Bad bad morning to happy happy morning

[Misty Roan]

I thought things were improving but today is a major step back.  Started this morning with breakfast, followed by biting of my feet and clothes.  Went for walk, ok on long lead when allowed to play, walked a little way ok on short lead, major pulling and tantrums on the way back, tried stopping, restarting for about 20 mins, dropping food on path, eventually gave up, after treat snatched and bitten, bleeding finger.  Tantrum back at home when tried to take lead off, sat when told but as soon as I tried to unclip went mad, new behaviour.  Then had to go to dentist (broken filling, yippee), so she had good sleep and rest. Returned and fed lunch and mad behaviour starting again. Wants to either go in part of garden where she's not allowed and eat soil & sticks, or inside wants to bite feet and clothes, plays for few minutes with me and toy but then back to bad!   Have had to put her back in playpen to calm down.  Trainer said high protein in puppy feed (R. Canin junior medium) could make hyper.  Anyone any ideas please, please?

[LynneB]

Have you tried "yelping" and turning away when she bites. If this does not work "yelp" and time out.

[Misty Roan]

Hi Lynne, yeah tried loud yelps, quiet yelps, stops her but by then the damage is done  and then behaviour keeeps being repeated.

[Jonnydog]

We have 'biters', ie toys that replace our fingers, clothes etc when the Penny-shark gets too enthusiastic. I basically just shove a biting toy into her mouth and it seems to divert her attention. She has a basket of toys that she's very  keen on - more so than any other puppy we've had, and I think it might be down to always directing her bites to toys. You could maybe try that.

We're not having a lot of success with the lead either. Penny just wants to be off-lead and running with Jonny. It doesn't help that Jonny's hopeless on the lead too and I almost never use one for him. I resorted to two leads on the pavement the other day to try to get her walking nicely but as soon as we turned for home she was pulling like a train and nothing stopped her, even if I got her to sit, which she did, but the moment we started walking again she pulled frantically to get home.

Two steps forward and one step back, hon.

[Clover]

Afraid it sounds very familiar.  All I can say is hang in there, it really does get better.  Lots of us have had a little more demanding pups than norm.

ps I've just looked at the pics of the little    are you sure something so cute could behave like this     

[Misty Roan]

Thanks all, Sorry, I've got out of my grumpy mood.  I know what you are saying patience and persistence  .  I guess it's just a phase.   Went for a walk on the beach this afternoon, much better behaviour, kept her on extension lead so she could run around and practiced recall which wasn't too bad, only missed when she could see dogs and people in the distance.  I have let her off lead before on the beach and she was good, but decided for my sanity today i was better to have a long lead. .  thanks for advice and letting me moan.  

[Clover]

Glad you've had a better afternoon.  Lucky you, near the sea !  It is very much patience and persistence, they are little scallywags sometimes, you so want to love them but they certainly try your patience.  You will come out the other side, honest  Try and have fun, I know I found it hard to have fun with my little crocker whilst she was in gnasher mode

[JulieM]

It's Friday night- glass of wine would be my solution! 

[Misty Roan]

Yep it's hard to believe something so cute can be so  .  Think I might rename her Gnasher    And will definitley neeeed a large glass of wine tonight.  She slept after the beach but is now wide awake, chewing her toy box ! At least she's no chewing me. 

[Loudon]

Hi Avis, I assume bite was a puppy bite and not an act of aggression.

I found Royal Canin Breeders Puppy was so high in protein that the puppies would eat their poos. Yuk!

[Misty Roan]

Hi Loudon, I'm not sure, one was just snatching for her treat, puppy enthusiasm I think.  The others I don't think are aggression, more frustration, only once when I wanted her off the garden as I didn't want her eating the poisonous plants and picked her up after she growled when I told her 'off' ,then she bit.  I guess I should have used a different technique there    Unfortunately she has now reached the point of grabbing things she knows she shouldn't have, socks, shoes, sticks etc and running away with them. I try to persuade her to sit with a treat and I have to say it does work quite often.

[henryjack1dogs]

Please hang in there.  My oldest cocker now 19mths was a terrible puppy biter - he's my 3rd cocker and nothing like my other old boys at the bridge when they were puppies.  My youngest cocker only 6 months was nothing like him, a very laid back only nipped now and then.

Max who is 19 months was terrible, really caused blood, just play biting, getting over excited, he was a nightmare for a few months and I couldn't see the light, squealing, time out etc had little affect.

The only thing I can say is when he got to about 8 months he grew out of it overnight, he's a very strong willed cocker tho! 

[Loudon]

Good luck, hopefully all better when adult teeth in.

My Lucy growls when she is picked up and she is 5. No aggression just a habit thing. 

[Misty Roan]

Thanks for the reassurance, she certainly has a strong will, hopefully she'll grow out out of soon. It's amazing to see her go from  to    in 5 minutes. Still  her, little gnasher.

[Misty Roan]

Thought I'd send a more positive update.  Changed tactics this morning, had playtime before breakfast, made LOTS of crying noise when feet and ankles bitten and seemed to reduce/stop her, then breakfast and in her bed for a rest.  Then a lovely walk, where she actually walked really nice on the lead most of the way and we met a lovely border terrier and I was able to let her off too play with her (she was as lively as Misty) and a couple of labs joined in (which intimidated her by their size but were very nice).  So thanks again to this forum for keeping me sane (well almost)