Cocker spaniels can make wonderful pets when they are quiet.
The cocker spaniel can be a friendly dog that needs only moderate exercise and and is usually peaceful with other pets. However, this breed can develop separation anxiety when left alone for too long, which may lead to destructiveness and excessive barking. And the breed does have a tendency to sound the alarm at every sight and sound. If you own a cocker spaniel that barks too much, you must determine what is causing the barking and learn put a stop to it.
Instructions
1. Determine what may be causing your cocker spaniel to bark.
Figure out what is causing your cocker spaniel to bark. If it's because she is left alone too much and needs more exercise and mental stimulation, you will need to address these issues. Have a dog sitter visit if you work long hours, walk your cocker spaniel more, or entertain him with stimulating toys such as a Kong stuffed with treats.
2. Avoid rewarding barking for attention.
Make sure you are not unknowingly rewarding the barking. If you are petting your cocker spaniel and he barks as soon as you stop, and then you pet him some more, you are reinforcing the barking behavior. If you open the door when your cocker spaniel is barking, instead of when she quiets down, you are encouraging her to bark. Work on giving your dog attention only when she is quiet.
3. Determine if your cocker spaniel is engaging in territorial barking. If he is barking when seeing people or other dogs pass by your property, it may help to minimize your dog's view of the outside. The ASPCA' s Virtual Pet Behaviorist says it helps to apply plastic film to windows or to use spray-based glass coatings to obscure the areas your cocker spaniel so eagerly guards .
4. Reward your cocker spaniel for being quiet.
Control you cocker spaniel's barking by teaching the ''quiet command." When your dog barks, approach her and calmly but firmly say ''quiet.'' Prompt her to stop barking by readily feeding small treats one after another. Repeat as necessary, until your cocker spaniel understands what quiet means. Gradually, increase the length of time between the quiet command and the giving of treats.
5. A can filled with coins may stop the barking.
Fill an aluminum can with several coins and shake the can when your cocker spaniel barks. The sudden noise startles your dog and make him stop barking. Right when he stops barking, calmly say ''quiet'' and then feed your dog some treats. Repeat as necessary.
6. Put your cocker spaniel in a citronella no-bark collar when all other tips to reduce barking have failed and after you have ascertained your dog is not barking out of fear, anxiety or compulsion. A citronella bark collar can be an effective tool against nuisance barking by delivering a mist of citronella every time the dog barks.
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