Expert: Delores Beck - 2/18/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I have a 1 year old cocker spaniel and he is an orange roan colour. The problem we are having is everytime we leave the house he begins barking at us and jumping and sometimes manages to bite us in the process of his barking when we try to leave.

He never used to do this as a young pup BUT has been doing it for a while now. We have even had a gate built just across our front door so he cant get hold of any post we get and so we are able to get to the door without him getting out but this doesn't seem to have worked as he is still 'attacking' us as we leave.

We are thinking of having him spayed soon but I'm not sure this will solve our problem and its really starting to become a major deal and battle when we try to leave!!

Thank you

ANSWER: For sure you should get him neutered for a whole lot of reasons.

In order to help, I'd like to know exactly what you do when he starts "barking & jumping"?

This really isn't a tough problem to solve, Gemma :) - so don't despair!  You've let it go on for a bit too long and it's always best to address bad behavior right away but let's get on it!

Delores

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

QUESTION: We are having him neutered tomorrow as we spoke to the vets and they said it may help.

Well, we tell him to 'get down' when he jumps and he does respond well to this BUT we have tried hard to stop the barking by saying 'stop' but when we do he gets more worked up and then this is when the nastiness kicks in and he may grab at our legs and arms and then guard the gate!!

It has gone on for a while now BUT we did think it may just be a phase he was going through and when he realises we do come back he would stop but it just hasn't.

Answer
A lot of the key to training is to anticipate and correct before the dog is "in action".

You're waiting until he is jumping and barking.  The time to correct is before it happens.

So!  This is going to take two of you to begin.  One person will be "leaving" and the other person has the dog on leash about 10 ft. away and will command Sit...then Stay.

As soon as he sits - praise & reward.  He'll then see you leaving and will attempt to move.
Leash correction - then Sit and then move in front of him and block his view.

He'll move...keep moving to block him.  If you can get him to Sit - praise & reward.

You continue to leave...and go!  The other person needs to continue with the Sit & Stay routine.
No conversation between you and other person.

I'm sure you all don't always leave at the same time..so this routine needs repeating and repeating.  You also need to do a Sit - Stay in that area when you're not leaving.
But he will obey even if you move towards the door.

If he comes forward...herd him back with your legs.  What you're doing is "owning" that space
and dogs get that.  Right now he thinks it's his :)

So try the two person approach - let me know exactly how it went.  Sometimes you have to fine tune things a bit - but just start and keep me posted.
Delores