Dog-Sitting ugh..Help?

[Boss' Mom]

So, I'm dog-sitting a one year old male Cocker Spaniel for a week. He was dropped off yesterday. I never realized how well trained my dog is until I met Rocky. He's all over the place, he does not know how to walk on a leash, and he is not house broken (I was told he was). He doesn't understand the meaning of "no" and he is yappy. When I put him in his crate, he yelps and barks, I tell him "NO!" and he just ignores me. I have to crate him when I leave because like I said, not house broken and the cat doesn't like him, and although he and Boss seem to get along, I just can't leave both of them out while I'm gone. The spray bottle doesn't seem to phase him, he just stands there. Any idea how I can stop the barking?? Or am I just SOL for the week, lol? Thanks!

[FearlessKnight]

I am afraid that if I had to deal with barking that drove me nuts....and a dog that is wild (as we all know cockers are)...I would have to go to Wal-mart and buy a cheap 28.00 bark collar...that WILL tone him down....

[CeeCee]

I dog sat 2 dogs (a chihuahua and a pomx)for 2 weeks and it was a nightmare. I'll never do it again.

[maryellen1]

keep him on leash the entire time he is there tied to your hip.. give him a frozen stuffed kong when you put him in his crate.. try to teach him some obedience stuff, that will exercise his mind and him and might calm him down.. it wil give you some peace too. when he barks in his crate dont respond, just walk away .. when he quiets down go back and praise him. if he barks again, walk away..

[laurajean]

Good advice that. About the ignoring him in his crate. Even though it seems like they will never shut up, they will eventually. Or most will. Unless they are completely crackers. Obviously whoever owned him doesn't know squat about dogs or he would be better trained. Cocker spaniels were at one time a very popular dog and got overbred as a result and practically ruined the breed...(does this sound familiar anyone?)
Also tying the leash to your waist and just giving the dog a lot to do and keeping him right with you constantly when you are there should calm him down considerably...and the obedience, sit, and down and stay will give him an occupation.
You could try a shake can for the yapping. Use a soda can put pennies or small gravel in it, duct tape the opening. give it a shake and yell NO! Or a plastic bottle with pennies or rocks in it...Just something that makes noise to distract him from barking. Yeah crate him when you are gone...tough if he barks. You can't let him tear up the house or get attacked by your dog when you are not there..
Hopefully you have a good crate that he can't eat his way through...
Good luck!

[misterdogman]

with my outside dogs I never scold barking at all...but inside is another story because of the baby...but I have noticed over the years a little cage rattling helps...when Bambam was a pup he chewed and barked all day...well one day I was already in a crappy mood and he wouldnt shut up so I went over to his kennel and shook it and lifted it up so I could look in the door and yelled "Shutup" and set it back down....I think the key was the interruption...I do not agree with passive training I believe dogs need to be broken like horses and when you freak them out a little during the barking they dont know what to do so they usually just shut up to avoid being scolded....I dont know about cockers because they are horrible animals as far as im concerned but if you just rattle his cage a little and act like a crazy wild alpha bitch would you might just scare him barkelss...as far as house breaking your on your own....id just put it outside...

[Boss' Mom]

Thanks for the tips! I live in an apartment, so unfortunately I can't just ignore him when he barks. I've found he does eventually stop after I yell "NO!" a few times. I think he has separation anxiety, he follows me around more than Boss does. He doesn't know "stay" or "down" he only knows sit. I put the Gentle Leader that I used to use for Boss on him, and that helped with his walking. I swear, it's like he's never been on a walk before. He pulls non-stop and he's just all over the damn place. As soon as we go out, he will go pee and poo, but he also will go pee right in front of me in the apartment. lol I screamed "NOOOO!" and he just kept peeing. I think I'm going to talk to my friend about training her damn dog.

[misterdogman]

Thanks for the tips! I live in an apartment, so unfortunately I can't just ignore him when he barks. I've found he does eventually stop after I yell "NO!" a few times. I think he has separation anxiety, he follows me around more than Boss does. He doesn't know "stay" or "down" he only knows sit. I put the Gentle Leader that I used to use for Boss on him, and that helped with his walking. I swear, it's like he's never been on a walk before. He pulls non-stop and he's just all over the damn place. As soon as we go out, he will go pee and poo, but he also will go pee right in front of me in the apartment. lol I screamed "NOOOO!" and he just kept peeing. I think I'm going to talk to my friend about training her damn dog.Good idea...and being in an APT is just more reason for you to put a saddle on that damn cocker and break him like a horse. Use tough love and IMO do not be passive...think about it... no dogs wild or domestic are passive when commanding a subordinate around...they bite first ask ?s later...so show your maternal side and pretend its an onre kid....Whoop some ass....lol but no seriously really do not be passive be the alpha bitch and do some cage rattling...you aint gotta hit it or nothing just show your dominance....

[Boss' Mom]

Good idea...and being in an APT is just more reason for you to put a saddle on that damn cocker and break him like a horse. Use tough love and IMO do not be passive...think about it... no dogs wild or domestic are passive when commanding a subordinate around...they bite first ask ?s later...so show your maternal side and pretend its an onre kid....Whoop some ass....lol but no seriously really do not be passive be the alpha bitch and do some cage rattling...you aint gotta hit it or nothing just show your dominance....
Thank you! You know, I really did have to put in a lot of work with Boss. He was very obstinate and pushy...still is with everyone but me. I never let him get away with anything, no matter how small because he is a vey dominant dog. I think that's what I'm gonna have to do with this dog...man, it would help if the dog knew basic OB:confused:

[laurajean]

If the dog knew basic OB, he wouldn't be out of control...It is horrible how many people get dogs and do nothing with them...Give your girlfriend an earful when she gets back and have her pay for cleaning your carpets that the dog peed all over...It is definitely her fault that the dog is a year old and knows nothing...

[Verderben]

I feel for ya . I USED to baby sit a chow and a shar pei for one of my clients I will never do it again after the last time. Everytime they came over they were worse but the last time was the LAST straw. They destroyed my house pooped and peed all over and woud do it right in from of you. totally out of control wouldnt listen. The chow busted my door and ran off and we had to chase him down. and he barked NON STOP. you could ignore him for HOURS on end and he would not stop.He would bark all night all day. I finally put a bark collar on him and after awhile he ddecided he didnt care and would bark bark bark, yelp, bark bark bark, yelp...... so he finally ended up being muzzled almost the entire time he was here. The shar pei didnt bark but it would go outside pee and poop come inside 10 min later pee and poop again inside. you could leave it out for an hour and it would still come in and poop and pee. They also chewed up and destroyed a bunch of stuff. I will never dog sit again for anyone.

[Boss' Mom]

I feel for ya . I USED to baby sit a chow and a shar pei for one of my clients I will never do it again after the last time. Everytime they came over they were worse but the last time was the LAST straw. They destroyed my house pooped and peed all over and woud do it right in from of you. totally out of control wouldnt listen. The chow busted my door and ran off and we had to chase him down. and he barked NON STOP. you could ignore him for HOURS on end and he would not stop.He would bark all night all day. I finally put a bark collar on him and after awhile he ddecided he didnt care and would bark bark bark, yelp, bark bark bark, yelp...... so he finally ended up being muzzled almost the entire time he was here. The shar pei didnt bark but it would go outside pee and poop come inside 10 min later pee and poop again inside. you could leave it out for an hour and it would still come in and poop and pee. They also chewed up and destroyed a bunch of stuff. I will never dog sit again for anyone.
OMG those dogs make Rocky sound like an angel lol.

laurajean - Good thing my apartment is all hardwood! I'd be super pissed if he were peeing on my carpeted floors. He didn't pee inside at all yesterday, I think he might be coming along lol.

[laurajean]

OMG! dog pee is really bad for hardwood floors also. I hope you lecture your girlfriend. Why have a dog if you are just going to let it be a neurotic "pain-in the butt"? I don't care if it is a Cocker or a little yap dust-mop dog. I have seen miniature Schnauzers that had championship obedience titles. No reason NOT to do at least basic obedience with ANY dog. Otherwise they are just a nuisance and annoyance to society.
I didn't always feel this way, but I am tired of seeing ill-treated and ill-trained dogs. It's not fair to the dog. Just as with pits, it's irresponsible owners of all breeds that need to clean up their act, get off their couches and walk and train their mutts...
Glad the dog is getting better with attention and training. Poor you and just think about the poor dog going back to your girlfriend to be neglected again. I have the email of a cocker spaniel rescue lady. If you want to pm me I'll send it to you and your girlfriend can email her for tips on training. This lady has five(!) well behaved rescue cocker spaniels in her (beautiful) house. They don't yap and pee all over the floor...so the dogs can be trained. Cockers were originally water retrievers so they are not stupid...IMO hunting dogs usually got some brains.
Oh well I'll stop ranting now...