I really appreciate reading other people's views on this problem. Some days, I feel like giving him to a dog home to find someone who can cope with him. He is 16 weeks old now and this week at puppy class he had forgotten all he had learnt. At home he keeps urinating on the hall carpet and on the kitchen floor. We feel as if we are wasting our time. Branston is apparently at a teenaged phase now so we are told and so we have been advised to go back to square one with everything. He attacks us, especially my husbands feet, slippers, hands and legs and occasionally my legs. Think we will have to get a cage for him in the car as he goes wild in the front and bites. How long will this last? Not until he is 4?? Dont think we will still be together by then. We have had cocker spaniels before but nothing like this. He also has separation anxiety. We leave him for 30 minutes in his crate every day so far but he barks and whines. Please help us to keep him!
I don't think he's in his teenage phase at 16 weeks. He's at peak 'cockerdile' though, with the biting. It is such a pain (quite literally) and I really found my patience tested at this age. Teething will have a lot to do with it - starts at about four months. Cooling chews you can put in the freezer help. Henry chewed on ice to relieve his gums. I remember being utterly fed up with him one day, with his nipping and neediness, then found blood on the toy we'd been playing tug with. He was cutting one of his big teeth and it was driving him mad.
How do you have him restrained in the car? We've always had Henry in a crate in the boot and while he hasn't always been a happy passenger, he's safe there.
It does sound as if he's a bit late in getting the hang of housetraining, but I'm sure some people here have had the same experience. You do just have to keep up with the basics.
With the separation anxiety, you might need to find out it is that or the crate that's the issue. We have been lucky with Henry on both counts but I know other COLers have experience of issues with both and will be more than happy to share their experiences.
Good luck - it WILL get better! Early days still.