shes now started growling if the kids stroke her when she is lay on the floor or in her bed shes never bothered before , i know shes at that age where shes trying it on but ive been so worried anyone had similar problems any advice would be gratefully accepted [snapback]119870[/snapback]
Maybe as she's getting older she just wants to be left in peace when she's lying down - Jimmy can sometimes be a bit like this, other times he'll roll on his back to have his belly scratched. He doesn't growl, it's more of a frustrated grumble really, his way of saying "just leave me alone, will you ?". To be honest I think it's fair enough - I wouldn't want somebody interrupting my sleep to paw at me either. :D
Hopefully a combination of the NILIF and getting the kids to give her a bit more space will improve things. :) Maybe getting the kids to take turns feeding her might help too, using the NILIF thechniques of sit and wait - she could be relating all the good things with you, feeding and walks etc and so think you are the only one she needs to behave nicely for.
shes now started growling if the kids stroke her when she is lay on the floor or in her bed shes never bothered before , i know shes at that age where shes trying it on but ive been so worried anyone had similar problems any advice would be gratefully accepted [snapback]119870[/snapback]
Maybe as she's getting older she just wants to be left in peace when she's lying down - Jimmy can sometimes be a bit like this, other times he'll roll on his back to have his belly scratched. He doesn't growl, it's more of a frustrated grumble really, his way of saying "just leave me alone, will you ?". To be honest I think it's fair enough - I wouldn't want somebody interrupting my sleep to paw at me either. :D
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Ruby also does this, she sits and grumbles if you touch her sometimes but for me its nothing to worry about as its just her being grumpy (she's quite vocal aobut most things). Rocky cocker often used to sit all on his own and grumble away like a big bear when he was here.
TTouch might help with her especially with the nipping bit. When I com eup against something like this I don't go ahead and complete the whole task but in stages and treat them at every stage (even touching)
:blink: have just spoken to huns breeder , i wanted to know if any of the others out of huns litter were displaying aggression like her , she is in touch with all of her offspring and said that to her knowledge no apart from the usual trying to be top dog :P but what she did say was that huns mum is also a little madam very confident and has to be put in her place she said she is very stubborn , she said hun was the most confident of the litter from day one , she said the same as the advice ive been given on here so thats put my mind at rest a little , she also thinks with her having the phantom and her season being due again may june it could be hormonal so with any luck that may help xxxxxxxxxx :) she thought i was phoning to say i wanted to go on the list for another puppy :blink: not bl dy likely at the moment luv ruth n attila the hun
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Sounds like my little madam, Ruby. You have to keep your wits about you. Like you I chose the most confident pup in the litter who had me tearing my hair out from day 1. Its always been a battle of wits with Ruby, and talk about stubborn. Your breeder is so right, am very sure that a lot of problems of this kind are because of overconfident dogs who really challenge their owners. I know that in the wrong hands Ruby would've had a new home by now (what she didn't reckon on was having an owner who was more stubborn than her LOL). It doesn't make it any easier when you're going through these challenges but comforting to know its because they're trying it on and you're not alone.
Saying that I have Ruby's half-brother who is the total opposite!
Really pleased to hear that Ruth :D
Attila the Hun :lol: :lol:
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I had a traumatic year with a young beautiful Red dog suffering from Rage Aggression,not that I think yours is anywhere near what mine was like.What I really wanted to say was I have one now,a Gold/Red young dog,who although he curls his lips as if snarling,he does not mean anything - I know there is a big difference in this one,it is almost as if he is talking with me.
I used to dread Grandchild days last year as it was a nightmare watching the youngster with the other dog who I could never trust for 1 second -although he was "reasonable" most times with me.It is great that I can trust this one,curling lips and all!
I recall many years back I had a very dominant Dalmation and he actually bit my 2 year old son on his face,there were marks all down one cheek.Anyway I really laid the law down that day and the dog ended up shut in a stable all day.A lady living near told me not to act too quickly as she felt the dog should be given another chance.Anyway,I cooled down and the dog stayed with us and never bit the child or anyone again.However he had to go in the end as my husband and he started to disagree on everything,he had a very good home and peace returned.
Returning to your problem,try not to worry too much as sometimes,especially where children are concened we get overly anxious.Have you thought about giving the dog 100% fresh food.I find boiled brown rice and fresh meat or tripe seems to have a calming effect but the complete foods can make them hyper as does many medicines.
:) just a quick update Hunny is responding really well to her new set of rules :lol: no more on my bed having to sit for everything shes really calmed down a lot from last week , the only prob ive got is shes weeing on trhe kitchen floor when we come down in a morning , shes been clean for ages wondered if this is part of the im not happy im not on your bed tactic , i also think she going to start her second season so that maybe why shes been a madam too , love ruth n hunny xx :)
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Ruth, you have hit the head of the nail on this one.Your little girl is suffering with up and down Hormone levels.We had 2 English Setters that were pains around Season time,they would be all over the place,moody one minute,piddling on the floor the next.They cannot help it as all women who suffer with this WILL Know!!.One old Vet we had said lost of bitches have tremendous poblems with seasonal hormone changes.
Just give her lashings of love and try and keep her quiet.I wouldn't let the children play with her too much if you can help it, as she will be moody.
That's brilliant Ruth, well done - it's great when a slight change in the way you do things can bring almost instant results. It also encourages you to persist :D
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Yes brilliant news its starting to work already and regardless of her hormones worth persisting with (madam Ruby while even more a pain in the backside pre/during/post season, can still be a pain at times even without her hormones)
I spoke to one breeder last week about this. She tells me that she only sells her solid coloured dogs to homes without kids...because solids are a handful !!!
This disappoints me for a number of reasons :( ; surely carefully selected breeding should eliminate the need to "avoid" children; why select for this type of personality? - it seems to contradict the breed standard of " Gentle and affectionate......"
Each potential home, and each pup/dog are different; to set a blanket policy like this can be counterproductive - but thats a different debate :ph34r: :(
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I know what you're saying Rachel, but owning a nightmare Red...and having a young family, I found this to be responsible thing for her to say. She's been breeding them for 50 years. She said that if these people still wanted solids, fine, but they wouldn't be getting one from her!!
She was not saying that all solids are aggressive brutes, simply that they are unpredictable and not suited to families with young children.
As for breed standard....Millie is not gentle or affectionate...but Bramble, on the other hand is very much in keeping with the breed standard.
Firstly I think it's wrong to be discussing a particular breeder and her comments on this forum - she isn't a member so isn't in a position to state her opinions on this matter for herself.
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Agreed - can we keep names out of the discussion please :)
Mike
Secondly, I can't say I agree with this solid Cockers bad, particolours good theory. The Cocker with the worst behavioural problems I've ever encountered was a blue roan, I also heard of a blue roan that had to be pts in a rescue home recently as it was one of the worst cases of aggression they'd ever seen. These two dogs aren't an indication of any problems particular to blue roans at all of course but do show how it can be dangerous to make generalisations. If 99% of the Cockers in rescue are reds what happened to their black littermates with whom they share the same genes ?
I'd say Jimmy (red) has been a bit more challenging at times than Misty (blue roan) yet he was by far the better behaved puppy of the two. I suspect that it was my inexperience as an owner that led to some of this rather than anything genetic - second time round with Misty I was far more knowledgable and had learnt from my mistakes. :)
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Couldn't agree more with this. Confident pups whatever the colour can be a real challenge and if mishandled can be a complete nightmare (or worse).
Sadly there is a evidence to support the theory that Reds and Golds are not suitable with children.I say this having gone through the most of last year with a Rage Red/gold dog in my home. [snapback]122651[/snapback]
If all red cockers suffered from rage then I'd agree - but as only a very small amount do, I don't agree.
As if it wasn't bad enough that some members of the public think all red cockers have temperament problems, it's disheartening to hear that some breeders are perpetuating this myth. :(
A red dog has any kind of problem, the owner thinks "not my fault, it must have rage". A particlour has a problem the owner maybe thinks "what am I doing wrong ? Must be my fault."
Sadly there is a evidence to support the theory that Reds and Golds are not suitable with children.I say this having gone through the most of last year with a Rage Red/gold dog in my home. [snapback]122651[/snapback]
If all red cockers suffered from rage then I'd agree - but as only a very small amount do, I don't agree.
As if it wasn't bad enough that some members of the public think all red cockers have temperament problems, it's disheartening to hear that some breeders are perpetuating this myth. :(
A particolour dog has any kind of problem, the owner thinks "not my fault, it must have rage". A particlour has a problem the owner maybe thinks "what am I doing wrong ? Must be my fault."
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I do not think it is a small amount, that is the problem.I love Golds and Reds,but having lived for all those months with a Rage Gold made me want to ask many questions to many previous owners, so I did I asked and asked and also to many Breeders who were prepared to be truthful and not bury their heads in the proverbial sandpit.Most of these had bred cockers for well over 30 years. Please do not take your frustration out on me,this should be directed to the breeders who have Rage syndrome cockers in their lines -I have been upset enough over the last year.
Sadly there is a evidence to support the theory that Reds and Golds are not suitable with children.I say this having gone through the most of last year with a Rage Red/gold dog in my home. I could write a book about it, as I kept a diary the whole way through from beginning to end.
I do have another Red/gold and at 5months he is my hero,a super little guy,but still needing very firm handling.
You cannot keep a true Rage dog with or around children.This is impossible as their attacks are like a Cobras,no warnings,no upsets,they just strike like lightening and they are very vicious when they strike.
I know of an excellent well run Kennels that absolutely refuses to sell any solid coloured cocker to a family with children.If the people still insist then they must fill out a form declaring that they are taking on a solid against the Breeders advice,and they are made to sign this form.
I have studied parti coloured Cockers in our locality,talked with the owners.All of them say that the dogs and bitches are manageable and good tempered around children.There are 3 families I know who had Golds, and 2 of them had bad Rage.One had to be put down at 14 weeks as he attacked the owner so badly she needed stitches.The other one,again a gold aged 2years,attacked the little son they had several times,and the last time was very bad,again hospital treatment was necessary. The 3rd gold seems OK, but the family have no children.
My own current gold is OK, but I went through the pedigree with a tooth comb before buying him.
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I knew I'd open a can of worms here!!
Firstly, sorry for using names...
Secondly, I too have lived with this nightmare for a year. Either all the research I've done, every expert I've spoken to is wrong, or this forum isn't open to what's going on with solid coloured dogs.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS ALL SOLIDS, I know there are many members with dogs from good stock who are fantastic. Also, I am not suggesting that all solid cockers with behavioural problems have rage. The fact is that this behaviour IS more common in solid coloured cockers...and there are many new members who can back this up.
I'm not talking about dogs who are dominant who try it on, I'm talking about dogs who guard something...and you don't know they're guarding it until you touch it and they go nuts!!
These dogs usually only behave like this in their own homes. If I had a penny for every passing random person who stopped to pet Millie and said she had a lovely nature, or every groomer who said she wasa model client, I'd be rich!
The fact is that she's lovely 99% of the time....the other 1%...watch out!!!
I respect the views and knowledge of all on this forum, people I now call friends, and who have helped me with some difficult Millie issues, all I am saying is....look at the facts!
I'm not talking about dogs who are dominant who try it on, I'm talking about dogs who guard something...and you don't know they're guarding it until you touch it and they go nuts!!
These dogs usually only behave like this in their own homes. If I had a penny for every passing random person who stopped to pet Millie and said she had a lovely nature, or every groomer who said she wasa model client, I'd be rich!
The fact is that she's lovely 99% of the time....the other 1%...watch out!!!
I respect the views and knowledge of all on this forum, people I now call friends, and who have helped me with some difficult Millie issues, all I am saying is....look at the facts!
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Sometimes we are responsible for this sort of behaviour in our dogs and guarding behaviour can happen in any breed. My vet (and dog trainer who's been training dogs for years) has told me about countless dogs (of all breeds) that begin guarding it then doesn't stop at their food bowl but they end up guarding the sofa and then the bed from their owners, collies can do it terriers can do it, in fact they can all do it but again its often down to the personality type of the individual dog not because they're a certain colour.
Glad to see a post from an owner who wants all this Rage syndrome in solid Cockers brought into the open.It is easier to go with the flow sometimes and try to forget there are issues about solid Cockers. [snapback]122692[/snapback]
I beg your pardon?
I can assure you that the rage syndrome is spoken about quite widely on this forum - it would be a little bit irresponsible if we were to pretend that this wasn't an issue that people should at the very least be aware of. To imply otherwise is actually a little bit offensive.
No need for you to apologise, Ruth :)
This thread is now locked.