As the owner of a Welsh Springer Spaniel, you should know that most don't reach adulthood until about four years of age. This can be a great thing because you get four full years of cute, adorable puppy that's full of energy! But, it can also mean that you'll have to put up with typical puppy behaviors like separation anxiety and restlessness much longer. The good news is that there's something you can do to stop or redirect the destruction that generally follows these behaviors. It's not that your puppy is punishing you for leaving him home all alone. It's just that the Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy has an unbelievable amount of energy. There are just a few things that any puppy can do in an empty house; dig, rip and tip over anything in sight, and that's exactly what your Welsh Springer Spaniel will do unless you teach him otherwise.
Why this Happens?
Your Welsh Springer Spaniel gets restless for two main reasons. First, as a puppy, he has tons of energy and second, it's because he's not getting enough exercise and mental stimulation. This breed requires a great deal of exercise and stimulation on a daily basis. If you're looking for a pet that you can let slouch around the house all day while you're at work and then take him for a quick walk around the block, the Welsh Springer Spaniel will thank you with a home full of half-chewed items.
If you're not the outdoorsy type who can take long hikes with your Welsh Springer Spaniel, you should reconsider adopting this breed. When the Welshie is full of energy and all alone, the only release he understands is destructive chewing and other 'playful' activities.
How to Fix it
To prevent your Welsh Springer Spaniel from getting completely restless in your absence, provide activities to keep him stimulated when you're away. If you have a regular full-time job, you should make accommodations to take your Welsh Springer Spaniel on a thirty-minute walk in the morning. This exercise will release some of that bottled-up energy and give the Welshie the companionship and attention he so craves. By breaking up the exercise routine, your Welshie no longer has to wait until after dinner before getting his daily exercise. Providing your pet with toys will effect a distraction from the destructive chewing. Chew toys, especially those that make noises will give your Welsh Springer Spaniel something to chew on as well as a noise other than quiet or his own bark to listen to. A method that many pet owners have found useful is to leave the television on at a low volume while you're out, preferably on the Animal Planet. The noise and the sight of other pets has a tendency to keep the Welshie mesmerized enough that you can be confident that you won't return home to chewed furniture.
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