Nine month old cocker help!

[Candyfloss]

Hi I have a nine month old cocker puppy. He is supposed to be a show one but vet reckons he is a worker despite pedigree etc etc. I have had two sprinters before so am not a novice owner however I'm ashamed to admit I'm almost ready to re home him. I'm really desp for some advise

Ok here goes! Since day one he has bite inhibition and snaps at hands face etc when putting collar on etc etc. he trouser bites very badly. I have always done as they say and stood still sometimes for twenty minutes whilst he rips my trousers off at the knee. Shoes ruined then jumps up rips pockets etc. a few times I have had enough and shouted I know I shouldn't. It makes him worse. He jumps up barking and snapping more

If that wasn't enough he was neuter three weeks ago as neighbour complained he was barking a lot in garden. He was but only obit three min a day as he just cocked his leg. I hoped neutering would calm him. It didn't. Since then he now won't lye me leave room without barking

I can't clean teeth. Shower. Let alone leave house. I can't just let him bark as neighbours reported to council

I'm aware by going back I'm just reinforcing it but what can I do? I have tried a citronella collar it made him so scared he clung even more to me

Tried water bottle. Stones in tins. Clicker. The lot
don't work so he is not alone or bored. He gets two 45 min walks a day he seems to start mouthing at end of walks, am I over walking?

He has kongs chews toys balls etc etc

He used to be good re the leaving but now it's getting me down. I'm literally a prisoner

My parents are begging me to re home him as he is making me I'll but I don't want to

I have had a trainer come to house three times. Vet has out him on xylene all to no avail

Should he out grown trouser biting by now? He nips calves now too. I have tried yelping etc.
I

[Patp]

  to you.  Somebody will be along shortly with some great advice that should hopefully help you all. 

Just wondered in the meantime what food and quantity of food is he on?

Does he have a crate?  Is he the same at night, or does he sleep with you?

[Candyfloss]

Hi. He is on James well beloved junior

He has a crate but I don't lock him in it. He was always very good at going in and sleeping

He sleeps in kitchen at night. That is next thing I'm waiting for him to start at night. Touch wood he good as gold at night. Can it be separation anxiety then if he lets me go to sleep for nine hours?

Couple weeks ago even with me sat on floor with him he barked SEVEN. Hours non stop. I phoned trainer and vet after an hour and they eventually sedated him and he stayed at vets over night. They said he was good as gold? Therefore can it be SA or was he so drugged he couldn't bark?

[Candyfloss]

Ps I have put my avatar with a photo go him if anyone thinks he is a worker or show? His pedigree is show but has workers bout 7 gen back. His parents didn't have the traditional long droopy ears and smooth coats so I'm not sure what he was. I guess I didn't scrutinise them hard enough in excitement of picking him and trusting what the breeder was saying!

[Pearly]

At age 9 months Pearl had me in tears. I sat in my living room and sobbed wondering what on earth I'd done by taking on a dog- or rather, a low flying, hyperactive set of teeth.....

Almost overnight she calmed down.  I did change her food from puppy food (Chudleys Junior) to adult food but also went back to basics and made sure she had a set routine.  I found she was far worse if over tired or excited - playing with her wasn't possible around this age as she was just too excitable - I think it's affectionately referred to as the teenage stage....  I found that she had to sleep for the morning, even at weekends (bit frustrating as that's when I don't work!) but this really helped.

I'm a bit concerned that your Trainer has suggested using aversion techniques with him - there are lots documented stories of negative outcomes such as dogs that become frightened of their owners as they fear the noise/water etc.  He is still young and there is plenty of time to address his behavioural issues - can I suggest contacting a Canine Behavourist who will only use positive reward methods - they will show you coping techniques and help you identify his trigger points for barking.

Where are you based? There may be someone on COL who can either recommend a Behaviourist or may be able to help.

Jayne

[Candyfloss]

Hi Jayne glad to hear I'm not alone!

Yes everyone says I should re home him but I really don't want to. My trainer says he is ' a playful bully' and in his teenage stage.

He was mouthing quite rough from 7.5 weeks tho?

I train him every day too, two to three sessions five/ ten min a time.

I just dunno how people ho to work full time and leave them? I seriously can't go to the loo without him barking and my neighbours dropping a note thro my door. It's really upsetting

[MIN]

Candyfloss   you are so not alone 

[Pearly]

Candyfloss   you are so not alone 

Definitely not alone

It's worth looking through some of the older threads on here.... Plenty to do with exactly the sort of behaviour your boy has 

Can I ask what his mealtime routine is? Do you make him sit and wait? I do this with Miss P otherwise her behaviour deteriorates as she constantly tests boundaries..... She's now 3 but us a lovely calm dog most of the time 

It's hard to help you both on here was we only have what you've written to go on.... Without seeing the two of you together and what his triggers are

J

[Candyfloss]

Yes I always make him sit and wait for food, at door ways etc and he is very good at that to be fair. He hardly eats either! He eats bout a third of what he should each day although seems fine on it!

The trouser biting I can deal with but why he has just started barking when I leave him I dunno? There has been no change to routine etc but it all seems to have stared since the neutering

[Pearly]

If his barking has only really started since neutering it would be be best to speak to a Behaviourist I think

Edited to add: if he's not eating much of his food it may be time to move him onto adult food which is lower in protein/energy? JWB is a good brand but it may also be worth trying him on something different - it's amazing the difference the diet makes.

[Redked]

I'm sorry you are having such a tough time. I think a lot of us on here have been at the point of rehoming at some point of puppy/adolescence. Bonnie is our 3rd dog but our 1st cocker and I found her puppyhood very difficult. However, I would not change her for the world now and with patience, time and some help I'm sure you can overcome the issues.

As Pearly suggests, there are lots of older threads on here regarding biting and barking which should give you a bit of information as to how common this is (especially the biting). I just want to say hang in there....they can be frustratingly hard work but will bring you years of love and laughter in the end xxx

[PennyB]

He was mouthing quite rough from 7.5 weeks tho?

at that age they were testing their teeth out and this is where the bite inhibition training started - and was basically puppy biting not mouthing per se

in their teens they do mouth and grab and all manner of antisocial things - adolescence is a trying time in any species and you have to start by going back to basics and its not about why is he still doing this, he's doing it again as he's now a teenager and pushing boundaries and unfortunately he's much bigger than he was as a tiny pup.

You do sound like you need more professional help though to point you in the right direction (and someone who uses positive/non-aversive methods).

In the meantime - short training exercises to try and focus him and getting him to bond more with you so he will eventually listen to you.

However there are no quick fixes as adolescence in itself can last till they're mature around the age of 2 years and while he may not be as bad as you think he is now he may just keep presenting with the odd thing that makes you feel as if you're going backwards again

[Jonnydog]

Hi Candyfloss. Puppies are such hard work and some are more challenging than others! Can I ask how much exercise he is getting? My almost 3-year-old Penny is very excitable and I've found that a good run about off the lead every day and an interesting walk is a great help as it diffuses the dog's energy. I also play games such as scenting (in the house or garden) which tire her out as much as exercise. I do think spaniels need a bit extra exercise for body and mind to satisfy their needs, as well as affection and boundaries.

[Wenco18]

No advice I'm afraid just lots of these 

[rednblack]

So sorry you're having these problems.  I found with my pup that he was really awful if he didn't get enough sleep - he needed frequent naps during the day, especially after a bout of activity or even training, I wonder if your lad might be similar.  He was also very bitey when he needed to poo.
 
Can you train a sit-stay or a down-stay to enable you to move away from him, initially briefly, but building up to your being able to go out of his sight? 
 
Regarding your neighbour and complaining to the council, it might be worth keeping a diary of when your pup actually barks and for how long, so that if the council do call round you have some evidence of your own.  If you are on reasonable terms with your neighbour, might a bottle of wine or box of chocs help? together with making them aware that you are taking practical steps to deal with the problem.