Puppy advice please.
We have a springer. Got her at 8 weeks and now she’s 13 weeks.
She’s settled in pretty well, sleeping midnight til 6.30, has had someone home with her pretty much solid since we got her. She’ll settle in her crate in the day time.
She’s eating fine, playing fine etc.
The problem is the bloody biting. It’s horrific. From 6.30am until bed at midnight she just bites, pounces, attacks.
She jumps up for affection and as soon as you pick her up she’s ripping your hair out, or puncturing your hands and arms, even biting noses and faces.
You only have to walk from one side of the room to the other and she’s hanging off your trousers growling or off my shoe laces or slippers.
Every single person who’s come to visit her has puncture wounds in their hands.
The kids are covered in scratches, little bite marks, their clothes are ripped and this is literally happening when walking from the lounge to the toilet. They are separated by stairs gates the entire rest of the time.
If I want the kids to come in the kitchen for lunch then I have to pick them up over the stair gate and carry them to their chairs or they get attacked and bitten on their legs. The whole time the dog is hanging off my jeans biting me while I’m carrying the kids.
We put her in her crate for a minute to calm down, but as soon as she comes out she’s attacking again.
My parents are desperately worried that we’ve got an aggressive dog around the kids, even though she’s only 13 weeks old.
She’s from a registered breeder and is pedigree.
She can’t go out yet as hasn’t had all of her jabs, but I play with her in the garden chucking a ball for 15 minute spells. If anything this ramps up the aggression and she’ll come in all wound up and attack even more.
We take her for car rides and to meet friends dogs which wears her out slightly.
Evenings are the worst. She almost goes into a frenzied attack and we will be sat on the sofa and she’ll just fly through the air at you and basically attack you.
If something has scared her then she’ll attack too.
My LO bought a balloon home from a party. The dog saw it on the other side of the room, started barking manically and then just ran around in a frenzy biting everyone.
I’ve had experience of puppies before, but have never experienced such a bitey aggressive puppy.
Please tell me this is normal for springers and she’ll grow out of it?
I’m so worried that she’ll be an aggressive dog.
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Ripped to shreds
rippedtoshreds · 01/01/2019 09:29
Mine would have ignored any treat when he was in shark mode. I often used to slide mine out of the room (hard floors are handy) making sure he couldn't nip me or I removed myself if it was easier.
I am biased but spaniels are bloody lovely but not when in puppy crocodile mode 
Not sure that 15kg would last 6 months tbh? Seems like a very long time!
If it was me I would be tempted to try a better food and then do the changeover by mixing them together over a fortnight and then sell/donate the Hills to a dog rescue or someone whose dog is ok on it. It is only a thought but, for me, starting with the obvious is the best place. You may just have a very bitey puppy but it does sound a little extreme to me even for a working Springer.
Have look on the food website I linked to as it is very useful. Also I think that www.cockersonline.co.uk/ is a great spaniel resource (I know you have a Springer but you still will get good help on here I am sure!).
Have you tried occupying your pup with a stuffed Kong? Also training classes are a must so as soon as soon as you can get her in a puppy group. Spaniels get VERY tired from brainwork so little basic training sessions will also help as they have to concentrate and it's hard work!
She will be worth it I promise. Spaniels really are the very best.
It is hard. Bloody hard and you seriously wonder what the hell you were thinking when you thought it was a good idea.
Keep repeating 'this phase will pass' . And stock up on lots of 
and 
I’ve been there. I cried. A lot. She was my first dog. Let alone my first puppy. I was exhausted.
She’s now a complete delight and so sweet and gentle. It passes. But it’s bloody hard whilst it lasts.
Hmmm. A respite service for owners of bitey little puppy buggers. Promising a whole night of sleep or a whole day off toilet training/being chewed. Could be lucrative.
Wolfie I know this sounds bad but I almost cried with relief when I went back to work. Just having a few hours where I didn't have to worry about a puppy felt such a relief. It's hard to reconcile that feeling when I am now at work because all I think about is how much I bloody miss him 
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