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Original poster

Any suggestions for handling a 12wk old cocker that likes biting

26 replies

DaydreamsAndWishes · 09/05/2021 17:02

We had a retriever before who mouthed a lot, but we got through that and she learnt bite inhibition well.

We're using the same techniques now with our cocker pup but he just gets excited and does not stop.

When our retriever was mouthing we did a high yip sound and she would stop. We then redirected onto dog chew toys. This does not work with cocker pup, so we say a firm "no biting", put him in "time out" in his pen whilst ignoring him for a few mins, then let him back out. Rinse and repeat!

Is this normal for cockers? What worked for your pup?

[We are doing the socialisation, different noises etc and some basic training commands during the crucial window so he's getting a lot of other input.]

OP posts:
Thatswatshesaid · 09/05/2021 17:05

Do you enforce naps?

AbsolutelyPatsy · 09/05/2021 17:06

Firm No
tap on the nose?

PollyRoulson · 09/05/2021 17:10

Loads to think about with biting puppies.

Are they over tired
Are they overaroused
Are they hungry
Do they need to sleep
Their teeth ARE hurting them so what can they chew and bite that is safe.

Very few dogs react well to the yippy noise you make when they bite you - why do many dog toys have high pitched squeakers in them? To get the dog excited and want to play. So doing this when your puppy is already overaroused usually just excites the puppy more when you are really wanting to change the mood to calm.

Calm calm calm is the way forward.

If the biting happens at certain times of day act before it happens so as your puppy gets tired in the evening and begins to get bitey give them a chew toy before this starts to encourage calm relaxation.

At the moment interact with the puppy with a toy in your hand and play with the toy, the minute they touch your skin just quietly remove yourself for a short time. Dont say anything just walk away .

If they are biting you when you walk around eg nipping at your clothes and feet , then get a long leece toy or cloth and let them play with that instead.

Make sure you have loads of toys around that they can chew on. Your puppies teeth will be in agony at the moment and they need help to get through this stage.

Frozen carrots, frozen t towels tied into knots can help to relieve some of the discomfort for them.

Nightbear · 09/05/2021 17:11

I’ve found that puppies often get overstimulated/tired and then get too enthusiastic with the nipping. Their teeth are soooo sharp at that age. I tried to have regular 20 minutes of ‘quiet time’ for them to snooze or just play on their own.

For some dogs the high pitched ‘Ow!’ is exciting. Turning your back and withdrawing your attention for 20 seconds+ might work as an alternative.

PollyRoulson · 09/05/2021 17:11

@AbsolutelyPatsy

Firm No tap on the nose?
I find it odd how we react to teething puppies - the need to tell them off.

With babies we cuddle them through the pain and give them medication and teething rings, yet a puppy gets chastised

BiteyShark · 09/05/2021 17:13

My cocker was a bitey monster in the evenings. Time outs were the only thing that stopped it.

Using crate/baby gates or simply the other side of the door we made sure he got a few minutes to calm down or crash out. If he continued when he came back in then out he went for a few more minutes.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 09/05/2021 17:14
Hmm
AbsolutelyPatsy · 09/05/2021 17:15

puppies are not babies @PollyRoulson

people are not dogs

MabelMoo23 · 09/05/2021 17:15

Tap on the nose??

FFS absolutely not. He’s a baby who is teething and his teeth hurt, or he’s overtired, like puppies get, because you know, he’s a baby!!!!

Nightbear · 09/05/2021 17:17

Tapping them on the nose went out with the ark.

PollyRoulson · 09/05/2021 17:19

@AbsolutelyPatsy

puppies are not babies *@PollyRoulson*

people are not dogs

Nope puppies are not babies I am aware of that Confused . Puppies teeth and feel pain tapping them on the nose will not stop pain.
MabelMoo23 · 09/05/2021 17:23

They might not be a human baby, but they are a baby dog who feel pain when their teeth are hurting. They also get overtired, because again, they are young...

Are you enforcing naps OP? Puppies need more sleep than you realise

ashmts · 09/05/2021 17:41

Twelve weeks is still tiny, it's so normal. Ours stopped biting really young (with hindsight, it felt like forever at the time) and once we got her out for walks she calmed down a lot and it had stopped by about 15 weeks. She also started daycare around that time so I'm not sure whether spending time with the older dogs helped too. Distracting with a toy just did not work, she had no focus. Enforcing naps didn't work, she wasn't much of a sleeper in the early days, even overnight. We got a room divider and I stepped over that to get away from her when she got nippy and attached herself to my ankle. So similar to your time outs, the only thing is you risk making her feel negative towards her pen if it's used as a punishment which could backfire. I also wore long sleeved tops and Ugg boots around the house so she could do minimal damage. The other thing I did was if she nipped my hand I over-egged it, like 'owww' cradling my hand and acting upset. I have no idea if this worked but she did seem to get concerned, she'd stop and pop a paw on me as though checking if I was okay. Who knows but it may be worth a try

Tapping on the nose is just a horrendous suggestion, it just goes against everything in the modern training methods.

cupsofcoffee · 09/05/2021 18:15

@AbsolutelyPatsy

Firm No tap on the nose?
Why do you think tapping a puppy on the nose will stop them feeling the pain associated with teething?
AbsolutelyPatsy · 09/05/2021 19:32

i also did a big Ow

Helenluvsrob · 09/05/2021 19:33

Do not hit your puppy.
That only associates you with pain. Do you think that’s a good lesson ?

OP it will pass. Keep doing what you are doing - abs keep small kids out of the way

Moonlaserbearwolf · 09/05/2021 19:37

I would carry on with what you’re doing - keep offering other things to chew. At 12 weeks our miniature poodle was a still very bitey, but it passes.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 09/05/2021 19:40

if you say hit and you are referring to my query over tap, you are getting carried away with your misunderstanding of the phrase

NotJustAnyOldDog · 09/05/2021 19:52

Ah the good old cockerdile phase. Love it.

Kathy2020 · 09/05/2021 19:59

Our pups a lot older we were told by a trainer to put him in his crate every time he bites which we’ve been doing and he now bites a lot less.
He usually will go to sleep within a few mins of being put into his crate

Original poster
DaydreamsAndWishes · 09/05/2021 20:14

Thanks for the replies. I should say we have both a crate and a pen. He goes in his pen for when he needs to calm down and is ignored (cross our arms and turn our back on him). He cries a lot, pushing at the bars and trying to break out. I wouldn't want to use his crate in that way as I want him to have a positive association with his crate for bedtime.

He is attacking feet and legs and also hands, drawing blood. It's hard to ignore when he is in attack mode!

Trying to get him to nap is a nightmare. He will stir at the sound of anything and will get up if anyone comes into the room.

What can we do to enforce a nap?

OP posts:
Original poster
DaydreamsAndWishes · 09/05/2021 20:20

And no, I'm not tapping him on the nose.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 09/05/2021 20:36

@DaydreamsAndWishes

And no, I'm not tapping him on the nose.
Good
Hovverry · 09/05/2021 20:38

All puppies bite and eventually grow out of it. It’s normal play, not done because of teething. You counter it with toys and distraction.

Aria20 · 10/05/2021 09:41

We are in the same phase with our 12 week old cocker. She tends to nip ankles first thing in the morning when she's just out of her crate so it's for attention/wanting play time! Or when she's over excited playing she might bite your hand.

I tend to ignore the morning ankle nipping and carry on as normal. With the biting during play I just say "ah" in my stern voice and put a chew toy/rope in her mouth instead. It seems to work. The only time she continues to try is with the kids as they are more likely to react to it so she thinks it's a game!!