Dog is driving me bonkers

[NameChange280222]

Need some words of encouragement. Or advice. Or anything helpful!

I've got a seven year old spaniel who is driving me bonkers, and I'm starting to hate him slightly. It's not entirely his fault, my toddler does exasperate the situation.

He's always been barky from day 1. We taught him "quiet" and can put our finger to our lips in a sshh and he will stop barking. But only momentarily, it used to be for a few minutes and then he'd start again, but now it's mere seconds. And he loves to bloody bark!!!! He sits in the front window barking at anyone and everyone who walks or drives past (and always has to be fair, it's just getting worse). He's now started standing in the garden every evening barking into the dark. There's no way he's barking at anything specific back there. And it's always when I'm putting the toddler to bed so it maximum disruption.

He's also started stealing any food he can get to. This is also new. Heaven forbid I should try and give toddler a snack on the sofa as the dog will literally steal it out of his hand. (Toddler has been eating in his vicinity for over 2 years, there's no obvious reason why this should have just started.)

He's also started getting manic at the dinner table begging (also new!) so we've started locking him out the room and he just goes bananas barking and scratching the door (our fault really, he's never been shut out of rooms much, just never needed to be).

He's just developed some really disruptive, unhelpful habits. He has always been so well behaved. I am just desperate for someone to suggest something useful before I sell him to the circus. Please help!

@PrtScn

Maybe also get him checked out at the vets. The food thing could be because he’s bored and needs more exercise, but our dog went quite bad and over excited when it came to food and would steal the toddlers food off him (and she knows this is a no, no!), and turns out she has cushings disease. She was weeing a lot as well though. She has been put on medication and has calmed down now, although given half a chance would half inch any food left within reach if she thinks we aren’t looking.

Thanks, I'll definitely get him checked too. I don't want to miss anything so it's useful to know there might be a medical reason that's worth checking.

I would reconsider feeding raw food if your dog has contact with your toddler: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47448143

He really needs a vet check. It could be caused by many physical issues, e.g. thyroid and diabetes. Is he up-to-date on his worming?

@NameChange280222

Having owned both cockers and spaniels previously, I feel quite confident in my "he has relatively low exercise needs" comment. I'd never have got away with more than a day or two of walking either of those breeds for only 20 minutes. It's taken a while for these behavioural problems to develop, it's not been instant.

Also, note that I said "relatively". I'm not some sort of moron that thinks any dog has low exercise needs. I definitely didn't buy him hoping I could get away with never walking him (hence the years of daily committment!)

But you clearly can't get away with 20 minutes a day for this dog either, as he's now exhibiting behavioural problems.

Honestly, you need to up the exercise. Most young adult dogs need at least an hour of exercise each day.

If you struggle with that due to your fiddly then it may be worth hiring a dog walker occasionally so he gets to have a good amount of exercise and stimulation out of the house.

Get a dog trainer/behaviourist on the case, a reward positive based trainer who can help you - once you’ve eliminated any health concerns. There are many who can be funded via insurance some don’t cover it though. Your vet can refer if required.

My retriever is a barker. The thing we try is to eliminate the cause of barking - people/dogs walking past or reflection in tv or whatever so we have film on windows so he can’t see out, white noise to deter him from reacting to outside noises. Distract him and move him away. You can use tasty things that also provide a outlet for his energy/behaviour like a stuffed kong or licky mat. Don’t allow the dog near toddler or you when eating - baby gate him so he can see you but he doesn’t have access to you, leave nothing out for him to steal, inc bin.

Reward good & calm behaviour. You might find that because he isn’t being allowed to practise bad behaviours they decrease, but do keep up with praise for the good, have a marker word, mark then calmly give treat - I use kibble but higher value at start of a training session if it’s new or difficult. Spaniels are clever and energetic so need lots of exercise and brain work - I do games based training with my retriever if it’s pelting it down or we miss a walk for some reason or just to have fun he’s a quick learner.

To add, most behavioural issues won't develop right away - they build up as the dog gets more and more frustrated.

Not a vet or anything, but reading ours OP I think he sounds anxious and sick.
Constant barking, I would assume insecurity/anxiety and you said he is suddenly snatching food after not bothering for two years, suddenly hungry and begging.
Illness would be my suspicion.
I’d ask the vet to check him over and do some blood work.