demonwolf444 Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 Hello, Recently got a springer spaniel bitch she is about 13 weeks old. I have never had the breed before and this is my first ( hopefully ) working dog. When she is out walking on the lead and off she is an absolute star, attentive, responsive, very instinctive, with an amazing nose. she's great, but when she is with me around the house she is a bit of a nightmare. She is just about toilet trained, so long as the door is open she will go outside, she will sit and recall for me all day and sometimes she will stay though it needs more work though she is still really young and I've been told not to rush into anything. My main issue with her is her chewing. I have been told that this is just an age thing to do with her teething, which i can sympathize with as some days its worse than others. I was told that when ever she chewed something she should not be chewing, say no and give her something she is allowed to chew instead ( ie a rawhide chew toy by the way she has chewed five or six to complete disintegration in the 5 weeks i have had her.) this seems to have worked fine for stopping her chewing coats and shoes and everything else she gets her teeth on, but it has failed to stop her chewing me. IE my clothing, ears, hair, arms, wrists, fingers, and her little teeth are really sharp its quite painfull. But saying "NO" and passing her a chew toy while it gets her off me, she seems to think that when it comes to my arms and wrists, its a game. My worry is that she doesn't know her own strength and one day will cause me some injury, or what if she never stops and becomes this problem dog i'm stuck with, as its a really unpleasant trait. Vet says she will grow out of it, but it is extremely tiresome. So if anyone has any idea's as to what i am either doing wrong or what might work to quell the appetite of this particularly chewy dog, please tell me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 If she chews you give a loud yelp of some sort so the dog knows it has hurt you and say "no" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted July 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 Will give that a try fenboy - Today she has been brilliant; i'm certain she is worse when her teeth are bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 She will grow out of it by the time her baby teeth have all been replaced. Just think what the bitch would do if one of her pup bit her...................she'd growl and bite it back. When she bites you growl at her and say no sharply. Be forceful ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stokie Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 Vic's vapour rub lightly smeared on anything she's shown to much interest in works every time . Not sure about your hands but you could give it a try . You won't catch a cold whilst you give it a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Little beggars at that age aren't they?? My cocker was a swine for biting and chewing with her needle teeth. Yeah, she was just teething, but it does get tiresome when all you want to do is watch the footy for an hour and a puppy is constantly biting and chewing at your fingers and hands. You're on the right lines with the 'No' and swapping to something she can chew. I know it seems like you are going to be stuck with a bitey dog from hell but she will stop.... eventually! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Get her a Kong & plenty of toys to chew in preference to the furniture etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 When she chews you (it's called mouthing) and you give her a toy instead isn't that like rewarding her behaviour? If she wants a toy or chew she now associates biting you with getting one ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 When she chews you (it's called mouthing) and you give her a toy instead isn't that like rewarding her behaviour? If she wants a toy or chew she now associates biting you with getting one ! True but make sure she has other things to chew in preference to things she shouldn't. As has been mentioned before, yelping when she bites you will get the message across Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 When she chews you (it's called mouthing) and you give her a toy instead isn't that like rewarding her behaviour? If she wants a toy or chew she now associates biting you with getting one ! I can see your point, but it isn't as black and white as that, and it is something they grow out of. They need to do it - it's part of growing up - so overly chastising them simply doesn't work. Just remove yourself from the situation, and as others have said even yelp or growl to let them know a limit has been reached, then swap them to something more appropriate. You're not rewarding their action, just moving their attention. Like Spandit I also swear by a kong - one of the greatest things invented for dogs . We have an 8 month old German Shepherd and she adores her kong, as does my cocker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted July 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Ive added yelping in to the mix and while she still tries it on as soon as a yelp she stops and looks puzzled in the way that only spaniel pups can and finds something else to busy her self with, so as far as i'm concerned its an improvement! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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