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Puppies / Re: Help! 4 month old working cocker spaniel issues
« Last post by Mudmagnets on December 04, 2023, 09:16:13 PM »Some really good advice from Vixen
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Puppies / Re: Help! 4 month old working cocker spaniel issues
« Last post by vixen on December 04, 2023, 06:17:41 PM »Please don’t despair.
I know where you are coming from as I had the puppy from hell
I had had two working cockers before and thought I was prepared but Maisie was something else. Even at 8 weeks old she was a bolshy teenager
Very bitey and answered back.
At 5 months old I have to admit I hated her and just wanted to go back to the time when I didn’t have her. BUT I felt I had taken her on and she was my responsibility and we would get through things together. I read lots and lots of old posts on COL about the bitey puppy stage and these really did help me as I realized I wasnt alone. I started to take a day at a time and just get through that. Maisie started to get better at 10 months and I know that seems a long time ahead for you but you can get through this stage a day at a time and it may not take so long for you as they are all different. Maisie is still a feisty little girl but that is her nature but she is also incredibly loving and cuddly now too. She is nearly two and a half now and I also have a boy aged 18 months.
Have you thought that maybe you are doing too much with him when out of his crate, over stimulating him? He has to learn to settle himself and if every time he comes out, you are doing something with him, how can he learn to self settle? If he starts to snarl at the lead, just put the lead down until he is calm. It may take many many attempts but gradually he will learn that if he stays calm he will get the lead on and can go for a walk.
Battersea have some good training videos and one teaches how to get a dog to settle. That may be useful to you.
When he has a stolen item, hard as it is, just ignore him. If he thinks you want it, it will make it much more valuable for him. If it is something that you simply have to get off him ( a remote/phone/dangerous item) throw something tasty on the ground and when he releases forbidden item retrieve it. Do you do swapping games with him?
There really is light at the end of the tunnel and you will get there but be consistent and calm with him.
Just to add, it is usually the really clever bright dogs who are the most difficult as puppies
I know where you are coming from as I had the puppy from hell
I had had two working cockers before and thought I was prepared but Maisie was something else. Even at 8 weeks old she was a bolshy teenager
Very bitey and answered back.At 5 months old I have to admit I hated her and just wanted to go back to the time when I didn’t have her. BUT I felt I had taken her on and she was my responsibility and we would get through things together. I read lots and lots of old posts on COL about the bitey puppy stage and these really did help me as I realized I wasnt alone. I started to take a day at a time and just get through that. Maisie started to get better at 10 months and I know that seems a long time ahead for you but you can get through this stage a day at a time and it may not take so long for you as they are all different. Maisie is still a feisty little girl but that is her nature but she is also incredibly loving and cuddly now too. She is nearly two and a half now and I also have a boy aged 18 months.
Have you thought that maybe you are doing too much with him when out of his crate, over stimulating him? He has to learn to settle himself and if every time he comes out, you are doing something with him, how can he learn to self settle? If he starts to snarl at the lead, just put the lead down until he is calm. It may take many many attempts but gradually he will learn that if he stays calm he will get the lead on and can go for a walk.
Battersea have some good training videos and one teaches how to get a dog to settle. That may be useful to you.
When he has a stolen item, hard as it is, just ignore him. If he thinks you want it, it will make it much more valuable for him. If it is something that you simply have to get off him ( a remote/phone/dangerous item) throw something tasty on the ground and when he releases forbidden item retrieve it. Do you do swapping games with him?
There really is light at the end of the tunnel and you will get there but be consistent and calm with him.
Just to add, it is usually the really clever bright dogs who are the most difficult as puppies
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Puppies / Re: Help! 4 month old working cocker spaniel issues
« Last post by LTMot on December 04, 2023, 05:03:50 PM »Thanks for coming back to me! We're in East Kent so any recommendations would be great!
As a first time owner I came into this with years of research (I've wanted a dog all my life) and even did courses but nothing quite prepares you for when one enters your life!!
As a first time owner I came into this with years of research (I've wanted a dog all my life) and even did courses but nothing quite prepares you for when one enters your life!!
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Puppies / Re: Help! 4 month old working cocker spaniel issues
« Last post by Mudmagnets on December 04, 2023, 09:49:29 AM »Hello and welcome to COL
I feel if I were in your circumstances with many issues, I would look for a behavourist (one who uses kind methods and offers 1 to 1 consultations would be best ) to look at your problems and help you solve them.
What area are you in? maybe someone on COL would know of a trusted trainer/behavourist near or not too far from you, maybe ask your vets if they know of anyone.
Sorry I cannot be of much help, but hope you get things sorted for your little man....and you
I feel if I were in your circumstances with many issues, I would look for a behavourist (one who uses kind methods and offers 1 to 1 consultations would be best ) to look at your problems and help you solve them.
What area are you in? maybe someone on COL would know of a trusted trainer/behavourist near or not too far from you, maybe ask your vets if they know of anyone.
Sorry I cannot be of much help, but hope you get things sorted for your little man....and you
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Health / Re: The saga of Harry's vacs cont:
« Last post by Jaysmumagain on December 04, 2023, 09:48:53 AM »Thanks everyone.
Firstly it was the vet who told me this back in May. After finding new info I phoned and was told a vet would call me back, instead receptionist did saying book appointment and vet will advise when Harry has vacs. I booked, then called back and cancelled and said I wanted it clarifying before appt in early Jan and would pop in to surgery with Harry's card. I said that my understanding was at one year Harry needed his Lepto only.
Hubby and I are not agreeing to anything else and I have spoken to two local vets and they give Nobivax and receptionist both say Nobivax(they use) is compatable with Canigen and I can register - also I can go to the vet who did the primary vacs about 15 miles away. Hubby Mum lives in town so our car find its own way plus this vet his the only vet who still does out hours at surgery all the others. Bless then at are local RSPCA clinic they will do it too for payment.
My present vets night cover is some 34 miles away and 45 mins drive. In itself a horrible thought with an ill dog. So I think maybe time for change - plus I have such sad and so present memories of Ollie there.
Will let you know the outcome.
Firstly it was the vet who told me this back in May. After finding new info I phoned and was told a vet would call me back, instead receptionist did saying book appointment and vet will advise when Harry has vacs. I booked, then called back and cancelled and said I wanted it clarifying before appt in early Jan and would pop in to surgery with Harry's card. I said that my understanding was at one year Harry needed his Lepto only.
Hubby and I are not agreeing to anything else and I have spoken to two local vets and they give Nobivax and receptionist both say Nobivax(they use) is compatable with Canigen and I can register - also I can go to the vet who did the primary vacs about 15 miles away. Hubby Mum lives in town so our car find its own way
plus this vet his the only vet who still does out hours at surgery all the others. Bless then at are local RSPCA clinic they will do it too for payment.My present vets night cover is some 34 miles away and 45 mins drive. In itself a horrible thought with an ill dog. So I think maybe time for change - plus I have such sad and so present memories of Ollie there.
Will let you know the outcome.
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Puppies / Help! 4 month old working cocker spaniel issues
« Last post by LTMot on December 04, 2023, 08:31:48 AM »Hi everyone - hoping I can get some advice. I got my male working cocker spaniel at 8 weeks and he has always been a biter - it became so bad he went back to the breeder for a week of 'puppy bootcamp' and he came back good as gold. Problem is the issues as resurfacing, especially jumping up and nipping my arms. When I try and put a lead on he also tries to bite and has began snarling which I'm really concerned about. The other issue is he gets very over excited really quickly when out of his crate (lays down, barks at me, jumps around and jumps and nips). We try and give him as many naps as possible and time outside of the crate is kept short and sweet with retrieving games, scent work, and walks. Has anyone else experiences this and what did you do?
He also never comes to us in the house and gives us a wide birth - especially when he has a toy or has 'stolen' something. It's as if all trust has been lost.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. We love our pup so much and he is so smart and we can see great things ahead, but honestly this puppy phase has been awful!
He also never comes to us in the house and gives us a wide birth - especially when he has a toy or has 'stolen' something. It's as if all trust has been lost.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. We love our pup so much and he is so smart and we can see great things ahead, but honestly this puppy phase has been awful!
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Health / Re: The saga of Harry's vacs cont:
« Last post by phoenix on December 03, 2023, 11:14:16 AM »Maybe they only stock nobivac due to contracts. If it’s a practiise with a few vets, it might be worthwhile to ask to clarify it with the head vet. Also a receptionist will only tell you the rules as they know it.They are overworked, grumbled at, and not allowed to make decisions on anything . My son was late for boosters and receptionist insisted he need to start all over, but the vet was sensible and just did booster.
Google says, like you, that nobivac and Canigen are compatible.
Google says, like you, that nobivac and Canigen are compatible.
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Health / Re: The saga of Harry's vacs cont:
« Last post by vixen on December 02, 2023, 07:13:25 PM »Round where I live (Midlands) it is really hard to register at a vets. Most have closed their books to new clients as they were overrun with new customers during the pandemic.
I was lucky in the fact that I was already registered at two practices with my previous precious girls so was able to easily add my two new dogs.
Several people I know that have got new dogs now have to go out of area just to get their dogs vaccinated.
This makes it more difficult to challenge vets decisions as one can not simply take our custom to another practice as we could have done in the past
I am pleased that Jaysmumagain is able to go to another practice but not everyone can.
I was lucky in the fact that I was already registered at two practices with my previous precious girls so was able to easily add my two new dogs.
Several people I know that have got new dogs now have to go out of area just to get their dogs vaccinated.
This makes it more difficult to challenge vets decisions as one can not simply take our custom to another practice as we could have done in the past
I am pleased that Jaysmumagain is able to go to another practice but not everyone can.
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Health / Re: The saga of Harry's vacs cont:
« Last post by bizzylizzy on December 02, 2023, 04:56:28 PM »Much as you obviously like your present vet I would challenge it and mention that you will have no alternative but to change vets. Maybe the thought of losing a client with a year old dog & the bad impression it may make if you make your dissatisfaction known to others for the sake of his pride may bring him to his senses? (he is probably still a bit disgruntled at losing out on Harry's pup vacs
Absolutely agree!
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Health / Re: The saga of Harry's vacs cont:
« Last post by Mudmagnets on December 01, 2023, 04:25:15 PM »Much as you obviously like your present vet I would challenge it and mention that you will have no alternative but to change vets. Maybe the thought of losing a client with a year old dog & the bad impression it may make if you make your dissatisfaction known to others for the sake of his pride may bring him to his senses? (he is probably still a bit disgruntled at losing out on Harry's pup vacs )
)