Expert: Delores Beck - 1/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a lovely 9 month old working breed chocolate cocker spaniel. He is lovely and i adore him, fairly good with my kids. BUT.... hi is so hyper, 24/7. I try and give him an hours exercise a day, if possible off the lead so he can have a really good run. But we get back home,and he`s still crazy. Runs about, knocks everything and everyone over in his mad dash, he doesnt mean to, he`s just loopy.
I spend as much time as poss training him, he was housetrained months ago, is fine off lead, sits, waits, paw etc... but his jumping up is uncontrllable, not with me he knows i dont tolerate it, but with my kids and anyone else, especially guests.Its quite embarassing.
I amconsistent with training, and if i use my "stop" signal,palm out flat to him, he does as he is told very quick.But ignores me if it does not involve me,g if he is jumping up at my neighbour.
He has his own space, his bed and ood,water bowlsand toys are all in an extension off the kitchen with stairgate so he can see us, so i put him in there for time out.
But he is constantly bored,and demands my attention every second. If i am playin with kids he will either jumpon everyone or pinch one of their toys and run round house till i catch him, hence then he has my atention.If i am reading he will sit on my book,if i am hugging my OH or kids he will get between us.
I will try changing his food, he curently has winalot canned food mixed with dried twice a day, quite often he wil leave the dried food altogether!
He is being neutered next weekso i`m hoping he might calm down. At this rate he is going to need 2 hours walks a day and i cant actually provide that much.
He isa good boy tho, can leave him alone 4 hours (very rare though) and he will not chew a thing, yet if im home and ignoring him he will chew anything he can to get my attention :(
sorry to have waffled, i hope i have given you the right info. My neighbour suggested puppy taining classes but im not sure, he is ok, its just the hyper activity!!!
many thanks

ANSWER: Two words in your letter pop out for me "bored" and "exercise".

He's 9 months - LOADED with energy - and just doesn't know what to do with himself :)

Is there any chance of doggy daycare?  Hiring a walker?

I'm curious if the rest of the family participates in his training?
It sounds like he's bonded to you - recognizes you as his leader but thinks that's the extent of it.

Now..the jumping.  Tell me what you do to correct it.  And one thing to do is anticipate and correct before it happens.  Once I know how you're handling it I can suggest a few tricks.

Yes, the neuter may chill him out a bit.  Actually other than excess energy & jumping it sounds like you've done a good job with him and he's a pretty good boy.  Also - this does pass as they get a bit older.

I'd like more of a picture of his day too.  And what is "Winalot" food?  Are you in the UK?
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thankyou,yes I am in UK, winalot is a high street food, and i`m sure not one you would recommend! Can you recommend any i can get in UK?
Ok well if he jumps up, he is told "no" and pushed down again, then once he is sitting and not jumping he is praised, like imentioned he does not jump up at me. If he wants something he asks me by lifting a paw :)
I use a hand signal to signal "stop" or "down" which is my palm flat down iykwim?
If guests come he is overwhelmed with exitement and will jump and jump and jump until i have to physically hold him, or take him to his "den/room" to calm down, but i feel by doing that he is not actually learning?

Well i could hire a dog walker, but now the evenings are getting lighter i could fit in another walk in evening.
2 hours  a day seems alot, or is that usual for this breed?

"I'm curious if the rest of the family participates in his training?
It sounds like he's bonded to you - recognizes you as his leader but thinks that's the extent of it."

In a word, no no one else participates in his training, my husband leaves me to it, and leaves me to all the walking too!!! And my kids are only young, 3 and 5. I have worked hard on asserting his place in our family as up till recently we had some dominance issues, ie him thinking he was higher ranked than my youngest, however with some guidance, pateince and training he is much better. I found involving the kids with his feeding times helped and getting them to make him wait.
Like you often say in your posts a tired dog is a happy dog, but some days it feels i could walk him 5 hours a day and he would still be crazy when we get home!!!
many thanks for your replies  

Answer
Okay...in his mind he jumps..you say No and he's rewarded with praise.

No reward or praise for ceasing bad manners !!

If he were in a pack (which he is, just not a dog pack) and was annoying the pack leader he'd be warned with a low growl and then he'd get "the stare".  He'd back off instantly. No further chat.

You're correcting and rewarding.  Stop that.  You say NO in a firm but quiet voice and when he stops...stare at him disapprovingly then walk away or turn your back. BE disapproving.  BE distant with him.

With guests they have to be told to ignore him completely - not even eye contact.  When people come in and see a dog they usually chat, pet, pay attention.  He's now demanding that attention and being rude about it :)

You train him by having him on leash and correcting BEFORE he jumps.
A lot of training is anticipating and not allowing the behavior to happen.

So..set him up and have someone come to visit.  He's on leash and told to sit.  He won't because he's excited.  Give him a leash correction with a NO.  He's not allowed to greet people...and for a very short time he's not even allowed to enter "their space".

You did precisely the right thing with the kids.  By them being involved in feeding their rank was established.  By making him "sit and wait" for food the message got through loud and clear.  Pack leaders control the food and tell the rest of the pack when they can eat.

So You'll sit down with your friend..he's on leash..being ignored by both of you and firmly corrected if he moves.  In a dog's mind he's being told this person is above him in the pack and can only approach when given permission.  

Now the exercise..an hour a day is okay but not a lot for an exuberant 7 month old.  They have boundless energy.  Is it possible to take him to a fenced in dog park where he can really tire himself out?

Anyway, I'd like you to try actually training him not to jump and see if after a few lessons it's sinking in.  If not, I have a couple of tricks we can try.  You know him and how long it takes to teach him something so give that a shot and let's see.
Delores