Too Dependant

[bambino chicino]

Hi all,
Our pup Charlie is 8 months old now and its about time he became a bit more independant! We've managed to take the plunge and get our heads around leaving him when we go to work and most of the time he is asleep or lying in his bed when we come home. There is always a mess to clean up but then I hope thats just down to learning longer bladder control.
We've had a bit of damage to our garden this week after a fifty foot conifer was uprooted by the strong winds. My husband in particular had to keep going in and out of the house and it has really highlighted just how dependant he is on us, especially when he can see us but cant get to us. My husband dealt with the tree surgeons that had come to help in the garden whilst I had the fantastic job of trying to get an answer from our insurance company... in other words, spending half an hour listening to terrible music whilst getting no answer and costing a fortune!!
Anyway, sorry I digress. Basically, as soon as hubby shut the patio door, Charlie would then scratch at the door like he was starring in the Great Escape and rather than bark would let out an ear aching high pitch screetch!!
Im not going to get dramatic and say "right, thats it, he's suffering from separation anxiety" but with Summer (Hopefully) on its way, I have visions of trying to enjoy or work in our garden when it might not be suitable for Charlie to be out there and he is going to be stressed and upset. x x

[Patp]

Jinley is 2½ and still needs to be in the same room.  If I go out to the bin to sort out the recycling, you would think I had been gone days!!

She is fine and settles in her bed when we go out, but when we are in she is always in velcro mode.

[twiceover2]

It's one of the characteristics of cocker spaniels, I'm afraid, so it's a difficult one to try and change.  They want to be with you all the time.  I have two hounds who will happily settle in another room of their own accord when I am busy doing something but my cocker spaniel Pippa will not willingly leave my side.  I found using a crate helps.  If I put her in there with a kong or good chew, she's okay for an hour or two but mostly I just let her be with me because that's what makes her happy.  She is absolutely fine when I leave the house though for up to 4.5 hours.

[Emilyoliver]

All 3 of mine whine when they're separated from me in the house (they're fine while I'm at work).  It's a cocker thing 

[MIN]

Gemma 3 is quite content to do her own thing so long as we are in sight. Poppy will take herself off to another room on her own but not Gemma. As for gardening spaniels are very helpful with unplanting weeding 

[bambino chicino]

Tee hee, awwww, I dont want to change his natural characteristics, Ive heard they're called velcro dogs for this particular reason.
I just want him not to get upset or worked up or upset when he cant be directly next to us. Perhaps I'll try a Kong and leave him by the patio door where he can see us and return before he finishes it, then step it up a little.
Our garden has lots of raised borders and he LOVES jumping up into them  so I wont be a happy Mummy if by the summer he hasnt learnt the difference between weeds and expensive shurbs! 

[HBP]

Do they ever become independent?? Hudson is fine if we actually leave the house... but if we are in the house and in a different room to him or upstairs he will whine and cry and scratch at closed doors.  He follows us from room to room - even if he is exhausted and just collapses when he gets there!  He only settles alone at night, when we show him to his bed in the kitchen, turn the light off and close the door. Its just a spaniel thing I think. If I need to do something in a seperate room to him, or in the same room as him but which doesn't involve him  I give him a chew or a kong. The only time he doesn't care where I am is when he's eating 

[MIN]

Tee hee, awwww, I dont want to change his natural characteristics, Ive heard they're called velcro dogs for this particular reason.
I just want him not to get upset or worked up or upset when he cant be directly next to us. Perhaps I'll try a Kong and leave him by the patio door where he can see us and return before he finishes it, then step it up a little.
Our garden has lots of raised borders and he LOVES jumping up into them  so I wont be a happy Mummy if by the summer he hasnt learnt the difference between weeds and expensive shurbs! 

Are shurbs an exotic 

[Robbie34]

All of my Cockers have been the same.  Little Jamie is only fourteen weeks and he scratches at the door if I leave him to go outside.  Young as he is, he wants to be with me.  Henry is the same.

[Bettycocker]

Betty 6 months is quiet as a mouse when we leave her in the morning to go to work.... But going to the bins.... She whines and cries and sobs.... For all 1 and 1/2 mins of the break away from us

 

[PennyB]

Cockers are reknown for being people dogs more so than other breeds and often not as independent as people would expect even when they're adults - mine are happy to be left and when I go upstairs to bed but will follow me around when I'm there or have a nose to see what I'm doing

[bambino chicino]

Thanks peeps, I feel a lot more reassured now. As long as he isnt feeling like its the end of the world when we physcially leave him alone to go to work or shopping etc I wont mind so much because the thought of him crying for hours is horrible. The neighbours have never complained so Im assuming if he does bark or cry, it doesnt go on for too long.
I think Charlie treats shrubs as a main course  but his new favourite snack is eating the conifer remenants under the car port (His toilet area) that were left from the Attack of the Fifty Foot Conifer! His taps the door to go out with his best "I need a wee face" and then proceeds to chow down and do nothing resembling a wee or a poo!! 

[HBP]

  Hudson does that too... though his delicacy of choice is cat poo... 

[butterflywings21]

All 3 of mine whine when they're separated from me in the house (they're fine while I'm at work).  It's a cocker thing 

I only have the 1 but she's the same. Everyone can leave the room but if I do the crying starts, when I go to work no prob's at all (and I always tell her "mum mum wont be long") and that's only 2 hours.

[**purpleprincess**]

Haha! I too have a velcro doggy. I was told this when I got him that it is a cocker trait.

Luca is fine if we leave him to go out, but if we are around he will want to be wherever we are. Even if he is fast asleep next to me in the lounge and I get up to get a drink he will come with me to the kitchen, lay on the floor next to me with a big sigh. I then go back into the lounge and he does the same!!