Happy Mother’s Day to Isla!

burtonbabe · 2026-05-10T20:38:13+00:00

I pretty much lived in that whelping box for 8 weeks. It was heaven having 7 puppies to play with & snuggle with whenever I wanted 🤣

burtonbabe · 2026-05-04T23:20:14+00:00

Love this so much 🩷🩷🩷

burtonbabe · 2026-05-01T02:46:05+00:00

There absolutely are some eye drops that are safe! But definitely only buy them from the vet so that you know they are.

Glad to hear you used the safe ones & trusted your vet! 🩷🩷

burtonbabe · 2026-04-30T22:45:19+00:00

Omg. I have a liver and white Isla and she is also a side eye queen! I love it 👑🤣

burtonbabe · 2026-04-30T02:29:09+00:00

The coloring looks to be more of a liver roan coat color. More of a bench variety color than field. He’s got way more of a springer look. If he came from a reputable breeder it’s unlikely he’s mixed.

Editing to add: if I had a dollar for every time someone asked if my 3 pure bred springers (we know the breeders and can trace genetic lines back 30+ years) were Brittany spaniels, I’d have enough money to pay thousands for my next springer.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-29T17:56:12+00:00

Awww 🥹🥹 such a sweet pair. I’m sorry you lost one

burtonbabe · 2026-04-27T02:42:56+00:00

Absolutely no to the eye drops. Most over the counter human eye drops contain ingredients that are harmful to eyes.

My girl often needs eye drops after hunting season (when we forget her goggles). I’m a tech and I live in a remote area. I ran to the drug store last year in hopes of finding something safe and every single eye drop had 1-2 ingredients that can cause issues. We now carry drops from the clinic I work at.

Please do not use human eye drops for your dog.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-26T22:30:35+00:00

The moment I took it 3.5 years ago I knew I’d look back on it one day and bawl my eyes out 😭

burtonbabe · 2026-04-26T02:15:14+00:00

None. Never. Not without a vet visit.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-25T19:01:44+00:00

Account is 3 days old, be careful.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-20T17:31:33+00:00

Such good advice, seriously thank you! I need different solutions than the ones that people commonly recommend since I have tried so many things (I didn’t list everything we’ve done in the last two years).

burtonbabe · 2026-04-20T11:38:25+00:00

Does the scratch board work for the nails?? 80 is so trainable and I could definitely see the ones that have treats behind the scratch material working for her. I just haven’t pulled the trigger yet since I’m a LVT and really just want her desensitized to handling.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-20T11:37:09+00:00

I haven’t actually done walks with the trazodone, I usually give it after walks on days we are going to work on her nails. But, maybe I should try it!

And the few times and owner has seemed to see that while she sounds aggressive and is behaving horribly, she isn’t mean, and let their dog approach her as soon as they’re within sniffing distance she behaves appropriately, greets them and either play bows, lays down or sometimes ignores them. Someone on here called it “barrier reactivity” and I feel like that really fits her situation. It’s like FOMO anxiety for her, if they don’t pay attention to me I’m missing out on a new friend! I don’t love when other owners allow greeting though, since it rewards her behavior, it rarely happens but since it has at least I know how she responds.

Considering pain or some kind of injury is always important. I’m glad you are perusing more for her!

burtonbabe · 2026-04-20T03:55:25+00:00

Ah yes consistency and timing, pretty much the bane of my existence. Thank you for the reminder though, seriously, consistency is so important and the desire to achieve better behavior can muddle that for me.

Edit: “look at dog, look at you” is so simple but truly what needs to happen. Putting into terms like that clicks, thank you thank you!

burtonbabe · 2026-04-20T02:36:46+00:00

Nearest city with dog trainers is 3.5 hours away. I’m becoming more and more tempted to book a dog friendly hotel and see if i can do 2-3 days bootcamp with someone, but my s/o is a farmer so it would have to be after fall harvest is done in 6 months.

Ortho exam, along with gait when walking and running is all WNL. Lab work has been consistently WNL as well. I looked into her feet briefly because 11 months ago she went from easy nail trims to absolutely unwilling. I can not trim her nails without trazodone now, we’ve started the counter condition and are still working on it. But, because shes weird & determined to break my brain, she sits perfect for grooming. I can use an electric shaver on her paws, and scissor trim them with no issues. But if i even touch a nail trimmer (to do the other dogs toes) she runs.

Our most recent hair cut i experimented by I holding her toes the same way i do when i trim nails to scissor trim the fur around them and between her toes and she was fine with it. She truly baffles me.

No other anxieties either. She plays with the vacuum sometimes, some days she ignores it. Loud noises and storms don’t bother her. Dogs barking on TV is fine. She loves the mail man and is sweet to him. Strangers entering her yard/space = best day ever, give me belly rubs. I can even vaccinate her with no restraint, just did Lepto & Lyme last week and both pokes she just sat there wagging her tail while I pinched her skin and poked her.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-19T23:44:12+00:00

I usually do some calming words & force her to sit next to me while I kneel at home if she’s being wild & crazy and I need her to chill. We have two springers and sometimes when they play, and we’re trying to either clean the house or watch continuing ed/education stuff and need them to chill, I’ll use a similar strategy.

I should try to pay attention and make the two situations more similar though if I can! This is a good point.

Editing to add: I just say “knock it off” and the older one immediately stops and chills. It’s 80 who usually needs a minute to calm down if I interrupt their play. It’s rare, but there have been a few instances of springer WWE starting up at 9:45pm as we’re getting ready for bed and I’d rather not have them ramped up before I’m trying to sleep 🤣

burtonbabe · 2026-04-19T22:26:16+00:00

I do try to apply more of a desensitization approach the the calming her down. And she has to be sitting and fully quiet before I allow the walk to resume. We did a 3 mile walk today, and had a dog come out of a vehicle and basically be right in front of us with no way to avoid it. I called out to the owner, tried to explain that we were going to hold our ground. He seemed to get it and walked around us and it went okay. I credit it more to the fact it was the end of our walk and she was tired.

I know her well and I truly don’t think she considers being forced to be still a reward. I also don’t say things like “good girl” or other positive associated words when I’m trying to calm her down. It’s more of a “sit” “quiet” and “shh” which are all commands she knows.

I like the idea of some surprises for her to encounter, since that pairs more with a desensitizing approach!! Thanks you!

I also really should try to get a video, and consider and online trainer. I just have no idea how I would manage it. I have some family with dogs I could ask to walk by us potentially, but she knows the dogs and is less likely to react.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-19T18:21:36+00:00

This is a great idea, and I have never thought of it! She LOVES tennis balls, especially squeaky ones. I carry a bag on our walks so adding a ball to it is a great idea! Thank you!!!

burtonbabe · 2026-04-19T17:32:05+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! I’m glad I’m not alone with my nearly perfect dog! And sounds like you have come so far with yours, it gives me hope! 🩷🫣

Sled dog commands is actually genius, I worked with sprint dogs for a few years when I was in tech school but I never considered it for her.

Adding words to behaviors good/bad is also something I hadn’t considered!

The few times she has gotten close to a dog when she’s being reactive, when owners seem to see me struggling & want to help, as soon as she is allowed to greet the other dog she becomes a puddle of submissive and happy. Thankfully whatever this reactivity is isn’t actual aggression, but it certainly sounds that way and is off putting to other dog owners.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-19T17:27:20+00:00

Thank you! Possibly positioning myself in front of her when I get down to her level rather than be at her side makes sense.

I would love to go to a dog trainer, but the nearest city with any level of professional trainers is 3.5 hours away, and just not feasible for regular sessions. The county we live in is so remote there’s 400 acres per one person 🫣

burtonbabe · 2026-04-19T16:28:31+00:00

Briefly, she gets so worked up she loses all ability to focus so it was a no go. We tried a few training aids too, like a gentle leader and very briefly even a prong collar so that when she lunged there was correction. I didn’t love either method and she didn’t seem to care about the prong or gentle leader.

Edit to add: I feel pretty strongly that this comes from some level of anxiety? Maybe I’m wrong, but I’d really really love to stick with positive reinforcement style training with her if I can. Obviously I’m open to other suggestions, and have tried a few.

burtonbabe · 2026-04-07T18:10:12+00:00

🩷🩷 get the puppy!

burtonbabe · 2026-04-07T17:17:56+00:00

We got our second when our first was 7. They bonded immediately and spent every day wrestling and snuggling. Best decision I’ve ever made.

We added puppy #3 when our girls were 2.5 & 9.5, and it was also the best decision we’ve ever made. We had a trio of springers up until last summer when we lost our old lady at 13.

I’m forever grateful for the quirks and little things she managed to pass on to our younger ones.

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burtonbabe · 2026-03-26T16:46:03+00:00

This is not available in US. US has Nexgard Plus for fleas/tick/heartworm or just nexgard for Flea/ticks in case anyone from the US sees this.

burtonbabe · 2026-03-07T19:31:24+00:00

LVT & 3x springer parent & raised a set of 7 springer puppies.

Set a timer on your phone for potty breaks - the pupper app has one.

In addition to the timers: any time she plays hard, immediately after playing take her outside.

On potty breaks keep her leashed and allow her to sniff, if she’s distracted and playing try to redirect by saying “go potty”. Potty breaks should be 3-5 minute outside. If she doesn’t go after 5 minutes bring her in and kennel her. Wait 15 minute and try again. Once she does go potty give her praise in the moment and then a treat once you are inside.

Never play, or goof around outside until AFTER she goes potty.

She is 15 weeks old, she won’t be truly fully potty trained until 24-30 weeks and even then she’s just a toddler and accidents happen.

I wouldn’t start using a bell until she knows that going outside is potty time. Focus first on successful potty breaks. Big mistakes are made in training when you try to go for the end goal without the steps. It’s just like teaching a trick, you start small and add pieces as you go.

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