Yelping, scratching, biting

[Chloe Gray]

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Hi there, apologies in advance for the long post.
I’m looking for some advice if anyone can help me.
I have an 18 month old male cockapoo. He is neutered and we have had him since he was a puppy. He came from a reputable breeder.
Occasionally, when my husband comes home and finds the dog has been to the toilet on the floor, my dog will start yelping and scratching/biting my husband as he tries to clean it up, even if my husband has not even acknowledged him/the accident. The same thing also seems to happen, again occasionally, when the dog comes in from the garden and needs his feet drying with a towel. Always with the yelping as though he is being attacked. I don’t know what our neighbours must think. We are more concerned as we have a toddler in the house and today he went up to the dog to try and comfort it and the dog looked to go for him as well which cannot happen and has not happened until today. This behaviour never happens when I am present. I have only heard it when I am upstairs in the house or my husband tells me about it when I return home and shows me the scratches.
Could it be a male dominance thing? We do not want to have to look to rehome him but I worry about my 2 year old.
Any advise greatly received!

 

[JoanneF]

I doubt it is male dominance as the dominance theory has been thoroughly discredited. Is it at all possible he thinks it's play (albeit far too rough play) when your husband has been at floor level? Or, are the events (cleaning, towelling, toddler) are taking place in the same part of the house? If so, is his bed or food bowl near by? Could he be guarding?

Do you ever clean up his accidents or dry him? Do you do anything different?

 

[poptart]

As a cocker owner I'd guess it's playing. Cockers think everything is a big game and if he's been alone for a while and he's been bored and lonely then someone shows up at last it's Party Time! The yelping could just be excitement, or telling you how glad he is to see you. My dog used to scratch a lot when he was younger, and still does if we're not careful. It's just over excitement, try training him to respond to the "Down" command to stop him jumping up.

Maybe make more of a fuss of him then put him outside before cleaning up his accidents.

 

[merlina]

It's easy to misread your young dog's behaviour- and he's only just growing up- I have a nearly three year old working cocker who makes what you describe seem very acceptable! But the main thing is to ignore what you don't like and reward what you do. If he yelps and jumps up or play bites turn away and totally ignore him- no speech no eye-contact. I think trying to teach the Down command is worth it though. You mention having accidents when he's left alone...is it for a long time? Young dogs need contact and exercise. So maybe you could increase the time he has company and increase his walks? As for your very young child this can only be managed with constant supervision. A child and dog must never be alone of course- and your child is too little to learn about how to behave with a dog- any dog- so only you can keep both child and dog safe.

 

[Dibbythedog]

A cute but lively mix of breeds.
You really need to supervise your toddler when your pup is in this aroused excited state.
It's hard to say why he does this , but its not dominance.
It could be he doesn't like his feet wiped and he could be worried about the poo on the floor or just over excited.
Your husband could leave him another room before he picks up the poo and avoid your dog acting like this .
If he doesn't like his feet wiped , you can desensitise him to it.

 

[Rhythmpig]

Once had a Border Terrier dog,no matter what we did he sounded like a Tasmanian Devil. Mind you it wasn't far off the mark at times. It was always best at the vets,he always started laughing when he saw us in the waiting room. The look on people's faces when we came out was priceless at times.

 

[Dibbythedog]

Once had a Border Terrier dog,no matter what we did he sounded like a Tasmanian Devil. Mind you it wasn't far off the mark at times. It was always best at the vets,he always started laughing when he saw us in the waiting room. The look on people's faces when we came out was priceless at times.

It sounds like dogs are getting murdered , sometimes . Rather alarming!

 

[Chloe Gray]

Thanks everyone for the replies! It’s been really helpful! Interesting about the rough play thing as my husband does play roughly with him whereas I don’t. We’re unsure why he is going to the toilet in the house. On this particular occasion he had been outside in the garden just before and did the poo on the floor when my husband took the toddler upstairs for a wee. My husband is going to avoid any form of rough play and if we do come home to an accident he will ignore it and just let the dog outside whilst he clears it. He’s never left for overly long so this is quite rare anyway.