Howling and 'screaming' at squirrels

[miss holly]

Hi
Does anyone have any ideas how to deal with our cocker who is a complete pest at the moment. It's a very active time around here for squirrels and Holly is completely obsessed by them. It's making walking her on a lead really horrible.

She squeals and screams whenever she she sees them - nothing I have tried distracts her. She does it with cats as well but nothing like as bad. We are just getting  her used to walking on a Con Gen lead which is adding to her problems - she's bucking and screaming at the same timeThe screaming is awful - she sounds in real pain!!

What can we do please- I'd really appreciate ideas??

[miss holly]

Hi

I posted this a few days ago, so far without response. I'd really appreciate any ideas. Will it just pass - she is being really awful!!

[Karma]

Hi - sorry no-one replied earlier (I've been away so haven't had the chance to post as much as normal!!!)

We have a similar problem with cats, so I'll run through how we deal with this in the hopes it helps...

The key is to try to break the association between trigger (squirrels) and behaviour (squealing).
It is definately easiest to acheive using a clicker - if you haven't done any clicker training training with her before either get a clicker and introduce her to it at home, or introduce a suitable cue word that can substitute for the click (nice, or yes are often used).  Make sure she associates the click (or word) with yummy treats...

When she sees a squirrel try and click (and treat) BEFORE she makes a noise - just in that instance that she has noticed the squirrel... this is the best way, as you don't need to try and calm her down to work with her.  Then every time she turns back to the squirrel, click again (and treat) - you will quickly find that she looks to the squirrel and then starts turning back to you in anticipation of the click... you have your first step achieved!!!
You will need to repeat this many times with many squirrels before she learns that it applies to all squirrels, as dogs don't generalise very well, but once she is calm on first view, you can start walking closer to them, and again clicking for looking at them... soon the sight of a squirrel will just be a cue that she gets a treat from you.
I wouldn't the treats out for this for a long time, as squirrels are very rewarding, so the behaviour of not reacting will need to be seriously ingrained before you fade the treats... but it is possible to do - just stop clicking every single look, and reward with a simple "good girl", then click the next look, and fade away that way...

If she has started making a noise before you get the click in, turn and walk away from the squirrel - get to the point where she can listen to you, and ask her to sit - click and treat this sit... she will then (assuming the squirrel is still there!!!!) turn to the squirrel, but you will be expecting it and will be able to get your click in before she reacts.... 

Hope this helps!

[black taz]

i was going to respond saying that Taz does exactly the same with cats and rabbits but i see that karma has a suggestion.  Unfortunately most of time (ie: all of it) Taz spots the said animal before i do so no time to "click" before squealing.

[miss holly]

Thank you both for your replies. i will certainly try the clicker but Holly seems really hyper most of the time just now - she is looking in trees and desperate to find something to chase.

Pretty much once we leave home she starts yelling and squeeking (almost as if the excitement of being out has to come out!!) and then we she sees a cat or squirrel the squeeling becomes really loud. I had no idea that cockers screamed like this!

[Karma]

Then it sounds like you need to go right back to basics... no progression on the walk until her focus is on you.
Start from the front door.... and if her focus isn't on you turn back into the house. 

Does she get the chance for any off-lead exercise?  If so, again don't let her off the lead until she has looked at you - you may need to train a "look at me" cue in the house (so away from distractions) before trying to achieve it out and about...

It also sounds like she could do with somewhere unexciting to practise her lead walking - a large empty field or tennis court, car park or similar are all good places to use.... you can change direction frequently, meaning she has to keep an eye on what you are doing, and there are far fewer distractions...

[miss holly]

Thank you.
When I take her to a field on lead she is perfect - she focuses on me, walks to heel etc. No problems. the moment we try to walk along a road, her behaviour changes. She seems permanently hyper.

She has lots of off lead exercise but it's a scary experience as she likes to run!  We have large fields locally and she runs great distances and has started an old habit of coming back when it suits her. She is just 12 months and several times over the months we have 'gone back to basics' - long lead training etc and for a while she is great and then reverts to her old ways. It's really frustrating!

She will though 'stay' for ages when we take her lead off and before she is set free. She is 1/4 working and this drive seems  to almost overpower her.

[black taz]

i have actually made mine start to sit before i even open the front door rather than wait until we get outside to get their focus on me.  still a work in progress but the lab is much better than the cocker.

[Sarah.H]

Karma's given you excellent advice and that is how I train Millie. However there are some occasions when you can't train and then I do what a dog trainer suggested to me, that is to physically turn her around so she can't see the object of desire. Sometimes if I'm in a real hurry and its very early in the morning I pick her up and carry her past with her head turned away. I always make sure I take treats with me so I can reward good behaviour. But like you at the moment she's on super high alert anywhere near trees as the there are so many squirells about  .