Alfie needs you!!

[Scott_Manley]

I really need some help, Alfie is 5 months WCS and my wife is a lady of the edge and thinks we've made a massive mistake getting him!!

The problem we have is we just cant do anything without him wanting to be 1ft away from us, if we go upstairs or leave him he waiting at the stair gate he barks, howls the house down!! we've tried to ignore it but hes in such a state that he scratches the walls!! If I put him in his create, same problem, If I give him his Kong/toys same problem. Its so bad that if hes asleep in the lounge with us and we go to get a drink he wakes up and runs after us!!
In the morning we have shifts with 1 of us staying with him the other gets ready, this needs to be fixed asap but I don't know how to, sorry to sounds like a complete idiot!!

How do I fix this?

[PollySpaull]

How long is he left alone during the day? Is he being left for long periods? Could it be that he thinks you going upstairs means you're not coming back for a while?
I think a lot of work is needed in giving a wait or stay command, going up a few steps, coming back down and rewarding. Keep repeating until you can get to the top of the stairs and then carry it on by a few minutes out of sight upstairs etc. It could be that he's just worried you won't come back at all!
Monty, my 8 month old will also wake from a nap to come with me to the kitchen most of the time but he's more curious rather than worried about being left alone. Cookers are extremely people orientated so want to be with you all the time.


Love from Polly and Monty!

[Scott_Manley]

Hi
Thanks for the reply

Alfie is left 3 hours in the morning, then I come home at lunch let him out, have a play etc then hes back in his create for 2 hours until my daughter comes home. Most weeks hes left 2-3 days the rest my wife works from home all day. At the weekend hes left for an hour at the most as I like to take him out with us when we're not at work.

I've tried the sit and wait but he didn't really work as as soon as I go over the gate his stressing starts and ... Not sure hes needs training or we do lol

[PollySpaull]

Is he happy when he is in his crate? If it's a happy place for him could you try maybe putting him in his crate before going upstairs so that he doesn't see you disappearing? Then come down and reward for good behaviour and make a big fuss of him? Is it just a crate he's in or have you got a playpen or similar attached?
I'm not very knowledgeable on this subject but I'm sure someone will be along that will be able to help a bit more. Have you thought about maybe getting a behaviourist in or a trainer? To work with your family and Alfie on his stress?


Love from Polly and Monty!

[Scott_Manley]

Thanks for the reply.
He does eat and sleep in his create but If I leave him in there and before I leave the kitchen hes kicking off! The Kong distracts him for a minute before he figures out we've left and starts the moaning.

Dont get me wrong if it was down to me I would let him go upstairs but we've a house cat (Hugo) and thats his only safe place where Alfie doesnt chase him and pin him down!! ( another subject) 

[Markr64]

We have the same cat problem so Dexter has to stay downstairs as he gets over excited with the cats and they don't like it.

What Polly has said about the training I think is the best way, we try not to put too many barriers in Dexter's way now as we found that he was becoming unhappy at bed time being shut away. Now he has a bed with us in the living room and he settles much easier and seems happy for it.

[EmmaRose]

I agree with Polly that cockers are very people orientated, my two will follow me around all the time if I let them.  I found teaching them to settle when left was a massive part of their training and is still ongoing now.  They will settle on their own but I know they'd rather be with me.  As Polly said start small and then work up to longer periods of time. Puppies are also very quick to learn our routines which then makes them anticipate that they are going to be left - which then makes their separation anxiety worse. 

A few things I found which helped me are to use interactive toys such as a treat ball and games such as the Nina Ottosson ones which get them thinking and tire them out, as well as the Kongs (I freeze mine in different flavours/textures to keep it interesting and make them last longer  ).  This way they never know which treat they are going to get to occupy them.  I also reserve these treats for when they are left alone.  I remember reading somewhere that ultimately you need to make the reward for settling alone more interesting than you so that they begin to change their association with being left - easier said then done though 

[minimoo]

Hi
Thanks for the reply

Alfie is left 3 hours in the morning, then I come home at lunch let him out, have a play etc then hes back in his create for 2 hours until my daughter comes home. Most weeks hes left 2-3 days the rest my wife works from home all day. At the weekend hes left for an hour at the most as I like to take him out with us when we're not at work.

I've tried the sit and wait but he didn't really work as as soon as I go over the gate his stressing starts and ... Not sure hes needs training or we do lol

It sounds llike you haven't really got a routine sometimes hes left, sometimes your wife is home, remember its very confusing for him,  he is still very young. he should always be happy in his crate and it sounds like he isn't as he cries and howls. try putting some tinned meat in his kong and freezing it gently put him in his crate give him kong and just leave him , no fuss or eye contact for about 15 minutes , maybe sit quietly in another room and then go back open crate without any fuss. it wont be an overnight fix but he will be so worth it in the end. also wcs need plenty of exercise and stimulation as they are extremely intelligent dogs . I have to say that although I can leave my 3 , they seem to think I have an escape route through the bathroom and just MUST accompany me to the loo in case I get away 

[Jaysmumagain]

Sorry no real advice - after 7 years my velco cocker is lying across my feet as I type

But can say if he is out with hubby for a walk or at the groomers the house is empty

So it's a no brainer - velcro all the way.

Julie

[MIN]

my velco cocker is currently wrapped up on my lap under my dressing gown.
 I afraid they live to be near you infact if they could creep under your skin they would.

[*MaryG*]

I agree about the velcor gog.Pepper is with me all the time , its the way they are.xx

[Patp]

They are great at "helping" with any diy jobs you might be attempting.  Always only a nose away staring into the same hole as you!

[daw]

Working cockers are bred (highly selectively) to work with a human being. In other words all their sense of pleasure and security comes from being with 'their' person. This is a bit late but did whoever sold him to you not say this? A lot of breeders who advertise their puppies will make it clear.

I can't help with crates because we've never used them with any of our spaniels nor would we. If Alfie doesn't enjoy his crate it could be just stoking his anxiety.   You'll find lots of sites on the web by Googling S.A. (Separation Anxiety) and some methods may work for some dogs.  Sorry if you don't want to hear this but maybe you've made the wrong choice of breed for your current lifestyle? In which case there's no shame in rehoming him through one of the brilliant spaniel rescues that are devoted to working cockers.

[Patp]

Agree about the SA perhaps he is also picking up on you OH negativity towards him?

[twiceover2]

I think the teaching him to get along with the cat issue might be easier to solve, so that he can then just follow you around as he wants to.  We have 5 dogs, one a cocker and the others various breeds/mongrels.  The cocker is the one that has to be by my or OH's side day and night.  We can leave her if we go out but if we are at home, there she is - sitting on a chair next to me while I work at the computer, on the bed at night, in one of our laps each evening and, like you say, she never misses a trip be it to make a coffee, fetch something from upstairs or switch on the light.  As soon as we move, she moves.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  Our other dogs have increased levels of independence.  Three are currently asleep on our bed and one is downstairs on the sofa.  That's the difference with cockers.