Can this really be just play biting? Updated

[MillicentWight]

We are having a few problems with Willow and wonder if anyone can advize us the difference between play biting and a full blown attack? At the moment we are finding it almost impossible to relax in our own home.  If we sit down Willow will without warning sink her teeth into the back of our ankles or jump up and bite our hands or legs. She will not respond to ‘get down’ or ’leave’ command and just telling her makes it worse as she then lunges at us, barking and growling as though she has completely lost it. Even her eyes go red The only way she will let go is by lifting her up and then she is snapping in all directions and almost screaming, trying to bite. We put her out of the room or in her crate until she calms down but as soon as we let her back in the room it all starts again.
Just walking around indoors Willow does the same to our feet and ankles and it is like walking with a ball and chain as it is almost impossible to make her let go.
Since we had her at just 7 weeks she has always been biting and sinking her teeth into everything imaginable, including wood and metal. I know this is what puppies do but willow does seem a bit extreme.
The only ray of hope so far is with training treats when she will sometimes respond to ‘get down’ or ‘leave’ for a few seconds, but the novelty wears off once she realises there are no more bribes. Back to the slammer!
Willow is always so hungry and gobbles her food down in the blink of an eye. She is fed the recommended ammount of Naturediet but we are now giving her some kibble between meals and it still doesn’t fill her up.
She is good out walking, well except for everything she picks up and eats, and loves being in the car.
Any advice or just moral support would be just so welcome as my OH is finding it very difficult with continually getting hurt.
Thanks.

[Qwerty]

Our last cocker was a terrible biter as a pup, drawing blood from hands many a time! I smiled at your ball and chain comment as she was the same - hanging onto any bit of clothing she could and growling away.  Telling her off did no good at all as she would just seemed to 'answer back'! At the time we were really worried we had an aggressive cocker on our hands. Well she turned into the sweetest, softest friend you could imagine without a bad bone in her body and  never growled at anything or anyone as an adult. She loved everyone she met! We expected the same with our new puppy, now 11 months, but she hasn't been nearly as extreme With the biting. So they must vary! I can only suggest welly boots to stop her hanging off your trousers and protect your legs!

[MillicentWight]

Thanks for the reply.
You have reminded me that our last pup used to go for my ankles and many a time I was trapped down the garden, having to pick her up and carry her to get back indoors. She too became one of the sweetest natured dogs anyone could imagine.
The problem with Willow is probably exaggerated because of our ages. Diabetes means open wounds on our feet are not a good idea, and in my case, foot neuropathy means I can only wear open shoes and no socks. The slightest touch feels like an electric shock. I'm beginning to think poor Willow having to put up with me.
We will persevere with her as we have grown to love her too much to part with her now though.

[rednblack]

Have you tried getting Willow to grab a toy instead of you?  Prince was an ankle-biter - after some tears and language a puppy really shouldn't hear, we found that getting him to bite on a soft toy helped.  We used the bird-shaped ones, because they're long and so help protect the fingers  . 
 
We also found that he was very bitey when he was overtired and needed a nap, and also when he needed a poo.
 
They are so worth it, though, and do grow out of it - it's just getting over that cockerdile stage which is horrid and feels like it'll never end.
 
Meanwhile, sending you 

[Murphys Law]

When we used to pick Murphy up for some enforced crate time his head used to whirl around like a snake trying to sink his teeth into something.
Tiredness was a big factor so we made sure that he got crated upstairs after a walk or when he looked tired and things improved a hell of a lot. Also when he finished teething he got even better.
Now we are going through secondary teething and he likes to mouth but not bite. I can live with that.

[lescef]

 Sorry to read you are having a few problems. I too was going to suggest trying to put something else in her mouth before she gets to you. There are lots of chewy type toys or if she is teething an old flannel or tea towel rolled up and frozen.
If she needs to have her energy diverted try a kong or treat ball but lots of rest too. A tired puppy is bad tempered puppy!

[lesley3165]

Don't give up, I promise it does eventually get better, we were new to cocker ownership and wow what a shock to us Meg was. I couldn't believe that something so cute could be so bitey. She is now 13 months old and is a different dog altogether, it took what seemed forever for her to stop biting but she got there and so will willow

[ShazzaC]

How old is Willow now? Blue was a little  with the play biting - still a mouther at nearly 8 months! He would often trap me in the garden by the ankles 
It does sound normal to me. Like everyone has said, tiredness and over excitement or even sometimes boredom all play a part. Plus, their teething goes on for quite a long time.

[JeffD]

If you look back at my posts you will see Teal was the cockerdile from hell and yes the red eyes bit don't help  , it does get so much better but it was 10 or 12 months before it happened.

I wish I could offer some help but nothing worked with Teal other than letting her grow up.

[MillicentWight]

Thanks for your replies. Willow does have lots of chewy toys and they do help for a while but she definitely prefers my hand.
She is just twelve weeks old and we are now able to take her out for walks so we are hoping it will help by using up some of her energy.
Would her teeth be causing her pain at twelve weeks? I read on here recently that they don't start teething until later.

[PennyB]

I used to wear wellies to go through the kitchen with some pups I've had here - that way my ankles got a reprieve. Also your hand is the most accessible and will move around more than any other part of you body so becomes fair game as well am afraid

its a case of teaching them bite inhibition and sometimes diverting their attention on to something else. Usually once a day they will also go through the biting wall of death as well when they get quite manic - some pups do it at the same time every day and often its a bit like letting off steam - I just tend to stand back and let them get on with it (I tend not to get in way of pups when they go through this as half the time they aren't listening and trying to intervene just makes matters worse)

seems like it takes forever but it will ease off eventually

All pups are different though - I've had blood drawn and alligator teeth with some to very few problems with other pups

[MillicentWight]

Just a quick update.  Willow really has settled in now and we are so proud of her, and although she does still go a bit overboard with the ‘play’ biting it is not as bad or often as it was.  When we take her for walks she has such a huge fan club that we can’t go for more than a few yards without someone stopping and making a fuss of her and wanting to take her home with them. She really is a beautiful and intelligent little girl, just like all the other cocker pups on here.
Thanks to everyone giving advice and it did help us alot as there was a time when we were not sure if we could keep her.
We now know that the real problem was not with Willow but with us. Our age and our health was against us and we had forgotten just what it was like to have a crazy cocker pup living with us, but she has really brought alot of ‘excitement’  and happiness back into our lives! In fact Willow has already become such an important part of our family that I can’t imagine life without her now.
Bob         

[Qwerty]

Nice to read! Willow has a lovely home. Puppies are such hard work and it feels like forever at the time but when it passes - ours is 11 months and really settling down-it doesnt seem so long. And of course when they are old you would have the puppy days back in a heartbeat!