very concerned about puppy behavior

[marley08]

I have been reading about the puppy nipping and biting and how that is pretty normal in puppies. But my puppy seems to take it a bit further. When I attempt to correct the nipping he seems to get "mad" and begins growling and snarling and biting, very hard. I try and use the correction methods I read about -- dog whisperer type - and the methods a trainer taught me along the same lines but he just doesn't stop.

tonight we had an episode that lasted 15 minutes!! then after a few mintues he started again. I couldn't go through it again so I just put him in his crate.

He has bitten me several times during these episodes. They had stopped for a while but the past 2 days have been awful again.

I really want to hear that this will work itself out but needless to say I am very concerned. He's not yet 4 months old and I can hold him down...

We haven't started obedience classes yet -- the first one is June 2.

Do I have a freak dog? Please tell me there's hope....

[brunie's mom]

What method are you using for correcting? Please do NOT do anything the "dog whisperer" does....as you see it just get's the puppy more worked up.
Are you rolling him on his side?

Gina

[Nelsonm64]

Originally Posted by marley08

I have been reading about the puppy nipping and biting and how that is pretty normal in puppies. But my puppy seems to take it a bit further. When I attempt to correct the nipping he seems to get "mad" and begins growling and snarling and biting, very hard. I try and use the correction methods I read about -- dog whisperer type - and the methods a trainer taught me along the same lines but he just doesn't stop.

tonight we had an episode that lasted 15 minutes!! then after a few mintues he started again. I couldn't go through it again so I just put him in his crate.

He has bitten me several times during these episodes. They had stopped for a while but the past 2 days have been awful again.

I really want to hear that this will work itself out but needless to say I am very concerned. He's not yet 4 months old and I can hold him down...

We haven't started obedience classes yet -- the first one is June 2.

Do I have a freak dog? Please tell me there's hope....

my 10 week old is going through the "exact" same thing right now. i just dont know what to do, he's just so mean the last couple days! really looking forward to hearing what the pros have to say.

[marley08]

Yikes - I thought the dog whisperer was a good guy.
I do roll him on his side, I also hold his collar, pinch the skin under his chin, carry him by the scruff of his neck, make eye contact, say no over and over -- you name it I have tried it.
When I roll him on his side he gets still for a few seconds but as soon as I release him he starts again.

[marley08]

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one having this problem. That give me hope that this will get fixed!!

[brunie's mom]

Read all of the "stickies" in the Puppy Development forums.
All of your questions will be answered there.
Redirect, redirect and redirect. Keep a stuffed animal or rope toy in your pocket or close by at all times and put this into their mouth so that they understand that this is what they must bite on...then praise.

Stop trying to roll ,or pin, or control ...this just makes them more crazy. There is no need for this "alpha behavior" from you...having a puppy and teaching it what you want is a team sport...not one that is adverserial.

See if you can find a nice, positive puppy class earlier...it's a shame you have to wait for another month.

Gina

[aldelgreco]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

See if you can find a nice, positive puppy class earlier...it's a shame you have to wait for another month.

Gina

you have to wait until they have their third round of shots. mine will be almost that same age before i can start her as well.

[brunie's mom]

Why? Many Puppy Kindergarten classes start when the second round of shots have been done. There is no reason to be waiting. If all of the puppies have had at least two sets of shots...the puppies should be safe.
Waiting too long...is not good.
Find a class that starts sooner.

Gina

[hokisteph5]

You've already gotten some good advice from brunie's mom. I just wanted to echo her advice to look around for finding a different class. Those I know of around where I live will let you start classes as early as 12 weeks. You have to provide proof of distemper, parvo, etc. vaccinations and, if old enough, proof of a rabies shot.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by marley08

Yikes - I thought the dog whisperer was a good guy.
I do roll him on his side, I also hold his collar, pinch the skin under his chin, carry him by the scruff of his neck, make eye contact, say no over and over -- you name it I have tried it.
When I roll him on his side he gets still for a few seconds but as soon as I release him he starts again.

This outdated and cruel.
You have a baby puppy...why would you do this?
It's not working is it?? There is a more kind, gentle way...a way to show them what you want without, rolling, pinching, scruffing and saying "NO".

Get into a positive puppy class and stop watching the Dog Whisperer.

I've noticed that he's stopped the rolling and pinning now...there is no need for it...and to be doing this to a puppy is awful.

Gina

[Maxxx]

The puppy k class we took Max to allowed puppies as young as 10 weeks to start the classes. Just needed proof of vaccination on the first day of class.

Definitely redirection. Our floors were covered with toys when Max was younger. Stick a toy in his mouth and praise like crazy when he's chewing on the toy.

[Diva Satanica]

Its been said, but redirection is your best tool. I wore army pants around ALL the time when Brinks was a little younger....they have pockets big enough that I could stuff a few toys in each side, so I would always have one on hand when needed.
Brinks would also display this type of behaviour at times.......I saw it more of a "temper tantrum" than anything else. When he would react badly (barking at me, acting like he would try and bite, etc) I would immediately stop making eye contact with him, no verbal contact, stand there and completely ignore. It would take him less than a few seconds to realize that his tactics weren't working for attention. I slowly introduced the term "settle" when he got like this. Once he was settled, I would work on a few simple things with him.....sit, down, sit, down, stay. Once he did that, I would play with him.
I always viewed it as a way for getting attention, so teaching him that it was not going to get him what he wanted, then introducing a "name" to him calming down, then doing a few simple cues and finally playing with him, would do the trick every time.

[BabyBrownz]

Quade used to get really bratty too when it was nap time. It's like someone turned on a switch and he turned into psycho boy and would not listen at all. *not sure if yours is tired when this behaviour happens.*

As has been said, redirect..redirect and redirect even more. Lots of praise when you see him chewing on something he's supposed to.

[aldelgreco]

One thing I've learned from watching the dog whisperer is that there is a lot to be said for how you portray yourself as a "master" or he calls "pack leader". In my opinion, it has MUCH MUCH more to do with body language, the "calm, assertive energy" and the ability to provide the animal with everything it needs both physically and mentally.

To me, dominating a dog is not calm and assertive, even if you act calm and assertive while doing it. in fact, in the dog world, it is quite the opposite. calm redirection does not give you the primal satisfaction that you may seek as a red-blooded human who is not used to praising somebody/something when they have just done something bad. What it does give you is a basis for trust between you and your dog and the feeling that you are working as a healthy, functional team.

Your position as the master should eventually be self-evident given your positive energy and your fair and respectful allocation of resources, time and energy on their behalf. They are smart. They understand that.

I think that Cesar Milan is brilliant, but what you get out of 3 15-minute segments that are edited to show the most interesting scenes, etc. is not a basis for training.
I would be interested to hear his take on domination of HIS OWN dogs as opposed to those of guests on his show. I don't think it would be the same at all.

[moe0001]

i got a puppie and hes just getting out of the bad habbit, what i did worked good, i would put him in say a kennel i put him in my closet this makes him realise that you dont like what hes doing and they hate not being with you, he would always come out calm then when would do it again i would say no and stick my finger upward in his face as i say no, if he would bite put him away for a minute or two depending on how crazy he went. after a couple days he would know that when i put my finger in his face and say no that if he didnt stop he was gonna get put away, not he almost never bites and if he does rite when i say no he stops