Expert: Delores Beck - 2/6/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
My mother and I own a 7 month old Cocker Spaniel female, and shes proving quite a handful.
You can tell shes dominant purely from her body posture, but for a pup, shes seems a little too dominant.

The main problem, is that she bites. You'll be sitting there in the chair and she'll come up to you and grab your hand, and the more you say 'NO' to her, the harder and more aggressively she will bite. Every method we've tried so far, such as shutting her in another room, hasn't worked. Were really at our wits end with it because she'll start for absolutely no reason at all. I come out most of the time with bruises all up my arms because nothing I do or say works with her. I know we're probably training her completely wrong but we've run out of ideas for other methods.

I really hope you can help us.
Thank You

ANSWER: It doesn't sound like she's biting.  It sounds like she's trying to pull you.  And shutting her away won't help a bit.

Before I suggest a few tricks I'd like to know how she is generally and is this particular issue the only bad behavior?  And is she growling or snarling during this "hand attack"?

I'd also like to know how much exercise she gets?  She should be getting two half hour walks a day.  A LOT of naughty behavior is due to boredom and pent up energy.

Some puppy training classes at your local Petsmart would be good and fun for her too.  Dogs don't train themselves :)
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Generally, she's really good.She'll come up to you and flop down beside you just wanting cuddles. She only occasionally growls when shes biting, normally she'll just try to chomp on your hand, or when shes really got one on her, she'll bite hard and not let go until you actually have to prise her mouth open.

Really, the only other bad behavior, is pulling a lot on the lead. We took her to a puppy training class for that,but all they really did was give you a training collar and get you to walk around a field. She gets so excited when shes out, she doesn't really listen to anything.
I normally give her about an hours walk in the evening, but if I'm off work in the morning, ill give her half an hour morning and evening.

Answer
Okay.  Here's what to try first.

Get a plastic spray bottle from the supermarket - fill with water - make sure it's on "spray", not a "stream" of water.

When she grabs your hand - be ready - say NO firmly but without yelling and spritz her in the face.

Let me know the reaction.  Many times this works like a charm.
They really hate it.

If it doesn't stop the behavior, we'll go for another tactic.

She has to learn that NO means to stop and if she doesn't, something sort of unpleasant happens.
Delores