Struggling with 12 month old cockapoo

[86bexcal]

I hate to say it but I’m really really struggling with our family dog.

I think the fundamental issue is, his recall is very hit and miss therefore 99% of the time he cannot be off his lead so he isn’t getting the run around he needs. And when he is on his lead he constantly pulls, all the training I’ve done with previous dogs and further techniques I’ve read about have little to no impact. He goes on two walks every day, but I honestly dread them as they’re so chaotic even with him on a lead with the pulling, whining etc.

He also is constantly into everything in the house, he has chewed through every toy we’ve ever bought. The last one lasted 10 minutes before it had to be binned. He’ll search the house high and low to find things to chew other than his toys. He’s incredibly food oriented but there’s only so many kongs, lick mats etc I can distract him with each day.

I’m going to have to get a trainer in, probably more to train me than the dog, we’ve thrown so much into trying to be good owners and I just feel like I’m failing him, he’s a lovely happy excited loyal little thing, in some aspects he’s wonderfully trained and he can learn fast when he wants to. But in other aspects I really do find it all incredibly stressful. I’ve had dogs all my adult life, and currently dog sit two other cockapoos quite often who just seem so much more at ease than mine does.

Isn't it probably just his age? Adolescence is a horrible time for most dogs. Sounds to me that you are doing all the right things and just need to persevere and he will get it in the end.

My rescue dog was a bloody nightmare from around 9 months to 18 months. He is so much better now aged 3. He used to chew up so much in our house but he hasn't chewed anything at all in over a year now. He still chews up toys but we've accepted that is him having fun and only occasionally buy him cheap ones to destroy. He is pretty chill around the house these days. He still gets a frozen Kong/ lickimat/ snuffle mat at lunchtimes and a chew most evenings. He likes those Yak milk ones, deer antlers and bones and those keep him quiet for a long time.

His recall is still not amazing, I don't think I'll ever be able to trust him around other dogs, so we make extensive use of the long line and have both got pretty good at using it without getting in a tangle. He understands the cue now of short lead clipped to collar you walk nicely (this was achieved with a lot of treats for walking to heel and gradually spacing those out) long line clipped to harness do as you please. Generally we walk to an open area of park/ woods and then I put him on the long line and possibly let him off if I have risk assessed the situation that he won't harass anyone else. I do enjoy our walks now and there were times when I dreaded them

I had a 1:1 trainer for a while who was very good although expensive and went to a few different dog training classes some of which were better than others but I think overall were worth it.

It can be so tough, I have found most phases past or become less severe. I think as other poster said making use of long lead is way to go. Mine hasn’t got a 100% recall and can be reactive so I mostly use a 10m line and let it run along ground when I cam see no issues anywhere near. Also means I can get her back if needed. Not sure about the lead pulling - one problem I have not had! You’ll get there. Think trainer is good idea…

It honestly isn't just you.
I have a 13 month old working cocker spaniel male.
Your pup definitely sounds like he has more cocker in him.
Mine is a fucking nightmare, like you brilliant in some ways and I look at him and can see the brilliant dog I hope see he will become but, fuck me I am struggling,
His recall has gone to shit he pulls, he is wild on the lead, he just looks feral.
I dread it as well and you can see him doing things on purpose,
It is adolescence as he was well trained until he hit this age,
He also likes to lure me into a false sense of security he will have a good run of impeccable behaviour and the revert.
Please hang on in there adolencent dogs are PITA!

Do you use a harness and a longline as dogs can get lots of exercise that way as well as practicing recall .

Use a long line. My dog was 2.5 and neutered before his recall got good.
Cockerpoos are 2 very work driven breeds. Is he getting breed specific fulfillment?
Trainers have saved my life and my relationship with my dog. I dont know how anyone can raise a pup without significant trainer sessions

You have a combination of two working breeds and I find they need a job. My cockatoo's training dramatically improved when I started agility gave him a job and a reason to listen to me. Could be fly ball, obdience all kinds of things, but they definitely do better if they are employed.

Dogs are hard work.

I have a lab, he chews every soft toy. Get some kong toys, toys, antler horns, fenir hammer etc which are all tougher.

We have a trainer sometimes. A one-to-one session can work well.

Adolescent dogs can be right twats and certainly do push you to your limit!

I have a 2.5 year old Springer and we have a fantastic gundog trainer who specialises in spaniels - honestly she has saved my sanity on many occasions.

I would really recommend finding a gundog trainer who will understand their drive and how to satisfy them mentally

This, 100%

I have a rescue cockapoo that I would describe as a failed pet dog.

She's brilliant at agility and we have started detection/ sniffer dog training.

I've also given her jobs as a hikers/ outdoorsy dog like finding paths in overgrown areas, styles and gaps in fencing, bences to jump on for a treat in the park .... Sometimes walking back on ourselves and looking for the car ....
She loves it! (& I am that crazy dog lady!)
Since she's attending formal training classes 3x week, and having some fun on walks, she's so much better in the house and when out and about even if I just fancy a relaxing walk myself.

I think it's definitely true that mental stimulation tires them more than physical. My dog used to lie down and sleep before we even got to the end of the class! His tiny brain clearly can't take a full 1hr of thinking. He was supposed to doing stay and he was brilliant at it because he had in fact gone to sleep.

He knows a few 'tricks'/ commands just basic sit, down, nose touch, give a paw, circle kind of stuff and sometimes I put these in a sequence for him to do for treats. He's always keen to do it and it calms him down a lot. Also scattering treats in the garden for him to sniff is calming

I feel for you, our dog was an absolute hooligan when he was that age.

He chewed everything, wrecked the sofa, had a knack for finding and destroying shoes even when we thought they were well hidden.

His recall still isn’t great, as others have said we also now use a long line lead when it’s likely other dogs are around because he’s quite unpredictable on which ones he loves or takes against.

It will get better, dogs are hard work!

I agree it's the running that he needs to be more calm. Is there a safe place you can take him every day for a good run around. Most problems with young dogs is a lack of running. A tired dog is a calm dog.