Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 2 year old Cocker. We got her at 7 weeks old from a backyard breeder who seemed very good! Around 4 months old she started to get a little aggressive. At a year old she started to growl and bite mainly if she has something and she thinks your going to take it from her. I took her to a training class and she was aggressive to the other dogs if they got close to her. She did well in the training but at two years old she will bite you very badly over food and toys! She is a sweet dog most of the time but you can't take anything away from her and she will bite you and snarl and show teeth over treats and food! We have been bitten several times and the bites are pretty bad drawing blood! The only luck I have had to stop this behavior is a remote controlled shock collar this seems to calm her down but the biting hasn't stopped any advice would really help thanks.

>>I have a 2 year old Cocker. We got her at 7 weeks old from a backyard breeder who seemed very good! Around 4 months old she started to get a little aggressive. At a year old she started to growl and bite mainly if she has something and she thinks your going to take it from her. I took her to a training class and she was aggressive to the other dogs if they got close to her. She did well in the training but at two years old she will bite you very badly over food and toys! She is a sweet dog most of the time but you can't take anything away from her and she will bite you and snarl and show teeth over treats and food! We have been bitten several times and the bites are pretty bad drawing blood! The only luck I have had to stop this behavior is a remote controlled shock collar this seems to calm her down but the biting hasn't stopped any advice would really help thanks.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Below my signature is a link to the Canine Behavior Series. Go to that link and click on the article "Food Guarding." It explains a method that works.

On the biting, though, you're likely to need further help. Ask your veterinarian to help you find a veterinary behavior specialist.
-----
Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I too have a Cocker Spaniel that " WAS" a biter. He was like that from the first day I got him, also from a back yard breeder.

He has had extensive schooling, also attacking his classmate's.

I have also had a private trainor come to the house to work with him. Also we had him on Prozac. ( Biting was not the only issue with Chevy.

The problem was Over Vaccination as a puppy with chevy. It was the Mercury ( Thimersol ) in vaccine's that did it, His new Homeopathic Vet suspect's Canine Autism, the same as with Human Children.
I know how hard it is to believe that vaccine's can do this, it was also hard for me to believe, but I have seen the result's.

Chevy is now a happy, healthy non-biting cocker.

I'm not saying this is the same with your cocker, I'm just giving you something to think about. If you post back & are interested I will give you a link to a person who can help you get started with this. She is the one who helped me & is very good with Homeopathic medicine, (it's safe & Natural & can be purchased at the Health Food Store ).

Please, Please, get rid of that collar. There are other way's to help this problem.

Chevy & Karen

Your story sounds exactly like the problem I am having with my cocker. Down to him being on prozac also. I am VERY interested in homeopathic vet medicine because I go to a homeopathic doctor. Would you mind sending me any information you have so I can contact someone and hopefully help my cocker?

Hi Angie, I can tell you the path we took, & the remedies we used, I will need your email address to contact you. or you can usually find me on this site.

http://216.105.107.82:8080/digiposts/DigiPosts?site=2

FYI---, Chevy still is on Heartworm Interceptor tablet's, & he will continue to get a Rabies shot every 3 year's, His body will be prepared Homeopathically for the Rabies shot though before he get's it. He get's no other shot's. Only Rabies.

Thank you so much for all your help. I have contacted a homeopathic vet in my area and have an apointment set up to see her, but I am still very interested in hearing your full story. I'll let you know what we find out. My e-mail is ADunlap@vetmail.lsu.edu. I am a first year vet student at LSU and I hope to incorporate at least some homeopathic medicine into my practice when I graduate but as of right now I know VERY little about it. Thanks again!