Does anyone else's puppy constantly cry? Ralph (9 weeks old) cries when he's eating a dinner he really likes, when he's happily chewing his pig ear, when he wants to come up on the sofa, when he's hungry (almost all the time!) as well as when he wants to go to another room or go out. It's the same type of whining for all. He doesn't bark very often so he's not particularly vocal in that respect. We ignore him when he cries or I 'shush' him when it's a demanding cry, and he doesn't cry when left alone at night. Is this normal? I've never had a pup like this!
Also he's turned into a proper biting machine. I expected it (so glad I found this forum) but it's constant nipping not just the occasional and he hardly ever licks us - probably 50 bites to one lick! I'm doing the suggested actions and I know it's getting through to him that the hard biting has to stop but the nipping is harder to deal with. I'd end up never petting him unless he was asleep if I had to turn away every time he bit me! He's got plenty of chew stuff and I'm constantly swapping my hand/jumper/ear for his hoof, pig ear, pizzle. Is it a stage that all cockers go through? I've never met an adult cocker (or any type of spaniel) that was a biter or had to be muzzled. What I'm wondering is, do I have to really get on top of teaching him not to bite or will he grow out of this phase naturally anyway so just general teaching of no over-excited or hard biting will do?
