our puppy, the spaz

Question
Delores,
My husband and I have a cocker spaniel puppy who is nine months old. We have had him since he was two months old, and he has learned a lot in the last seven months. However, he is extremely high strung, and tends to take out his anxiety on my things...ie, shoes, our feather comforter, my husbands silk tie...especially when we leave. We do our best to keep things away from him, but he always tends to get to them somehow. He is extremely intelligent, but he is also extremely stubborn. We get him out to chase a ball about three times a week(this is until he is exhausted), and I try to walk him, even if it's just a little bit, every day. I am starting to reach my wits end. We can't crate him anymore because he broke out of his crate two times in a row, and I don't want him to hurt himself trying to get out. Any ideas???

Answer
Hi Alli,
I don't think he's anxious or particularly high strung.
He's not getting enough exercise and needs at least one hour a day.  So he's over-loaded with energy and it sounds like he's left alone all day?
Have you noticed that on the days when you play ball with him until he's very tired that his urge to "destroy" diminishes?  A tired dog is a good dog.

So..what to do?

Don't try to crate him.  Confine him to the kitchen when you're out.  Bed - water - Toys - leave radio or tv on.  That's fine when you're out for a few hours and at night.

If you're both gone all day, look into doggy daycare or hire a dog walking service.  He needs more interaction with other dogs - he needs daily exercise.

Cockers are extremely "social" and don't do well with long periods of isolation and can get a little neurotic from boredom.



I had to laugh when you said "he's smart but stubborn".
The good news is he's smart - the bad news is he's smart :)
Welcome to cocker-world !

so to me, it sounds like you have a pretty good little boy who's bored and not getting out enough and has WAY too much pent up energy.  Try doggy daycare and I'm betting you'll have no more problems.  He'll come home happy and tired.
Delores