Sparky (13 weeks old, Border collie) has been with us for just 5 days and has settled really well, although he does have a mad minute occasionally rounding up the trees. He can be a bit excitable with the kids in the morning, but we are doing all the things recommended on the "jumpy, bitey choc lab puppy" thread, and my eldest daughter is starting classes with him on Wednesday. One thing that I could do with advice on, though, is that he keeps biting his feet and tail, sometimes growling and yelping as he does it. He had his first bath last night (then tried to jump back in when we got him out! :) ) , and was given a dose of Spot On by his breeder just before we picked him up. He even chewed some hair out of his tail a couple of days ago. I can't see any fleas on him, and he is brushed and combed daily. The whole family is at home at the moment, so he has a good routine, is getting lots of attention, has plenty of treats, toys, etc. but is also quite happy to spend a couple of hours alone in his "den" - his bed is in the utility room, and he doesn't mind whether the door is open or closed. We now have a new phrase for wanting a bit of peace and quiet - "having a Sparky moment!"
Any help would be most appreciated.
Tracy

Hi Tracey,

Have you asked your vet about Sparky? I would also check with breeder and see if he was doing this before you took Sparky home. If she gave him a Spot On treatment he may have been - it does take a few days to work. If Sparky is allergic to flea bites his skin could be itchy some time after the last flea departs.

Chewing paws and the base of the tail is often the sign of allergies. He could be allergic to some kind of pollen or even to househould cleaning agents. If you use any of the powder rug fresheners or fabric sprays that could be the cause.

Staceu

I agree biting feet and tail is often a sign of allergies - but this could be an allergy to something in his food as well as the environment..........

Hi it depends which spot on was used but he could still have harvest mite as most spot ons dont kill them and they're easily picked up from grass a small trip to the vet just to make sure and as hes already had a spot on treatment decide what to treat him with if he has them.HTH

Thanks everyone. Spoke to the breeder who said he had no signs of this there, been to the vets today and he was given the all-clear ie no fleas, mites etc. He does seem to be more settled since his bath yesterday. I've also had a word with hubby, who admitted having gone a bit heavy handed on the air freshener when I was having my shower! Now I think Sparky smells like a rose ;)but...

Really appreciate your advice
Tracy

Hi Tracy glad Sparky is fine.Enjoy him pupies grow up too quickly :) Gillian

do you use any carpet fresheners like shake n vac??

we did and Darcy reacted exactly the same way as you describe.
There were no visible signs but as soon as we changed our carpet she stopped!