Hi,
I'm new here but I have spent a long time reading other "Cocker" postings and behavour postings and I have found that people get some very good advice on here. I have noticed a few maybe controversial postings and hope that this won't get that way. I have a young cocker (13 weeks) and I'm not sure if I'm expecting too much from him. He is lovely and can be so good but also can be so naughty and horrible! It's awful to say as I love him to death but I'm worried about his temperament and whether I'm doing the right things for him. I got him from a good breeder in Essex but would rather not say who as I don't want to start any rumours that the dog was not well bred as he is. I have problems walking him as he doesn't want to go out but I guess thats anxiety at the mo. He has a lot of play time in the house and garden and he has some time out on his own. When he's in the car with me on my own he travels in a cage in the boot but barks the whole time. I ignore him but it hasn't made any difference. He doesn't just mouthe and chew he bites and we've tried numerous approaches which he ignores! Sometimes I don't know whether he gets frustrated coz hes not allowed something or whether hes being viscious? We've mastered (just about) poo training but not wee training, not sure what to do about that? He always goes for and bites feet, he's jumping up alot and barking alot. You may just tell me that its puppy behavour and I'm expecting too much as he's still so young but I wanted to ask some advice as if I'm supposed to be doing something then I want to start now!
Thanks
Tigger!

Hi Tigger

Welcome to Champdogs

Firstly I think you are expecting too much from a 13 week old puppy. He might not want to go out for walks as he maybe tired from his running around and playing in the garden etc. Playing in the garden is quite adequate for him at present. When he is around 6 months you can take him for 15-20 minutes road walk or free exercise. By all means put on his lead and walk him around the garden on it so he gets used to it.

His toilet training will come in time for him not to be pooing in the house already is great, but at 13 weeks you will get the odd accident and some may take a bit longer.

When he is biting you etc tell him "NO" in a very stern voice. If your voice is excited or anything he will think you are playing, so make sure it is a firm/stern "NO"

When he is barking in his cage in the car tell him "QUIET" but don't shout as he will think you are playing a game with him :D :D

There are lots of Cocker people on Champdogs and I'm sure some of the others will give you there thoughts and tips.

Remember he is only 13 weeks and is only a baby really :D :D Enjoy him ..

Dessie

Hi Tigger

I have owned a cocker for 7 months now, she was a rehoming job the people that had her previosly could not cope with her and i can understand why, she is 19 months old now and she can be very naughty, it takes a lot of patience i think to own one, i have always had gsds so i have gone from nice easy going dogs to a raving loony :D but its a challenge.
Have you taken your pup to training classes yet? my gsd as a pup didnt like going out, i ended up doing 3 dog clubs a week to get him socialised, walking down high streets, train stations, basically getting him used to everything that he may meet in his life, ringcraft clubs are also good to go to, even if you dont want to show your dog, because you get different people going over them, which gets them used to being handled by strangers, as for the car situation have you tried someone sitting in the back of the car and as soon as he starts to bark squirt him with some water, it may sound horrible but do you want him to carry on like this for ever? also do you go to the same place all the time with him in the car or different places, because if you were say going to the park it may be an excitement thing, so try and break it up by going to different places and maybe not even getting him out the car just going out for a drive and back home again, see if that makes a difference.
As for the biting have you tried screaming very loudly when he bites you, and i do mean loud so it shocks him, if it does follow it with a firm no.
well you can try these and see if they work, there are more experienced cocker people on here than myself, so they will be able to give you more advise than myself, good luck with him, as i have found they are not an easy breed to have despite there cute looks, he will come right eventually Diane

Hi Di

They are an easy but you have to be firm with them and not let them run a muck !!! So when that cute little long eared doggie is doing something wrong tell it off !!!

If you give a Cocker an inch it will take a mile if it doesn't respect you.

Dessie :D :D

Dont worry Dessie i do, but it hasnt quite figured out the part about actually listening, before it really winds me up and then has to run for its life :D

Hey Diane, don't get the idea Cockers are all raving loonies or not an easy breed :-) I don't think they would be such a popular breed if they were :D Temperament depends a lot on breeding - some lines produce a laid back, placid kind of personality & some lines produce more of the live-wire variety, always on the go & looking for something to do. They are a busy breed, the working type even more so, so they will never have the temperament of a GSD (though I've known a few hyper examples of that breed too :-) )

Tigger, as Dessie says, you really are expecting way too much of a 13 week old puppy - all puppies nip & because their baby teeth are needle sharp, then these nips really can hurt. With training, puppies will grow out of this phase - you've been given some sound advice already, but I would also advise you get hold of a good book on puppy behaviour like "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey. Also as has already been suggested, book your pup in for a course of training classes asap - check out what classes are available in your area & go & look at one or two (without your puppy) to see if you would feel comfortable with a particular trainer & their methods. Don't feel shy about contacting your breeder for advice either - as a breeder, I would hope to be the first person contacted by one of my buyers if they had questions about training or were just worried about their puppy's behaviour generally.

I didnt mean to say all are hyper, i think buffys problem was that she didnt get the proper training when she was a puppy, and having worked with the working type in the met police i know what live wires they can be, its just that i havent met a quite one yet.

They do exist, honestly - our young winning bitch is so quiet & gentle, we hardly know we've got her sometimes :-) You'll have to come & meet her one day (though we're not doing Darlington) then you'll be able to say you've met one quiet one :D

Jane

Hi Tigger and Di

I agree with what Jane has said. My boys have very different breeding - both from very reputable breeders- but with very different personalities. One is calm and laid back - like Jane has said - the other though is totally hyper.

A 13 week old pup is very much a baby and as Dessie said - not ready for walks yet. Give it time and your baby will get there. Steady consistent training is the rule with you being ever vigilant on the toilet training front. Enjoy your baby while he is so young - it won;t be long before you realise the puppy is an adult.

Pam n the boys

Thanks so far you guys and if anyone else has anything diferent then Id like to hear it. I am going to talk more to my breeder but I wanted to run it by some people first so I didn't sound too stupid by expecting too much as maybe I am. Thanks for your sound advice. I will take him out amongst people more and I am now in a puppy class once a week and I've done one but I think he needs more socialising with other dogs and maybe this will help him? not sure how to go about that though? I have also got "The Perfect Puppy" recommended by my breeder but sometimes I find things too general. I think its a great book and has some excellant advice but sometimes I'm left wondering well I've tried what you said and it doesn't work, what now?
Anyway, I'll let you know how I get on, Thnaks again
Tiggs!

Hi Tigger

With puppies, you have to remember they have very short memories & short attention spans - you have to repeat yourself over & over to begin with & the things you try won't work instantly - it will take time & lots of it :-) I think sometimes we forget just how much hard work training a puppy takes - if we did, maybe we'd never have them :-) But then again,also remember puppies are not puppies for very long (though it doesn't seem that way sometimes!)

Jane

Hi Tigger I sent you two links let me know if they help .Mari

Don't seem to have received the links mari?

ok Tigger email me mariewalsh6@eircom.net

Hi Mari

Why not post the links on this thread? They might be useful to other new puppy owners :-)

Jane

I DONT KNOW HOW :(

I have just posted it to you Janes . I dont know why but im getting back a lot of mail today

OK Mari, no problem :-) Click here for what looks like a pretty comprehensive look at all aspects of new puppy care & training (haven't had time to read it all yet)

Jane

Thanks for that Mari and Jane, it looks quite good, I will have a read later!
Tigs!