Expert: Delores Beck - 3/17/2011

Question
Hi Delores
We have a 10mth old Blue Rohan pure bred cocker.  He has become quite attached to me, as I'm the one who feeds him and walks him. At home during the day he wants to be near me all the time and I cannot walk a few steps without him following me.   I'm starting to get used to this and don't mind him in the house during the day.   The problem we have as a family is the evening.

We have set his bed up under the house, which is a garage with a door that can allow him to go outside if need be.  The problem has been as soon as we put him outside he barks and crys.  I've got two small children who I used to control cry to sleep but this theory does not work with this dog.  The only way I've coped is putting my i-pod on and listening to music to drown out the barking.  Eventually i do get to sleep but then the next problem is that he starts barking again from about 4pm onwards wanting to be let into the house!  Once again I've tried to ignore this as I don't want to start bad habits but the other day we had neighbors complaining to us. I don't know what to do to stop this barking, he get plenty of exercise.  My feeling is that it's anxiety and separation issue with me.  
Any suggestions I'd be most grateful.

Answer
You seem to think having him sleep in the house is a "bad habit".  You put him out at 4pm and expect him to do what for the next 12 or 14 hours?

Cockers are extremely sociable dogs and he views this as punishment.  And so do I :).

Let him be in the house with his family and at night, take him out for a last bathroom trip and let him sleep in the kitchen in a doggie bed.  You'll sleep - he's happy - and the neighbours will stop complaining.