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

8 month old puppy still biting

22 replies

Hairybaker · 03/04/2021 19:31

Is this normal?! I think it is when he is over excited mainly but thought he would have learned by now it is not the best way. We have tried not to react but fine catches you a certain way it can hurt. Tried time outs etc too. Is it time to get outside help?! He is a cocker spaniel.

OP posts:
Ladymouse · 03/04/2021 21:08

I would think he is a little bit old for biting but cockers are quite a playful breed. Have you tried the stern loud ouch rather than no and walk away/put in crate. No is normally used for everything big or small but a different command that is associated with his owner ignoring him/putting him in the crate may work. Has he been good at learning other commands?

Mammaaof · 03/04/2021 21:11

My cavapoochon is 9 months and still gets bitey when excited doesn't really hurt just playful

MichelleofzeResistance · 03/04/2021 21:16

I wondered if you had a cockerdile!

Both my cocker and my current spaniel mouthed and nipped until quite late, the first one had me in despair, and both by the time they passed out of their wild teens were absolutely trustworthy and had the softest mouths imaginable. It does pass, and I wonder sometimes if its because they end up learning so much about mouth sensitivity that they're utter nightmares when young.

Often both of mine were vile and bitey monsters when tired, and while my girl figured out by about 9 months old how to switch herself off and rest when tired, my boy was still going crazy and needing to go in his crate to find his off button until he was about 13 months old. He used to hit the red zone about 7pm and be impossible. I went back to very strict eat, play, nap schedules like I did when they were puppies, rested them a whole lot more, and was really clear with both of them about ouch, no, ignore. But most of it was overtiredness and immaturity.

The best advice I was ever given was by a working cocker owner who owned a highly challenging, high speed rocket, who taught me to spot the signs that the pup needs a treat to take in the crate and a nap.

My raving maniac is asleep on my lap right now, it really does pass.

Lifeisforalimitedperiodonly · 03/04/2021 21:42

I have a female cocker. She is 9 now but I remember clearly the biting. The constant ‘no bite’ to her. One day I actually sat and cried as the nipping was relentless. It was the main topic of household conversation for months! She did get better and it stopped eventually at about 18 months. She is still nutty and only calmed down last year!

DoubleTweenQueen · 03/04/2021 22:01

Is he resting during the day? Do you think maybe he's misbehaving because he's too wired/ overly tired? My 6month Springer mouths but is much more gentle than when she was younger. If she seems to be overexcited and has been on the go for a while, it's nap time.

Asdf12345 · 03/04/2021 22:05

Scruff him every time if he is still small enough. If you get them early it only needs doing once or twice but it may take more effort at that age.

Undisclosedlocation · 03/04/2021 22:17

@Asdf12345

Scruff him every time if he is still small enough. If you get them early it only needs doing once or twice but it may take more effort at that age.
Appalling advice. Plus an extremely timely reminder that asking randoms on the internet is no substitute for a qualified trainer.

In answer to your question OP, yes it would be much better to get some help from someone in person who actually knows what they are doing

pheasantsinlove · 03/04/2021 23:09

Absolutely agree with @Undisclosedlocation

'Scruffing' should not form any part of training a dog.

When he bites remove all attention. Stand up and turn your back or walk away. As soon as you see the dog stop with is cause of action, such as it sits or settles back, reward with a good boy. It's a tedious case of keep repeating until they understand that the biting results in something they don't want (attention removal) and not biting results in good attention.

Scruffing or shouting or anything similar will result in a scared nervous dog who at some point will properly bite out of feeling like it's defending its self.

TwunchOfBats · 03/04/2021 23:11

@Asdf12345

Scruff him every time if he is still small enough. If you get them early it only needs doing once or twice but it may take more effort at that age.
Don't do this unless.
sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/04/2021 23:26

@Asdf12345

Scruff him every time if he is still small enough. If you get them early it only needs doing once or twice but it may take more effort at that age.
Why do people still spout such outdated bollocks?
Easilyannoyed · 03/04/2021 23:50

I have a 10 month old cocker. She occasionally still bites, usually when she is bored - her way of saying it’s time for a walk, bit of play or a good cow’s ear or similar to chew on. Sometimes she is just plain old hungry! It took me ages to work this out but when the penny dropped I started giving her something more to eat and she settled down. Cockers are high energy and when they are puppies they need a lot to eat. Sometimes the biting behaviour is over-tiredness (just like a toddler). Are you giving him plenty of quiet time to sleep after exercise? Hope those ideas are helpful.

Hairybaker · 04/04/2021 10:16

Don’t worry we will definitely not be ‘scruffing’ him!

He gets plenty of sleep and settles really well in his crate both in the day (for enforced naps though!) and at night, sleeping from 10 until 7ish.

I think we probably need to do more brain games with him but am reassured that other cockers have been similar and he isn’t a devil dog!!

OP posts:
MaryLennoxsScowl · 04/04/2021 10:36

Mine did this too - he had definitely learned bite inhibition as he would stop biting if he got your finger in his mouth, but he still thought sleeves and clothes were fair game and sometimes got you through your clothes. We got stricter and walked right away from him and he did eventually stop - agree it was worse when he was tired, hungry or needed a poo.

HappyThursdays · 04/04/2021 10:37

Personally I think it's worth asking for advice from a behaviourist if you are worried.

I agree totally with the enforced naps - that's what made the biggest difference with our (working) cocker. Yesterday he was out in the fields with us all afternoon and so he went to sleep at 6pm and was up at 630am.

I would expect by 8 months that they know the difference between a bite that hurts and a playful bite that doesn't and if he's still hurting you, I would seek advice.

But in the meantime if you know the trigger is being over excited, I would see if you can't stop that happening before he resorts to biting.

TheRealForReal · 04/04/2021 12:51

Scruff him every time if he is still small enough. If you get them early it only needs doing once or twice but it may take more effort at that age

Alot of people still do this sort of thing unfortunately.

DoubleTweenQueen · 04/04/2021 13:53

I don't know what 'scruff' means?

sunflowersandbuttercups · 04/04/2021 14:02

@DoubleTweenQueen

I don't know what 'scruff' means?
Grab the dog by the back of the neck and lift it off the floor.
AnniesAmazingEyebrows · 04/04/2021 14:08

It’s grabbing them tightly by the back of their necks and giving them a little shake often while shouting loudly close to their face to stop behaviour you don’t like. Such as seeing inside, nipping, chewing things.

Some people also pick the dogs up from the floor by the scruff of their of their neck and do the above and also call that stuffing.

It was a common thing I’d see people do when I was a kid and i thought it cruel then. With all the resources available to use now I’m genuinely shocked to see someone advise that.

MichelleofzeResistance · 04/04/2021 14:30

Please don't physically punish and intimidate your puppy Sad

If you're feeling in danger of getting there please get a session 1:1 with a good local trainer - they will not use this kind of method but will help. Your dog is still only a baby.

DoubleTweenQueen · 04/04/2021 14:33

I’ve never come across it, thankfully

ashmts · 04/04/2021 15:01

Our cocker stopped nipping/mouthing at about 4 months, sounds like we were really lucky. We used a combination of distract with a toy/step over a room divider/time outs etc. We also acted really hurt when she nipped us, proper hamming it up with an 'owwwww' and cradling our hand. They're sweet wee dogs and I do think this helped cos she was very concerned about us.

She also started daycare round about this age and I don't know whether that helped nip it in the bud, if the older dogs were telling her off? I'll never really know. Is he getting enough exercise? Enough mental stimulation and training to work his brain? Does he get enough attention? I'm like a broken record but if you're trying to WFH or something and the dog's not getting enough attention through the day I cannot recommend daycare enough.

If you haven't already consulted a trainer then I definitely recommend that too. Force-free though... As said above. Not just to stop the biting but cockers love to learn so the training keeps their brains busy.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 04/04/2021 15:02

@DoubleTweenQueen

I’ve never come across it, thankfully
Thankfully it's generally recognised as abusive and outdated now, but as you can see, some people still insist on manhandling their dogs and intimidating them into good behaviour Sad
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