Help please - Cocker pup

[FlaptheWings]

Hi! I am really hoping somebody can give me some advice, or just a hand hold.

We got our Cocker pup 2 weeks ago. He is now 12 weeks old. He had his first jabs last week, so won't get the second ones until 3 March.

I just don't know where to start with him. His house training is coming on well (I know he can't really hold his pee yet, but he's running to the door at least), but I don't know where to start with training him. I got a clicker, and he is doing well with learning sit, stay etc, but as soon as the training session is over he is just loopy! He is into everything he shouldn't be, and I am just exhausted with it, and looking after the DC. I feel bad losing my temper with him, but it's so hard.

Any advice or wise words?

[Sleepycat91]

Im not saying this in a patronising way at all, but did you look into the breed before settling on a cocker? They are high energy, working types more so. They are also very intelligent so as well as physical exercise they need mental stimulation aswell. Are there any agility classes nearby you can take him to when hes older?

[TreesSandSea]

Puppies can be a lot of work. Ours was house trained by 4 months, but still needed a lot of work and patience until about 18 months.

[Yamihere]

Have you got a puppy pen or similar area where you can put pup to chill out where he can't get into mischief? Don't shut in a crate, though.
At that age your pup is very much a baby and too much training isn't good for him. Aim for a couple of minutes a few times a day for training. The loopyness you describe is also known as puppy zoomies. Means your dog is overtired. And like a toddler, he won't be able to listen to you when in that state. Put him someplace to chill out with things to occupy him then.
Have plenty of chews, toys like kongs, scatter feed his meals. Sniffing, licking and chewing are all calming activities for dogs.
The puppy stage won't last, be consistent with him and everything will turn out fine.

[FlaptheWings]

sleepy yes we did look into the breed. I am a SAHM and I'll be able to take him out plenty (we have lots of park and forest round about where we stay) but that won't be for another 3 or 4 weeks! I have enquired about a nearby training club, but they have a waiting list, and again I can't take him yet anyway. We've bought lots of toys and whatnot, but he'd still rather chew some pants, or the ivy outside.

I suppose I just need to get through these few weeks until I can start doing stuff with him.

[FlaptheWings]

Thank you yamihere. He has a big crate that he sleeps in and has toys etc in. He also has a kong toy with some peanut butter stuff that he loves! I only do a couple of minutes of training, as otherwise he would be enormous with treats!

Thank you for your reassurance. It's a hard few weeks just now.

[Pinkette06]

This was me last summer! The first few weeks are so hard, especially when you cannot take him for a walk yet. It gets better it really does. Walks help massively with routine and it tires them out I find! Although they still have a Lot of energy. New puppies are just hard work. I am now in the teenage stage, so entirely different testing behaviour I'm dealing with but it's just getting through the young stage. Then I hope mine will become one of those lovely well behaved dogs I see out on my walks good luck!

[adaline]

All puppies are bonkers

I would encourage down-time and calm. If you have a crate, pop him in there after training with a kong - the chewing/licking will allow him to settle and he should fall asleep. If not, get a playpen type thing so he has some freedom to wander around but can't get into absolutely everything!

It will get so much better once you can take him outside. But even now I would pop him in a sling or carry him and get him outdoors. We took ours to the pub or into dog-friendly shops and let him meet as many people as possible. We just didn't put him on the floor or let him meet strange dogs.

[doodleygirl]

He needs to socialise with other vaccinated dogs, arrange some play dates and see if your vets offer puppy socialisation

[Rinsefirst]

Mine is 23 weeks and we have a 12 yo senior cocker in the house.
We still haven't found the answer to this problem but at the beginning for 10 mins every waking hour I played with her by rolling balls, playing tug and hiding kibble. We also did a lot of indoor socialising like using the hairdryer, hoover, hammer, dropping pots
Getting her outside has been a blessing but constant rain has meant our garden is literally a sea of mud.
I'd try and encourage her to have decent sleeps three or four times a day just like a real baby.

[FlaptheWings]

Thank you for all your encouraging words. I think I knew he would be loopy, but hadn't counted on being cooped up inside for the first 5 week! When he's calm he's lovely!

I do worry a bit about his socialisation. We don't really know anyone with dogs, and the vet doesn't run anything. I have wandered around with him in my arms a few times, but that's about it.

[Hoppinggreen]

Puppies are arseholes, that’s why they have to be so cute!
It will get better though, I promise ( albeit with a teenage relapse)

[Rinsefirst]

We bought a £7 across the body dog carrier on ebay which was great.
Our puppy went to the train station in it, the local primary and met loads of people and kids.
TIP If you want to meet puppies go to your local pet shop / pets at home and talk to the other customers. ideally bring your puppy in your arms.

[BiteyShark]

If you don't know where to start with training then enlist a trainer who does 1-1 at home with you. It will be money well spent in my opinion and was far better than group training sessions.

[TeacupRex]

I have 2 cocker spaniels - amazing breed but goodness they can be very naughty! The first few weeks was hard, but once they can go out for walks it makes tiring them out a lot easier.

Careful that he doesn't become overtired - it's very easy to do with puppies and they can become hyperactive. Try shorter but more frequent training sessions throughout the day, sometimes puppies can't cope with learning too much at once.

Crates are great for periodically popping him in for naps. Teaching them to settle, as well as occupying themselves (in an appropriate way - as puppies will find their own ways to entertain themselves!) is important. Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep a day, some are good at taking themselves off for a nap, others need a bit of encouragement. A tired dog is not always a good dog - overdoing the activities can lead to a overstimulated dog that is unable to settle. Calming activities like chewing could be a way of settling them down - antlers, buffalo horns, Yakers bars were a godsend with ours when they were puppies - they would chew those instead of things they shouldn't have!

[Rinsefirst]

TeacupRex we have just invested £18 in two Yaker bars

[AgathaX]

Socialisation is so important at this stage. You need to carry him around outside lots - to the shops, to the pub, the park, up and down busy road with lots of pedestrians and traffic. Your arms will ache but you will be glad of it in the months to come. You have a lot to cram in in just a few short weeks.

[Velveteal]

No real advice but I just wanted to say you will get through it. Puppies are a nightmare! I felt so overwhelmed by ours, I really didn’t even like him. I thought why the hell have we brought this pooing, weeing, mess making whirlwind into our lives. He’s 6 months old now and we all adore him, even me!! He’s wonderful. The biting has stopped, he’s housetrained, he settles at home after a good walk. He can be left for 3 hours at a time. So much of it has just happened naturally. We’ve done basic training with him but he’s settled into family life just by maturing. He’s an active breed too (cocker terrier cross). He has a walk round the block before DH leaves for work, I do an off lead walk for around an hour mid day and then he gets another very short walk before bed, just to the green. He’s not destructive, he’ll take himself off to bed when we leave him in the kitchen and he sleeps 8pm until we wake him at around 7am.

I never ever thought any of this would be possible when he was 12 weeks old.

Just try and accept that life will feel chaotic for a few months, the kids might be a bit neglected, as will the house etc but it’ll all fall into place.

I don’t drink but if you do, wine is your friend. Copious amounts of chocolate got me through and I spent so much time trapped in the kitchen with him, the radio kept me sane.

[Velveteal]

Oh yes and re.the socialisation, we didn’t know anyone either and we didn’t start training classes until he was 20 weeks but we’ve had no problems with him. He’ll be out walking soon enough. Just carry him places.

One other thing. Our trainer suggested buying a piece of kau wood. It’s wood that doesn’t splinter. It’s been the best thing we’ve bought for him. It’s given us hours of peace and I’m sure it’s saved us a fortune in replacement furniture, he absolutely loves chewing it:

[Rinsefirst]

TeacupRex the yaker bar is fabulous for testing puppy. Buying Kau root this week VelvetTeal

[Kirkman]

I have had cockers for over 20 years. Currently have a lovely calm 3.5 year old, who I was 100% sure had always been calm.

I also have a 14 week old. Who is bonkers and reminds me that the older one was indeed bonkers, I just blocked out the bad bits.

Take the puppy out but carry them. Keeps their brain stimulated and helps socialisation.

You get through this period with loads of training and games anything to keep their brain working.

Cockers dont need just physical exercise. They need their brain stimulating. Even show cockers, need a 'working' walk. Where you keep them focused on you, play games keep calling them back, hide a ball etc.

I recommend total recall by pippa mattison for whistle training for recall. Which you start in the house. We used to have the kids hide all over the house and garden then use the whistle.

But, you have to get the balance right. Because if they are over stimulated or over tired, they are little shits

Also lots of chews. Antlers, frozen carrots etc. Theres quote a few cocker pages on facebook that have good advice.

[Kirkman]

Oh and your cocker wi always prefer to chew pants rather than what you bought them.

Cockers also have a big love for poo, they often like to eat that too, rather than what you feed them.