Cocker Spaniel Puppy

Question
QUESTION: Hello
Charlie Brown, Our Cocker Spaniel puppy; Born Aug 28-08, was bought from a home in November. He came from home where his parents and one large German shepard lived with a family. I know there was a mom and a son, I am not sure about father.
When we first brought Charlie home, my husband and I with 2 sons 5 and 2, things were great. One day he jumped up and grabbed my sons pizza and my husband took the pizza from the dogs mouth.
Since then all hell has broken out. The dog is terrified some days of my husband. Charlie is constantly under my feet and pretty much behaves while I am around; as it would appear I am protecting him, but as soon as I leave he cowards in his crate.(The dog needs no protection he is loved by everyone and is not treated badly in any way).
Now it is progressing to the point where, my husband touched him the other morning to pet him and the dog pooped on the floor.Now Charlie pees any time my husband pets him and is pooping more too at this time.
Yesterday and today the dog bit my husband. We are at our wits ends because my husband is a very nice man and has done nothing to the dog to provoke this behavior. Some days they are fine and other all hell breaks loose.
What are we to do with this dog, who we love and would be heart broken to loose.
Please help!!
Julie

ANSWER: The domestic dog undergoes a fear phase anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks of age; this is an inherited trait that protects pups from being overly curious to the point where they may be harmed (part of the biological legacy of having descended from the Grey wolf.)  It's quite possible that your husband intervened over the pizza at absolutely the wrong time and in absolutely the wrong manner; the dog is now terrified of him because of that.  His developing aggression problem is absolutely fear based.  I have no idea what sort of bites your husband received and I need to know a great deal more about this situation.

Please answer the following questions:
1.  Did the dog simply bite him or was it preceded by episodes of growling
2.  Under what circumstances were both bites received: what was the dog doing at the time, what was your husband doing?  What sort of bites are they (bruises, broken skin, etc.)
3.  Has any coercion been used on this dog (choker collar, etc.)
4.  How does your husband react when he is bitten
5.  is your husband afraid of this puppy (can he be honest about this?)
6.  Does your husband now dislike this puppy and want to get rid of him
7.  What sort, if any at all, obedience training have you been doing with this puppy?  (If you are using fear based or coercive training STOP IMMEDIATELY.)
8.  How is this puppy being socialized to others, outdoors, other dogs, people, places?  How often each week?
9.  Do you use the crate for disciplinary confinement
10.  How many hours a day does the puppy spend in the crate
11.  How is the puppy behaving toward your children; have you seen any indication of aggression?
12.  Has this puppy received a full veterinary evaluation
13.  Is this a buff colored Cocker Spaniel
14.  How did the dam (mother) interact with you in the pup's original home; how did the littermate seem in terms of temperament.
15.  Describe as fully as possibly the overall temperament of this puppy outside of this problem

At five months (approximate) of age, this aggression is a serious portend of future problems.  You most likely will need the intervention of a professional behaviorist but I'd like a chance to review the answers I asked above.


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

QUESTION: 1.  Did the dog simply bite him or was it preceded by episodes of growling.
HE STARTED YELPING AND CRYING WHEN MY HUSBAND TRIED TO PUT HIM OUT OUTSIDE FOR A QUICK PEE. WE WATCHED A DOG TRAINER USE A TECHNIQUE WHERE THE DOG IS PLACED ON THEIR SIDE AND HELD AND STROKED UNTIL THE BEHAVIOUR STOPS, MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED THIS, NOT WELL AND WAS BITTEN. ONE QUICK NIP CAUSEING 2 SEPERATE TIMES CAUSING TWO SMALL CUTS. BOTH TIMES THE SCENARIO THE SAME TO PUT HIM OUT.
2.  Under what circumstances were both bites received: what was the dog doing at the time, what was your husband doing?  What sort of bites are they (bruises, broken skin, etc.)PAUL WAS PUTTING HIM OUT TO PEE THE FIRST TIME, THEN THE SECOND TIME HE WAS SO SCARED WHEN PAUL WALKED TOWARD HIM THAT HE POOPED ALL OVER HIMSELF, PAUL TRIED TO CLEAN THE DOG AND WAS BITTEN. AT THIS TIME MY 5 YR OLD TRIED TO GET THE DOG OUT AND CHARLIE NIPPED AT HIM AS WELL.
3.  Has any coercion been used on this dog (choker collar, etc.)NO
4.  How does your husband react when he is bitten, HE TRIES TO PUT HIM ON HIS SIDE UNTIL THE BEHAVIOUR STOPS "NO CHARLIE AND ITS OKAY BOY"
5.  is your husband afraid of this puppy (can he be honest about this?)NO
6.  Does your husband now dislike this puppy and want to get rid of him. HE DISLIKES HIM, HE IS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE DOG WON'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR HIM, BUT HE WANTS TO KEEP HIM AND TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER
7.  What sort, if any at all, obedience training have you been doing with this puppy?  (If you are using fear based or coercive training STOP IMMEDIATELY.)NO TRAINING, HE IS VERY OBEDIENT AND RESPONDS WELL WITH ME AND MY CHILDREN AND FOR THE MOST PART WHEN i AM IN THE HOUSE.
8.  How is this puppy being socialized to others, outdoors, other dogs, people, places?  How often each week? HE GETS WALKED ONCE OR TWICE A DAY, HE SEES PEOPLE OCCATIONALLY, NOT TO MUCH INTERACTION WITH OTHER DOGS EXCEPT WHILE WALKING AND HE DOES WELL.
9.  Do you use the crate for disciplinary confinement-HE SLEEPS IN HIS CRATE, WE DON'T DISCIPLINE THE DOG AT ALL, NO NEED, HIS BED AND TOYS ARE IN THE CRATE
10.  How many hours a day does the puppy spend in the crate- HE SLEEPS IN IT ALL NIGHT AND TAKES TWO ONE HOUR NAPS DURING DAY. SOMETIMES ONLY ONE NAP.
11.  How is the puppy behaving toward your children; have you seen any indication of aggression? HE LETS THEM DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, MY 5 YR OLD CAN GET PRETTY WILD WITH HIM BUT ITS MY SON PULLING AND STUFF THE DOG GETS GOING UNTIL I INTERGECT AT WHICH POINT THE DOG BACKS RIGHT OFF
12.  Has this puppy received a full veterinary evaluation- YES HEALTHY
13.  Is this a buff colored Cocker Spaniel-BLACK WITH BEIGE ON FEET AND BELLY AND SOME ON FACE
14.  How did the dam (mother) interact with you in the pup's original home; how did the littermate seem in terms of temperament.MOM DOG DID NOT REALLY INTERACT WITH US- THERE WAS SOME BARKING AND GROWLING BUT THAT WAS ALSO DO TO THE HUGE GERMAN SHEPARD. WE DID NOT SEE ANY LITTERMATES AS HE WAS THE LAST TO GO.
15.  Describe as fully as possibly the overall temperament of this puppy outside of this problem- HIS TEMPER IS WONDERFUL OTHERWISE, SWEET, PATIENT, QUIET, OBEDIANT, LISTENS, PLAYFUL

At five months (approximate) of age, this aggression is a serious portend of future problems.  You most likely will need the intervention of a professional behaviorist but I'd like a chance to review the answers I asked above.

PLEASE HELP, THE DOG IS NOW POOPING AND PEEING IN THE HOUSE ANYTIME MY HUSBAND APPROACHES HIM WHEN I AM NOT IN THE HOUSE.
SINCERELY JULIE
 


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Answer
I don't know what "trainer" you watched with this absurd, inhumane technique (although, trust me, I CAN GUESS) BUT STOP IMMEDIATELY!!!  That "technique" (NO REFLECTION on your husband who was merely trying to do the right thing) IS BARBARIC and IGNORANT (your husband intended to help, that "trainer" should be dropped off the Brooklyn Bridge.)  Forcibly holding a puppy down CREATES FEAR not RESPECT.  That is NOT a dominance routine it is a psychologically punishing event (designed by a man who should be collecting GARBAGE not giving advice on television.)  Your puppy is SO terrified that he is losing control of his bladder and bowels.  This dog needs one of two things: to be rehomed ASAP or the intervention of a PROFESSIONAL (with educational credentials, NOT a dog trainer).  STAY AWAY from DOG TRAINERS and delete that channel where that stupid miscreant's show is HARMING people's dogs!

Your husband must stay away from this puppy for the time being until the puppy has had some time to recover emotionally.  THIS IS NOT your husband's fault IN ANY WAY; he was following what he believed to be sound advice.  I know how bad he feels about this and how frustrated, but this puppy is living in abject terror (NOT your husband's fault!) and we must attempt to minimize this terror.  Do NOT pick up this puppy to put it out; put a body harness on the puppy during the day and lead the puppy gently by a lightweight leash.  You must build new associations with everything! POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.  There isn't a dog alive who is so "good" that it can't utilize the wonderful results on its cognition and temperament that is bestowed by positive training.  Acquiring one or two solid behaviors that the puppy can offer for consistent reward will make the puppy more confident.  If you cannot afford a behavior expert and you are unwilling or unable to study positive reinforcement training and dog psychology (go to ClickerTraining.dom; read Patricia McConnell Ph.D.s books on fearful dogs; read John Fisher's "Think Dog") call the breeder.  If that IS a legitimate breeder and not someone making money by breeding their own dog to death, SHE SHOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE THIS PUPPY BACK.  Please report back with any questions and updates on whether or not you are successful in finding a behaviorist or returning this dog.