My Cocker {please look at photos that was asked for}

[ellen271153]

here is the photo of Alfie http://s346.photobucket.com/user/rosetoms/library/

[Murphys Law]

Alphie looks at least part worker to me, especially in body shape.

He is lovely whatever he is.

[HBP]

He's gorgeous  He's quite fluffy for a worker, so not sure!

[Jane57]

He is just gorgeous, He looks a bit of both to me, part worker, part show.

[Mudmagnets]

He's lovely, very much like Minstrel (a bit of both) 

[crazybailey]

Hes handsome, I think a bit of both too.

[Poppsie]

Alfie looks like part show/worker to me too  but he is still an adorable cocker x x x

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I think part of each. I see show cocker in him (but i need to see him on a bigger screen, I'll do that when I'm home).

[ellen271153]

thank you for all your messages/replies but can any tell if they are having the same problems as me, Alfie has been going to obedience classes since he has been twelve weeks old, and is really good at class lessons, but at home when I ask him sit stay etc he barks at me and nips me, even when I play ball games never tug he goes to nip me all the time, and at other times he is jumping up at me and if I tell the command off (as from the training class) he often barks and even growls at me,the class instructor has told me to turn my back on him and stop the play but this makes no difference he just starts running what I call loopy through the house and if I try to stop him he growls and trys to go for me so I have to hold him down on the floor until he calms down, but this is a worry as I have young grand children so if anyone can help I am willing to try any thing as I love Alfie

[HBP]

I really wouldn't advise holding him down, that's quite threatening to a dog.

As I and others have said, I think at least part of your problem is overtiredness. He is getting too much exercise for his age. I would think about cutting him down to 2 or 3 walks a day.

Does he have a crate or a pen you can put him in for time out when he gets nippy and loopy? 

[elaine.e]

Have you considered the advice about reducing his exercise to see if that helps him to calm down?

My first thoughts on your last post was that you shouldn't be holding him down on the floor to stop him, even if you're doing it gently. It's a very confrontational thing to do and good trainers don't recommend it (apart from the misguided Cesar Millan fans who still think that using force is the way to go). If Alfie is being held down he will be feeling very frustrated and might become more growly and nippy. Could you try distracting him with a toy or a chew instead and turn the session into something enjoyable for him?

Many young Cockers have moments of running round the house madly, the zoomies, often in the evening just when they're owners want to settle down and have a bit of peace and quiet. Even my 9 year old Cocker still has his moments of silliness. If he's not doing any damage or harm when he has the zoomies try letting him just get on with it as he'll probably stop after a few minutes. Or you could teach him some hide and seek games that will use up some mental energy and will be rewarding for him when he finds the treats that you've hidden.

[Murphys Law]

I really wouldn't advise holding him down, that's quite threatening to a dog.

As I and others have said, I think at least part of your problem is overtiredness. He is getting too much exercise for his age. I would think about cutting him down to 2 or 3 walks a day.

Does he have a crate or a pen you can put him in for time out when he gets nippy and loopy?

I agree.

Murphy was over tired and behaved in a similar manner. I thought he had too much energy so walked him more which just makes things worse. When we realised he was over tired, we started putting him in his crate upstairs to sleep for an hour or two after walks and he improved dramatically.

[elaine.e]

Is Alfie food motivated? This link has some ideas for mental enrichment games, which can really help to keep a dog busy for a while, and having to use his brain will help to tire and relax him. The last bit of the video shows a dog with a Kong, most pet shops sell them, and if you fed Alfie some of his daily food in it, he'd be using his brain for something rewarding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1bTPuhVHY0

[ellen271153]

thank you for all your help and I will try less walks and more rest, the holding down was what the class instructor showed me to do so alfie didn't bite me, but I don't like doing it, and won't do it. and as for his loopy bit I usually just let him run it out of his system until he calms down, he is no problem in the evenings he just settles down next to until bedtime,  I will let you all know how it is going in a few days time but thank you to you for your help xx

[Archie bean]

I agree that he looks like a bit of both, he's gorgeous. 
I also agree with all the advice you have been given here regarding exercise and training. If the class instructor advised the holding down, then I would strongly suggest you look foe a different class that uses positive reward based methods. 
You might also find these threads useful, if you haven't already read them.

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=64170.0

http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=64171.0