Cockapoo Jealousy

While they may be a small breed, they have huge personalities. Like other dogs, this can be a good thing and a bad thing. Often our four-legged friends can be a little too like their human owners and show undesirable traits like jealousy.

Out Experience With Luna

In our own experience with Luna, our cockapoo, we have noticed that she can get rather jealous when friends come to our house and bring their dogs. If she thinks we are giving the visiting dogs more attention, she will come over and nudge the other dogs out of the way. Although she has given them a growl on rare occasions, she is generally a friendly dog and will nudge them out of the way, not even in a particularly aggressive way.

Can Cockapoos Feel Jealousy?

An official study focused on jealousy in dogs in general, and it found that they display this trait. This survey looked at scenarios where the owner’s attention was not given to their dog but to another dog. Like the situation outlined above with Luna.

However, scientists strongly believe that dogs can get jealous of any other kind of sociable creature, not just other dogs. Similarly to humans, cockapoos and other dogs have emotional and physical needs. They can feel jealous when it feels like they are not getting their needs met either because of a new family member or a new puppy or another animal.

Signs To Look Out for of Cockapoo Jealousy

Now that you understand that it is possible for your lovely little bundle of fur can get jealous, how do you know when this is happening? You can look for signs showing your cockapoo is acting jealously.

They Do Tricks Without Commands

One of the most obvious and, dare we say, adorable signs that your dog is a little jealous is if they perform some tricks without even being prompted. Like a small child, this is your cockapoo showing off and trying to get your attention. They want you to be impressed by what they are doing.

It goes beyond them simply thinking you are the best, as this jealousy relates to the territorial instincts that they are born with. If a new person or animal comes into the house, your cockapoo can read your body language to gauge how much you like the new addition. If they feel threatened that they may be replaced, their primal instincts are triggered, leading them to act in undesirable ways.

Aggressiveness

Another clear sign of cockapoo jealousy is if they are overly aggressive towards the new animal or household member that is taking your attention away from them. This aggressiveness can be manifest in various ways, such as jumping, nipping, barking or even biting.

Guarding Resources

Cockapoo jealousy offers to start with your four-legged friend guarding resources. When they feel that you might be loving someone or something else more, they start to feel fretful that you may take away their favourite resources, whether their toys, water or food, and guarded fervently.

It’s not unusual for jealous dogs to gather all their toys and put them somewhere hidden or for them to act strangely around the feeding area. There have even been instances when cockapoos will pull hard on their lead if their owner stops to stroke and talk to other dogs and animals while out for a walk.

Causing Destruction

Along with aggressiveness, destructive behaviour is another way your cockapoo may act out with jealousy. Often, it’s the furniture that suffers. So, if your dog is normally obedient and well-behaved and starts biting, scratching and chewing at furniture, upholstery or anything else they shouldn’t be, jealousy could be the root cause.

Pushy Dog

Pushy behaviour is another obvious sign that your cockapoo is jealous. If you are giving love to your new pet or snuggling with your partner or new baby and your cockapoo tries to nudge between you, they are envious.

Toileting Indoors

Jealous cockapoos often show their envious feelings through inappropriate toileting, such as peeing and pooing indoors.

Leaving Rooms

Perhaps the politest way that your cockapoo may display jealousy is by simply leaving the room whenever the dog, animal or person they are jealous of comes in. Dogs and cockapoos are particularly sociable creatures, but when they are withdrawn, this signifies something is wrong.

Grooming Excessively

Does your dog seem to be grooming him or herself more than usual? This is normally a sign that they are stressed, and if it is because someone else is getting your attention, it could be fuelled by doggy jealousy.

Tips for Dealing With Cockapoo Jealousy

Now that we have established that cockapoo jealousy is a thing and you know some signs to look out for, what can you do to combat it? As outlined below, you can take several steps to deal with cockapoo jealousy.

Don’t Reward Jealous Behaviour

As is the case with children, dogs see any form of attention as good and positive attention. Therefore, if your cockapoo struggles to get the love and attention they want, it will happily accept a scolding just as much as a stroke and a cuddle. As a result, the more you react strongly to your cockapoo’s jealous behaviour, the more likely they will continue it.

A more effective approach than getting frustrated and vocal with your cockapoo is to turn around and walk out of the room without making eye contact with them. You need to be consistent. Follow the same rules you likely did when you trained them in the beginning by only offering praise, treats or playtime when they are well-behaved.

Get Active and Train

Many cockapoo owners get into a comfortable plateau and forget that no training may have gone on with their dog since they were a puppy. If that is the situation you find yourself in with your cockapoo, and they are acting jealously, it’s time to get your tools out again, like your clicker and the treats, and start with the basics again. You will find the time you spend together rewarding, and your bond will be strengthened. You will also be able to reaffirm the actions you want and those you don’t want from them.

Two healthiest ways you can interact with your dog are exercising and teaching them something new. If a new person or animal has come into your home, you must take extra measures to ensure time is spent on these activities every week. If your cockapoo is particularly stubborn, it may need extra motivation to eliminate its negative behavioural patterns. Dog trainers are a great resource for help with issues you may have trouble dealing with.

New Family Members or Partners

When a new family member or partner comes into your home, your cockapoo may feel upstaged and pushed to the side. One of the most effective ways to deal with this issue is by including the new person in the things your cockapoo loves to do most – playing, walking, and eating.

As we have noted, you should not reward bad behaviour but must ensure your cockapoo understands that the person is not going anywhere. Rather than giving them lots of treats to bribe your cockapoo, let them give your dog treats when they display good behaviour. Once your cockapoo has developed positive associations with the new household member, they’ll see them as another family member and be less jealous.

New Dogs and Animals

When you bring a new dog into your household, it is a scary experience for your cockapoo. They see it as a threat that they may be replaced. The best way to deal with this situation is by being as far as possible. Give out treats to the dogs only if they are behaving nicely with each other. This will encourage them to develop positive associations with one another and help them finetune their obedience.

Another effective way of dealing with this is by taking both dogs on walks together to develop a strong pack mentality between them. As dogs, especially cockapoos, are incredibly sociable and used to running in packs, you can help push the concept of them being a team rather than rivals.

New Babies

When new babies come into the household, they pose an incredibly huge challenge for cockapoos as dogs can pick up on your body language that you are very much invested in the small human. The best way to start to manage a situation like this is by letting your cockapoo sniff an outgrown piece of clothing or blanket that smells of your baby and rewarding them if they act calmly.

Consistency is always important, and when it comes to your dog’s schedule, you must try to keep it as it was before the baby arrived as possible. Don’t forget to have lots of positive interactions with your dog too.

Conclusion

It can be frustrating dealing with a jealous cockapoo but remember to take a fair approach. Give your dog time for petting, exercise, and playing. Whether it’s a new member of the family, a new partner or an animal, if you show consistency and take a caring approach, you will have the best head start at dealing with jealousy. Remember, too, that there is no shame in seeking professional help if you struggle to rein in jealous behaviour.