Expert: Delores Beck - 9/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: hello
i have a cocker spaniel of 3 and half month.he is active but from last some days he is starting to bite us . i dont know why??
i also want to know what food should be given to him??

we cant give him non veg as non veg food is strictly prohibited at our house but i can give eggs.


awaiting your reply.

ANSWER: First of all, dogs need a lot of protein and are simply not designed to be vegetarians. It's a choice for humans but not for dogs. So buy a very good dry dog food or you'll end up with a very sick dog.  I highly recommend Innova EVO for cockers.  Go to Naturapet.com and find a dealer near you.  Right now he's in a massive growth spurt and should be fed 3x a day.  Puppies eat more per lb. of weight than do adult dogs.
If you ask your vet, he or she will tell you the same thing.

Now, as for the biting, he's probably teething and also, it's what puppies do.  Now is the time to teach him he can't put his teeth on people.

So when he nips, get down on his level and STARE into his eyes and say NO quietly but very firmly.  Do not lose eye contact.  When he breaks eye contact, you just won.

I have other suggestions but I'd like to know what's happening when he bites.  Is it playtime?
Does he growl?  What do you do when he bites?  How hard is he biting?
Delores

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

QUESTION: thanks for your reply.
when he bites he doesnt growl. i usually do nothing just pull out my hand away .his bitting is not strong

Answer
The lack of growling probably means this is "puppy play" BUT cannot be allowed.  Tell him NO in a quiet, calm but serious way and "eyeball" him.

I'm really hoping you can understand a dog can NOT be healthy on a vegetarian diet.  You will have a sickly dog and have a ton of vet bills.
Delores