Barking/Nervous

[Bloxo]

I have. 2yrs 4 month old working cocker, Charlie, he is lovely has a great temperament  with my 4 yrs old niece, they basically love each other, but he is so nervous with general noises and terrified of other dogs, his defence mechanism is to bark at them like a looney! Other dogs look at him like he's gone nuts, this only happens on his lead, in an open space off his lead he's not bothered, his such a lovely pup I just want to make him feel more comfortable, any suggestions would be great.  He's fine when he's asleep!! Lol.

[daw]

Many dogs feel more nervous and defensive on the lead- see it from his point of view, he's a smallish dog that can see other maybe bigger dogs he doesn't know- and he's a sitting target. This is not paranoid either. My OH left our small crossbreed tied to the fence while he fed the pony, came back to screams as he was being attacked by a giant loose lurcher. Dogs know stuff happens and have imagination too!

DE-sensitisation can work. Find people with very easy going dogs and just walk past again and again- each time he barks don't react at all (don't scold or even look down), just keep walking. When he doesn't bark reward by voice and a treat immediately. It takes time and patience.

He's not norty- just a little scared spaniel wot knows he's no pitbull!

[Bloxo]

Thanks , we have a friendly laid back King Charles down the road I may have to employ his services, he always looks a chaz gone out with all his noise.

Will definitely give it ago, thanks again.