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The doghouse

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Original poster

Auntie being rough with Puppy

26 replies

Bananarama21 · 14/05/2022 08:08

So we got out puppy 4 weeks, shes 12 weeks now. She's a cockerador, she's gorgeous girl but going through the biting phrase which we are working on. So my auntie came round to drop the kids off and the puppy came running over and was wanting to play with her long tussles on her coat. She shouted at the puppy and proceeded to push her down to the ground. She then smacked her bum.

My husband intervened and scooped her up and my auntie said you want to sort the biting out, my husband told her she's a puppy and we are working with her to stop that. I'm livid she treated her like that and tried talking to her but she's put the phone down. Tbh I don't want her in the house with her treating the dog like that. Last thing I want is the puppy being reactive to someone being forceful.

OP posts:
YoComoManzanas · 14/05/2022 08:10

Indeed, just meet aunty away from your home and pup for now. No need for a confrontation or drama unless aunt forces it?

Whisp3r · 14/05/2022 08:20

She was dropping your kids off so she had been helping you out? I don't agree with hitting dogs at all but your husband had already intervened. You could have just said next time she was near the pup that you were training the pup using positive reinforcement. I can see why she is annoyed to have you ring her, livid, when she was only in your house getting bitten by the puppy because she was doing you a favour. Also, I keep my puppies off visitors until I have trained them not to bite and ensure visitors are ok with jumping pups before letting them loose. Just keep your puppy in another room when your aunt is next helping you out if she continues to help you.

Twinmum12 · 14/05/2022 08:24

Being jumped up at and bitten by a (probably quite large) puppy is pretty horrible. Shut the dog away until you've taught it to behave when people come to your house.

She shouldn't have hit your dog, but this situation was very easily prevented.

Original poster
Bananarama21 · 14/05/2022 08:26

No one she strike an animal, she came in to see the puppy, asked to see her. Don't worry il be keeping the puppy away from her.

OP posts:
wintersgold · 14/05/2022 10:58

Anyone who hits a dog wouldn't be welcome in my home anymore.

The puppy doesn't know that biting and jumping is bad, they're natural behaviours and the puppy needs time to learn not to do them. If she can't understand that, she can't be trusted around your dog

coffeecupsandfairylights · 14/05/2022 11:01

I wouldn't want someone smacking any animal in my home, but equally she probably didn't want her coat ruined by a puppy biting at it.

In future I would make sure all interactions with the puppy are calm and controlled, with any tempting clothing like tassels kept firmly out of the way.

rnsaslkih · 14/05/2022 11:07

Hitting a 12 week old puppy is a fucking weird and stupid thing to do. Your dog saw her tassels as a toy and played with them. And the nasty bitch hit her!

keep her away from the dog
make sure you train really well, get a 1 to 1 trainer if necessary

Libertaire · 14/05/2022 11:14

She shouldn’t have smacked someone else’s dog, but she’s absolutely correct about the behaviour. You do need to sort the biting out. And the jumping up at people, too.

What can seem like fun, playful behaviour in a very cute 12 week old puppy isn’t quite so cute when it’s being done by a strong boisterous 25kg adult dog with a mouthful of very sharp teeth. As someone who has owned and trained many dogs, I can assure you it’s much easier to nip this in the bud now than trying to train biting out of an adult dog.

Original poster
Bananarama21 · 14/05/2022 15:35

We are training her and she is told no and removed from the situation. She did it before dh had chance to remove her. I grew up with dogs so I'm experienced in puppy behaviour I wasn't there at the time. But is she been told no and put in her crate when she is excited.

OP posts:
blacksax · 14/05/2022 15:43

You need to prevent your dog from being so annoying and jumping up at visitors. If it had a go at my coat, I'd have been sorely tempted to smack it one as well, especially if you'd done nothing to stop the dog from attacking me.

Cockerador? What fresh hell is this? 😂Mongrel, more like.

Bananarama21 · 14/05/2022 15:45

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Original poster
Bananarama21 · 14/05/2022 15:51

Thankyou to the posters that understand what it's like training a puppy and naturally they nip. We are working hard to get her to stop redirecting or removing her when she gets too excited. My auntie was playing with her and she got excited. She reacted before dh got chance to intervene. It's a shame some trolls spoil what should be a good place to get advice. I'm on some excellent puppy support pages on fb its just a shame the support isn't the same here and people view it as a chance to attack, mn seems to be getting worse.

OP posts:
Whooshaagh · 14/05/2022 15:53

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Ilikewinter · 14/05/2022 15:55

Wow its a 3 month old puppy, probably only been in his new family home for max 4 weeks - so of course hes not going to sit to attention when someone new and exciting comes in with fun looking dangly tassles ...... I dont blame your DH for telling her but I probably wouldnt have phoned her up.

PugInTheHouse · 15/05/2022 08:03

Anyone would think this is AIBU.

It's totally normal for puppies to be bitey at that age, some of the responses on here are odd. You are still training the pup FFS.

We have a large breed pup and luckily he's not very bitey at 13 weeks but he does jump up. We are of course reinforcing the correct behaviour etc but he hasn't fully stooped doing it yet. If anyone smacked him because of it they would never come in my house again.

pilates · 15/05/2022 08:08

Very normal behaviour for a puppy. Just carry on with the training. I can understand why you’re upset with your Auntie.

DolphinaPD · 15/05/2022 08:33

Is this a cocker and a labrador?

Jesus christ.

Good luck!

SarahSissions · 15/05/2022 11:49

It’s outrageous, she’s in the wrong, you take your lead from the owner or how they are training their dog.

With all my guests I tell them how we are training our dogs and what they are to do in an expected situation- ie. He might jump up, so can you step away until he’s calm etc. I’d also look at getting a room divider so guests can hop over for some safety if they want.

chisanunian · 15/05/2022 14:09

Calling a stranger on the internet a mongrel is offensive.

lemons44 · 15/05/2022 14:23

blacksax · 14/05/2022 15:43

You need to prevent your dog from being so annoying and jumping up at visitors. If it had a go at my coat, I'd have been sorely tempted to smack it one as well, especially if you'd done nothing to stop the dog from attacking me.

Cockerador? What fresh hell is this? 😂Mongrel, more like.

Who the hell says they would 'smack it one' when talking about a puppy?! Absolutely evil and disgusting.

Branleuse · 15/05/2022 15:10

I wouldnt be pleased about this, but I do also think that if your dog is biting someone, then you cant be that surprised if they smack it away.
I mean, unless you meant that she beat your puppy and properly hurt it, but a mother dog, or other puppies are very bitey and rough with each other, so im sure your dog isnt traumatised, but id definitely make sure your dog is kept away from visitors if its going to get overexcited and bite. Its not good for the dog to be that overexcited, nor is it good for your guests or you.
I would chalk this down to experience. I assumed you meant rough play with the puppy. Not getting it off her because it was attacking her coat and biting her.

Branleuse · 15/05/2022 15:12

chisanunian · 15/05/2022 14:09

Calling a stranger on the internet a mongrel is offensive.

new here??

Original poster
Bananarama21 · 15/05/2022 17:24

This is my lovely girl, she is a cross breed between labrador and cocker spaniel. We only had her 4 weeks and working hard trainning her. Anyone who has experience with puppys know that nipping and jumping are normal behaviours as they used to exploring the world in particular with their mouths its not aggressive behaviour. We are working hard with her to train her and she is getting better. Problem is people can start playing rough and mixed messages are send, she us removed when she nips just my auntie took it upon herself to push her down and smack her.

We are still trying to socialise her, today we took her to an outdoor fayre at work and she enjoyed seeing everyone and was full of kisses. I grew up around dogs my father used to train them for the guide dogs and had numberous puppies in the household.

Auntie being rough with Puppy
OP posts:
SarahSissions · 15/05/2022 20:18

You know your doing the right thing. Mumsnet is full of shit advice and people talking big

Branleuse · 15/05/2022 21:52

She is absolutely gorgeous.
What techniques do you use? Maybe worth talking to people that come roumd, before they come in, how you want them to react with thw dog