barking cocker
My 9 mo cocker has started barking at me - even if he has been fed, taken out, played with, etc. What’s up with this behavior and how do I get him to stop
He is VERY loud. Also, when this happens, he usually starts acting very “aggressive”, even tho he has generally been a very “non-dominant” male.
Linda
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Has he been neutered? If not, his hormones have probably kicked into high gear by now, and he’s challenging your social ranking within his pack. I strongly recommend you enroll in obedience classes with him ASAP so you can learn how to establish yourself as alpha pack leader. The longer you allow this behavior to continue, the harder it will be to correct.
And by all means, if you haven’t done so already, get him neutered.
Good luck,
Tempest
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Hi Linda
I understand your problem. I have a 3 year old Cocker and he has not stopped barking since I got him. He has been to school and everything. Other then barkiong he is a great dog. My dog just demands so much attention as soon as I get on the phone he sits next to me and barks. Hey if you find a way to stop your pup let me know. My brother has four Cockers and they bark too. Yet as they are getting older they are getting a little quieter. I will say they are the best watch dogs. Every neighbor of mine knows my dog is home. Good luck. P.S. My dog gets so much attention and goes out so much he should be exhausted he has been checked by the vet.. He just likes to talk!
Riosmommy
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Cockers are barkers. They were bred for it. Their breed was created to flush prey (birds hiding in bushes, rushes or tall grasses), they run barking like crazy, the bird takes flight and the hunter shoots it. So it’s not their fault, they are just going along with what comes naturally for them. But you can train them not to. Every time he barks at you, stand over him, look him in the eye and very firmly, in a low tone of voice and very softly (never, ever raising your voice -you can’t teach a dog not to make noise by making noise), say his name (always say his name first before giving an order or scolding) and say something like: ‘Stop (I use Shhhh! because I use stop for other kind of behavior), No bark’. while you make a motion up and down with your hand palm down (like if you were telling somebody to keep it down). Keep on doing this, leaning over him more and more in a looming kind of position and keep on repeating it with a ‘bad dog’ or whatever it is you say to him when he is bad mixed with it, until he stops. But make sure you do not stop saying it until he stops barking and once he does, crouch down at his level and praise him a lot in a high but soft tone of voice while you pet him in a calming way (they particularly like having their backs, in general, and the base of their tail, in particular, scratched). It will take a while but they do learn (I have two of them). The trick to training is consistency, consistency, consistency. Always use the same hand gesture, always the same words, always react the same way to the same stimulus (if you allow him to do it once because you are too busy to spend 5 or 10 minutes correcting him, he will get confused and it will take much longer) and always, always praise and pet him a lot when he shuts up (once he’s trained and the behavior is corrected, all you would need to say is something like ‘good dog’ once or twice). It’s hard work but it’s temporary. Once they figure out what it is that pleases you, they will gladly do it.
Good luck!
Bibi
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I have a five year old Cocker spaniel and a six year old Cocker/golden and I have never had problems with barking. They bark when someone is at the door and when excited. Honestly, this is the first I have heard of a barking problem in Cocker Spaniels…
OlieBird
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Not all cockers are barkers (English cockers being much calmer and quieter than Americans), the same that not all pitbulls bite and not all Chihuahuas have a real nasty temperament. I have two cockers that are very well behaved, a chi that’s the sweetest thing and a pitbull mix who my granddaughter uses as her walker. There are exceptions to every rule. Also, breeders do strive to breed out undesirable characteristics, some are more successful than others. Just consider yourself lucky that you have one atypical cocker.
Bibi