Puppy Problems

[Rikki]

Hi there,

First post on the forum. My partner and I recent rehomed a 4 (nearly 5) month old Working Cocker Spaniel bitch a couple of weeks ago.

We are having a lot of issues with her to the point that we don't really know what to do and, I hate to say it, I'm really starting to lose my patience and we are starting to reconsider our decision. I really hope you guys can help us.

She has started to aggressively bite, growl and bark. I know puppies do this but it's not mouthing and doesn't really seem like  the normal behaviour for a pup, it seems to be getting worse and she is actively coming over, clamping down and growling. Every time you try to correct her (saying no, not physically) she will start to bite you and bark at you. We can't even play games such as fetch, tug of war or hide and seek (her toys) because she will bite and growl and hide.

We have tried ignoring the biting to no avail, she will just wait for you to come back and start doing it again or she will bark at you and try and nip. We have tried correcting her by yelping and walking away for a minute and it has the same effect. We have tried putting her on a time out in her crate and she will bark and whine until you let her out and then she will just nip again. We have even as a last resort corrected her by shouting a firm 'NO!' And giving her a tap on the nose and it just isn't working.

We have a few other typical issues such as separation anxiety, chewing and weeing which can obviously be sorted out but it's just seeming like this aggression and biting isn't going to stop.


I really hope you can help us as we really don't want to give up!

Thanks

[Pearly]

Hi and welcome to COL

Its been a while since Pearl was a pup but she certainly behaved as you are describing on more occasions than I could count!  Its a brave decision to take on a pup that's a little bit older, do you know of her history? Did the previous owner do any training with her (bite inhibition?) And how socialised with other dogs is she?

Sorry to ask so many questions but its hard to offer thoughts or advice on here without knowing a little more

I found the most effective action with Pearl was to ignore her - by that I mean if she nipped (or tried harder) to turn my back on her, cross my arms and look as though I was sulking! She'd take herself off for a few minutes and then come back all sweetness and cuddles  until the next attempt!

She also started teething at around 5 months and was far worse if she was tired, out of normal routines or excited from playing (which its really tempting to do at that age )

It does get better and I'm sure someone with more experience or more recent expereince will be along soon to offer advice.

(Please don't tap on her nose as she may become frightened of your hands!)

Jayne

[HBP]

Did the shelter you rehomed her from not give you any advice?

I was surprised how just how vicious puppy biting and nipping can seem, especially when they are literally jumping up to clamp their jaws around you! And it does take time to get the message that its unacceptable over to them. We had only just started to make progress around 4 months, and now pup is teething so we are sort of back to square one. I guess your rescue pup has never had any consistency to her training - which is why you're suffering so much now! Might she be teething also? Keep doing what you're doing, patience is definitely required with these little cockers! Perhaps getting a behaviourist might be an option for the barking/ growling? She's obviously still a bit insecure.

I didn't realise biting/nipping was a "perk" of the breed... it came as a big shock to me. COL is a godsend, everyone's been there, right at the end of their tether... and it really helps to know that on bad days!

Good luck x

[Murphys Law]

I had similar problems with Murphy, and still do occasionally. Just not with the growling and barking.

One thing I noticed today when Murphy was on a short walk with a neighbours 3 month old Terrier was that they literally fought the whole time they were on the walk. Just puppies being puppies and having a great time. A lot of the behaviour I saw with us was mirrored in the play fighting with the other puppy.

Time outs in another room/crate work best for Murphy.

Also, working Cockers have unbelievable amounts of energy. How much exercise is she getting?

If Murphy looks like he is about to go on one of his mad half hours I take him out for a short walk and this seems to calm him down.

Talking to many Cocker owners I meet on walks and reading many similar threads to this one, it does seem that Cocker pups are prone to biting (cockerdile is a phrase I hear a lot) but stick with it and I am sure things will get better and you will be rewarded with a fantastic companion.

After 2 weeks, I am sure 3 out of the four of us could have quite easily thrown the towel in.

Edit:Just to add, Murphy probably shows the worst behaviour of any dog in the history of dogs. He switches my Xbox off with his nose whilst I am in the middle of a game  (he likes the 'ping' sound it makes when it switches off and on) If that isn't grounds for being shipped out to the dog pound I don't know what is.

[Rikki]

Thank you for the swift replies. Maybe I should have elaborated a bit more. She's not a rescue; we re-homed her from a family that had her from 8 weeks and now I look back on their behaviour towards her, she was definitely the dominating force in the house. She is great with other dogs and we try to socialise her as much as possible. We both work and we are both away for about 6-8 hours three days a week so she is on her own, I know this isn't ideal but she is walked morning and evening and gets at least an hours worth of walks on those days as well as play time after work. The other four days of the week at least one of us is home all day with her and we take her to a dog park for a couple of hours, as well as a 40min+ walk in the evening and some play time.

HBP, It's certainly a relief to hear that other pups have appeared rather aggressive with their biting too! You're right about the behaviourist, we have already contacted one and are in the process of arranging a 1-2-1 meeting with her and Millie (Our puppy! Just realised I hadn't said that), we were curious as to whether we should both be there? Or is it ok with just one of us?

We're both new to Cockers but have each had 18 years+ experience with other dog breeds, I guess it's a matter of finding a method that works best for her and sticking to it. As I mentioned before, Pearly, tapping her on the nose was a desperate last resort and hasn't happened since!

And Murphy, Millie has started to shuffle under our tv cabinet, unplugging my xbox from the power block in the process so I feel your pain  I wasn't sure whether to take Millie out for walks when she goes hyper, wouldn't that be rewarding her behaviour?

Thanks again for the support, guys, and apologies for originally posting this in the wrong section 

[Loopy Lucy]

Hi Rikki,

You have a PM.

[Pearly]

It does sound as though you're doing everything right  a good behaviourist wwill help you identify Millies trigger points and what to do to either distract her or deflect her behaviour.  It does get easier I promise

I've been a member of COL for over 2.5 years now and can honeatly say there seems to be a thread on this very subject open at all times...I'm not sure that Cockers are any more "bitey" than other breeds but couple that with their energy levels and just how lovely/affectionate at other times it is such a shock when they do something that appears out of character!

Might be worth checking if Millie is teething as it may exacerbate her play-biting?

Has anyone mentioned yet that we like photo's  on here 

Jayne

[*Marie*]

I remember Bracken in the early weeks I called him evil on many a times, always biting and wanting to bite me more I said no he just dived in again and again, until I found what he hated, being ignored so that was my helpline so to speak, every time he tried to bite I turned my back and every time I did he wanted a cuddle and it lessened over the next few weeks, he's 14 months old now and is the most affectionate big pupster ever, very soft mouthed, he was completely different to my late retriever when he was a pup so I was then quite shocked!

[Rikki]

Thanks again, guys, this has been really helpful. I have been exercising the techniques you have offered up this morning and I have a much calmer pup than usual. I think we just needed a bit of reassurance from Cocker owners that we're on the right track and that she doesn't need to be exorcised!

As requested, here's Millie staring inquisitively at the camera (or mischievously at the dangling camera strap!)




Now it's off to the dog park with us for some (attempted!) fetch and recall training

[Loopy Lucy]

Adorable! 

[Rikki]

Thank you! She is the cutest thing, a lot smaller than she appears in the pictures too. We were convinced that she was actually a Springer before we got her as she really resembles one. But as soon as she drops her ears (which isn't often, she's an inquisitive one!) she's a Cocker through and through.

[Pearly]

Millie is beautiful - the markings on her legs are gorgeous 

[HBP]

Ah she's beautiful!!   Glad things are better today  

A lot of the time when H is out of control hyperactive,  I put him in his bed and he usually goes straight to sleep.... he gets overtired but won't admit it!! So maybe try a nap before taking her out for a walk every time? X

[JeffD]

ohh what a cracking pup, workers can be very testing I know I have one of the worst ones  but only in the house outside walking or gundog training she has always been a good pup. They are like toddlers showing off in Sainsbury. Causes are boredom, tiredness and the fact they are working cockers.

Please stick with it I promise it will get so much better , it took Teal 10 months before her behaviour in the house became acceptable even if she still has her moments at 16 months.

Working cockers are bred for their stamina and brains so brain training is the best way to tire them out lots of brain games and sleeps in between it is easy to over exercise a young pup and it doesn't really help as they just get fitter and fitter

Teal was a champion cockerdile and still mouths a lot its one of her favourite games but now we only do this when I say so  but it is very controlled she now has great bite inhibition.

Good idea to see the behaviourist, but as you can see from these posts I think you just have a normal working cocker pup.

[Nicola]

A reputable behaviourist is definitely a good idea, they will be able to see her behaviour first-hand and give you a tailored plan to put in place. Have you also thought about getting someone to call in with her and/or take her for a walk on the days that she is left alone? A family member, friend, neighbour or professional dog walker? 6-8 hours 3 days a week is too long for a dog to be left on its own without toilet breaks or any human company, especially a puppy.

Another thing to be aware of is the amount of exercise she's getting - working Cockers do need a lot of physical and mental stimulation but it's important to be careful when they are puppies. The guideline is 5 minutes per month of age up to 3 times a day so at 4 months old that's about 20 minutes x3/day. Pootering around on soft surfaces like grass isn't as hard on the joints as pavement walking but puppies are like small children, they will go and go without knowing when to stop and regularly overexercising them when young can lead to joint problems in later life, as well as making them overtired and actually more 'hyper'. Mental stimulation like games and training is very effective for tiring them out and keeping their active brains occupied.