Thanks all and its reassuring to know its typical of springers, skyde.
As for flooding, well, I remember learning about behaviourists views on phobias in humans, they could be desensitised slowly, say for instance to spiders ( ) through pictures/video's etc OR they could alternatively use a different tactic, and expose the poor spider phobic to actually holding one, sort of 'face their fears' analogy. So I wondered if maybe taking Tigger into a very crowded place, where he would normally become really excited, would possibly diminish that reaction, 'flood' it out? I think its based on the theory that the body wont sustain itself in a state of excitement for any prolonged length of time, so eventually the stress levels drop and the behaviour changes.
Does that make more sense, probably not!
Plus as I said, Im not altogether sure if this works with dogs.
(Sorry if ive confused everyone, its a knack of mine.)

Im going to search for some super absorbant mats to hide my hall carpet over Xmas. LOL

Aww this thread made me chuckle!

Bonnie our last ESS had this problem and she only grew out of it when she was about 10 - in true Springer style!

I've no advice unfortunately, other than to run out of the house into the garden everytime you arrive home - like we used to!

Yeah it is funny sometimes. We tried popping him into the kitchen when visitors arrived as there is a safety gate between that and the hall. However, we soon found out that this didnt stop him causing a riot--he would stand up at the gate and spray it out over everyone!! Some would laugh and others looked on in complete shock and horror.


Think I may just keep the mop bucket full over Xmas.