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The doghouse

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

Original poster

My dog bit me

79 replies

Bitingspaniel · 09/12/2022 06:48

Hi there,

I'd love to get your thoughts on why my 11 month cocker has bitten me and my husband in the last week.

We've had him from a pup, good breeder, some teething (ha) troubles but nothing untoward. He was neutered at 10 months as he was humping a lot.

Last week I told him 'here' and he wouldn't come. He ran off to his crate instead. I said 'hey! Here! Come on' and followed him. He started growling and I was so shocked, really didn't think he would hurt me so bent down and put my hand in his crate and he bit me. I assumed it was my own fault for not reading the signs, although I do still think he should have come when I told him to!

The second time my husband was having dinner with the kids (12 and 10) when the dog jumped up and put his front paws on the table. We've never allowed that, so my husband said 'off' and the dog ignored him. Husband shouted it - still ignored. Husband got up and walked to dog to put him in his crate while the meal was going on and the dog lashed out. My kids told me there was blood everywhere.

There have been other instances but no biting- the dog stole a toy from my son's room and hid it in his crate and wouldn't 'drop' or 'leave' and growled if we went near. We'd learnt our lesson so left him and then got the toy back later.

Having read some other threads I will take him to the vet to see if they can check him over. What else should we be doing? I'm devastated. The rest of the time he's just a normal dog, sleeps well, always ready to play, has either 2 longer walks or 3 shorter walks a day. His recall isn't great but getting better. Any advice, or recommendations for a behaviourist would be fantastic, thank you (we're in London).

OP posts:
dolor · 09/12/2022 06:57

Look up spaniel rage.

Flaunch · 09/12/2022 07:01

I think cockers can be prone to this. I wouldn’t have a dog that behaved like that in my house.

Original poster
Bitingspaniel · 09/12/2022 07:02

@dolor I heard of that so had a Google this week but none of the websites that talk about it seem particularly 'official' and I just found a load of articles asking if it was a real thing! Do you have any more info about it - particularly about how to stop it? Thank you so much

OP posts:
Original poster
Bitingspaniel · 09/12/2022 07:03

@Flaunch no it's not ideal. Are you suggesting I get rid of him? Because obviously that would be devastating

OP posts:
honeyandbutterontoast · 09/12/2022 07:03

Is he a solid colour cocker?

Original poster
Bitingspaniel · 09/12/2022 07:05

@honeyandbutterontoast no he's chocolate, tan and white, which apparently doesn't fit with the spaniel rage theory either!

OP posts:
WhatInFreshHell · 09/12/2022 07:06

You cannot kept a dog that has bitten in a house with children. You absolutely cannot. What if the dog bites one of your children?!

TheHouseIsInACircleNow · 09/12/2022 07:06

We had an aggressive cocker as kids. A one person dog, she was completely possessive over our mother and growled at and bit us frequently. Why my parents didn’t get rid earlier I will never know…… 🙄 It was bloody awful.

Id seek a qualified behaviourist’s advice if I were you. I personally would rehome as but this is mumsnet that suggestion will go down like a lead balloon.

Alexandernevermind · 09/12/2022 07:09

Behaviourists have told me Cocker rage is a myth, its just an adjustment in the home that needs making.
Cockers are working breeds, so exercise needs to be for their brains as much as their bodies. Don't overdo the physical exercise at this age though, as his growth plate haven't fused properly.
Never go to a dog in his cage, it's his safe space. He has lashed out as he has been cornered in his cage and is on self defence.
Make sure he is getting plenty of naps and not becoming over tired.
Use voice instructions and positive training for commands, fetch, leave, bring, cage, are all basics for a gun dog that he will pick up really easily.

dolor · 09/12/2022 07:10

Spaniel rage can be treated with phenobarbital in some cases..

Toooldtoworry · 09/12/2022 07:10

Have you taken the dog to training? 10 months is still a puppy, but a teenage puppy who tests boundaries. Before you go straight to removing or pts you need to speak to a trainer.

ArcticSkewer · 09/12/2022 07:12

You are pushing him, or literally backing him, into corners and ignoring his signals, shouting at him, and using his crate as a punishment.

If you take things back to basics with a good trainer hopefully things will improve but please teach your children in the meantime to not challenge him over toys or try to punish him as that seems to be a trigger (just so they don't get bitten, not because I think they are a problem)

I don't have more advice as I am no specialist but I do know that you train dogs with love and treats not demands and shouting. Back to basics and fingers crossed for you.

NashvilleQueen · 09/12/2022 07:14

On both occasions it sounds like he was in his crate and defending his space. I do think it's a spaniel thing. Once they're in there they're also vulnerable as they can't get out so once they're on high alert and you put your hand in it's a risk.

I'd try to start putting my hand in to give him treats and pets in a relaxed situation. So when he goes in by himself or when he's calm etc.

Did he growl to warn you first?

Tinseltosser · 09/12/2022 07:15

Has the dog ever been physically punished? I don’t just mean hitting, has he ever been backed into a corner, forcibly picked up/shoved into his crate by an angry person?

I apologise if not, but the only dog I saw act like this was a childhood dog that my clueless dominating father had scared (never hit, but ‘dominated’) so any time the dog sensed my dad getting annoyed or angrily going up to him, the dog would react.

Original poster
Bitingspaniel · 09/12/2022 07:15

@ArcticSkewer @Alexandernevermind thank you, this is great advice. He does get a lot of love too! But perhaps not when he's acting up, so we'll change that.

@Toooldtoworry yes we've done a couple of puppy courses where we learnt the basics but not done 121 so I'll look into that

OP posts:
Original poster
Bitingspaniel · 09/12/2022 07:19

@NashvilleQueen yes he did and we ignored it which I know now was stupid of us

@Tinseltosser he hasn't, but he definitely lashes out when he knows he's done something he shouldn't so he obviously thinks he's doing to be punished somehow. I'll need to think about what we're doing and make sure our reactions aren't scaring him, thank you

OP posts:
lemons44 · 09/12/2022 07:20

You are pushing him, or literally backing him, into corners and ignoring his signals, shouting at him, and using his crate as a punishment. *
*
This ^
He seems to be reacting to being told off. The first time especially he was telling you he was uncomfortable. And if your OH is shouting at him that's probably freaking him out - it's not like he can understand the English language he will just be hearing the loud noise. Can you focus on positive training and rewarding with treats when he is good rather than telling off when he is bad ?

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 09/12/2022 07:20

Why are you shouting at him and cornering him in his cage instead of using gentle positive reinforcement????

Ffs rehome the poor thing.

GingerRuby · 09/12/2022 07:23

I highly recommend Dog Training Advice and Support on Facebook, run by Sally Bradbury and others, they have a whole set of free articles to read, there is also a book if you find that easier. There is a section on resource guarding, really pragmatic advice, positive and force free.

Wolfiefan · 09/12/2022 07:25

You urgently need training help here. Dog training advice and support on FB is a great group and could recommend a trainer near you.
You are ignoring signals from your dog and putting them in a position where they feel they need to bite. Never ignore a growl. Use positive methods to get what you want.

Wolfiefan · 09/12/2022 07:26

X post there. Same group as above. It’s great!

EdithStourton · 09/12/2022 07:27

Is he show or working strain? Working cockers are delightful (usually!) if they get an outlet for their natural drives. This isn't being allowed to run around the park, this is being given an outlet for their instinct to hunt and retrieve. Giving gundogs what they need like this can make a huge difference - I see it with one of my own dogs, who starts to be revolting to on-lead dogs if she misses out on one-to-one training time for a for a few weeks.

5ChristmasTrees · 09/12/2022 07:28

Have you made the vet appointment yet? I would do do ASAP if not. The only time one of our dogs went to bite me, he was poorly. We took him to the vet after he tried to bite and they said he had an issue with his back. He deteriorated, we took him back for bloods which revealed he was very poorly. Don’t let them just check him over quickly, insist on at least blood tests

If he’s well, you need a behaviourist in to work out what’s going on. You don’t just rehome without trying to find out the cause, especially when you ignored growl warnings for a start, you need to be dealing with the dog in the correct way too. You should obviously keep the children and dog separate until vet and behaviourist have given advice.

Coldhouseflowers · 09/12/2022 07:29

I thought it was general knowledge never to back a dog into a corner .

MissyB1 · 09/12/2022 07:33

Why are you being aggressive to this dog? Aggression breeds aggression with animals. Stop shouting at him, stop trying to dominate him.
Look up positive reward based training. And bond more with him, you need to build more trust.

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