[poohbearsmom]

You have taken the responsibility of owning a species which has to MODIFY it's natural behavior in order to live harmoniouslly with humans in a human world. PATIENCE is MANDATORY when dealing with a pup. Would you smack a 6 month old child for crying just because it frustrated you? Since your name is "supernurse", I'd bet not. Instead, you would be patient and understand that the communication barrier is huge. I bet you'd try different things until you found an action that worked.

The Sticky JoJo posted is excellent, in addition, please read all the stickies in the Puppy Forum as well as the other Forums on this Board. Use the search function on the tool bar at the top of the page, and above all, learn how to redirect your puppy!

If you find yourself at your wit's end - crate him until you can deal with him, don't punish him and put him in his crate, just stick him inside with a neutral posture.

The LEASH is your very best friend when you're rearing a puppy. You can control the outcome of a situation if you are attached to the little darling. When he's loose, as long as you can supervise him 100%, let him drag a leash around. If you can't supervise him 100%, don't have him loose.

Any trainer who suggests striking a puppy needs to have his/her head examined. Any trainer who strikes a puppy that is not his/her own... well, I concur with JoJo on her stance.

This is the time in a pup's life that bonds and trust are built with humans. This is the time in a pup's life that it should be exploring and testing (with sharp teeth sometimes!) out it's new world. Boundaries are set, PLAY is oh-so-important for young ones, so find a way to divert your pup into behaviors you want, instead of behaviors that make you leak blood.

Please find a trainer who uses Operant Conditioning Techniques. Puppies should be trained VERY motivationally, with as much positive reinforcement and negative punishment (witholding the reward) as possible, bringing in only enough compulsion/correction to get the job done.

Patience is a Virgin.