I have a 14 month old black cocker and we are having some behavioral problems. She was given to me and I don't think that she has ever been truly potty trained. The previous owners claim to have put her in pet training classes but she is so badly misbehaved as well. She does things that she knows that she isn't supposed to do because I can look at her when she does these things and she just drops her little head down as if she knows what she is doing is wrong. She is fixing to start a basic education class with a local trainer and I was just wondering if any of the breeders could give me some pointers.

Waiting for ANY input....
Kim

Hi Kim

Welcome to Champdogs

You haven't said exactly what she does, if you give us some pointers I'm sure we will be able to come up with some suggestions. If you register as well you will be able to look at other topics which might be able to help.

Dessie :D :D

Hi Kim,
If you join, you can reply :) It's free membership :)

I do have a comment about what you wrote that could help to start getting you both on the right track:
"I can look at her when she does these things and she just drops her little head down as if she knows what she is doing is wrong."

She doesn't know WHAT she did was wrong... but she does know that you're not happy. She's basically responding to YOUR emotions more than HER actions. Which is a sign that she does care what you think --- a good thing :)

It's a common misunderstanding which cause problems for both owners and dogs...especially when the owner gets home to a mess or a piddle. The dog is reacting to owner's emotions of anger and not the pile on the floor. That's why a dog will slink away or go hide which conveys the message to the owner that the dog is feeling guilty. And the circle continues everywhere else.

The only way you can change her behavior is to correct her during the act...not 5 minutes or an hour later. Just think of your dog having two modes of thought.
"Now" & "Not now" and it might make it easier to understand her.
It's how you respond to her immediate action which will cause her to learn and change.

Since we don't know what's specifically wrong with her behavior from your posting, my best general suggestion to you is to "Restart" her completely as if you have a new puppy.
Look around on the site to see how house training and leash training is worked on with the new puppies. She'll learn much faster than they do, just due to maturity. But taking her to obedience classes like you're planning on doing will help you both out.
best wishes,
toodles

Hi Guest - don't forget, just because the owner took her to puppy classes (which may or may not have covered house training) doesn't mean she followed through with the advice.......