Cocker Specific Discussion > General Cocker Spaniel Discussion

Crafty Cockers.

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Colin:
Ever since I brought her home, Misty has been running rings around poor Jimmy, both literally and metaphorically. It seems the cheeky madam has started on me now....

She's always been one for snuffling about in the park for nasty things to chew on, so I've been working hard on the "leave it" command. Trying to prise open her mouth never worked as she just locked her jaw and feigned innocence.... "there's nothing in my mouth, buster." ::) So I've been using treats to bribe her to give up her ill gotten gains, there's nothing like a bit of food bribery when it comes to a greedy Cocker. ;D At first it worked really well, a command of leave it and a tasty treat was too much for her to resist and she'd instantly drop what she'd found, get her treat then go about her business again.

A couple of weeks of this though and she soon cottoned on to the fact that if she just trotted along with me for a bit, then she could lull me into a false sense of security and nip back to retrieve her bit of rubbish which could result in a second treat depending on how vile it was and how desperate I was for her to give it up. To counter this I had to start carrying these objects  around with me until I came across a bin.

These last few days though she appears to have altered the rules of engagement yet again.... ..she now seems to see me as some kind of doggie treat vending machine. All she has to do is bring me any old bit of tat she can find in the park and I'll dispense a treat in return for it...... she's started bringing me things she had lost interest in ages ago, leaves and little twigs etc. ::) She trots up to me, drops her bit of treasure and then sits expectantly for a treat. The trouble is, if I don't oblige she picks it up again and starts running back and forth with it like an idiot, prancing about playing games with me. ;D I'm trying the fruit machine method, giving treats occassionally so she is always waiting for the jackpot (well that's the theory in the books) but she always seems one step ahead of me. I think that ignoring her is my only option left, if she'll let me that is...... Jimmy's tried and failed using this method when she's teasing him. ;D

I've said it before and I'll say it again...... these Cockers are making fools of the lot of us. ;D More tales of crafty Cockers please , I'm pretty sure I haven't got the only one !                    

Pammy:
Lol - I can just picture her Colin - she is one crafty female ;D and she's gonna keep you on your toes ;D                    

Mary:
;D ;D ;D That's females for you 8)

I have a crafty cocker too (female ;)).  To assist in her toilet training when she was younger, I would often give her a treat when she returned from doing her business in the garden.  She has NEVER forgotten this and always goes straight to the treat cupboard when she comes in from the garden ::)  I often don't make eye contact with her then  and just carry on doing whatever I am doing, occasionally giving her a treat but not making a habit of it ;)

Now, if she really wants a treat and the whining at the cupboard doesn't work for her, she'll paw the back door making out she wants out.  I have watched her from behind the curtain and she takes a little trot up to the grass, waits momentarily behind a little shrub (she thinks I can't see her and she has her eye on the back door ::)) and then hastily runs back in and barks at the treat cupboard after not doing a thing :o

I can send her out again to do her business and she'll go off, head hung low looking back over her shoulder constantly obviously wishing I'd just go away ;D                    

Luvlylady:
..                    

*Jay*:
Vegas has just recently become slightly crafty. He's realised that when he picks up a stick, he gets a treat for dropping it. Im now finding though, that once he's had his treat, he'll race back and pick it up again. If I try and call his bluff and ignore him, he'll just lie down right in front of me and start chewing it  >:(. I swear I can hear him saying "hey mum, look what I'm doing, you know what you have to do to make me stop" Now, chewing sticks is a big no-no with me so the little swine has me over a barrel. If I go to get it from him with no treat, he runs away with it in his mouth which for a clutz like him is quite dangerous. he's certainly got it sussed all right! What were the odds of me ending up with an intelligent male ;) ::)                    

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