New Puppy having a few little grumbles.

[needastrongone]

Just that really.

Last night, at DSIL's for dinner (bday), but needed to leave to pick up Ddog1, who had had an operation for a slashed paw. Puppy was half dozing and wanting to settle. At home, I wouldn't have approached him at all, so when I bent down slowly to pick him up, made him aware of my being there, he had a little grumble. I ignored as really, he was telling me he would rather go to sleep. Fair enough.

Today, at vets for his last injections. Again he was sleepy, but the vet had weighed him, given the injection, examined him all over thoroughly, puppy was trying to sleep/settle by then and he had been handled fully. He then growled twice and then snapped at the vet. Vet suggested time out if at home.

Both circumstances probably involved new environments and a sleepy pup but, as ddog1 has never growled in his life, I am a little concerned that I need to think about this some more.

I would only consider using positive methods, as regulars will know anyway, but do I even need to be concerned?

He's a working cocker, an absolute delight, but highly intelligent, and a little more stubborn than ddog1. 10 weeks old.

Thanks.

Be concerned? Probably not. Take notice? Absolutely. Take action? Yes!

You've correctly realised that the pup was justified on these occasions and you haven't overreacted :) but this is a heads up that this puppy needs to learn to love handling. I'd suggest making a concerted effort to include regular gentle handling sessions paired with a stream of delicious food treats into your daily training. And it would also be a good idea to visit your vet socially a few times in the coming weeks, armed with yummy stuff, to counter the bad experience.

Just as a note, it's common for pups to seem oblivious to the injection but a moment later to suddenly become itchy or tender at the injection site. So it's possible that's what happened here, given that from your description the aggression seemed to come after all the other stuff has gone on.

Thank you .

Agree, on both occasions, it's after he has been touched extensively, and then grumbles. And when sleepy but not sleeping. You could spin him round the room in the air when he's fully asleep and he wouldn't care!

He's actually far more tactile than the springer, who is happy to lie next to you, but not on you.

Both occasions have involved new environments too, but he did have a little grumble at DD yesterday, while having a belly rub and a cuddle, which he initiated. I wonder if she touched his sore spot?

Thanks, we clicker train extensively, so I will add this to my behaviour list that I reward.

Strange that it's when he's had a lot of handling too?

Mmmm