I have a seven week old Cocker Spaniel Bitch who is seemingly very aggressive. She charges at any exposed body parts and hangs on with needle like teeth, growling dreadfully. She seemed lovely when she was chosen from the litter two weeks ago and sleeps through the night, uses paper for toileting, eats well etc now. We have tried saying 'no' in both high pitched and deep voices to no avail and when we try to remove her jaws from her poor victim, her growling sounds very ferocious. Now everyone's scared to handle her is this normal? Any ideas please.

hi
my boxer pup was the same we use to yelp and then fold our arms and look away totally ignoring her ,sounds funny but it has worked she's 14 weeks now and has stopped! your pup is playing the same way it would with litter mates

jag

Hi

since my dog was a puppy, the only time she has really growled is when she is playing. If someone didn't know and heard her they would think she was really viscious. Being our first dog it was a while before we got used to it. She also used to play bite an extreme amount, but thankfully, after many torn clothes and bruised and grazed skin (even blood when she had puppy teeth), she has grown out of it. It took a long while and I did have to get quite firm with her, but we got there. HTH

Fiona and Saffy

Hi

I have an 11 month old spaniel X collie. I had her when she was 7 weeks old and for about 5 months I couldn't put a pin between the cuts that I had on my hands and ankles. :D very painful. The best thing that worked for me was to use an anti chew spray, you can spray it on your cuffs and on your shoes, it's not just for furniture and things. It really did work. Another thing to try is isolation. Puppies don't like being left alone. At the first sign of unacceptable behaviour put puppy out of room. Wait 5 minutes, let puppy back in, repeat as necessary maybe leaving puppy for a little longer if not getting the message. One point I would make though is to never try to grab your puppy as this can make things worse. try keeping an old lead on pup making it easier for you to handle without getting bitten more. Anyway goodluck. Alot of patients is needed too. :)

Kind regards
Meryl

sorry, -what ever happened to holding them and either giving them a good scruffing, or pinning them down and letting them have a good telling off, its worked for me in over 20 years, non landed up timid or with attitude problems, they knew where they stood from the very first attempt.

I have a five week old puppy and he seems to be doing everything you have described. Already having an advanced trained dog i am taking the approach with the pup that everytime he bites me i hold his mouth closed place him on the floor on his side and lift a back leg this automatically puts him into submission and everytime he persists i hold him down longer. No words at mo except no in a growling voice. Once he has stopped wriggling, stroking him gently and praising him. it has taken me a week of persistence but he has stopped biting my hands and feet as he doesnt know when the next telling of will be. If this doesnt work try everytime your pup lunges at you and goes to bite rapidly move arm towards dog so as to shock as though you are fighting back but playfully!! this will stop the pup dead in it's tracks lay the pup down again on side and give plenty of praise if it still tries to bite lift back leg and very sternly command no but remeber to only command when it is doing what you do/dont want it is no good letting the pup bite you and then running of while you catch it to tel it off the pup will when it is older remeber that everytim you chase it is could be in trouble and this will lead to the dog not coming back to you on the recall.. So to stop a wrong command when the pup is in action as soon as it does what you want give lots of praise if your dog is food orientated give a little tit bit. remebering all the time you are the boss and the pup/dog MUST DO AS YOU TELL IT WHEN YOU TELL IT!!

Five weeks old?!! And you've been doing this for a week already?! Poor little thing. Give it back to its mother and let it become a normal dog. You are going to turn it into a screwball.

my sentiments too.
5 WEEKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My puppies would still be with their mother at mother at 5 weeks and feeding from her till they go to their new homes!!!!!!
emma xxxxx

Do you think they might be saying that they've HAD the puppy for 5 weeks, and just had a spot of finger trouble with their post?

liberty :)

No, I don't see how "I have a five-week old puppy" can be misinterpreted. Sorry.
:)

i agree Jeangenie. Anyone treating a pup this way doesn't have a clue about dogs and should be ashamed of themselves. Or could it be a troll post? I'm always a bit suspicious of people who tell everyone they already have an advanced trained dog.

I had a pup nicknamed the Mad Bitey Puppy and she really was :D Because of her breed (any type of grabbing would send her into a dodging and nipping frenzy - and also my personal views on training) I basically either re directed her onto her toys (which done properly isn't a reward for biting, it is a distraction) or did what other dogs do which is to end all play and either put her out for 2 minutes (any longer or it wont' work) or if it was convenient, I would go out muself. It does take patience but is so worth it :)

It's important not to let the puppy get too "silly" - using a house line indoors can be very helpful.

Have you tried reading The Perfect Puppy? Gwen Bailey. Also enrol in good pup classes where an in structor will help you :)

Lindsay

Hi Nikki sorry this post is a little late. Not sure if this is just puppy behavour but if she carries on behaving like this please either post a message on her or email me at runningold@hotmail.com
There is a syndrome mainly related to cocker spaniel agression . it starts at the age 7/8 weeks old so keep your eye out.
If u would like to know more just email me ill be happy to help
Lady xx