CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => General Cocker Spaniel Discussion => Topic started by: Buck on April 18, 2017, 01:36:14 AM
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Hi, I've noticed what i can only describe as weired behaviour and i hope someone can shed some light on what goes on between Charlie's floppy ears.
Firstly he goes mad for my socks regardless how clean or smelly.
I tried to hide a pair by tucking them into my trainers and putting them on the shoe rack, then i saw him go to get them so told him "no" at that he sat staring at the trainers and cocking his head as if in deep thought, then started pawing the air untill he accidentally (yeah right) knocked off a trainer and grabbed the sock.
In the kitchen he's learned to walk on two legs so as much as i tell him to get down or push him down he just shuffles on two legs from one unit to another.
I'm his main carer and feed him, walk him and am with him all the time yet he shows me no affection really other than excited when i get home however it's me he pesters/nudges to play with his toys always tug of war, the rest of the time he'll go lay next to me but if i stroke him he moves away looking annoyed. Yet he goes mad and gets over excited with other people like he prefers them.
Lastly when out if it's safe to be let off the lead he runs like a lunatic and charges at me growling and jumping up at me and biting my hand or grabbing his lead. He's like a lunatic.
Sometimes when we get home he does what i call the wall of death where he charges round the room from one sofa to another and in/out of the room growling to himself again over excited i think.
His fur is all silky and smooth/fluffy so trying to grab him is like trying to wrestle a high speed trout! He just slips through your arms.
Is this normal puppy behaviour or has he a screw loose?
He gets walked 3-4 times a day.
None of this is a problem i just wonder what goes on in his head?
Thanks, hope this post makes sense.
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:005: :005: welcome to cocker world!!! He sounds like he's read the books and making sure he gets all the typical cocker behaviour right and doesn't miss anything out!!!!
Socks are what cocker love most - you can buy brand new ones and leave them in the bag, they still know what they are and you can spot a cocker owner a mile off as chances are they'll either have odd, holey or no socks at all!! :lol2: Humphrey also likes underwear (but we won't talk about that' ;)) and adores paper and cardboard boxes!!
Wall of death is also known as the Zoomies, lots of dogs do it but cockers are experts as the ears seem to add to the aero dynamics, so the fly faster!
I've noticed Humphrey's behaviour gets wilder if he's over tired though, it could be that Charlie is getting a bit too much exercise, - they do need an awful lot of sleep but I think we've all fallen into the trap of thinking that tiring them out will ensure they settle down at home better, it doesn't always work like that though. You could try giving him a little less physical exercise and give him a bit of mental stimulation instead - sniffing for hidden treats, that sort of thing. Humphrey's more whacked after a session of hide and seek than an hour's walk. :D
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All entirely normal!
If he's got the zoomies, best thing is to stand back and let him at it. Trying to catch him is just impossible!
Henry wasn't particularly cuddly with me at 10 months, although strangers would be greeted like long lost lovers. He's 18 months now and regularly plumps himself into my lap or leans on me for a cuddle.
3-4 walks seems like a lot. Like bizzylizzy said, it can be counterproductive and make them overstimulated. Maybe replace one or two of those walks with training sessions - especially ones that help him learn calmer behaviours.
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All perfectly normal for a Cocker!
Blue's 'thing' is velcro, he loves it. He loves the noise it makes when it's undone, he loves the texture of it when he chews it. He can sniff out anything with velcro closures, there is no hiding place for velcro in our house! :005:
He also likes to get the insoles out of your shoes and eat them. He's not bothered with the shoes, just the loose inner soles, and when he gets one, he trots round the house with it for a 'victory lap', looking enormously proud of himself.
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I can relate to all the behaviour you mention, I think that it is all pretty normal.
But as BizzyLizzy says, maybe your pup is over tired and over stimulated. 3 - 4 walks a day does seem like a lot for a pup (not sure about the age) as 5 minutes per month of age a couple of times a day is the normal recommendation.
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Thank you for your replies, i feel a lot better now.
I live near a main road so can't open a door so he can nip out for a wee wee so i have to pop his lead on and go for a walk. Usually just untill he's done his toilet and then back home.
That said if i take him at 7am, again at 1pm again after dinner at 6 ish that's 3 walks and i wouldn't expect him to hold his wee for 13 hours till the next morning walk at 7am.
I make one of his walks longer to exercise him and let him play and run but the other walks are just toilet trips.
Thanks for your replies it's all good to know for Charlie to.
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I love reading posts like this one! I've had a cocker for so long that this is all normal behaviour to me. It's fun reading about it from other peoples perspective. Welcome to the wonderful world of crazy cockers :luv: Others have mentioned that zoomies can be triggered by the puppy getting too much stimulation so that's good to be mindful of, but some zoomies are unavoidable in cockers, they just bubble over sometimes :005:
I have a 10 year old cocker that will not go to sleep without a sock in her bed, preferably a used one, they all seem to love socks for no apparent reason.
My cocker loves being petted and cuddled. But I lived with a dog that did not like it. He wanted to sleep next to us, but would walk away if we petted him, just like your guy. It was just his preference to be close but not touching. I have noticed that my girl dances more for visitors than she does for me. But I think that's got to do with being comfortable with me. Like she has to really show other people she appreciates them, but me and her have a bond where she doesn't need to make a show of every welcome. I mean, she'll be waggy and wriggly and sneezy and happy. But when others come she'll sing and dance like she's in a play so she is calmer with me :021:
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Thanks for clarifying about the walks, that makes a lot of sense.
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SOCKS ......another sockey monster here............he even sneaks into hubby overnight bag when packing and steals his socks, firstly his next stop is on or bed with socks in his mouth.
Ever seen a cocker make a choice between socks and his dinner.....well Oliver has been known to have a think about it :005:
After nine years his love of socks has not diminished and I think if it did I would be seriously worried, Ollie without socks would be worrying :luv:
Crazy and cockers goes together....along with more love and loyalty than one can ever imagine
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I think this breed should be renamed SOCKER spaniels :005: Dylan loves em, and knickers and tea towels :005: my theory is that the soft materials are like a small game bird in their mouths, what after all they were bred for.
Dylan also loved to,say hallo to everybody, it is his mission to speak to everyone in the world, and as a puppy he would jump up and follow them and ignore us. Now he is coming up for two he is much calmer i. This respect, and though still very friendly he sticks with us. Your pup is exploring the world and the beings in it and it takes a while for the special bond to develop between you both. With training making bonds, and play, he will grow to be your own very special companion and the focus of his world. Enjoy your pup!
Lesley and Dylan
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Don't worry about not getting any affection.
We have a dog share, my son and wife, me and my wife. I did most of the early care and training and have spent more time with him than the other three.
He is besottedly in love with my wife. Will snuggle to her, guard her, follow her all the time.
He will work for me, retrieves, ball games, tracking.
This is just a dog having different relationships with the rest of his pack and is probably exactly right for them.
The zoomies will wear off with age.
I'd find old socks that can become his. My dog knows the difference between his ball and the babies ball. He's pretty good about these distinctions.
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Agree with Allan, zoomies will wear off as dog gets older. As for relationship again I agree although ours seems to decide her affection some days me some days Lynn but generally speaking she seems to prefer that all three of us are together at the same time so the sofa is generally a squash with little miss pushy breeches in the middle 😁
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"zoomies will wear off as dog gets older "
- wouldn't bet on it! ;) :005: :005:
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"zoomies will wear off as dog gets older "
- wouldn't bet on it! ;) :005: :005:
I was trying to offer some hope 😁👍
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Love it when the zoomies kick in :D and sock stealing seems to be in their genes! Charlie sounds like a proper cocker in the making, just go with the 'adventure' and have fun!
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The zoomies are quite fun tbh, and after about 8 months of it id kinda miss it, still if he stops it so be it.
He seems to prefer women to men by far and at night is especially wary of people but men in particular and if they have a walking stick he won't go near. I have no idea why as he's never been smacked or had a hand raised to him.
In fact when i say "no" in a stern voice he'll sulk for hours and refuse to even come to me.
He loves my wife and when she walks in he goes doolally and whimpers like she's been gone for days and he seems much happier snuggling up to her than me.
Also both her and my son can move about freely and he'll stay where he is, however I'm not allowed to leave the room without him not even to go to the toilet. (He even watches me shower)
It's like he learnt as it's me takes him out that off he loses me for a second he's missed out, we have to trick him but he's wised up to our antic's now.
Also outside, there allowed to go in shops and he's not to bad, if i go in a shop he screams like he's being murdered!
He has loads of toys and will have to have every single one out, i put em away then he gets em all back out?
It's always me being nudged with each and every you to play with him to.
I really wish I'd found this forum months ago!
Lastly (and sorry for waffling) he seems to have either very bad hearing or selective hearing. He can hear a packet opening anywhere in the house but other times is completely oblivious to his name being called.
He really is a terror but doesn't have a nasty bone in his body and is the most friendly loving dog I've ever had, and i was brought up with dogs all my life, however he is my first cocker and I've a lot more to learn it seems. Especially when it comes to socks and go ding em. I'm mystified by how i can search for missing socks and not find them yet wake up with him and the missing sock/s.
Sorry for ranting Rob & Charlie
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The zoomies are quite fun tbh, and after about 8 months of it id kinda miss it, still if he stops it so be it.
He seems to prefer women to men by far and at night is especially wary of people but men in particular and if they have a walking stick he won't go near. I have no idea why as he's never been smacked or had a hand raised to him.
In fact when i say "no" in a stern voice he'll sulk for hours and refuse to even come to me.
He loves my wife and when she walks in he goes doolally and whimpers like she's been gone for days and he seems much happier snuggling up to her than me.
Also both her and my son can move about freely and he'll stay where he is, however I'm not allowed to leave the room without him not even to go to the toilet. (He even watches me shower)
It's like he learnt as it's me takes him out that off he loses me for a second he's missed out, we have to trick him but he's wised up to our antic's now.
Also outside, there allowed to go in shops and he's not to bad, if i go in a shop he screams like he's being murdered!
He has loads of toys and will have to have every single one out, i put em away then he gets em all back out?
It's always me being nudged with each and every you to play with him to.
I really wish I'd found this forum months ago!
Lastly (and sorry for waffling) he seems to have either very bad hearing or selective hearing. He can hear a packet opening anywhere in the house but other times is completely oblivious to his name being called.
He really is a terror but doesn't have a nasty bone in his body and is the most friendly loving dog I've ever had, and i was brought up with dogs all my life, however he is my first cocker and I've a lot more to learn it seems. Especially when it comes to socks and go ding em. I'm mystified by how i can search for missing socks and not find them yet wake up with him and the missing sock/s.
Sorry for ranting Rob & Charlie
Seems odd that you say you consider that he likes the wife more than you and yet he follows you everywhere but not the wife. ??
I am no expert far from it but could it be that he is very close to you and knows the feeling is mutual but he is still working on his relationship with your wife hence the "attempt" to get her onboard by the snuggles etc. He doesn't need to do this with you as your relationship is already sorted. !!!
Could be talking nonsense but that's my two peneth.
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It maybe as you say, i get stalked but no affection, sometimes I'll sit stroking him and he'll move away from me yet he'll snuggle up to her.like a baby and stay put.
I think he only wants me cause he gets his needs met, such as food/water and walks but it's her he loves and would prefer to do everything with. I'm his 2nd choice it seems. Not that it matters tbh i think his antics are funny and we all love him anyway, it's just strange that he has different rules for each of us. :005:
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Its not disimilar to us. In the morning she ignores me goes straight to Lynn. After breakfast she sits on sofa at side of me and ignores Lynn on the other sofa and wil happily stay there all morning. In the evening she sits between us. If either of us gets up she follows. I think its all learned behaviour / habit and very much a context thing. I wouldn't regard your situation as preference to either of you.
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My wife has the kind of hair-cut that resembles a Spaniels ears. She's tiny and smells right. What's not to love?
Spaniels seem quite nervous and mine will do the sulking trick if given a "talking to". I learned very early to reward and ignore. Being ignored is quite enough punishment.
It's the sensitive cleverness that makes these so interesting.
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Just coming back on topic and you wouldn't believe what he found at the park today!
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn162/Buck2003/IMG_20170419_102700.jpg)
How can someone lose 1 sock??
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn162/Buck2003/IMG_20170419_102706.jpg)
What were the chances it'd be Charlie that found it?
Typical lol.
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:005: obviously another cocker in the vicinity!!
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:005: :005:
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Love it too....nice one Charlie
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I must admit it did make me chuckle, his nose seems to work overtime and he snuffles (sniffs) everything, and has to stick his face into every nook n cranny we pass.
Last week he stuck his face in a hedge and came out with KFC which I immediately made him drop. (he'd found a drumstick in the KFC box)
But again it made me smile because when he found it he was walking with his tail up and kinda trotting as he was pleased with himself.
Last night i was talking to someone outside Lidle and Charlie was sniffing the flowers, the next time i looked down he'd bitten the heads off all the flowers so we both had to make a hasty getaway!
The only time he's not sniffing or getting us in trouble is when he's asleep!
If there's anyone in the North West that wants to come on a dog walk anywhere I'd be happy to join em then they can see what he's like, of course I'll pay for anything he chews up lol.
We may find buried treasure
Rob.
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Here is Loubeelou all proud with her sock haul. She managed to sneak upstairs four times and bring down fours pairs or my socks in the time it took me to make a cup of coffee!
http://s346.photobucket.com/user/Dzr74/media/IMG_5576_zps8ljom2ur.jpg.html
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Aww bless that little sad face! :luv:
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What mean hooman put my socks THERE? >:D
:005: :005:
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Bet she thinking hows me gonna get my treasure back from the middle of that table without being noticed.
Charlies started bringing my socks onto my bed and digging at the quilt in an attempt to bury em. He makes lil whimpering sounds as he goes like he's genuinely afraid if he don't hide em he'll lose em.
I woke up to find a sweaty damp chewed sock under my pillow the other morning!
Bet i smell lovely! :embarassed:
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Yes, my wcs had a sock fetish as a pup, which I found funny, until she had to have one surgically removed from her insides and I was aware of the damage it can do. As well as carrying them around my girl seemed to like chewing them, it was then that she swallowed them. From then on socks were put well out of reach and swapped for soft toys that could not be consumed. Please be aware of the potential dangers of sock eating!
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I must say he's shown nothing to make me think he wants to eat the socks, just play tug of war with something smelly, or sleep with something smelly i think he feels comforting.
I mentioned them being soggy but that's from the tug of war we play.
It's not just socks he swipes, there just his favourite, underwear and T-Towls or even bath towels while your drying are high on his list to.
I will keep my eye on him though and generally don't encourage him to get socks, I'd much rather play with his toys than dirty socks. 😀