Barking when out walking

Question
QUESTION: I have a 21 month old cocker spaniel. Lovely temperament. When out walking and a person or dog approaches she starts barking. I try very hard to make her sit and firmly tell her NO. If it is just a person and they say hello to me all hell breaks lose. Jumps all over the place and barks. What is the best training to overcome this? Thank you

ANSWER: So the only time she does this is on a walk?

It sounds to me like she thinks she's protecting you.  Has she ever tried to nip...does she growl?  What's her tail doing during this?
Does she jump on the person or just jump around?

I'm trying to determine if this is excitement - protection or aggression.

What does she do when a guest comes into your house?
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes only on a walk.

Never ever bitten or gone to. Shes very sweet and gentle. (If chewing a bone, playing with a toy she will quite happily let you take it from her without any sign of anger.)
Her tail is always wagging never stops.

Yes she does try to jump up and sometimes jumps around on the lead. Especially if the other dog approaching is off its lead.

When a guest comes to the house just greats them with a wagging tail. Nearly bending in half its wagging so much. When that person is close she will try to jump up and stretch up to them wagging her tail again.

No problem with temprament. just the barking when walking.

thank you.

ANSWER: Okay..this is definitely just excitement and I'd like to know how much exercise she gets daily?  The minimum is two half-hour walks a day.  If she's not getting that, then her pent-up energy and the thrill of interaction :) will be overwhelming.

Now as to training - the key is to anticipate the behavior and correct before the action starts.  I'd begin in the house and teach her to sit-stay-wait until you give permission to interact with a guest.  And absolutely no jumping up.

As for the barking on walks I'd like to know what happens if you just let her have her moment.  Meaning - how long will she go on?
And it'd be important to know what happens if you and another owner with a dog just started walking together?  How would she be in an off-leash "playdate" with another dog?  (Obviously in a safe, fenced in area).

I have a feeling she's not getting enough socializing, so when she does it's just too exciting for her.  For this girl, I'd try and provide times when she can "run, bark, play and be excited" and it's okay.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I walk about 1 hour a day on a lead. Interesting walks around lanes and fields on an extendable lead so shes free to have a good old sniff and i never ever rush her this is her time. We play on a very large field with a ball she is free to retreive for about 20 mins twice a day and she is constantly free to roam about a very large area free for as long as she likes. We often go to the beach for a free run around.

She does sit and stay when told. when i release her she then jumps up if somebody comes to the house.

She only barks for a short while. If i stop to talk to someone she stops when i tell her, sometimes i have to tell her several times. I do tell her to sit but she soon gets up again and wants to join in play get attention. Doesn't like to be ignored by the other person.

When i walk with another dog she is very happy to walk alongside it on a joint lead. No problem there.

If with another dog in a free area she will jump about with them and bark for a short time then do her own thing.

She meets up with another dog every week to have a play. When i go on holiday she stays at her mummy's house with several other dogs. Very well behaved. I also look after another spaniel, who she meets up with regularly and she is very excited again for a short time, but after that calms down.

She only really barks at other dogs when im walking her.

Answer
Well, you know what, Hayley...I just don't see you have a really big problem here.  I also think you're a fantastic owner :)

This is most probably behavior you're going to see diminish in the next year but basically she sounds like a very well adjusted dog.
Like us, dogs have their little "things" and nobody is perfect :)

I only wish all the problem questions I get were as mild and minimal as this and honestly I'd cut her a little slack and look on it as her one mildly annoying quirk...which she'll outgrow.
Delores