Please Help - Two Yapping Dogs!

[Miss Poohs]

Just when I thought it had all settled down, I got a phone call at work from my neighbour today to say that Vahri and Woofus were going at it big style when I left them, but today was especially bad!

I work for 4 hrs at a time 3 days a week, so they're not left for ages and ages.

Apparently Vahri is the worst offender, and barks contiuously, Woofus howls and cries.

Please help - next week Pete is on back shift so he'll be here when I'm at work, but that isn't solving anything is it?

The way I see it is I have two options -

1. I can put them into doggy day care, which to be honest I think will make the situation worse.

2. A husher muzzle for Vahri - which well - I don't know about.

Any advice would be great. Thank you. Jx

[Pammy]

I don't have an easy solution for you here - but you should definitely not muzzle your dog and leave it. Any type of muzzle should only be used where there is human supervision.

They need training not to bark and that is so much easier said than done.

Do you leave them alone togather or apart? Mine are left apart and they are as quiet as mice unles someone comes to the door.

[Miss Poohs]

When I'm out Woofus is put into his crate, which is in our room, and Vahri has the run of the place.

I'm really worried about this as the neighbours are starting to complain.

What do you think to the DAP thingie?

[Pammy]

I tried DAP for other reasons and it didn't work, but  do know folk who have used it to good effect. I'm not sure it would work on your situation though as it's generally for calming nervous dogs. Your dogs sound like they're barking for attention  don't we just love cockers

Personally - I wouldn't crate a dog while the other one has the run of the place either. It's likely to make him very frustrated.

Try shutting them in two seperate rooms give them a stuffed Kong to occupy them. Also have you tried leaving the radio on? That helps some dogs.

I'm confused as to what your dogs are. On another thread you described them as Field Cockers. Do you mean Working Cockers or Field Spaniels?

Either way - they are both mentally active breeds who won't take kindly to being shut up and left - so they  need something to occupy their mind while you are out. Kongs work really well for many - especially those who love their food and you can stuff them so many different things that make it hard work for them to get the filling out - it can tire them out

[Miss Poohs]

Thanks Pammy - well it says Cocker Spaniels on their pedigrees, but believe they are Fields - take a look at their photos in the gallery under solids probably about pg 3 - 4 by now I'd imagine.

I leave both the TV on in the living room for Vahri and the radio in the bedroom for Woofus.

They get a stuffed Kong each too.

Every night this week they have been out for a three hour run so it isn't lack of exercise either.

I thought shutting them in separate rooms would make things worse - is it worth a try?

Janice

[Pammy]

Miss P - I think Vahri is a working type cocker although she looks on the heavy side - but her face looks finer than a Field Spaniel's. IMHO

At this stage Whoofus could be either but my money would be on a Field Spaniel as again he looks heavy for a working type cocker.

Jane - what do you think?

As for the barking - I think I would use the kongs n stuff but give them both the run of a room each - it may be worthwhile seperating them by a stair gate so they can see each other. If they can't see each other they may be barking at each other as they are out of vision. Mine do that. In fact that's raised a question. Mine can see each other through a frosted glass door which I'm about to replace with a solid door. I wonder if they'll start to bark at each other!!

Is there any reason why you seperate them at all? I do mine as they become very mischievous and look for trouble!  

[Miss Poohs]

Funny you say that about Vahri Poohs face Pammy, that's exactly what my friend Rona said about her.

I keep them separated because Woofus is still young (16 weeks) and he just doesn't know when to leave Vahri alone. She's such a softy but I think Woofus would keep going until she snapped and I don't want him to torment her.

I just don't know what to do for the best  

I'm tempted to shut them out of the living room and leave them the rest of the place to wrestle it out!!

Hope yours will be OK with your new door.

Janice

[Jane S]

Miss P - I think Vahri is a working type cocker although she looks on the heavy side - but her face looks finer than a Field Spaniel's. IMHO

At this stage Whoofus could be either but my money would be on a Field Spaniel as again he looks heavy for a working type cocker.

Jane - what do you think?

 

I'd say they were both Working Cockers (some are pretty hefty ) Field Spaniels are such a rare, specialised breed (on the endangered breeds list now) that I think it unlikely they are Fields. If they are Working Cockers, there should be one or two FT Champions in the pedigree with recognisable kennel names which could confirm things one way or the other?

As Pam says, Working Cockers need a lot of mental stimulation so leaving them something to do while you're out could well help with the separation anxiety. As well as stuffed Kongs, you could try large, raw marrow-bones (with the excess fat cut off) or those Buster cubes that have to be rolled around & played with for dogs to access the goodies inside. If you are going to leave stuffed Kongs/bones, it would be better to keep puppy in her crate for her safety (jealousy over bones etc can cause aggro sometimes)

Jane

 

[Michele]

Janice, if all of the above fails, you could try using an Aboistop from The Company of Animals.
I didn't have a problem with them barking when I left them, but when Neneh used to go out into the garden unaccompanied (by me). Now, after using the collar for a time, I can put it on her and let her outside with no noise AND it isn't even filled with spray, she just associates wearing the collar with having to be quiet.

Have to agree about kongs and the like for stimulation, I always leave mine with something when I go out    

[s baxter]

i`ve read a few posts like this an often wonder if other people at home all day with cockers would possibly offer to go into your dogs or have them at their house  i know i would to help out but people only give main counties in their profile,maybe if you could state the area your in ie the village someone on the site or new to the site my live quite close and could help out?

[Miss Poohs]

Ok, I've been on an ancestor hunt and I can safely say they are both Working Cockers.

Woofus is from the Maesydderwen line, and has loads of Field Trial Champions/Winners in his blood.

Vahri is from the Housty line and again she has a fair amount of FTC/W in her blood too.

Pity the two of them are couped out on the floor, couldn't find a coo if they were holding it by the tail!!!  

It's been a very interesting evening! Jx

[PennyB]

Every night this week they have been out for a three hour run so it isn't lack of exercise either.
 

What about exercising them before you go out as the night before won't make any difference after a good nights sleep as they're quite refreshed then.

[Miss Poohs]

I take them for as long as I can, but it's difficult when you have a reluctant 6 yr old who is trying get ready for school too.

I take them a walk after I drop Andrew off at school, but then I go straight to work.