Cocker spaniels are generally sweet, playful and affectionate little dogs that love to be close to their families. However, this is known to be a sensitive breed, and without proper socialization, cocker spaniels easily can become fearful or timid. The socialization process should start when puppies are young and continue throughout their lives, as every new encounter is a learning experience. But even if you have brought home an older puppy that has been poorly socialized, you may be able to retrain it to overcome its shyness.
Things You'll Need
- Leash
- Treats
Instructions
Project a positive attitude. Dogs are good at picking up on human emotions, so stay relaxed and help your cocker spaniel remain calm.
Study your dog's behavior. A dog that is feeling nervous or afraid will avoid eye contact, tremble, or try to get away from the person, animal or object that is causing fear. Some may growl or urinate.
Enroll your cocker spaniel in training and socialization classes. Obedience training, as well as other types of training courses, will keep your puppy's attention focused on learning and completing tasks, not on being afraid. In addition, mastering new abilities can boost your cocker spaniel's confidence. Choose a trainer who uses positive reinforcement techniques to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
Expose your puppy to new experiences beyond its training classes. Take your cocker spaniel with you on short errands, always making sure to keep a safe distance between your cocker spaniel and anything that might scare it. Walking your puppy is another way to expose it to new people, animals and places, but keep your dog on a leash and remain alert for any signs of fear.
Recognize and address specific fears. An otherwise confident cocker spaniel puppy may be shy in certain situations. Learning what scares your dog can help you tailor training techniques. If your cocker spaniel is shy around people, hand a visitor some treats and ask her to stay calm and avoid speaking to your puppy or making eye contact with it. Let your puppy approach the visitor, and as it gets closer, have the guest place a treat on the floor nearby, still avoiding eye contact. Have the visitor place the treat closer and closer as the cocker spaniel approaches. When the puppy closes the gap, have the guest place a treat in his palm and extend a hand. The puppy will learn to associate visitors with good things, like treats.
Do not enable your puppy's shyness. If you pick up your cocker spaniel and pet or soothe it when it displays shy behaviors, you are teaching the dog that being timid is good. Ignore the behavior as much as possible. Praise and treat your puppy when it is friendly toward new people or pets.
Provide your cocker spaniel with a safe haven. This can be any place from a dog carrier filled with a few toys to a pillow in an out-of-the-way area. Even after your puppy has overcome much of its timid behavior, there still may be times, such as during noisy gatherings, when it needs to retreat.