The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Hey, my name is Janelle. I own a four year old Silky Cocker (Maltese/Cocker) and brought home a full cocker a month ago. I met his mother and father upon buying him, they had amazing temperments, just the kindest souls out there, ya know? Totally happy go lucky.
Just a week ago, I took Deisel (the cocker pup) to get a haircut. The woman did an aweful job and I had to bring him home and use my own clippers to finish him myself. While doing this, Deisel was growling visceously and squirming, which didnt surprise me too much, cause this was his first haircut and its a scary thing!
Then, as I was working with his head, neck and ears, he sunk his teeth into my hand and there was instant blood all over the kitchen floor. Safe to say, I wasnt expecting that. Deisel bit me four more times before I finally had his grooming finished, what a mess! Twelve deep cuts and puncture wounds and three bruises in total.

I didnt stop grooming him after he bit me the first time because I have always been under the impression that doing so is more or less like rewarding him for the bad behavior, so I stuck it out until I was done and he calmed down.

Deisel growls like this every time we pick him up a certain way or get close to his neck with our hands.

Last night, my boyfriend and I were cleaning his ears and his eyes and he bit my boyfriend this time. The wounds were bad enough that he should have gotten stitches, but we live in a small town and the closest available hospital is an hour away, not worth it.

Ive heard the rumours, like everyone has, that some Cockers are born visceous, just bad breeding. The problem is, both his mother and father seemed like angel -dogs, perfect in temperment! And I seriously doubt that the reason Deisel is being like this is because of me.
Ive stuck to the books strictly on training him and how to handle him. Im training him similar to the way I trianed Heidi, my maltese/cocker, and she turned out perfect! Just an angel, she is! Couldnt ask for a better dog, everyone who meets her, instantly falls inlove. I hoped Deisel would turn out the same if I raised him along the same lines as I raised Heidi, but Heidi never bit anyone or anything -not once! Ive never even heard her growl unless shes playing with another dog, and those arent visceous growls, those are playful growls!
The problem Im facing is, what do I do?? Ive called my mother about it, because shes raised more dogs than I have, but those were all terriers, and Deisel is a spaniel. She told me to desencatise him, to work with him constantly around the areas he hates being touched, the problem is, Im scared to do it because I known he will bite again, and even though my wounds are healing, they are infected and extremely sore, and I dont feel up to having all new wounds to deal with.
Can someone PLEASE give me some kind of advice, Im so confused! I dont know what to do!!

Hi Janelle: Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry you're having problems with Diesel. My first thought is that he might be in some sort of pain - especially since he doesn't like to be touched around his neck area. I know you said he is a pup, but how old is he? And, if he's old enough, has he been neutered? And you're SURE those were really his parents? Did the breeder have a lot of dogs? Before you try anything else, I think I would take him to the vet and make sure he isn't having some type of pain or discomfort that is making him bite. And if you DO work with him to desensitize him (or further groom him), you might want to consider a soft or basket muzzle so that you don't get bitten anymore.

I'm sure people will be along who can offer more specific advice to you.

Is it possible the grooming experience was just that bad for him that he does not want to be touched in any sort of way that would resemble what he went through there? You'd be surprised at how some of these people handle dogs. Many are wonderful, but there are those who are NOT and are not even kind to the dogs.

I do agree that a trip to the vet to make sure he is not in pain is the first thing I would do. He could have an ear infection and doesn't want his head touched. Cleaning won't clear up an infection. You NEED meds.

I'm curious how old he is too.

I really have to question the ethics of Diesel's breeder. A maltese is a small dog (toy breed) and to breed one with a cocker sounds crazy to me.

ETA: Sorry I read the original post wrong. Diesel is NOT the Cocker/Maltese mix.

I had the same first question as Debbie - how old is your Diesel now? I agree - a trip to the vet is in order. Even tho he's young I'd do a full physical and if that didn't show anything I'd do a full blood panel (if nothing else, that will give you a baseline to relate to thru the next few years).

Debbie, forgive me if I'm reading your question (and Diesel's mom's first post) incorrectly - it doesn't sound to me like the Cocker Mix and Diesel came from the same breeder. If I'm wrong, correct me.

And - photos of Diesel!

Peggy you are so right. I edited my post.

I would wonder if the groomer did something to his neck area that caused him so much fear that he is acting out now. I agree with everyone else and get him to the vet. Hope you guys are able to get something figured out!

I'm with the others - sometimes if the groomer is either rough, or even just scares them unintentionally, they can get snappy in fear. Get a vet to check him out in case of neck pain - ear infections etc, so you can be sure it's a behavioural thing and he's not in pain. Then get a muzzle so you can be relaxed around him, and just gently stroke the area he doesn't like being touched near, and give lots of yummy treats so he realised neck touching = tasty food. Don't worry about the clippers etc until he's completely comfortable with being touched. If he needs grooming again before he's comfortable, you may need to consider sedating him and clipping off just to stop matting developing.

And I'd love pics of both Diesel and Heidi - a Maltese/cocker sounds very cute to me, even though the breeder was irresponsible to do the mix!