| Started By | Comment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
georgie |
What have I done??? |
Lead | ||
|
I have had my new puppy for for just over a week. He was so sweet to begin with but in the last couple of days he has started biting the childrens ankles,
mouthing everybody, jumping up and being generally really dominant. I have tried the mine game which he is quite good at but then he starts it up agian. After
reading a post yesterday I thought he maybe over tired so I gave him a really good 3 hour nap in his crate but when he woke up he was ten times worse. Since I
have started using treats he has been snapping at my hands more. Any advise PLEASE?
|
||||
|
|
||||
SW845 |
#1 | |||
|
Welcome Georgie!
Sorry you're having a hard time... any local puppy classes you can attend? Some time spent with a good dog pro would be an excellent idea. No idea from here exactly what is going on... have you changed his food lately? What are you feeding and how much/how often? Was he wormy at all? Treated for anything in the last week?
Sarah Wilson
Your dog can change but you have to change first. |
||||
|
|
||||
BasiaMH |
#2 | |||
I have had my new puppy for for just over a week. He was so sweet to begin with but in the last couple of days he has started biting the childrens ankles, mouthing everybody, jumping up and being generally really dominant. If that's 'dominant', about 99% of puppies must be awefully dominant... It's become a fad these days to talk of almost anything dogs do as being caused by dominance, but most of it really isn't... I don't know if I've ever met a young puppy that wasn't a shark. Watch puppies playing together, and that's how they interact -- play-biting and leaping on each other. OK, but what you really want is a solution, obviously! Things I've known people to use with success: Immediately stopping interaction with the dog if teeth contact skin - staring at ceiling, turning around, etc. Sometimes the above used with a loud indignant 'ouch' first, but some dogs read the 'ouch' as a playful sound, so that bit doesn't always work, depends on dog (kids are usually too squeeky, but sometimes works for adults). Keeping the puppy on leash when you're interacting with him, so you can do the same while holding him out of reach from you. Using a small bottle of water or breath spray and when they nip, spritz it at the spot they're nipping (the reason I word it that way is, you want it so if they change their mind and move their mouth off your ankle, they're also moving out of the spray so they're immediately 'rewarded' by not being sprayed anymore.) Tying the puppy's leash to a doorknob or something (MUST be closely supervised for this one) when you interact, so if he nips you can step out of the way and play 'the dog is invisible' for a moment or two. Teaching a command like sit, and asking for it constantly, until he sits as soon as he sees you instead of nipping. Teaching 'OFF' from My Smart Puppy, and using it to 'claim your space back' so he can see you want him to back away instead when he tries that. A brief time out in the crate. I'm sure there are others... Oops - I didn't realize I posted at the same time as Sarah!
Last Edited By: BasiaMH 11/06/09 10:28 AM.
Edited 1 time.
|
||||
|
|
||||
georgie |
#3 | |||
|
Thank you for your reply. He was wormed last week and had his vaccinations on Tuesday. He is a gorgeous labradoodle who is fed on eukanuba puppy food which is
a premium dry puppy food. he has 60g 3 times a day . He is still very young (9 weeks) so I wondered if this is just something he will grow out of or if it
needs to be dealt with straight away? we are attending a puppy class on Wed. Maybe I am trying to do too much with him too early?
|
||||
|
|
||||
georgie |
#4 | |||
|
Thank you BasiaMH thats really usefull advise. What you suggest is basically what I have been doing. I am probably expecting instant success instead of baby
steps. I think your right about the dominant thing its what all us new puppy owners fear (too much watching of the Dog Whisperer!). He's asleep at my feet
at the moment and looks like a little black fluffy angel lol! I will contine with the things I have doing and try the water spray. Sarah x
|
||||
|
|
||||
SW845 |
#5 | |||
|
Euk is a fine diet - used it many times.
He may have been quieter the first few days because he was settling in and a little "undone" by the move (as happy as it is). Also, if he was wormy (as many pups are) he may be feeling much better now. BH is quite right, sounds like normal puppy but, without seeing it happening, don't know exactly what is up. He may be over-the-top, he may be 100% normal. That's why I'd love someone experienced to check in, if possible. Will get you on the right track, either way.
Sarah Wilson
Your dog can change but you have to change first. |
||||
|
|
||||
georgie |
#6 | |||
|
Thanks Sarah. Have just managed to make appointment with a Dog Behaviourist who is coming on Monday. He was recommended to me and would like the whole family
to be there which sounds positive. Thank you so much for all your advice. Sarah.
|
||||
|
|
||||
SW845 |
#7 | |||
|
Let us know how it goes, hoping it is a quick fix then many happy years ahead of you all.
Sarah Wilson
Your dog can change but you have to change first. |
||||
|
|
||||