Puppy won't settle

anna from what you say your pup will be an excellent dog.
They really are like children. Naughty to start with but with love and training become wonderful. I have worked with lots of dogs and Spaniels are wonderful. That is why they are used as sniffer dogs. Easily trained but love to sniff things out.

At 8 months they are akin to 2 year olds.... want to do their own thing but need chastising and taught no! Yours is already showing signs of obedience...you just need to carry it on.

Thanks Tedber. We have really concentrated on his behaviour this week. My son has stepped up his training and walking, and my husband and I have also helped out a lot taking him for a really long walk every day and trying to keep his mind active as well. I know it's only been a week but we have seen a big improvement in his behaviour. My son and partner are feeling much more positive and so are we. I just hope this better behaviour continues. At least the dog has proved he can behave when he wants to and as I said before he is a lovely dog really. His puppy classes have finished now but I am sure we can find more. I would be happy to take him. My husband and I will be looking after him a lot when my son can't work from home so it is in our interests too.

I have three pointers. A dog gate in the kitchen doorway has been invaluable. They go to the kitchen if they start any rough behaviour, either towards us or each other. I just say to them 'do that again and you'll be IN THE KITCHEN '' and if they do it again I lead them very calmly into the kitchen, where they have time out on a dog bed. They do not want to be away from their pack, so they soon learn over a couple of weeks that unacceptable behaviour has a consequence, and soon the word 'kitchen' spoken firmly is enough to restore peace and quiet. The dog sounds clever and feisty. If made to use it's brain it will tire more quickly... And things will improve I'm sure!

It is a shame they didn't 'crate' train from day 1. The pups learn it is their safe place to go rather than a punishment. I don't think at 8 months it is too late, however.

I would get a crate, continue with classes, socialise him constantly.

Plus lots of exercise! Spaniels are working dogs and love to 'find' things...encourage that.

All to often people don't research the dogs they get and expect them to fit in with their way of life. They then think the dogs are impossible but nope with a lot of understanding the dogs can become brilliant but it takes time....8 months is no time at all. Perseverance is the key! As well as being consistent. No good say letting him off with things on one occasion and expecting a different outcome on a second.

Good luck - don't give up but do get firm and be consistent. Put him in crate and ignore the protests. A newspaper smacked on top of crate seems to give them to message. "shut up" lol

Thanks for all your comments. My son did have a couple of 1-2-1 training sessions and went to puppy classes when they first got the dog which were useful. He is certainly an intelligent dog, he was house trained more or less immediately and is great with recall and tricks he just gets bored so easily. We do try turning our backs when he starts jumping and 'biting' but it's not easy when he's nipping the back of your legs. Luckily, he has been a bit better over the last couple of days. We have had him for most of today and we've only had one 'naughty' episode and I was able to easily distract him. It's been a lovely day though so we were walking with him for ages and then playing in the garden with him. We cant keep that up every day though. My husbands collapsed on the sofa I have advised my son to get a behaviourist so hopefully that will help. Thanks again for responding

N&G in the unlikely, since we made such a pigs ear of training our last one event of us getting another dog, I’ll pay you to come and sort it out for us! It is very unlikely though, so don’t go booking a fancy holiday just yet!! ?

Yes Victoria Stillwell is great and so down to earth. My husband is a big fan but not sure its anything to do with her dog training abilities. ?

Mouthing is not about dominance. The Dominance/pecking order/pack psychology has been thoroughly debunked thankfully, as it has and continues to cause a lot of misery for dogs and owners alike.
It sounds like your son and co need a few sessions with a positive reinforcement behaviorist/trainer. Dog training is something we need to learn, we're not born with the skills.
Look at Victoria Stilwells later stuff, here's a link

www.irishnews.com/arts/2019/02/21/news/victoria-stilwell-on-new-book-the-secret-language-of-dogs-1556022/

She explains it far better than I could. Good luck.

Try a play-pen, BradfordLass.

I know a very bright, active toddler exactly like this: pulling at clothing, wanting attention barking shouting.

I wonder if a crate is the answer there too?

I agree with N&G no treats or attention until there are 4 paws on the floor. Turn away from him with arms folded out of reach until he stops jumping at you.
They are a high energy breed as you say and need constructive working exercise.

That was to nanaandgrammy but more posts have been added so thanks to all.

Thanks again. I know he looked into a behaviourist but was worried about the cost. They have recently moved into a new house and things are a bit tight. I think I will treat them to it . It sounds well worth it.

We got a cockapoo last year and oh my what a handful she was.

I was advised by a wonderful lady here on GN to get a personal trainer and it was the best thing we could have done.

Our toy poodle was 8 months old when we got him straight from the breeder and we introduced him to a crate and he's been absolutely fine. IMO it isn't too late.

I hope Iam a GN here sees your post, her advice was invaluable to me.

If he is 8 months and still behaving like a puppy (btw, he is now NOT a puppy, rather just a young dog) I would give serious consideration to doggy boot camp!

Before anyone gets irate, friends have over the years had 2 labs and a cocker who were lovely family pets, but also working dogs who in the shooting season would go out "picking up" (dogs loved it, owners picked some extra much needed cash) .

All dogs went for residential training, with a local chap who was absolutely brilliant. The dogs adored him, to the point where they would try to " break rank" if he was nearby!

anna7 most retriever type dogs are "mouthy" but your sons dog should NOT be demanding attention in that way!

Bit hard to know what to suggest at this stage, but it needs sorting.

It was money well spent anna honestly .

Mouthing can be symptomatic of many things, rarely aggression thank goodness. It can be dominance, attention seeking or puppy play but it should be nipped in the bud at 8 weeks , by 8 months it a bad habit . No attention should be given unless it’s ‘ 4 paws on the floor’ lol . Our current spaniel is food motivated , I think that really helps. He would sell his soul for a treat !

Thanks NanaandGrampy. I didn't realise the mouthing is a dominance thing. He does seem to be a dominant dog given half a chance. The behaviourist sounds like an excellent idea. My son and girlfriend do really try with training and it's been very successful with lots of things but he is exhausting. I've had dogs in the past but not one like this ?

Not too late lol not to let! Sorry

Your son has purchase a cross between 2 highly intelligent working breeds . Training needs to start from day one and go on every day of its life. It’s not to let to start using a crate but not as a place to lock it in to keep it out of trouble. That’s not the purpose of a crate.

The whole mouthing thing is all about dominance and attention.

Distraction is a good tool , offer the dog something exciting ( not a run of the mill toy, something special) . Withdraw attention which is what it’s seeking , if it jumps up at you , turn away, don’t make eye contact .

To be fair , it might be worth getting an apt with a behaviourist to get a handle on all the things your son could and should be doing .

Even after many years with dogs , our current dog had anxiety issues and we had a behaviourist come to the house , observe us and the dog and the solution was so easy we were amazed. It wasn’t hugely expensive either. One thing he did recommend you could also try was having your dog work for his food. Don’t always put it in the bowl. If you serve dry food , take a handful, take the dog in the garden , hold it so it can’t see and toss one piece of food about a metre away, you’ll be amazed to watch the dog quarter the ground until it finds that treat. Working it’s brain will also go a long way to tiring it out.

Good luck !!

Thanks Midgey. I do think they picked a high energy breed without realising all the consequences. I think he should be a working dog on field somewhere really but too late now.

I had a springer who was nuts all his life. I’m afraid that some spaniels need to use their brain, perhaps there might be a training class nearby just to make him work. Good luck!