This really is a great forum. I do believe that all puppies are different (same as all babies are different) but it's reassuring to know that there's light at the end of the tunnel and most behaviours he will grow out of.
And I've just received a quote from our house alarm company to change the sensor in our kitchen to 'pet safe'. I think he may be better with some space to roam, and our kitchen is a good space for him.
Hopefully it'll sort out his daytime 'issues'!!!
And the biting has significantly reduced. Putting the harness on is still a challenge, and he likes to resource guard food/toys but he is certainly more chilled and I'm beginning to warm to him (he's now 21 weeks and has been with us since he was 9 weeks).
So thank you all.
What a lovely bunch of Cocker parents!!!
Just re read your post - there is a really good book called “Mine! A practical guide to resource guarding” by Jean Donaldson that I know has helped other owners on here.
To Minky and Digger, it does get better, honestly - Cockers are such rewarding little dogs but my goodness they are hard work as pups!.
One tactic I have found very effective is to use exclusion as a tool - by this I mean that the dog only gets affection when I want to give it, not when the dog comes to me asking - appreciate this is not easy with a puppy especially with those spaniel eyes.......
My first dog had terrible separation anxiety which looking back, I’d created from the moment I collected her and she howled on the way home - I stopped mid way and took her out of the carrier to calm her down, possibly I should have left her in it until she calmed down herself.
I’m using past tense as the separation anxiety has pretty much gone now. It’s taken 4 years but she’s fairly independent and if I asked a friend to hold her lead while I pop into a shop, she’s quite happy to stay outside and wait, whereas 4 years ago on holiday in Devon, she literally howled and shrieked as soon as I went into the shop. For anyone ther in Linton at the time, sorry! It was horrific not only to us hearing the noise but to Pearl and whatever was going on in her mind.
Since then I have been to a number of trainers and realised that everything that took place in our lives was on Pearls terms - she was fed when she asked, not when it suited me.....went out of doors before me.....and would happily get up on the settee whenever she pleased. She now has to earn all of these “privileges” by behaving (sit, paw, stopping when asked etc) once earned she gets hands on affection, or allowed on the settee
.
It has helped having a second dog but I think it would have been easier for Pearl if Coral had been male and a scs - Coral is a hard hunting, head strong, physically very althletic wcs that Pearl tried to compete with initially but has now realised she wouldn’t win so doesn’t bother. They rub along most of the time but will never share a basket.