My Puppy Will Bark at Squirrels for Hours. I’m Losing My Mind.

Hi! I have an 11-month-old puppy who is an American Cocker Spaniel. She’s incredibly smart, but she has a serious obsession with squirrels.

She will paw at our blinds until we raise them or until she can see behind them. Once she spots squirrels outside, she starts crying and barking at them. If we let it, this could go on for hours.

I’m really struggling to stop this behavior. She becomes completely hyper-fixated and nothing seems to redirect her for long. I’ve tried puzzle toys, enrichment games, and structured training sessions, but as soon as those are over, she goes straight back to our dining room (which has four windows) and starts barking and crying all over again. Until it gets dark outside and then she stops.

I’m feeling pretty stuck and would really appreciate any advice on how to manage or correct this behavior. Please help!