Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Is my new puppy aggressive, unhappy or is this just normal behaviour?

54 replies

FiddleFigs · 12/07/2017 10:03

We picked up the new puppy (8 week old cocker spaniel) on Friday and I know it's been less than a week, but I worry that I've made a dreadful mistake both for him and us.

I have no concerns about his breeding and early upbringing (the breeder had the pups in her kitchen, and they were around her young children from very early days) - we visited a couple of times before we brought him home so we saw how he lived and interacted with his litter and the breeder's family. But he doesn't seem to have settled with us.

DD is 4, and is very gentle around him (and actually tends to leave him alone most of the time) but in the last few days he has been displaying some signs of aggression towards her and me (snarling/growling, lunging and biting). He growls and snarls at me too most times, unless I'm giving him his meals. I was prepared for nipping and puppy biting, and there is some of that. But sometimes it goes beyond that.

I find him very difficult to play with because he just wants to tear around the garden - he doesn't want to interact with me or play much, and any playing usually lasts about a minute before he starts showing the aggressive behaviour and then I immediately stop. He's also pretty aloof. He plays quite happily with DH (but DH works long hours during the week, and so he only sees him for about 30 mins/1 hour at each end of the day).

I grew up with dogs and have experienced many puppies, but never this behaviour. Have I just been lucky in the past? And is this fairly normal for puppies? Am I just overreacting, or is he just not happy with us?

(sorry for the length of this post, but I don't want to miss anything out.)

OP posts:
bluetongue · 12/07/2017 10:15

Hmm, I'm no expert as I have my first puppy at the moment but the growling / snarling behaviour does sound a bit more than puppy nipping to me. My pup did used to lunge occasionally but only if he was very worked up and in 'crazy' mode. The rest of the time he loved snuggling in my lap and would even perch up on my shoulder for cuddles.

Maybe a vet visit to start with to rule anything obvious out.

My pup has also been difficult for different reasons ( separation anxiety) so I know only too well that sinking feeling in your stomach when you realise your dream puppy isn't turning out as hoped.

Original poster
FiddleFigs · 12/07/2017 10:24

Thanks blue - I'll take him to the vet for a chat/check over. Apart from the first day, there have been no puppy snuggles - he just wriggles away and hides in his chosen spot (under the sofa). Previous pups have always been cuddly and would follow me around. But we don't seem to be bonding with this guy at all. Sad

OP posts:
Veterinari · 12/07/2017 10:39

It's very early and he may be frightened or overwhelmed.

Perhaps focus on gentle interactions and bonding rather than play. Gentle stroking whilst sitting on the floor next to him, feeding him from your hand whilst chatting and stroking etc. Lots of exciting play, running or rough-and-tumble can raise excitement levels and as puppies have' learned impulse control/emotional control, excitement can spill over into unwanted behaviours. Keeping things calm and predictable will help.

Don't pick him up or make him feel as if he can't retreat. Does he have a safe space/bed/crate where he can be undisturbed? And does your DD respect this?

If the behaviour has only started recently then I suspect something (a fall, a poke, a grab) may have triggered it or he may be unwell. Or he may simply be stressed at losing his mum and siblings.

You can reduce stress by increasing predictability - limit his access to the house so he's not overwhelmed by many difference areas. Ensure all interactions are gentle, positive and consistent and make sure he has a safe place to rest.

He's very new - give him some time and follow a good socialisation plan
Www.thepuppyplan.com
has good advice on development

Severalusernameslater · 12/07/2017 10:49

He's new, in a new place and as a pack animal he wants to be the boss. He's possibly a bit dominant. Concentrate on training him with food if playing is not his thing. Puppies love food. Concentrate on training games, he's not really learned to play human games yet, id not worry. Get him done early as you can 6 months he should be grand.

BiteyShark · 12/07/2017 10:54

I wouldn't worry about him not wanting to play with you a lot. Make sure he has places he can retreat to and feel secure. Mine was very bitey when overtired so maybe he is getting too excited and needs a bit of calm which it sounds like you are doing by ignoring him when he starts this behaviour.

user1499424308 · 12/07/2017 10:56

I've just got an eleven week old springer 1 week ago and am having the same problem. It started with just the usual puppy chewing and trying to eat our hands which we've tried to ignore and every time he does it hand him a toy to chew. But now he has also started growling and nipping both children and us, Does this sound like normal puppy nipping?

JigglyTuff · 12/07/2017 10:57

I would listen to veterinari - her advice is very good.

Severalusernames is less so - dominance theory has been thoroughly debunked and there is no need to get him 'done' early either.

If you don't have a crate OP - I really recommend one. Make it your puppy's safe place and he can retreat in there if he needs some space. Sometimes a blanket over half of it can help too.

user1494670108 · 12/07/2017 11:00

I had to regome our pup at 6 months as we could not get the aggression under control despite following all the advice of an excellent behaviourist. In hindsight, the issues started very early in, snarling and growling to get down when I carried him somewhere outside.
Get good advice quickly and face the fact that he may not be the right dog for your family.
It almost broke my heart to accept that fact for ours but he is ok now with a childless person who still treads carefully

Nancy91 · 12/07/2017 11:00

This sounds normal to me, your puppy is very young and is learning about the world. You must remember that he will be very overwhelmed as his little world has recently changed a lot. Ignore him when he is snarling, walk away from him. Dogs learn to do things that you praise and to stop doing things that you ignore. It isn't too early to start teaching him this.

Puppies are hard so it's easy to have a little wobble and think that you regret it, but dogs get easier! Best of luck Smile

Secretbiscuits · 12/07/2017 11:01

There was a cocker spaniel at the puppy training class i went to who acted exactly like you are describing. The lady running the classes said that kind of behaviour was common in cockers which I was surprised about as I thought they were soft!

Have you booked in any training or puppy classes? You might be able to get some good advice if a decent trainer is able to observe the behaviour. Good luck.

Severalusernameslater · 12/07/2017 11:05

I'm just a former dog handler, for a well known organisation, what would I know. Dogs being pack animals who strive to increase their position in the pack, must have been debunked quite recently. He's not doing this when you feed him OP. Have him sit for food, have the kids feed him, teach him yes and no, and enjoy your puppy.

villainousbroodmare · 12/07/2017 11:06

Dogs learn to do things that you praise and to stop doing things that you ignore.

Not really. Dogs learn to do things that are rewarding and to stop doing things that are not. That's why dogs that are "not that into you" are difficult to train.

Veterinari · 12/07/2017 11:09

He's new, in a new place and as a pack animal he wants to be the boss. He's possibly a bit dominant.

Please ignore this advice - it's bollocks.

Your 8 week old puppy, recently separated from his mum and siblings at an unnaturally early age is not planning to dominate your family. He doesn't want to be the boss because he has no concept of what 'the boss' is or how to achieve interspecies supremacy.

He's likely overwhelmed, anxious and emotionally unstable. He needs consistency, calm and patience until he settles.

The early neutering advice is also bollocks as this can worsen any anxiety problems or aggressive tendencies caused by fear.

dotdotdotmustdash · 12/07/2017 11:11

I'm just a former dog handler, for a well known organisation, what would I know. Dogs being pack animals who strive to increase their position in the pack, must have been debunked quite recently.

Most definitely debunked by the modern dog training world - more often followed by the Cesar Milan school of 'make it up as you go along' dog training. It won't take you long to update your knowledge if you do a little bit of research. Here's somewhere to start...
I'm just a former dog handler, for a well known organisation, what would I know. Dogs being pack animals who strive to increase their position in the pack, must have been debunked quite recently.

dotdotdotmustdash · 12/07/2017 11:12

Ooops sorry, forgot to copy and paste properly, here's the link...
positively.com/dog-training/myths-truths/pack-theory-debunked/

Severalusernameslater · 12/07/2017 11:12

Every dog should be neutered as soon as it's possible, unless you intend to breed them. And Many should consider not breeding dogs there's too man being bred. Also cats, it's a responsibility to neuter pets and to do so early as you can is best.

Veterinari · 12/07/2017 11:13

I'm just a former dog handler, for a well known organisation, what would I know

Sorry, if that's true I'm pretty worried. Please do seek newer info - pack theory and dominance heirarchies are at least 20 years out of date.

Evidence based info on cat and dog behaviour can be found here:
www.coursera.org/learn/cats-and-dogs
www.apbc.org.uk/articles/why-wont-dominance-die

Feel free to PM me if you want any more info. It'd be worth feeding back to whichever organisation you worked for also.

Severalusernameslater · 12/07/2017 11:14

This does interest me greatly. I shall read through.

ChestnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 12/07/2017 11:15

I agree he sounds anxious and overwhelmed. I've found my cockers to generally be a happy, robust and sociable dog but I have met a few adults with fear aggression. I'd take him to vet in first instance, agree with PP- keep things calm and routine and a safe space for him. Reward the positive behaviours.

Veterinari · 12/07/2017 11:17

Every dog should be neutered as soon as it's possible, unless you intend to breed them.

Based on what? Human convenience?

Neutering increases the risks of many diseases e.g.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3572183/

And can worsen fear aggression in dogs

Char22thom · 12/07/2017 11:19

We have a very confident, happy, friendly 4yr old Coker spaniel who was exactly as you describe when she was about the same age. I have to say, we took it gently and avoided over stimulating or exciting her as it usually ended up in nipping and snapping. We also took a firm stance to it and would say no and put her in the kitchen ( only 1min literally before anyone jumps on me) and she soon learnt to stop when we said no. If the dog jumps at you or snaps the. You need to stand still and turn your back, this worked well for us at least. Remember spaniel are intelligent breeds and need to be stimulated so start training Asap, even just Sit or make wait for food until you give a command, they need to be stimulated otherwise they can become troublesome and mischievous lol X

Severalusernameslater · 12/07/2017 11:39

ill still spay and be part of the solution. I've had them diagnosed with hip displaysia diagnosed at birth, I'm watching my old boy recently diagnosed with cancer have his final few hopefully weeks before the vet is called, he is intact. I'll accept theories and unstanding has moved on, but I've had wonderful dogs, and well trained, well adjusted dogs for 20 years, and I've been in kennels with multiple working dogs, they very much are pack animals and some seek to increase their station.

Original poster
FiddleFigs · 12/07/2017 11:41

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. It's all really helpful and reassuring.

I'll definitely try to establish a routine for him, and have a calm and consistent approach. He has a crate (which he will only go into overnight - he prefers either snoozing under the sofa or in the hallway during the day, and we do leave him alone when he's snoozing). DD knows to respect his spaces and to only interact with him when I'm around.

I'll get a start on training. I've been trying out "sit", "leave", "down" (when jumping on people and furniture) and "come" so far. Trying to be positive with him, but there is a lot of "no" because of all the nipping and chewing of things he shouldn't be chewing (furniture, toes, doors - even though he already has a million chew toys). He is signed up to puppy classes, but not before he's had his second set of jabs - which is 2.5 weeks away!

As an aside, we were planning to have him neutered anyway - nothing to do with aggression, but growing up we lost two cocker spaniels to testicular cancer, and I obviously want to avoid that.

OP posts:
Severalusernameslater · 12/07/2017 11:44

I'd also say if a dog has reached the age to be neutered and aggresive behaviours are increased, it's because they were not addressed far sooner. And I'd be interested in reports on European dogs, to eliminate things like growth hormones in diets as a contributor.