What to do with a lunatic 8wk old pup?

[Cliqmo]

Hi Guys,

I wonder if you can help me?

Bomber is an 8wk old working cocker and I just can't calm him down in the amount of time he is 'meant to have' for his age!

He is as sharp as a tac and has already learned 'hup' and 'down'

and is getting there with 'stay'... although he tends to creep forwards with an adorable shuffle

I do basic obedience training with him intermittently throughout the day (typically 3 x 2min sessions) and, to break it up a little, I engage him in play with tennis balls, rope toys and chew toys at different times. Today I restricted the amount of time he was allowed to play with the viz to 3 x 3min sessions, and I assumed this would provide all the mental and physical stimulation he needs at his age??

...however Bomber doesn't agree!! Just today he has:

Beautifully demonstrated 2 seperate 'wall of death's around the lounge

Had a good start at digging out the fireplace onto the hearth (we were only putting the guard up when the fire was lit)

Pulled half the lining off the bottom of the sofa (in under 2mins!

)

When I put him in his crate he has a brief sulk but then will go to sleep, otherwise he just doesn't stop!! Is crating him to stop him playing the only feasible option??

Your wisdom / pity please

ETA a few pics

...and what most of the pics are- a little black blur

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Why no piccies??

Sorry no piccies no help......

 

[CAYLA]

Have fun and play with him

if however u need a break

put im in his crate with something stimulating, like a kong to keep his mind busy and assosiate being in the crate with a positive, I do however put them in just to learn the concept of time out with nothing

so I certainly would have no issues with time out sessions, esp if u have other dogs

 

[CorvusCorax]

Agree with Cayla, don't make a rod for your own back by over-stimulating him and getting both him and you wound up, he needs to learn 'enough', do a cool down kind of thing if that makes sense?

 

[CAYLA]

Oh yes......I see the Im tired but im fighting it look in his eye

A nyla bone for him to chew down on when u are supervising to keep him off the settee

 

[Cliqmo]

[ QUOTE ]
Have fun and play with him

if however u need a break

put im in his crate with something stimulating, like a kong to keep his mind busy and assosiate being in the crate with a positive, I do however put them in just to learn the concept of time out with nothing

so I certainly would have no issues with time out sessions, esp if u have other dogs

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for your help guys! We do play lots (I was worried we might be over doing it so have cut him back as I don't want to damage his joints

) and he LOVES his crate because he gets fed in there and also gets fun snacks and carrots etc

My issue is that crating him is the only way to calm him- and that seems a bit wrong?

 

[Spudlet]

If you ignore him and settle down, what does he do? Could you also encourage him to play with a kong outside of the crate so that he also learns to be calm with people?

I'm not much help, it's ages since I had anything to do with a baby puppy

ETA
He's gorgeous

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Now there are piccies!!

Advice??

Its a cocker - get used to it!!

I wish crates had been around the way they are now when Sweep was a puppy - I might have got some peace.......

 

[CorvusCorax]

With the joints, if he is free running for short periods, he will be fine.
Forced sits and downs should be avoided at this age IMO (by that I mean hand on bum or wither), coax him into a sit by holding the treat above his head and back a little,and into a down by putting the treat on the ground between his paws and encouraging him to lengthen.

He is a sweetie

 

[CAYLA]

[ QUOTE ]
Now there are piccies!!

Advice??

Its a cocker - get used to it!!

I wish crates had been around the way they are now when Sweep was a puppy - I might have got some peace.......

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO....u are so mean.

I was going to say that

but decided to add a little more

 

[Cliqmo]

[ QUOTE ]
Coax him into a sit by holding the treat above his head and back a little,and into a down by putting the treat on the ground between his paws and encouraging him to lengthen.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup this is what our APDT & APBC affiliated trainer suggested when we had our vizsla pup, so I am using the same methods with Bomber

Sometimes I am a bit slow with the treat though, and so he then 'gives paw' too

 

[Cliqmo]

[ QUOTE ]
Advice??

Its a cocker - get used to it!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Their adventurous and nutty nature is what made us decide on a cocker

I just don't know the best way to handle such a hyperactive baby!

I don't mind about the carnage to the house, it is just his joints and exhaustion OI am concerned about

Hopefully once he has had his jabs he will have a bigger outlet and calm down

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

[ QUOTE ]
Hopefully once he has had his jabs he will have a bigger outlet and calm down

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought that with Sweep - I think he was about 2 before I got to lie in past 5.30/6am............

Spangles have duracell batteries inside them but that is what makes them so adorable!!

 

[Patches]

He's gorgeous!!! Bless his heart.

I love all these funny Spangle comments. I'm sat here with a knowing smile, whilst also looking at our 10 week old version and musing "what the hell have I let myself in for AGAIN!"

They're such fun! We do the treat thing with Harvey. He has sit and down to a fine art with it, will recall across the house (even searching for me as I hide whilst a child restrains him) for a treat too.

I love them. They are manic, but they do flake out at this age for a while after play. It's when they get a bit older and don't seem to need a recharge that life gets really tiring.

I took a video earlier of Harvey killing Mr Squeaky Chicken. I'll have to see if I can upload it, as daughter spilt her glass of water on the camera and neglected to tell me!

 

[Patches]

[ QUOTE ]

I wish crates had been around the way they are now when Sweep was a puppy - I might have got some peace.......

[/ QUOTE ]

I've often said that about Jasper. He was 14 when he died and crates just weren't about then, like they are now. I'm sure he'd have been easier to house train and settle/calm down if he had a "den" to call his own.

They're a Godsend, and used correctly I think honestly believe are an invaluable tool.

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]

Spangles have duracell batteries inside them but that is what makes them so adorable!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you'll find that is incorrect

They are wind-up and their tail is the key, hence why they never stop, their tail just keeps recharging them!!

It's funny, all the Spaniels we have ever had have been non-stop outside, but inside (and this includes Otto, who is beyond madly hyper!) they just sleep all day! Even when Otto was 5 months old and unable to go outside for 3 weeks, he just slept all day

Must be my lazy nature rubbing off on them!

 

[Cliqmo]

Thank you for all the advice guys, on the recommend of someone with nutty cocker experience I invested in a kong toy that can be stuffed with goodies (I had always thought they were somewhat overpriced and faddy

) but now -as Bomber is laying quietly in the lounge- I can really appreciate their value