Dear Tough: Your question deals with many aspects of puppy ownership far beyond just training for manners. My first question would be, why does an 80-year-old man even have a puppy? Having a young pup is like having a baby. I understand your father’s lifelong love of Springers but perhaps having an older dog would be more suitable with his lifestyle and his ability to train and exercise an active sporting dog.

My second question would be where did your father purchase the dog from? If the dog came from a reputable breeder, you should call that breeder immediately and discuss the problem and see if the breeder will take the dog back. If you purchased it from a pet store, then you must deal with the life that your father committed to for the next 15 years (and for an 80-year-old that would mean he could conceivably have the dog until he is 95 years old).

From your question it appears that the puppy lacked early socialization and interaction with other dogs and people during that critical phase of a puppy’s development before he is 16-weeks-old. This dog needs to get out in the world and interact. He needs to go to class and learn some manners and he needs his owner to do it.

I would not recommend that you send the dog away to a trainer. Training your dog is a lifetime commitment. Two weeks in doggie boot camp – with no control over what types of “training” methods are used – doesn’t sound like any fun for this puppy. Does this trainer use positive reinforcement or correction-type training, which could include anything from a quick jerk of a metal choke collar to electric shock collars? Having a dog trained by someone else will cost you loads of money and have the dog listening to that person really well. It will never be the same as if you trained the dog yourself.

The Best Solution

Since your father is not willing to work with the dog on a daily basis and is losing patience, I strongly urge you to remove the dog from his household and either keep it yourself or find a new home for the puppy before things go any further. This puppy needs a pack leader. The biting and barking are clear signals that this puppy lacks direction and most likely was never given any.

It sounds like what your father really wants is a dog that is already trained, has great manners and doesn’t need a lot of maintenance. What your dad needs is an older more settled dog. The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Club of America recommends this website in New England for rescue http://www.essrescue.org/ or another independent group http://www.springerrescue.org/. Find him an older dog that needs a good home for the last few years of his or her life. The dog will most likely be spayed or neutered, housebroken and not be a barking, nipping mess like the current puppy.

Act swiftly for the puppy’s sake. Take him into your home either permanently or foster him until you can find a more suitable home. Take him to obedience classes yourself in the meantime. You say you are willing to train the dog for your father, well, train the dog for the dog’s sake.

Take him to the park, take him to the post office parking lot, take him for rides in the car and expose him to people and places and sights and sounds. Praise him when he’s good. Be the pack leader he is yearning to find and give this puppy a chance.      

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Reach her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470