Why Does Our Puppy Do This?
October 4, 2009 by admin
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
we have a 15 week of cockapoo who is nearly housebroken. He is completely fine sleeping alone at night (he sleeps downstairs) and he’s totally fine when we go to work in the morning. We have a dog walker that comes to let him out and walk him in the middle of the day. When we get home, we take the little guy out, we play with him (we don’t make a big deal out of our arrival). But if we go upstairs to change our clothes or go into the kitchen to grab a glass of water, whining starts as if somebody is trying to kill him!! It’s as if we are home, we can’t ever not be right next to him. We take him for a walk at night (at least 30 minutes), we play fetch, we give him affection, we train so I don’t think he is suffering from separation anxiety. When he’s left alone, he doesnt destory the house, he doesnt make accidents (if he has to go, he goes on the pee pad), i just don’t know why he whines so much when we are home with him but not in his sight. Help!
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I’d have to agree with Trip. He’s excited to see you, and wants your attention right then and there, when *he* wants it, regardless of whether or not you have something else to do. Your best bet, as hard as it may be to do, is to go about what you’re doing, such as changing your clothes, etc… and ignore the whining. Don’t give him attention, etc… until he stops whining and calms down a bit. Even going and telling him to stop is giving him attention, which is what he wants. Dogs don’t necessarily understand words like “stop it” etc… all he knows is that you’ve come back and you’re paying attention him now. All any type of attention while he’s whining is going to do is make him think this is a good behavior. It’s also more or less making him think that he runs the house instead of you.
Cocker spaniels (part of what your dog is) can be very dominant dogs, and about the second they think they can run you, they will, and it can be very hard to break. I’m not sure as to whether or not poodles (the other part of your dog’s breeding) have this same personality trait, as I’ve never been around any or worked with any poodles. I do know that the cocker spaniel in this breeding mix can be the dominant personality, as in the dog may act more like a cocker then a poodle.
The other trick with this training is getting visitors that come to your house to ignore him, too. Affection, etc… should not be given by ANY human in the home until he’s calmed down and quiet. It can be very difficult to ignore a whining puppy, especially if they’re whining as if someone’s harming them, but, in cases like this, it has to be done if the behavior is to stop. Eventually he’ll get the point that he wont get any attention for whining, etc… As long as you know he’s not hurt and he’s just asking for attention, ignore him. Don’t rush to him when he starts whining, just go about what you’re doing. Once his whining stops, he’s calmed down, etc… THEN give him attention, affection, etc… Also keep in mind that, while it may not be full blown separation anxiety, what he’s doing (to some people) is more or less considered a much milder form of it, and, if you don’t stop this behavior now, it could turn into full blown separation anxiety in the future.
Affection is a tool for dominance. If the dog gets it when he wants it, he’s the dominant one. If he gets it when YOU feel it’s necessary, the right time, etc… then you become the dominant one in the household. If you let your dog think they are the dominant one in the household, it could lead to much more destructive behavior, such as messing in places other then the pee pad, chewing, etc…
Another thing you may want to think about is this: How old was the pup when he was taken from his mother? If he was too young when taken from his mother (they should not leave the mother until 6-8 weeks, 6 being the very youngest they should leave the mother, unless the mother abandoned the litter, etc…), he may have missed out on very vital lessons from her. Part of what a female dog does with her litter is disciplines them and gives them crucial lessons in proper dog manners. If he was taken too young from the mother, this may be part of his problem as well, and may, in fact, be what caused the problem. (If he was old enough when removed from her, then you can disregard this altogether.) Best of luck to the both of you, and, also keep in mind that, as difficult as it can be to ignore him, it’s best for both of you in this situation, he wont think any less of you, love you any less, etc… Also, consitency is key, and this must be done EVERY time he whines for your affection like this, not just once in a while, or you could end up confusing him. Again, best of luck to the both of you!
EDIT: 30 minutes actually isn’t that long compared to some dogs I’ve seen with this problem. He’s gotten used to this behavior, and this could take quite a bit of time to break, in which he will go through spells where he’ll whine for this long, if not longer. While it can be irritating and heart breaking, it’s normal, and can NOT be accepted OR rewarded (by coming back into the room before he’s stopped) if you ever want to break it. I know how difficult it is to listen to, believe me, I do, especially when it’s a young puppy. Also, the volume of his whining is normal. Try crate training a puppy to get them to sleep there at night. They cry just as loudly, as if someone’s harming them. He’s just trying to get your attention, he’s not actually hurt. Again, I wish you the best of luck!
Excitement – that’s all! He’s trying to hurry you up to come back and give him attention. It’s great that you keep your homecoming low key, that’s exactly right – but don’t be tempted to rush to him, or to give him affection on demand – the time to praise and pet is when he is showing calm behaviour – any attention when he is creating a fuss is ‘rewarding’ the wrong behaviour. Don’t panic – you’re on the right tracks and I’m sure he’ll soon settle down.
That’s interesting. I don’t know, but maybe he is just complaining. Try coming back into the room and telling him to stop or lie down. Talk to him when you are out of the room and continue to tell him to stay or something. I’d start out by first walking away from him, like in a different room but still nearby, then when he starts whining come out and tell him to stop. Then go into a room farther away till he can get used to the idea of you coming back.
Because you are home and left him to walk to another room
Mine is 3 yrs old and he cries when i don’t come downstairs in the morning as soon as he hears me moving about…
If he goes on the pee pad,give him more space and let him follow you…
he just wants attention. because you leave him for a long time in the day…try to train him more and make him more tired..and when he is whining don’t go to him..because when you do that that mean that he is doing a very good job..he has to now that it is bad to whining..
With both of you working and not being able to be home during the day he is thrilled to see you. He just wants to be with you when you are home and have your attention thats all.
When you come home, change your clothes and do whatever it is you need to do. Then, here is the trick… sit down where he can see you .. and ignore him. From now on when possible, make him wait one hour from when you get home before you take him out. He is learning that the second you walk in the door, he gets to go for a walk so he is whinning to make it happen faster. Everytime you give him what he wants on HIS timing and not YOUR timing, you are letting him be “top-dog”. Make him wait while he can see you and you are just sitting there ignoring the whining. Eventually he will get the picture that whinning doesn’t get him to go out, it in fact does the opposite.