that is to say a dog that doesn't care if it has your approval or affection etc., so is very hard to train?
We waited until our children were old enough (7&9) to help take care of a dog, researched various breeds, decided to pay through the nose for a Cockerpoo - a spaniel poodle cross. Obviously they are very cute when you get them. When we went to look at our puppy (we were last on the list so didn't choose him, he was the one left) he seemed ok, came over for a cuddle, wagged his tail, slept on my DD etc., but his mother, the bitch, growled at my husband and hid under the stairs. The breeder told us this was normal for bitches with litters, I now know this is not true. Cockerpoos are advertised as having a wonderful temperament ... ahem, ours has serious issues. He bites the children (as in still mouthing and nipping not attacking them) eats paper, tissues, babywipes anything vaguely paper he will risk any punishment to eat, he is totally uncontrollable in the house and outside spends most of his time trying to get into the road (if we open the front door its a major exercise in dog restraint), eating mud or rolling in poo. He is not scared of our shouting, we've even tried rolled up newspaper (which to him is like hitting him with food). He doesn't care, he is not bothered, not intimidated or worried.
And before you suggest it, he is not motivated by food either, he doesn't care much about that, although he will attempt to get on the table to steal; a tidbit offered during training is ignored. We have been to 2 different training classes, one lasted 12 weeks no improvement.
What now?
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Does anyone else have an Independent dog
25 replies
MrsNonSmoker · 24/11/2010 09:50
OP posts:
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.