Struggling with puppy

[Arriettyborrower]

We have a 9 wk springer x cocker spaniel, he is very high energy which I expected - everything I read said spaniels are great with kids, quick to train etc
I am finding him really really difficult with my 5 yro, jumps, nips/bites - seems playful, he obviously sees him as a playmate/toy but I just don't know how to stop it and socialise him with him without him going utterly utterly mental.
It's really wearing me down, any tips?

[Arriettyborrower]

He still really really goes for him (hair now too) even if ds is standing stock still and not giving any attention or making any noise...

[StupidFlanders]

I hope someone has the magic answer! We have just rescued a 16 month old lab that is the same. I have watched a lot of cesar millan which is very useful but requires everyone to be on the same page so with young children it's hard. We're keeping him outside until it's safe. YouTube cesar millan hyperactive.

[HindsightisaMarvellousThing]

We had the same with our lab puppy - what worked for us was distraction. So when the pup is jumping and pulling at hair, I used to say no, take the puppy away and give it something else to do. Same technique as a toddler who won't/can't listen.

The puppy is only doing it because they love to play so give them something else to focus on - something fun and interactive. I used to have a toy of a bendy stick with a long strip of fur on the end, so I could sit and wave it around for the pup to chase, maximum fun for minimum effort for me. Or give them a strip of pigs ear to chew on.

It is only a phase, and they should grow out of it!

[Lilcamper]

Close supervision and only allow interaction when they are both calm.

Don't bother looking at anything by Millan, he is a hack who has been discredited.

This is a good site for info on kids and dogs Family Paws

[Arriettyborrower]

Thanks, I have just watched the kikopup vid on YouTube about mouthing/biting which suggests training with clicker and positive reinforcement.
Have been trying with distraction and have been consistent but he is so frenzied with the 5 yro! He is better when they are sat at the table (he isn't as frenzied with the 7 yro but he is obviously bigger) and most of the time he can be around their feet/legs without nipping/mouthing which he also was doing to all the adults but has stopped with sharp yelp or no when he did it - now we can walk around without him nipping!

[Arriettyborrower]

Will check out cesar Milan too, thanks

[Arriettyborrower]

Whoops x post lil - ok will just keep watching kikopup if that's good?

[Arriettyborrower]

His crazy time is home time from school (of course!)

I have been crating him if he gets too crazed as that seems to calm him - he also doesn't tend to sleep unless crated, he'll sleep in the evening at our feet and is brilliant at night, goes in crate at 10:30 up and out to wee/poo in the garden at 6:30-7 with no bother.

[financialwizard]

I have the same problem. My dd (4) is learning 'no' and the pup generally leaves now unless she is in hyper excited mode which is when I distract her with something fun and exciting.

[Arriettyborrower]

I also tend to crate him at tea time too - is this ok?

[StupidFlanders]

Hindsight how old before they outgrow it?

[Arriettyborrower]

How old is your pup financial wizard?

[marne2]

We had similar problems when we got out pup, I found myself using the crate a lot, we stopped using it when he was one, he is still very hyper but does not jump up at the kids ( well not mine anyway ), we are still having major issues with getting him to lie down and calm down as he is always full of beans.

[Luxaroma]

Our pup was doing this with ds....biting around his head. Thing was ds was reacting quite strongly and the pup was enjoying his reaction even more. We did the kikopup no biting thing and that has helped a lot. I got ds to do it too while I supervised. Pup now bites for attention as well as teething because he finds our reactions very amusing, and it's while he's being played with so it's not about lack of interaction.
We've tried to tone down our reactions and quietly tell him to stop and if he is hell bent on continuing I will put him outside for 5 mins. He's getting better now.

[marne2]

Mine grew out of nipping at around 12 weeks, if he nipped I would yelp and then ignore him, he soon got the idea. My other dog was much older when she stopped but she's not a very intelligent breed .

[frownyface]

Kikopup is fab, keep watching and keep up with the consistency :)
My pup has pretty much stopped this now, she is 6 months. My six year old is bouncy and silly and flappy and fun-very hard to resist for a pup! It is hard as they are both so little, but like when ur ds had bad days as a littl'un this too shall pass :) try to encourage walking rather than bouncing, it does take a while for kids to learn how to interact with the puppy.
You are doing all the right things keep going! :)

[dotdotdotmustdash]

Please stick with Kikopup and don't listen to anyone who suggest that Milan has any good advice. You really don't want to start to go down the route of 'dominating' your dog. That's an easy way to make a bad situation way, way worse. Stay calm, fair and consistent and your pup will start to make better choices.

[TheHoundsBitch]

I've just got a pup who is similar, yelping when she bites excites her more and she bites hard. Ignoring her is difficult because it really hurts when she's playing tuggy with your skin! She's a ridgeback cross so already massive at 9 weeks. I'm trying to distract her with toys but she seems to like my clothes/ skin more!

[frownyface]

Another good kikopup vid is capturing calm. Ie rewarding calm behaviour encourages the dog to repeat this behaviour

[frownyface]

Hounds mine loves frozen teatowels and carrots-great for teeth

[frownyface]

Ps. Mine is a spaniel :)

[Arriettyborrower]

Thanks everyone! frownyface yours (he or she?) is gorgeous, I am feeling encouraged today, kikopup os helping me focus and all your comments have calmed my anxiety a bit

[Arriettyborrower]

Ah just seen she's a she frowny

[TheHoundsBitch]

Thanks frowny, Do you freeze the carrots? D(elinquent)Pup seems to like raw carrot - I used some for training treats earlier.
I'm going to start my own thread actually, Or I'll end up hijacking this one!

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Puppies are bastards.Its just sheer relentless consistency that does it.
It will pay off, and you just have to believe it.