Cockapoo Behavior Problems | Aggressiveness, Separation Anxiety, Excessive Barking

Most people agree that Cockapoos have one of the happiest and friendliest temperaments of any breed of dog. They are great with kids and can bring great fun and happiness into any family household. 

[featured_img]

Cockapoos are gregarious and constantly eager to play when the chance presents itself. Because they are a cross between the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, this breed of dog also tends to be intelligent and relatively simple to teach.

These kind and affectionate dogs are likely to integrate rapidly into the family. This outgoing dog will approach other dogs and persuade them to play or ensure that a child always has a playmate.

However, there are a few behavioral issues you might want to watch out for if you intend to bring a Cockapoo home.

1. Aggressive Behavior

cockapoo-behavior-problems-5

Although they can make wonderful family pets, your Cockapoo might occasionally act aggressively or seem too stressed.

For example, you may think your Cockapoo is a “bad dog” if it is snarling, snapping, biting, lunging at people, or acting aggressively. Still, as the owner, you must realize that some other factor is at play contributing to your pet’s behavior.

One of the most frequent and important signs that your Cockapoo feels threatened and becomes terrified is aggression. Sometimes it’s as easy as the dog feeling anxious because it’s in a strange place or among other animals, clumsy kids, wailing babies, or too much attention.

When the Cockapoo feels more territorial over something, like food or your house, that behavior might also be aggressive, dogs naturally need to guard and protect their possessions, which can make them aggressive when they feel that their territory is being invaded.

Again, dogs in the house or other animals might cause this behavior and result in animal fights.

Sometimes a Cockapoo’s conduct can be attributed to how they perceive the value of a certain object. For instance, it might have a favorite chew toy, ball, or blanket.

However, recognizing the symptoms of the dog’s need to protect the item and act out when someone attempts to take it away can be easier for you if you know their attachment to it.

Cockapoos are unaware of boundaries, so they might get aggressive when playing. Because of this, it is normal for the dog to become agitated during playtime and turn aggressive, biting, growling, lunging, and other behaviors.

cockapoo-behavior-problems

Dog aggression has no natural “cure,” but there are numerous things you can do to help lessen the behavior. For example, understanding what is causing the behavior and trying to alter your pet’s response should be your main priorities as a pet owner.

It’s crucial to reward positive behavior with praise. Give your dog cookies or other tempting items, for instance, when they can face their circumstances without retaliating or acting aggressively. You can also make a good association with the trigger when something occurs.

Your dog needs the training to understand and obey you. If you haven’t already, consider enrolling your Cockapoo in obedience classes to deepen your relationship and make sure it will obey your commands. Additionally, you have the choice of training your dog virtually at home.

When you anticipate that your dog may misbehave, you can use instructions and training to make sure that the behavior stops. Using a leash frequently and teaching your dog to stay by your side, for instance, will help curb aggressive behavior.

You can take further steps to establish limitations and boundaries to lessen your Cockapoo’s aggressive behavior.

If all else fails and your attempts are unsuccessful, speak with a veterinarian or an expert in animal behavior for extra advice. Training and routine modifications are not always sufficient.

Living with an aggressive Cockapoo might be difficult, but you can make your home secure by taking careful measures to comprehend and stop the behavior.

You will eventually have a well-behaved and content Cockapoo in your home, but it will take time, work, and patience.

2. Separation Anxiety

cockapoo-behavior-problems-2

Due to their breeding as companion dogs, cockapoos often experience separation anxiety and yearn for human interaction.

Some individuals will argue that separation anxiety is more severe than separation distress, but most dog owners would agree that both behaviors are awful to see in your dog.

Common symptoms to watch for to determine if your dog has this condition include:

  • Whining and excessive barking when you leave the house.
  • Chewing on household goods like furniture when you’re not there.
  • Random bathroom mishaps (that don’t occur when you’re inside).
  • Constant scratching at the doors and windows.
  • Excessive self-grooming and licking causing bald patches.
  • Barking and excessive enthusiasm when they hear us enter the house.

If your Cockapoo is experiencing separation anxiety, you might want to try some methods to stop it from happening.

First, you may use your presence as a reward for your dog’s poised conduct. For this one, you must ensure your Cockapoo can’t meet you at the door when you get home. Your Cockapoo may bark, whine, or scrape at the door whenever you enter the house. 

Waiting is the key to this technique. It can be quite difficult to resist needing comfort and cuddling someone, especially when that’s your instinct.

cockapoo-behavior-problems-3
cockapoo-behavior-problems-3

This is because if you do, your Cockapoo will learn that having company relieves their nervousness. So you’re teaching the Cockapoo that you will come if they bark, which is a vicious cycle.

Second, puzzle toys could be used to divert their attention. Because they keep your dog entertained when you leave, puzzle toys are excellent for dogs.

This technique works wonders to reduce separation anxiety in your Cockapoo. This is because doing something that indicates that you are going to leave is one of the key “triggers” for anxiousness.

Lastly, try to change your daily routine. Due to how rapidly dogs adapt to small cues and routines, this is a crucial element in cockapoo separation anxiety treatment.

They start looking for signs that you are going home as a result. The jingle of keys, the rustle of shopping bags, or the sound of your automobile in the drive. 

They begin to maintain their awareness if you stick to the same routines. They are continuously on the lookout for cues that you are around.

This means that they can have difficulty unwinding and might become agitated when they hear a car, but no one gets out or when they hear footsteps outside, but it’s not you.

3. Excessive Barking

Another characteristic that most Cockapoo owners detest, and reasonably so, is excessive barking. Unfortunately, certain Cockapoos may have a problem with excessive vocalization.

Like individuals, they occasionally only want to talk. There are several possible causes for your Cockapoo’s barking. Typical explanations include:

cockapoo-behavior-problems-4
cockapoo-behavior-problems-4
  • Guarding Behavior: As long as your Cockapoo knows the people they need to protect, this barking is frequently desired. Even having friends or family present might be unpleasant when this kind of barking gets out of hand.
  • Defensive/Offensive Behavior: This relates to guarding but could also indicate that your Cockapoo is anxious or insecure. They might regard everything around them as a danger to their safety and be barking either defensively to frighten it away or to alert people to an impending attack (offensive).
  • Boredom/Attention-Seeking Behavior: Being highly clever dogs, cockapoos can rapidly become bored and exhibit attention-seeking behavior. This may result in actions like excessive biting, gnawing, or barking. This might become particularly troublesome if they link these behaviors to receiving greater attention from others.
  • Excited: When they get agitated, cockapoos also bark. It makes sense that all that joy and happiness needs to be released, but I’m sure you’d like it to be something other than barking.
  • Separation Anxiety: This may also be related to attention-seeking, but more often than not, if your dog exhibits other behaviors (such as chewing, going to the bathroom indoors, etc.) and barks when left alone, your Cockapoo may be experiencing separation anxiety.

The good news is that this is a behavioral issue that is normally not too difficult to control if your Cockapoo’s barking becomes out of hand. Our comprehensive guide to troublesome

They lay out the generally accepted method for determining what caused the bark and then taking one of many possible corrective measures.

For example, you can educate your dog to stop barking on command and discover tactics to reduce overbearing barking to change that bark.

Not only are cockapoos prone to excessive barking, but owners of other Poodle-mixed breeds also occasionally face similar issues. There is a misconception that little dogs are more likely to experience excessive barking, but this is not always the case.

Conclusion

Cockapoos are an excellent choice for pets and companions, especially as a family dog, for individuals unfamiliar with the breed. However, there can be negative aspects to Cockapoos, but these behavioral peculiarities are readily overcome.

There aren’t many drawbacks to Cockapoos to be concerned about compared to many other available pet selections. However, if issues develop, they are often quickly addressed with the appropriate corrective measures.

Leave a Comment