Hi,
I have posted in intro and puppy photos boards, now my first post
Salty is my 2nd dog (so I am no expert), my Wife has had 3 Cockers before as a child (they lived in the holiday house and outside only)
Of course, its about those needle sharp teeth combined with teething and a licence to use them on anything that moves
I was really worried, but this forum reassured me no end - thanks!
I'd really just like some confirmation that my plan is not a bad one.
Salty is adorable, loves cuddles, like to please us, is learning very quickly and is generally a great little doggy.
He can sit there and have my hand in his mouth and will chew a bit but not too hard
But he has biting furies when he just cant stop himself.
There seem to be patterns (early morning, later in evening).
His eyes show the whites and he is off.
He will also jump around at the ankles and its impossible to walk around.
I can pick him up and he stops
He is worse with my wife and daughter.
He does growl.
There are lots of 'levels' of hyper-bity-activity
He sleeps in our annex, with run of an enclosed yard within a bigger garden.
I think he is getting tired and/or overstimulated
So I have started to shut him in his room with a treat and a bone and a good doggy and cuddles to force him to take naps during the day
Also, walks in between, (2 times 20 mins per day)
We are all on holiday for August, so there are people around but he has been left on his own since young so is used to that.
Having a raw-hide bone at hand helps
I am thinking of getting some of those chews I saw referred to on here - 'Yackers' or the like? It'll have to be internet bought tho.
I am also training him to come back (currently clearing 'outer' big garden of things he can chew etc, but v. soon)
Ball throwing
Sitting on walks
etc
All good -he loves it
And lots of cuddles - we are besotted with the little b#gger
He has snapped on my wife's hand when she was trying to get a fruit stone out of his mouth, but that was badly done as she said she knows she pushed him too far (she grew up with Cockers here)
He does get territorial over things he has picked up, but I can open his mouth with finger and thumb and get pretty much out of his mouth if I am nice about it and let him know its mine - he might make a few grumbles, but I think he's being pretty accommodating about that.
My 9 year old daughter has taught him to sit and lay down, and she gets in there and picks him up and puts him in the cooler (out in the yard) when he starts snapping at her, so I'm not worried about that - although it seems obvious that he thinks she is the easy option for a step up the pecking order rung. next is my wife, I am top dog (at least in this
) all those nights of going out to him for poo breaks etc that I seemed to have ended up with were worth it
He was 4 weeks late going outside as the first vaccine done before we got him turned out not to be sufficient when we went to our vet expecting to get the second set. Although I did start taking for walks on the lead around the 'outer' garden from an early age - he is very good on the lead
Getting him outside on walks is helping a lot (pulls a bit but is learning as I become a bollard if he pulls too much (and I keep him very close on a short lead by my heel
He also loved a swim in the estuary
Socialising with other dogs on leads is fine (if very energetic
)and he has had lots of children and adult visitors since we got him
There are lots of guard dogs left in empty houses around us so he sees a lot of aggressive behaviour as we walk around - I am minimising this by choice of route, but he is learning to be calm when we pass a snarling doberman etc
So, sorry for the ramble, not even sure if it is easy to answer this post actually, but time is up - daughter and hound are calling
Um grande abraço a todos!
(a big hearty hug to all)
Leigh