Stressful 8 month old cockapoo

[Glittermud]

To be fair, I think it's me who is the problem because our dog trainer has told me that his behaviour is 100% normal for his age and breed BUT I really need some advice.

He is walked twice a day: once in the morning as soon as I wake up so he can go to the toilet (usually 20 mins minimum) and then again in the afternoon for 60 mins (off lead with some ball fetching and lots of running about with other dogs).

My DH works f/t and I am p/t but usually home by 1.40. For the two days when I'm not able to get back a dog walker comes round to take hi for an hour's walk.

Does that all sound okay?

I thought it was, but the problems come in the evenings. I let him out in the garden if he asks so he can go for a wee. And sometimes take him for another quick walk at about ten before bed.

However, when I let him out in the garden he often runs out and barks and barks and barks. Then refuses to come back in. We have neighbours overlooking our garden who have a teenage son who spends most evenings hanging out of his bedroom window smoking. Which sets the dog off.

Birds also set the dog off.

And [any sound known to man].

And now he's constantly whining at the back door in the evenings to be let out, but I'm then instantly having to get him back in because he's barking. I'm frazzled and it's causing a lot of tension between my DH and I in the evenings when we're both tired.

What am I doing wrong? And what should I be doing re; toileting in the evenings? Especially if the garden isn't an option. We've got a v v v small garden which is overlooked on all sides so I'm so worried constantly about the noise disturbances. Plus one neighbour has two kids under 5 and the thought of waking them makes me really edgy.

He's a lovely dog, but I am finding his constant energy really challenging. That's putting it mildly.

Help!

8 months IS tricky but you want to know he is going to come out the other side of adolescence as a good dog.

I have a 7 month old springer and he was playing the 'not coming inside late at night' trick the other day. I responded by going into the garden, grabbing a loose tennis ball, bouncing it a couple of times so he wanted it then running back into the house. He followed me in. It worked for us because we have a strong bond and he likes to be with me. Also because staying out was not yet a habit. He has forgotten about it since - presumably because chasing me indoors was more fun than staying out so it wasn't worth trying again for him.

The first thing I would be doing is looking at ways to greatly strengthen the relationship between you and the dog. That may be hard for you because the dog is such a source of concern and frustration for you but it is worth doing. Doing things the dog finds fun - and then including little training sessions. For example, my dog loves to chase a ball or toy. I will throw the toy for him but he must first sit when I ask. The toy is then the reward. This means that he learns not to jump up for what he wants plus he practises his sits. Another example, he likes running in open fields so we worked on a touch command in which he runs at me to touch my outstretched hand. It's meant he is developing a rock solid recall whenever I stick my hand out. I noticed recently he runs away then stops and looks back because he loves doing it. Training + fun. Look for tasks where you have to work as a team (sniffing for treats that he needs you to access for him, for example).

In the meantime, I'd also be reducing all his options when he cannot behave - not as punishment but as a way to prevent him being able to fail at something. Won't come back in from the garden? Then he doesn't get to go out unless he is on a lead. Use his normal lead or a longline one that means you can stand at the back door - your choice. However, once he has weed and had a little sniff about, he comes straight back in. Try encouraging him to come back of his own accord at first - and if he does so, give him a tasty treat - but if he won't then use the lead to bring him inside (no treat).

If he barks, bring him straight inside without treats.

If this doesn't stop the constant asking to go out then I might be tempted to put a schedule in place instead of responding to him (in the evenings). Something like 6pm, 8pm and then 10pm. No more.

I would stop the late night walks - they will only wake him up.

The exercise levels sound ok to me, but each dog is different and some need more than others. That said, he is part poodle so I suspect he needs more mental stimulation rather than more physical stuff. Brain games may be the best thing for him. Incorporate thinking tasks whenever you can - e.g. feed him via puzzle games only (rotate a selection so he doesn't get bored). Or try hiding kibble round the house for him to search out. Rotate his toys also, so he doesn't get bored of the ones that are out.

My dog (also 8 months) used to bark constantly in the back garden, he barks at people walking on the other side of the back fence, or if the neighbours are outside smoking, or if the neighbours on the other side have their dogs out.
The only thing that helped was me going outside with him, then as soon as I heard anything he may have barked at, or he started barking I distracted him with a toy or food - basically just trying to break the habit.
It seems to have worked, he still barks sometimes in the garden (but it’s cold and wet and dark so I’m aware that’s partly my fault now for slacking off with the distractions) but about 90% of the time he’s ok and I feel a lot less stressed.

Yes sounds normal for a high energy cross breed dog at 8 months old.

My cocker will bark at any 'intruder noises' and hates birds in the garden. Any barking he is bought in just like you are doing.

Whilst it sounds like he's getting walks are you doing any mental stimulation games to tire his mind. Also think about ensuring you train him to settle. Mine is hyper after walks and games but it's 'calm' time after and now he even tries to settle himself if he is hyper so if he is running about at home I say calm down and he goes on his bed.

Take him into the garden on a lead and straight in if he barks and then out again until he gets that he’s only allowed out if he’s quiet .

Hey op, I have a very active cocker and just wanted to say that she calmed down a lot when she got to a year old so keep up with the training and hang on in there.

I think cockers are often on the barky side. Keep making him come in when he does.

Also this is an incredibly high energy cross (poodles are hyper things too - it's not just the cocker side) and intelligent. Poodles need training and mind games, they thrive on it and if they don't get it they get super hyped up).

Make sure you've trained a settle type command in (Kiko pup has good tutorials on it). It's extra important in high energy dogs that they are taught this.

Then add mind games and training to get that poodle brain doing what they do best - working things out and learning tricks. This will tire him out more than the walks do

Cockers and poodles are both fairly barky, both high energy and easily bored and yep he’s bang on the right age to be a PITA...

I’d be taking him out at set intervals and giving him something else to do inside.

The walking sounds just about right to me? An hour in the afternoon is really good.

Re. The evenings, unfortunately a lot of puppies take hyper turns in the evening- our dog definitely had crazy-time from about 8-10pm each night. She still does sometimes at 2 years old! We found that we had to play with her for 30-40 minutes in the evening to tire her out a bit- maybe ask the kids to play with him. Then give him a Nylabone or something to help him to calm down afterwards.

Re. The garden situation- could you only take your dog into the garden on a lead after 8pm, rather than letting him out?

What everyone else said. Poodle x cocker = high energy, easily bored dog.

Try engaging his mind- some training games etc.

Were you aware that this cross would be like this? If it wasn’t something you expected it is probably worth going back to your trainer and discussing what activities might be best. Agility, or flyball for example.

You are all so brilliant for replying, thank you.

I have a long line and he just asked to go out so I put it on him and took him out. He just wanted to pull on it and play with it so I brought him straight back in and he's quite happy. So that suggests that there is a degree of boredom to his night time garden visits.

At the moment I do all of the things to a greater or lesser degree that many of you have suggested.

Our biggest issue is his almost fiendish intelligence! If someone could teach him chess he'd beat Kasparov. I can see him working out what I want and then why I want it before doing the opposite because he knows I'm trying to manipulate him. It's astonishing but also frustrating!

He's always resisted the bed command that I have tried to install (and never ever ever used his crate) but I'll definitely look at the Kiko pup videos.

I feed him his food in plastic bottles, in game feeders and by scattering it around the garden and carpet. He loves that. I hide treats in egg boxes and in plastic bottles for him. I really am trying and I think that that is partly why I'm so exhausted by it.

You've reassured me though. Thanks a lot and I'll keep at it.

Another suggestion for teaching a dog to settle is to use some kind of visual cue that nothing exciting is going to happen.

I've seen it be a sign that is placed on the fridge door that says "Dog's Down Time" - obs dogs can't read but it helps to remind the humans.

Anyway, the idea is that whenever this sign is up, no one looks at or talks to the dog. Over time he learns that if the sign is up he may as well settle down because nothing exciting will happen until the sign is removed. Instead of a sign you could use anything else, like a certain lamp that is only switched on during down time. Use it overnight a few times so it is present when the dog is relaxing and sleeping. You can than start to introduce it during the day.

It's not much different to the sight of an owner holding a mobile phone or ipad, I guess. My dog certainly knows if I pick up my laptop then he's about to be ignored for a bit so may as well lie down and wait

“I can see him working out what I want and then why I want it before doing the opposite because he knows I'm trying to manipulate him.“

Do you use a clicker? They’re good for dogs like that, because you can basically just get them to work out what it is you’re rewarding.