Cocker Spaniel bit my husband

[Lottie231]

We’ve got a cocker spaniel who we’ve had for four years.

He’s been aggressive a few times over the years. Mainly when he’s poorly (e.g had an ear infection) and hides in a bush in the garden or under the bed. When we try to coax him out to come inside and go to bed he has lashed out & growled when we reach towards his collar, sometimes biting.

Recently he’s gotten worse and has taken a particular dislike to my husband. He’s always been a bit excited/bonkers and jumped up on people when they’ve come in the house (we have tried and failed to train this out of him). Anyway, one day he was particularly excited and he was jumping up on my mum and my husband told him to get down, he reached for his collar to pull him down and my dog just flipped. Really attacked my husband and drew blood from his wrist.

Now every time my husband goes near the dog he seems unsure. My husband really wants to re-home him (we have a 2 year old). He says it’s only a matter of time before he bites my son. I feel in an impossible position because I love him. We are having rows over it. Has anybody been in a similar position?

If you have a child you absolutely have to rehome the dog. To not do so is irresponsible.

For the dog's sake, rehome him to someone who won't give up on him.

"We have tried and failed to train this out of him"

😡

So your dog means more to you than your child or husband?
Or alternatively you are going to wait for your husband to be seriously bitten by the dog or your child bitten before making a decision?

Id have a really good think about that.

Rehome or pts. If you rehome do not let anyone with a child have the dog

Train him properly.

Spaniels are prone to neurological issues - I've known 3 unfortunately that suffered. 2 had to be PTS and the 3rd had a catastrophic aneurysm which he never recovered from. All beautiful dogs with incredibly sad endings.
I would say vet first and foremost but you can't take chances with little ones around 😞

I think the poor dog should be taken for a vet check, it sounds like a pain issue to me.
@Cucumberpickler there are more owners that should be pts than dogs, usually ones with attitudes like yours. I agree that maybe the dog shouldn't be around children, but really?!

1. vet check
2. qualified behaviourist

only with proper assessment can you make any sort of decision on the future.

First off, if a dog is hiding you never, ever reach into it's hiding place. He's hiding for a reason and by ignoring the message he's sending you, you give him no choice but to bite.

You haven't been able to stop him jumping up, but it seems clear that some of his jumping requires physical intervention. Physical intervention seems to trigger fear aggression in him, so it seems like a no win situation.

Rehoming to a quiet, adult only environment might be a solution. But it's equally likely he will be more unsettled.

Which do you love most? Your 2 year old or the dog?

Rehome to protect your child.

dog needs to go

either rehome without children (go through a rescue) or put the dog to sleep

knew of a couple of readlly nasty spaniels

is he red or golden?

Based on your first post it seems that every time someone reaches/pulls on his collar he bites? Get him vet checked immediately for neck pain and stop pulling his collar. Use treats or toys to get him to do/go instead of manhandling him.

Cocker spaniels are surprisingly sensitive dogs and need gentle handling. They react badly to harsh treatment and you certainly shouldn’t be grabbing him by the collar. Mine was lovely but could be unpredictable at times and I wouldn’t have trusted him around small children. You would be better off rehoming him to a quiet, adult only home with spaniel experience.

If rehoming please contact Spaniel Aid. They will take him into a foster home (not kennels) and then rehome to an adult only home who understand his behaviours. Understandably your husband is wary but trying to correct bouncing and hiding by grabbing his collar isn't going to help, if you're going to keep him him invest in proper reward based training and seek advice from a behaviourist as to how to deal with when he's telling you to back oft because he's in pain etc.
If you really feel you can't trust him around children etc then a good home can be found for him where he's not stressed etc.

Do not rehome and aggressive unpredictable dog. Have him put down. He’s attacked your husband and will absolutely bite your child. He needs putting down

I agree, it could come to this. Not every dog can be rescued. Euthanasia wouldn't be my first option, but in a dog that has bitten more than once and drawn blood, it should be a consideration.

Do you love your dog more than your son? That's what this situation boils down to.

Human beings make me so sad

Rehome and please make sure you don't let anyone with small children take him.

My friend was in a similar position. Her cocker spaniel bit her and she has 2 young kids. The dog got rehomed, as heartbreaking as it was as she really loved the dog. It's the only right thing to do op, kids come first always.

My greyhound is my absolute heart and soul and I love him more than I could ever explain but if he was ever a risk to my young children I'd rehome in a heartbeat as child safety is number 1.

@Gymmum82 but the dog isn't aggressive and unpredictable? Each time there has been a clear trigger when the dog has been pulled by the collar or has been in pain and hiding. Yes, the poster may feel that they wish to rehome because of the child and not wanting tne 2 together but there are plenty of child free homes particularly if you use a breed specific rescue. Change this dogs environment and training first in a setting which understands the behaviour before leaping to aggressive and unpredictable and pts

I'm so sorry, but the chances of a dog with a bite history finding a home are slim to none.

I think you should seriously consider having him PTS.

I am sorry to have to say this to you OP but you need to rehome him to a person who can deal with him asap .

Get rid of the animal. Humans safety comes first.