Have adorable twelve week old make golden puppy cocker. In last week he has shown some aggression by snarling and biting hard. This has occurred when either playing and he gets carried away and starts really biting hard and snapping or when an object has to be removed or he needs removing from somewhere if he is in danger of hurting himself. Have been advised to squirt him with water when he does it (but water not always to hand when unexpectedly gets snarly) or to pick up and remove and place in crate and ignore - whilst lifting him to remove he is really snarling and biting at my hands. Has anyone got any sound advice on whether this is normal male puppy behaviour and him trying to assert himself or whether he could have an aggressive streak. Most of time he is lovely. Any advice very much appreciated.
Helen, Beds

Hi Helen

It's very difficult to say whether this is "normal" or not without seeing your pup in action. Many new owners mistake normal puppy nipping & play-biting as signs that they have an aggressive puppy when what they have is a perfectly normal pup :-) All puppies do nip, especially when they get over-excited - it's a phase all pups go through but they will eventually grow out of this with careful, consistent training. Do you have a good book on puppy training? If not, try "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey which has lots of info on overcoming normal puppy training problems. It could be that you have a very confident pup who is starting to test you, to see how far he can go. How assertive are you with him? You need to be really firm with him when he starts growling - you must really mean it when you tell him "No" so that he is under no illusion that you are "in charge" not him. Cockers can be very strong-willed sometimes so you do need to be quite firm - they will rung rings round an owner who lets them :-) Are you planning on attending some training classes with your pup? You will find them very helpful in teaching you the best way to deal with common problems. You might find it helpful to register with this site so you can ask more questions if necessary.

Jane

I too had this problem with my westie dog puppy, I used the water pistol method as well, but as you say its not always beside you. I have had many a "fight" with my puppy, one day on the sofa I tried to put him down and he started, I got him by the scruff of the neck with one hand the other on his back and pinned him down, saying NO in a really loud voice, this lasted for at least a good 5/10 mins, he was trying it on, he was wanting to be "the boss" and be dominant over me, you have got to let this p uppy know, you are the boss, not him, it is hard to pin down a snarling dog, but if you keep one hand on the back of the neck ,the other on his back, he cannot get his head round to bite you, once he has calmed down, and he will, put him away and ignore him for a few mins, then call him to you in a soft voice, and tell him "good boy". he will soon learn, I spoke to another breeder of westies, who told me, to lift him off the ground by the scruff of his neck just enough for his 4 paws to be off the ground and again NO in a loud voice, this is what the mother does to them when they are with her and getting dominant, it does work, my puppy is now 6 months old, and is a very loving westie, so much all he wants to do to a judge, is put his paws on the shoulder and lick them !!!!! I find once the 2nd set of teeth all come through the puppies change as well and become more easy to handle.

This might help someone to gain/maintain control of their dog. AKC Dog Obedience Club of Las Cruces. It does work and is much better than wrestling your dog into submission :rolleyes:

Thirty Minute Alpha Down
Place your dog on its side on the floor or ground, or (for a small dog-on a table/sofa), with you beside the dog to reinforce the alpha down position. Let your Arm covers its shoulders and neck area --similar to a bear hug. Lean gently on the dog and ignore him.

Do not talk to, or pet your dog. If your dog tries to get up, simply replace it in the down position. If the dog falls asleep, it is all right. For the first week, repeat the exercise every day for thirty minutes. Finish the exercise by releasing the dog. Do not praise or play with the dog.. Le the next 30-60 minutes be a time for the dog to be ignored.
The Alpha Down Exercise establishes your position as "pack leader."

If the dog is able to get up prior to the completion of the 30 minute alpha down, you must replace the dog in the down position and the 30 minute timed cycle begins again. If the dog is still struggling at the end of 30 minutes, continue the exercise until the struggling ceases.

I would worry about someone trying to do this with little knowledge, could see them getting into a confrontation situation. Would be OK if done before problems start but I feel you are putting your face into a danger area. To start slowly and build up might be OK but I can see someone trying this with a bolshy adolescent and getting into real trouble. That is just my feelings though Anne

Sorry to disagree but I think 30 minutes is far to long to pin a dog down, especially a young puppy, and if I did that, my hands and arms would be numb after that time as I have arthritis. I believe in short sharp lesson as and when the dog "play bites" not every day for 30 minutes for several days. I have had and bred westies for quite a long time now, and have never heard of this method, I have heard of pinning the dog in the down position, or putting the dog on its back, when the dog is on its back it just wants its tummy rubbed, they love that!!!!!!

I've done a modification of this "program" before and it works wonderfully. I learned about this 6 years ago and I've heard of others who have sucessfully used it too.

My computer locked up so I didn't have time to edit certain recommendations in earlier...sorry.
I thought this was a much better suggestion than trying to force a dog into submission when emotions are running high on all sides as there was a posting mentioning it :(

First of all, I have "never" wrestled my dogs down to do the half hour or known anyone to do it either. I've always worked up to the time, despite what the instructions officially have stated. (My back can't stand the 30 minutes either :rolleyes: )

This exercise is not to be done when the dog is acting up, but as part of a day's relaxation :) I've put on quiet music, grabbed a book, and just relaxed with the dog.

It is similar to "pinning the dog into the down position" just easier to rest the arm over the shoulder/neck area than grabbing by the throat. Rolling a dog on its back can actually hurt it depending on the shape of the dog.

Puppies -- 10 minutes is quite enough and then work up to the longer time when growing more mature and if it's really necessary to try to work on dominance issues.

Hi Guest

As most people know on the board, I have a very dominant black cocker pup (well not a pup, just turned 1yr) that I have had real problems with. I had some advice (don't know how true this would be - but it worked for me)...when she starts on another one, or if she is agressive towards you...grab her by the scruff of the neck and say firmly "NO"...apparently this is how their mother would tell them off for being too naughty (not by saying NO !! :D)

As I said it worked for me and is only my opinion...maybe worth a try...

Natasha

Hi Guest

Just to let you know that you are not alone. I too have a 12 week old male gold cocker. He can be a handful at times and does tend to get over-excited but he is still a baby. I tried the water squirter but he loves it!:-) I have now moved onto the can with coins in it. Every time he is doing something he is not supposed to be doing I rattle the can and shout "No". For the biting, and nipping I found some advice on another site which said to yelp as a litter mate would yelp and look at your "wounds" for a few seconds. I don't want to speak too soon, but over the past few days Morgan does seem to have become a bit more considerate!!

Hope this helps
Shirley