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Question:

We have a three month old Cocker Spaniel puppy.  He had been very good about housebreaking, and had been making progress toward stoping the puppy bites.  But in the last week or so, he has suddenly become a holy terror.  If he were a teenager, I would suspect he was mixed up with drugs or something.   When he eats, he stands by the bowl and growls at anyone in the house that moves anywhere in the kitchen.  He snaps if you even come near him. He has started peeing on the floor.  He will run to the door, go outside for a long time and do nothing.  But as soon as he comes into the house… He is getting very snappish.  While I know this is a problem with Cockers, he is getting much worse.  He will start to snap, and with more than just the famous "puppy bite" nip.   When he wants to be good, he can.  He took just three ten minute sessions to learn to roll over.  When he first came home, he was pretty well housebroken in about three days, with very few "accidents," and those were usually because we weren’t fast enough getting to the door.   Any suggestions on what to do or where to look for help. Thanx for your time. Bill Roberts           | ENSCO     x 3693             | Owego, NY

Response:

Any sudden and unexpected change in behavior is worth a consultation with your veterinarian.  The first step in addressing behavior problems is always to rule out physical causes.  If yur vet determines that there is no physical cause then is the time to consult with someone who can take a complete history to determine if there is an outside cause and at the same time develop a training program to correct the situation.  Outside causes could include a variety of things that have caused the dog to become phobic – I don’t recall exactly what the fear period is for the devloping dog, but you are close to it. Trying to solve this on your own is "penny wise and pound foolish"  You might succeed, but if you fail it most likely mean the death of your dog.   Snapping and growling is never to be taken lightly, nor is it a problem that you can leave alone for a couple weeks to see if it improves on its own.  Lots of dogs can grow up to be fine pets IF the behavior is corrected appropriately and quickly. Diane Blackman –     –     –     –     –     –     –     – "What all trainers need to understand, regardless of allegiance, is that it is not the application of punishment or reward, but the incorrect application of punishment or reinforcement that leads to unhappy dogs and frustrated trainers."  "Smart Trainers — Brilliant Dogs" by Janet Lewis

: We have a three month old Cocker Spaniel puppy.  He had been very good : about housebreaking, and had been making progress toward stoping the : puppy bites.  But in the last week or so, he has suddenly become a : holy terror.  If he were a teenager, I would suspect he was mixed up : with drugs or something.   : When he eats, he stands by the bowl and growls at anyone in the house : that moves anywhere in the kitchen.  He snaps if you even come near : him. : He has started peeing on the floor.  He will run to the door, go : outside for a long time and do nothing.  But as soon as he comes into : the house… : He is getting very snappish.  While I know this is a problem with : Cockers, he is getting much worse.  He will start to snap, and with : more than just the famous "puppy bite" nip.   : When he wants to be good, he can.  He took just three ten minute : sessions to learn to roll over.  When he first came home, he was : pretty well housebroken in about three days, with very few : "accidents," and those were usually because we weren’t fast enough : getting to the door.   : Any suggestions on what to do or where to look for help. : Thanx for your time. : Bill Roberts           | ENSCO :     x 3693             | Owego, NY

Response: