Agressiveness in Springer Spaniel Puppy

Question
I purchased my puppy from a breeder and he is 9 weeks old.
I tried cleaning his ears today and he went balistic and tried to bite me. I've also noticed he is very persistant when he wants something and will bark at you or become "nippy" when corrected. I tell him no 30+times an he just keeps coming at you.
Is this a puppy trait in all puppies?
Or something to worry about.

Answer
It's definitely something I'd be concerned about. Dominance aggression can be an issue in male ESS (I'm not sure about Welshies, and don't know which he is). Have you talked to your breeder to find out if this is something she has previously seen in her lines, and if so, what the outcome was? That said, baby puppies of many breeds can lack impulse control and patience. And can freak out over restraint or handling they are not familiar with. My three year old Aussie did something similar at about the same age, but he is a lovely dog now, very tolerant and sweet. I can do anything to him, but am careful about others (vets, etc.) handling him.
I'd work at teaching him to be handled - TTouch, a body work technique is good for this (www.ttouch.com, books, "Getting in TTouch with Your Dog" or "Getting in TTouch with Your Puppy" by Linda Tellington Jones.) I'd also be looking for a good positive dog trainer who can help you teach him without getting into head butting matches with him, and start early on a modified "Nothing in Life is Free" program. Meaning he has to give you something (a behavior) for anything he wants. If you tell the dog "no" 30 times with no noticeable results, you need to try something else - possibly teaching him what you DO want, and giving him relevant reasons to do it. Ideally, you'll find a knowledgable person locally who can evaluate him for you. I can offer suggestions, but it is so hard to see what is actually going on over the internet! Good luck. Sandy Case MEd, CPDT  www.positivelycanine.com