Cocker Specific Discussion > Puppies

11 week old puppy biting and snarling

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rosiesmum54:
Hi everyone. My puppy Molly is almost 11 weeks. I have had her since 8 weeks old. She is a darling in most ways but the biting is really worrying us now. She of course chews anything in sight which is normal for a teething puppy. However she bites our hands, feet, arms, ears, anything basically that she can sink those little teeth into. She will try to shake us :005: but will snarl quite crossly if we try to detach her from our bodies. I have had puppies in the past and cannot remember this snarling and biting. We have noticed that if we lift her away from sonething that we don't want her to have she will also growl.
She has had health check at the vets so nothing physically wrong with her, apart from teething. I don't mind if this is something she will grow out of but am worried that she may not. At the minute I couldn't allow her to come into contact with children, or other dogs. She just launches herself at them! Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

MIN:
Oh dear, you have entered the cockerdile stage. Perfectly normal I'm afraid ( have the scars ourselves).  Plenty of advice if you take a look at past posts, there will be hundreds. The pups are worst when tired they get irritable and bity. More naps needed. Enjoy, oh wearing wellies and chain mail helps

Joules:
Perfectly normal at that age I'm afraid. Have a look through the posts on the puppy board: we've all been there  ;)
 
http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?board=6.0

Keep a handy toy to put in her mouth when she is bitey and make sure she is getting plenty of sleep. Distract her with a toy or treat or ignore her until she calms down.  When I had my first pup, all the bottoms of my trousers had teeth marks in them where she had been hanging onto my clothes  ph34r An overtired pup is likely to be very manic and bitey. If she can have some time out in another room or in her crate if she likes it, then she is more likely to sleep than if she is with you as they do not like to miss out. Puppies need about 18 hours or more sleep a day so make sure she is not getting overtired

It is a phase, but it is hard work, so stock up on wine and chocolate - for you not Molly obviously  :005:

rosiesmum54:
Thank you both for the good advice and words of hope and encouragement! Believe me I have thought about the welly boots lol. I thought she had been getting enough naps but possibly not. She goes into her crate for maybe an hour a few times a day and sleeps on average 8 hours during the night. Moving the crate into another room for the daytime rests may be the answer. No interruptions.
I am feeling so much better knowing it's not just me being a bad puppy mummy and that it's normal and will pass. It's great I can come on here and know there will always be someone who has been there, done that, and came out the other side! Choc and wine sound brill by the way!! :005:

Joules:
It's definitely not you being a bad mum.  I thought the same and joining COL was a lifesaver as, not only did I learn that everything I was going through was totally normal, but that I was actually doing OK.  I wish I had known then what I know now and I would have stressed less and enjoyed the puppy stage more.  :-\

Pick your battles - walk away when it gets too much. Keep her busy, but not too busy and ignore people who make you feel she should be a little robot who just does as she's told. Cockers are not actually a particularly easy breed, but I still think they are the best dogs in the world.  :luv:

Re other dogs, I would actively seek out some calm, older dogs for her to meet as they will tell her off when she is going too far.  It is the best way for a pup to learn doggy manners.  Also, the chance to go crazy and let off steam with other pups is very important at this age.  She needs to meet as many other dogs as possible now - when I took Coco to puppy class, our homework was always to meet 10 new dogs!  :D

It will get easier, so relax and don't give yourself a hard time. You are getting used to each other and it can take a while. In time you will find a middle ground that suits you all. You may never be able to train her out of certain things (with Coco it was stealing food and barking!) but you'll just learn to manage it and you will have the most loving and funny companion you have ever had  :luv:

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