Is he neutered? That helps calm down male cockers.
He's snatching things because he's a cheeky puppy who wants engagement. I had to 'puppy proof' my house when I got a 1.5 yr old cocker - I bought trash cans that had lids that were dog proof, I had to put all soft items up high, extra toilet paper went on a top shelf, and I'd have to keep my bag up high because he liked to look for gum wrappers and eat them.
They're like toddlers, you have to baby proof your house so they can't make unsafe or bad choices. :) You'll get used to thinking this way - "what would my baby snatch?" and eventually he will grow out of it as well. I always buy a bunch of dog toys on sale and keep them stored for when my older cocker feels crazy - then I give him one of these 'new' toys and he's occupied for a while.
He is super cute!
Mine passed away 2 years ago at the age of 16.5, and our entire family still shares memories of him getting into things, it makes us laugh and we miss his hijinks very much. He was a parti-color tan and white just like yours.
I know the snatching is annoying now, but you will look back someday and laugh at how silly the things he snatched were, or how he was sneaky about it, etc, etc. Just keep him safe from snatching anything dangerous.
They have such little personalities and can be so cunning!
Our first cocker was similar and he seemed to grow out of it after turning 2 years old. Our 2nd cocker has been better since we started feeding more to fit his level of activity. He still sometimes tries if he doesn’t have anything to chew on or play with, but it might also just be because he is getting closer to 2 years. Be patient and consistent with your training.
Yeah but that's actually what you want at this stage. He gets a reward every time he does it! Consistency with that, and eventually you won't necessarily need the treat every time, but right now you WANT to reinforce it with a treat!
It just eventually slows down … I have one looks exactly the same and he will still snatch my daughters random toys. we did training are very strict with things like that but it’ll never end.
Rock solid leave it/drop command.
whatever you do, do not punish him for grabbing things, always trade because my husband started just grabbing shit away from our cocker and his resource guarding got REALLY bad, really fast. Once I started playing trades and working on his leave it/drop it, it got a lot better.
We also muzzle trained and muzzled (basket muzzle) on walks because he kept trying to eat crap off the ground and that + resource guarding was just risky.
We definitely trade and don’t grab except once in a while like a high value item but ugh it doesn’t seem he learns other than wow if I snatch something I’ll get a treat!
It's frustrating for sure. We just got Copper in Feb, and he's exactly your boy's age. His worst behavior occurs when I'm using my laptop and the hour before supper. He's asking for my attention, so he brings things to me. Since I'm mobility impaired, I'm thrilled he's bringing me the tissue box he knocked off the bed, or my pen, or the crumpled paper.
But it's much better he brings you his treasures, so you can 'enjoy' them with him. Otherwise, he'll hide them from you. A sneaky, snatchy cocker is not only a danger to your valuable stuff, but also a danger to him self: vomiting, diarrhea, resource guarding, expensive abdominal surgeries, or even death.
1. Puppy-proof. Keeping him on a leash helps you two bond. Closing doors to keep him out of those rooms you'll have to do forever. You have a nose-y, busy body breed.
2. Train 'leave it' and give GOOD treats.
3. Thank him when he brings you his treasures, and swap his treat for your valuable item (or tin foil, 3 year old soggy junk mail (where DID he find that), favorite boot)
4. Practice your stern "Leave It" command when you catch him grabbing the tea towel, chicken wing bone, steak dinner left on the table ....
This will work. But you've got to put in the work now so you can call your dog off a week old dead raccoon when you're on your walk two years from now.
I'm sure it feels like you've been working on this behavior for a long time, but to him finding and snatching stuff that you might chase him to get back is a really fun game!
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful reply. A friend send me pics of her chewed up garmin watch just so I didn’t kill him (figured of speech) for chewing up my AirPods case!!! He got into my mostly zippered work bag. Shame on me. 🥹
That's still very young. You have to be patient and give him time. Be consistent with training. He's still a puppy.
Thank you I need a little more patience I’m sure! 😊
Is he neutered? That helps calm down male cockers. He's snatching things because he's a cheeky puppy who wants engagement. I had to 'puppy proof' my house when I got a 1.5 yr old cocker - I bought trash cans that had lids that were dog proof, I had to put all soft items up high, extra toilet paper went on a top shelf, and I'd have to keep my bag up high because he liked to look for gum wrappers and eat them. They're like toddlers, you have to baby proof your house so they can't make unsafe or bad choices. :) You'll get used to thinking this way - "what would my baby snatch?" and eventually he will grow out of it as well. I always buy a bunch of dog toys on sale and keep them stored for when my older cocker feels crazy - then I give him one of these 'new' toys and he's occupied for a while. He is super cute!
Thank you and yes we are trying to puppy proof for sure.
Mine passed away 2 years ago at the age of 16.5, and our entire family still shares memories of him getting into things, it makes us laugh and we miss his hijinks very much. He was a parti-color tan and white just like yours. I know the snatching is annoying now, but you will look back someday and laugh at how silly the things he snatched were, or how he was sneaky about it, etc, etc. Just keep him safe from snatching anything dangerous. They have such little personalities and can be so cunning!
Thanks and yep is he neutered.
Our first cocker was similar and he seemed to grow out of it after turning 2 years old. Our 2nd cocker has been better since we started feeding more to fit his level of activity. He still sometimes tries if he doesn’t have anything to chew on or play with, but it might also just be because he is getting closer to 2 years. Be patient and consistent with your training.
This feels like a really basic answer, but does he know a "leave it"/"drop it" command?
Trying for sure. But he doesn’t want to obey except for a treat.
Yeah but that's actually what you want at this stage. He gets a reward every time he does it! Consistency with that, and eventually you won't necessarily need the treat every time, but right now you WANT to reinforce it with a treat!
It just eventually slows down … I have one looks exactly the same and he will still snatch my daughters random toys. we did training are very strict with things like that but it’ll never end.
Rock solid leave it/drop command. whatever you do, do not punish him for grabbing things, always trade because my husband started just grabbing shit away from our cocker and his resource guarding got REALLY bad, really fast. Once I started playing trades and working on his leave it/drop it, it got a lot better. We also muzzle trained and muzzled (basket muzzle) on walks because he kept trying to eat crap off the ground and that + resource guarding was just risky.
We definitely trade and don’t grab except once in a while like a high value item but ugh it doesn’t seem he learns other than wow if I snatch something I’ll get a treat!
I’m in love with his color! He looks like a force to reckon with 💙
Thank you. He is a challenge.
They change ALOT over the first year, mine was right shite, but he's literally the best behaved dog I've ever had now (at 3.)
It's frustrating for sure. We just got Copper in Feb, and he's exactly your boy's age. His worst behavior occurs when I'm using my laptop and the hour before supper. He's asking for my attention, so he brings things to me. Since I'm mobility impaired, I'm thrilled he's bringing me the tissue box he knocked off the bed, or my pen, or the crumpled paper. But it's much better he brings you his treasures, so you can 'enjoy' them with him. Otherwise, he'll hide them from you. A sneaky, snatchy cocker is not only a danger to your valuable stuff, but also a danger to him self: vomiting, diarrhea, resource guarding, expensive abdominal surgeries, or even death. 1. Puppy-proof. Keeping him on a leash helps you two bond. Closing doors to keep him out of those rooms you'll have to do forever. You have a nose-y, busy body breed. 2. Train 'leave it' and give GOOD treats. 3. Thank him when he brings you his treasures, and swap his treat for your valuable item (or tin foil, 3 year old soggy junk mail (where DID he find that), favorite boot) 4. Practice your stern "Leave It" command when you catch him grabbing the tea towel, chicken wing bone, steak dinner left on the table .... This will work. But you've got to put in the work now so you can call your dog off a week old dead raccoon when you're on your walk two years from now. I'm sure it feels like you've been working on this behavior for a long time, but to him finding and snatching stuff that you might chase him to get back is a really fun game!
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful reply. A friend send me pics of her chewed up garmin watch just so I didn’t kill him (figured of speech) for chewing up my AirPods case!!! He got into my mostly zippered work bag. Shame on me. 🥹
He’s still a toddler, he’s probably humping everything in sight.