change in routine. For example, this condition may start if your work schedule changes, you get a new baby or pet, someone dies, or someone goes away to school or college.
5. Why Is My Springer Spaniel So Clingy?
Springer Spaniels were first bred to be hunting dogs. Because they were made to work alongside their owners, like other working dogs, they all tend to be clingy. Because they are so friendly and affectionate, these dogs can develop separation anxiety if you are not careful with how you train them as they grow from puppies to adults. Their environment can impact their clinginess, too, if it’s over-stimulating or uncomfortable.
6. Are Springer Spaniels Neurotic?
Canines with a high degree of sensitivity are neurotic. As a result, separation anxiety and other severe behaviors are common in these breeds, along with the potential for hostility if not dealt with early on. However, spaniels are only prone to separation anxiety and not sensitivity which means they are not normally neurotic dogs. Although some spaniels are more sensitive than others, but as a breed, you can relax a little.
7. Can A Springer Spaniel Be Left Alone For 8 Hours?
Yes, your Springer Spaniel dog can stay home alone. Your puppy will have to be a certain age first, though. Also, before you leave your Springer alone, it is best if it knows how to use the bathroom. Springer Spaniels are also very social dogs who need to play with people and other dogs. So, if you do leave your Spaniel outside when you go to work or school, do not just leave your Springer Spaniel out in the yard all the time.
Bring them inside every day to be a part of the family, take them for regular walks, and give them plenty of active play in your yard. Also, it is bad for your dog’s bladder to be alone for more than an average workday (8–10 hours). Any longer, and you will need to hire a dog walker or come on on your lunch break.
8. What Do Springer Spaniels Like To Do?
The English Springer Spaniel is a smart, energetic, and friendly bird dog with a sweet face. They are strong, muscular hunters made for long days in the field. In addition, springers are very easy to train because they were made to work closely with people. English Springer Spaniels are great at tracking, and now the police prefer them because they can be trained to look for drugs, bombs, and guns.
They want to be with people and are miserable when they do not get any. Springers are polite dogs that get along well with kids and other animals. These rough-and-tumble spaniels like to go for long walks, play chase, fetch, and swim. Most dogs like going to the beach or lake, but spaniels are a little obsessed with water and just as happy to play in puddles or water bowls.
9. How Do You Take Care Of A Springer Spaniel?
The best way to deal with separation anxiety is to stop it from happening in the first place. Your springer spaniel puppy should not have free reign of the house when it is young. They should either be in a crate or in a room with a baby gate at all times. They should have a bed, a blanket, toys, food, and water in their crate or space.
Next, do not make a big deal out of leaving. When your Spaniel is a puppy, do not say a long goodbye and leave in a big way. It will not be a big deal if you stay calm and just leave, as dogs do not have a sense of time. Save the big shows for when your dog is good and does not get into trouble.
10. How Do I Keep My Springer Spaniel Healthy?
When it comes to taking care of a Springer, giving them a lot of exercises every day is one of the most important things you can do. Physical activity helps your dog stay at a healthy weight and uses up any extra energy he or she might have. But, on the other hand, you do not want a dog who is too active and bored to stay inside all day.
Giving a spaniel a healthy, age-appropriate diet is another important part of taking care of him. To help your best friend stay at a healthy weight, limit how many treats and food scraps he or she gets. Still, you do not have to give up treats. Instead, you can make healthy treats at home. If you ever worry about what your dog eats or how much it weighs, talk to your vet about what to do.
Helping Your English Springer Spaniel Find Calm
Anxiety can feel overwhelming, for both you and your English Springer Spaniel, but it doesn’t have to define your dog’s life. With patience, consistency, and the right tools, most English Springer Spaniels can overcome separation stress, noise phobias, or travel worries and return to their naturally happy, confident selves. Remember, every dog’s journey to calm will look different, so don’t be discouraged if progress feels slow. Even small steps forward are signs of healing. When combined with training and a loving routine, these solutions can make a world of difference in helping your English Springer Spaniel feel secure, relaxed, and ready to enjoy life by your side.
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