Cocker Spaniel Abnormal Behavior

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
We have a 5 year old Cocker Spaniel (Casey) About 2 months ago he started doing something that we have never seen before with any of our other Cocker Spaniels that we've owned in the past.  My Son watches Casey 2 days a week when we work late, and he's always watched since Casey was born. He noticed that Casey started doing this in May 2008.  He'll start walking around the house sniffing.  Then it will turn into an all out very very fast walking and sniffing, all over the house, every room like he's on a mission.  His nose glued to the floor and he races around the house, non-stop until we tell him to knock it off.  It was kind of funny at first, but now I think there's something wrong with him?!  If we don't tell him to stop, he would go to the point of exhaustion.  He will do this numerous times a day.  Is my Doggie going insane?!

Please Help?!?!

ANSWER: Hmmm...interesting.  No, he's not insane :)

I'm wondering if Casey knows something you don't...as in "critters" in the house.  A dog's nose is about 50,000 times more sensitive than ours and it "could be" that Casey is detecting something that you haven't.

It's interesting he'll stop on command and, in that case, there's no real problem here but this is a pretty new behavior and honestly I'm wondering if his mission is "real".  Did you know that dogs are used for epileptics to detect the aura that precedes a sezuire?  It's true..so it's possible you shoud take this seriously and eliminate the posssibility you don't have some mice or whatever/whoever.

As far as stopping the behavior, you don't seem to have that problem and perhaps confining him to one room when he's alone might help
chill him out.  Or just do some basic retraining that will teach him you don't need him to do this :)  When he starts up, put his leash on him and do a couple of corrections with a NO.  A calm, quiet but firm NO - let him loose - if he starts, do it again.  He'll soon get the message that you don't want to know about this...but then again..maybe you do :)
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you!
And we live in Florida, in a Condo Community.  I already thought that he may be after some critter, but the honest truth is, we have lived here for 8+ yrs. and it is a rarety if we see any sort of bugs/critters in the Condo.  The association does an outstanding job in that area.

Thanks again,

Frank & Casey :)

Answer
Well if you're sure it's not that...do a bit of training and let him know it's not a welcome activity.

I've found sometimes dogs suddenly develop some strange behavior and by the time you've thought and read and asked for advice they just stop doing it.

Make sure he gets enough exercise - so many behavioral issues are pent up energy.  So give him a good 1/2 hour walk twice a day (I know it's difficult in the Florida heat) and that may help.

I spend a lot of time in Florida and even in the winter I'd have to walk the dogs before sun up or we'd all be melting.  But they do need that outing.

Best of luck,
Delores