Posted by Jan on July 08, 2002 at 20:28:15:
In Reply to: Cocker horrible behavior posted by Elizabeth Acosta on July 06, 2002 at 06:14:40:
Unfortunately most Cocker Spaniels suffer from Separation Anxiety, because they want to be with you all the time.
To break this habit, you must start separating yourself from your dog for periods of 2 to 5 minutes. Put the dog outside and close the door. If she scratches or howls, (buy yourself a squirter bottle) open the door, say a stern NO and spray her with water. This will not hurt her and she will get the idea not to scratch or howl. This must be repeated at least 7 times in one teaching period and should be done three times a day over three days. Keep putting her outside for short periods, and extend the time. When you leave the house, do not make a fuss over her, say your goodbye 10 minutes before you leave.
When you arrive home, do not make a big fuss either, walk around and talk to her, but don't make a big deal out of arriving home. If you do this in conjunction with putting her outside and using your water bottle, you should start to get results.
Also, when visitors arrive, put her on her lead and check chain her everytime she tries to jump up. You can also do this with a friend. Call her up, patting your chest, every time she goes to jump up, check chain her, with a stern NO. This task must be repeated 7 times over 3 periods a day for three days. You will be amazed at how quickely she will learn not to jump up. This should help with the problem of urinating as well.
We have two cockerspaniels, Sebastian and Oscar, who are 3 and 6 months. Both have been to dog obedience and there is no perfect cure for Separation Anxiety. We love our animals so much, and take them nearly everywhere and have actually cause this symptom, so it makes it all the more difficult to try and break their habits, because we still spoil them rotton.
You will find a lot of information on Separation Anxiety and how to treat it on the internet, so have a good look, there may be some other methods.
I hope this is of some help to you.
Jan.
