Cocker spaniel training

[JamieJ93]

Hi,
I have a Cocker spaniel puppy named Milo,
He is a 4 month old working Cocker.
Training is going ok, he knows his basic commands (sit, stay)
He is unpredictable off lead, he has been to private enclosed fields and his recall has been great.
He is fine if he can't get to anything however if he sees something he is particularly interested in he's off.
I haven't walked him off lead on my own until he jumped into a stream.
I understand it takes a lot of training.
Obviously with him being a puppy he is nippy/excitable but he's "nippiness" is driving me insane, I direct him to toys when he's biting. I try not to over stimulate but this is easier said than done. We have lots and lots of mental stimulation as walking is limited due to his age and I don't want to cause him hip/leg problems in the future. Any tips on his nippiness.
He is fully crate trained IF I'm in the room however will start to bark and get distressed ( he's not that bothered if it's my husband), any tips on this also as I'm working on it but not making much progress with this if I'm honest.
He's still quite nervous around people and other dogs but plays (on his training lead) with other dogs.
I know it may seem like I'm doing a rubbish job with training but we have gotten an long way as I have only had him a month and he has never lived inside so it's a massive adjustment for him.
Thanks

You have an intelligent working breed and can highly recommend the books: The Pet Gundog by Lez Graham and Totall Recall by Pippa Mattinson to deal with recall etc.
In the house recommend Easy, Peasey, Puppy Squeezy.
Would also recommend face to face gundog puppy training sessions to train you how to train a working breed.
They make amazingly loyal dogs but they do need a high level of training and firm boundaries. Often need a job to do otherwise they can become bored/destructive once adolescence hits.

Obviously with him being a puppy he is nippy/excitable but he's "nippiness" is driving me insane, I direct him to toys when he's biting. I try not to over stimulate but this is easier said than done. We have lots and lots of mental stimulation as walking is limited due to his age and I don't want to cause him hip/leg problems in the future. Any tips on his nippiness.

Time, really

He's a 4 month old cocker spaniel. Keep doing what you are doing and expect it to (very slowly!) reduce as he matures.

The same with crate training - take it slowly.

With respect and understanding, it sounds like you are expecting a lot, too soon. At 4 months old he is a baby and will be for at least a couple more months yet. Nipping tends to stop between 6-12months old and being happier being left alone tends to take longer: more like 1-2 years.

But also: walking him will not cause hip problems later. It's a bit of a myth. Don't take a 4 month old pup on a 6 mile trek, but he should easily cope with a couple of 30mins walks a day, especially on grass at his own pace.

But also: make sure the day contains set times when he is quiet and nothing exciting is happening. They can be over stimulated at this age and it leads to poor behaviour (ime).

@JamieJ93 the Facebook page: Dog Training Advice and Support group is excellent. Run by qualified behaviourists

Thank you.
He is very intelligent,
We often play "hunting games".
I have had spaniels before (springer) however he was easier to train.
I know I can't expect everything to happen overnight (and I don't)
He's fed on a very good working dog kibble and wet.
He is a great pup and we are making progress but obviously you are right I do need training classes with a gun dog trainer,
Can you recommend anyone in the north west area ( greater Manchester but willing to travel) or a website I can search for a trusted trainer?

I will ask in my gundog group to see if there are any recommended trainers in your area

Yes - your absolutely spot on, I AM expecting too much too soon.
I just want a happy, healthy dog. I love him and is part of my little family and just want him to have a happy fullfilling life
I take him on short walks of about 15 mins each time throughout the day and then once my husband is home - takes him for a longer walk of around 30-45 minutes.
Thank you for your advice x

Recall: practise with high value, soft smelly food like small pieces chicken or pate , several times a day every day (even in the house - try and do it every time you go to make a cup of tea or leave the room) and do lots of verbal praise when he does come to you. Spaniels love pleasing their humans, so the verbal praise is key, but I found a high value treat (not dry treats or kibble) really got our cocker to click.

Nipping: we replaced our hands/etc with a toy, then PRAISE them when they take the toy - always make sure you make a big point of praising good behaviour. However, in the evenings when ours used to get very wound up (probably that delightful nippy post 7pm puppy stage) we'd give her three very chances of 'stop' then we'd put her in another room for a minute and ignore her. Wouldn't work with every dog, but it gave us a break (important) and means puppy starts associating biting > stop > no attention = bad. Puppy is safe, puppy is just not getting what they want. Also we yelped when she bit us as well, at the time it didn't seem to make a difference but apparently helps them learn their bite strength.
We also just in general tried not to wrestle her with our hands, used toys - I think this helped as she started bringing us toys to play with rather than nipping our hands.
This WILL pass, you just need to be patient and don't be afraid to walk use the 'time out' by stepping away! Puppy will not be traumatised by it, just make sure you are also practising leaving puppy alone in a positive way every day, even if it's for a minute here and there, as part of puppy's practice at being on its own.

I just want a happy, healthy dog. I love him and is part of my little family and just want him to have a happy fullfilling life

Bravo!

When you're in the puppy years, everything feels like it is taking so long - but they are puppies for such a short time, really.

We do put him in his crate when he's getting too full on - not as a punishment but, as "time out"
We give him a couple of chances to respond to our "no's" we aim not to get stressed with him as we know/think that will make him more over stimulated.
I don't want to come across as stupid and i don't know what I'm doing which I fear as I'm coming across as. I suppose I wanted advise because like I say I just want him to be a well behaved pup so he will grow into a confident dog. Although I 100% understand and agree I'm expecting him to do too much too soon x

The v annoying nippiness will stop when his baby teeth fall out and what a relief that will be!!!

The op resonated with me from when my show cocker was a puppy. All those things calmed down after the first year and he's such a lovely very easy dog now I promise. Puppies are v annoying. Dogs are fab x

Thank you for your understanding,
At times I think what a dickhead but then he looks at me with his loving eyes and all is forgiven.
I do love him and it's amazing what a bond we have already,
We don't have children yet as I was seriously seriously ill in intensive care for 8 weeks at the start of the year (I got gangrene secondary to an intentional medication overdose)
We got Milo mainly to become a therapy dog and provide me with comfort.
He's also helped massively with strengthening my leg - this is why I do the short, frequent walks during the day and my husband does the longer walks.
I had about 5% chance of survival and was extremely lucky to not lose my leg. I didn't think I'd even make it to my 30th birthday (last month) let alone Christmas so having Milo has been the best thing that could have happened to me and my husband after the awful year have been through!
X

You sound like to loveliest family for him to join OP.

A couple of websites for you to find a good trainer would be
the pet professional guild
IMDT.uk.com
All trainers that sign up to the above use force free positive methods.

Just a word on the recall.. a 4 month all will stay with you as much as possible so it's actually a perfect time for him to be used to being off lead. Get a long line so it trails along if you want assurance. But really now is the best time for you to start. I honestly believe recall is the top priority over any trick you can learn in puppy training. Total Recall by Pippa Middleton is excellent.

Nipping goes with time but he might like to learn to play tug with a toy instead of your hands. Given he's a spaniel he'll be hard wired to carry things so work with this instinct rather than against it and get him to hold on to a toy when he wants to play.

I agree with the comment about the offlead training,
I'd say 70% of the time it's spot on and he's always looking to see if we are in distance and will come back when called ect.
But the time he jumped in the stream ( I don't actually think he meant to do that, he ran off too far out of view so I called him back he jumped over a stone wall to come back expecting it to be ground but he went plonk straight in)
I know it's probably my anxiety due to him doing that.
With my springer as soon as he was fully vaccinated he was off lead no probs and I trusted him completely.
I think it's the fact I couldn't run after him quickly enough when I'm on my own (due to my leg - read my previous post) that's the problem not actually him.
When me and husband are taking him on a walk together I have no problem letting him do his own thing off lead as i have that security of my husband retrieving him if you know what I mean?
X

@JamieJ93 puppy tax!

I'm sorry to hear you were so ill!! How very scary for you both.

spaniels are 'my breed', there are so many brilliant breeds, but I can't imagine ever choosing a non spaniel (cocker to be precise)

I'm dog less at the moment (life/garden are not dog friendly😢 & thanks to pandemic CoLl it's not going to get any better for a while)

the nipping/gnawing stage always drives me mad! But 'this too shall pass' keeps me sane!! (Just about)

i NEED a photo of Milo!!

pleeeeease

Your wish is my command - don't let that face fool you its a trap!!

Gorgeous!
I know exactly what you mean re being more confident when your OH is there. See if you can get a training lead then. At least you can then pull him back yourself rather than go and find him.
I remember when mine jumped in a pond which had loads of leaves on top of it - he clearly didn't see it was water and he just went PLOP underneath the water. Poor little thing I had to pull him out and I thought I'd killed him. Little sod just shook off and carried on.

I had a 12 cm wound (where dead tissue muscle and nerve was debrided) this was in January and it has only just closed up and it was struggling to close the last bit until I got Milo within a week or 2 it had closed as I was walking/running after him,
He's my little saviour and so so so happy he's entered my life even though he is a massive dickhead sometimes 😂

There is a brilliant fb group called the ladies working dog group. It is a mine of support and information.
At this point, short sweet training. Basic sit/stay/recall/ gentle retrieve with balled up socks / heel. Very very short (couple of min ) sessions.
Find a nice gundog group too.

If he starts nipping, firm No!, stand up, walk away. Don't give him any attention for it.

@JamieJ93

i offer up my hand for the nibbling & chewing if!

he's heartbreakingly gorgeous!!

maybe he'd like to come and stay with Aunty Pink? Better still maybe you need to go on a non nipping holiday & I can come & stay with the little nipper!?!

id definitely benefit from getting a little buddy., but seriously cant in this house & now thanks to covid col am stuck here 😩

if i win some money everyone will get well sick of me looking for my new pal!!!

im chatting with 🧑‍🎄 xx