Garloch Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Hi all. Daughter has a female cocker spaniel thats 14 months old. Because she lives in a small apartment, the dog comes to our place while at work, and stays with our 4 smallers terriers, and stays most weekends. Lots of rules here and she is pretty good. However, heres the problem. She has seperation anxiety if she knows her owner is in the house in another room, trying to sleep through a migraine etc. She barks, scratches doors etc. We are dealing with that by diversion tactics, games, obedience training etc. Not making a lot of progress, some, but slow going. My issue this morning is that daughter sleeping, cocker in lounge with me, and I was ignoring her bad behaviour (hence not rewarding it) and she pee's on the couch! Very brazen. I'm very cranky. All dogs are outside for the duration. Can anyone suggest some type of training that will stop this happening again? Maybe I'm putting human traits on her, but I think she peed on the couch cause I wouldn't her into the room where her owner is. She is currently outsde howling at the door. All suggestions and advice gratefully received. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) Hi .... not sure where you live , but my strong suggestion is to ask on here for reputable and honest professional behaviourist/trainer to help you in this. NOT an 'obedience trainer', or one who guarantees to solve all your problems in one visit ..but someone who can assess the dog thoroughly , and work with YOU to manage problems . This dog needs help - from what you've posted , ... the peeing on the couch could be several things - even to reassuring herself that her human was still 'hers' - peeing on that human's scent , and claiming it , as she didn't have access to her person. She only sees her person for a few hours a day ..and has two homes ... You are recognising things - and that's great :) A good professional can now add different tools to your box of tricks . Sep.Anxiety is tricky .... Someone here will have recommendations, I'm sure. ..just noticed that for some reason you posted in Breeder's Community . This would be better put into General, where more people can reply . It isn't really a breeding type question :) pm TROY if you want it shifted . Edited June 21, 2014 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garloch Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 Thanks for that Persephone. I posted here because I know cockers can have the seperation anxiety, and the cocker breeders will have seen this before. We breeders need to assist one another, and several here have been fantastic over the years. I find posting in general gets all sorts of answers! Your "scent of the owner" is helpful. I hadn't thought of that one, so thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Thanks for that Persephone. I posted here because I know cockers can have the seperation anxiety, and the cocker breeders will have seen this before. We breeders need to assist one another, and several here have been fantastic over the years. I find posting in general gets all sorts of answers! Your "scent of the owner" is helpful. I hadn't thought of that one, so thank you. ahh.. perhaps then in a training section? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Sounds like a very confusing lifestyle . I wouldn't say Cockers suffer from sep issues more than any other dog or breed . Has she always been like this ?? How long has two home with two rules been her routine?? Has she ever been taught alone time by herself or always been reliant on humans ?? Small apartment does she have access outside or requires to be let out ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garloch Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 Hi Showdog - I don't think she is confused, didn't mean to give that impression. She has the same rules and routine in both house and apartment. We've been quite meticulous about that. She has access to outdoors at both house and apartment, and the same toileting regimen. And has been doing this since she was brought home at 8 weeks. (14 mths now). Only difference is the apartment is small and the house is big. Cocker can pretty much see her owner from every room while in apartment, so she relies on human contact whilst there. While here, has 4 other dogs to play with and all interact well. Have a very large run for them and they all have the opportunity to be either alone or with the other dogs. There are parts of the house here that she (and the other dogs) are not allowed in, and its not been a problem before. It seems to only be a seperation problem if her owner is ill in the other room and she can't get to her. I know she is anxious because she periodically runs outside around to the window of the room that daughter is in. At other times, cocker is happy to be here with me/us/dogs. Is quite obedient, and happy to be one of the pack. She doesn't really have any time that she is alone - my dogs are always here, or the human pack is around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Is there any reason why the cocker can't be in the room where her owner is ill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garloch Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 Hi Jed. Not an issue if its anything except a migraine. Any movement, or light, or noise creates problems - they are really bad migraines. And the cocker constantly moves. About every 10 minutes or so. My daughters head would explode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I can fully understand not having the dog in the room with the migraine suffers. Even their breathing can be to loud with a bad one. Other than that I will bow out and wait for those more in the know :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Thanks Garloch, I understand now. Problem is that dog wants to be with her owner (as cockers do); and she probably realises that her owner is not well, and so particularly wants to be with her. It seems that she is not a problem any other time. They were bred for generations to be "velcro" dogs, and stick by their owners. I imagine if their owner shot something and the dog was off doing his own thing - or was wanted to flush some game, and was off somewhere else, his genes would not have been perpetuated, so the wanting to be with the owner is strongly bred into them. I also would suggest a DECENT behaviourist. One recommended by someone else, or a couple of people. Other option would be to crate her in a very safe crate when this is liable to happen. Leave her in the middle of the action. She may howl and whine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garloch Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 Thanks OSoSwift and Jed. Velcro dog is a brilliant description. Hadn't thought about her knowing when he owner is ill, but of course it makes perfect sense. The howling and whining is a given. :) I will try the crate again next time. Thanks for assisting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 (edited) Separation anxiety. Attempting to use the crate as a remedy for separation anxiety won't solve the problem. A crate may prevent your dog from being destructive, but he may injure himself in an attempt to escape from the crate. Separation anxiety problems can only be resolved with counter-conditioning and desensitization procedures. You may want to consult a professional animal-behavior specialist for help. taken from the link in my other post - do you have a behaviourist booking yet ? Hoping for a good outcome :) Edited June 26, 2014 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I will try the crate again next time. if she is not crate trained - please train her first ... just shutting her in a crate can do even more damage to a sensitive dog one training link..apologies if you already do this . LINK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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