need advise for 6 month old rottie female

[mom2roxy]

We have our rottie "Roxy" since she was 8 weeks old, she is about to turn 6 months are we are having some issues I need advise on. Roxy is in puppy preschool. She is so cute and sweet but sometimes she gets as we call it nutty. She is crated during the day when we are at work, usually someone is able to let her out around mid-day for a potty break. The problems that we are having is that when we get home she is I am guessing starved for our attention. She will knip or bite at us like if she wants our attention (sometimes) or bark a lot. What we have been doing is putting her head to the ground (with little force) and giving her a stern NO! Most of the time she will stop and put her head between our legs to tell us she is sorry but other time she will just bark at us. When she does that we do the time out in the crate. Sometimes when my husband and I show affection to one another she get mouthy, I think she get jealous. is that normal? Also when we take her to the potty she gets the same way, wants to run around us a knip at our ankles, sometimes I am not sure if she is playing or not. The other problem we are having is with her chewing on the towel we put in her crate a nighttime. During the day she is fine but usually about an hour before we get up she starts chewing it which is not good. Does anyone have any recommendations to what alternative we can put in the crate that is chew proof. I heard about Steri-Lon Crate Pads that are supposed to be chew proof, is that true? As I am typing all of this I keep thinking of things,at what age to they stop trying to pick up everything they run across on walks. How do you teach them not to pull when walking. I know this is a lot of questions but any advise would help. thank you sooooooo much!

[ArwensMom]

You say she is spending the day in the crate with a potty break, and then the whole night in the crate? How much time is she actually spending in the crate? Could that be your problem? As for these bad behaviors, I was always taught to not reinforce them whatsoever. I used to work at a board and train facility, and when a dog jumped all over us, we turned our back and ignored the dog completely (no voice, no movements, no nothing) until the dog stopped jumping, at which point we would praise the dog. If they started jumping again, we again ignored them until it stopped, and so on. This can be a little tedious, but it does work. They quickly learn that they are not going to get any reinforcement for this behavior. Keep in mind, she is looking for attention. Even you yelling and pushing her head down is giving her attention. Don't give her any until she is doing what you want her to do. As for chewing the towel in her crate, do you give her anything to do in her crate? If not, imagine how boring it is for this energetic young pup to be confined in her crate with nothing to do . . . is it any wonder she shreds the towel? Try giving her a stuffed kong toy or something else to do in there so she will not be so bored. I would also recommend getting her into a good obedience class instead of just puppy pre school . . . she is a teenager now! Here is what worked with my girl on walks . . . also tedious but puppies are a lot of work . . . when she lunged, we stopped, gave her a good leash correction, and waited until she had herself under control again, and then continued. We also trained her that when she is on a walk, when we stop, she sits, and remains sitting until we start walking again. This is what we do now if she even thinks about jerking us around. It works wonders. You do need to be firm with these guys, but I don't know if pushing her head into the ground is such a good idea . . . it doesn't sound like it's working, anyway. As for her taking it personally when you and your husband are affectionate, unnacceptable. She needs to learn her place in your pack. Spend time working with her every day. Not only will she start to get the hang of it, but she'll benefit from the one on one attention from you. Good luck!

[mom2roxy]

She is her crate for 8 hours during the day and about 5.5 at night. We are doing the best we can. We have to work and we tried having her sleep outside the crate at night but she she wonders and it is safer for her to be in the crate. We do need our sleep too. I understand what you are saying about not punishing her. We have read several books, everyone says something different and it is very hard to decide what to do. We do try ignoring her but that doesn't always work either. She is getting a little better with regards to my husband and I. I just think we have really spoiled her and we just need to take our time and understand what she is going through. Puppies are hard work, just like having children sometimes. We do have chew toys in the crate with her during the day and night so she is not bored she just chooses to chew the towel. I know a lot of things she will grow out of. Don't get me wrong she is a wonderful dog but it just takes it toll sometimes on all of us. We will keep working with her every day. Oh, as for puppy school, we go to the local SPCA and they have puppy school till 6 months, more just to get her used to other dogs and then once she turns 6 months which is not actually till mid June she will start a regular obedience class. Thanks for your advise and if you have anymore with regards to rotties by all means pass it on. : )

[Judi W]

Yes, to all of the above.

When you get home do not go immediately to let her out nor should you speak to her. Go to the bathroom, put up your mail, heat some coffee, change your clothes, whatever, but don't make it such a big deal that you are home and that she is going to be released. After about 15 minutes, calmly go and release her and walk straight out the door with your mail to read or coffee to drink. Let her zip around out there and go potty. Then you can greet her calmly.

The other stuff will come with consistency and training. She is also old enough to learn the words "that's enough" which means to settle down and quit doing whatever it is she is doing and if pestering to back off. Dogs learn nothing being crated and I would not think that getting into a wrestling match (pushing to the ground) does much either. If she is too rowdy, put on the collar and leash and do something productive like heeling and sits for a few minutes to remind her of her manners. Take her for a walk with some training thrown in after work. Let that energy be applied to learning.

What is puppy preschool and what is she learning at that level?

[alexav]

I'd remove the towel immediately. She could swallow some of it and it could be deadly. At a little over 4 months, Petra can't be trusted with anything like a crate mat yet...it would be toast!

IMO that's alot of crate time. Make sure you have a really good train/play session in the morning, one at noon, and a super long one at night. Motivating positive games that you can use to not only wear her out but have her earn her toys, and food.

I agree that pushing her head to the ground is not a good idea. Teach her that "sit" gets you what you want, not jumping and nipping. When she barks, turn your back to her and turn toward her as soon as she stops.

[dignan]

mom2roxy, you aren't alone. I've noticed this in my 5 month old pup as well (the nipping at hands and clothes for attention). My pup isn't mouthy (yet at least) but she does like to get attention by biting and it's getting harder. I have found that this typically happens only if I am on the phone. The only thing I've found that works with my pup is yelling (and I mean YELLING) no. That will settle her down and when she calms down I give her a lot of affection.

[Judi W]

The puppy passport has expired by this age and it is time for the dog to learn some self discipline. If the playschool is primarily playing with other dogs, this will do little and in fact retard learning people manners. She already knows how to be a dog, she needs to learn how to be a good pet and companion. She is not going to learn that from a bunch of other undisciplined puppies.

Dignan, how can you say your pup isn't mouthy, but gets attention by biting? and is biting harder?

[dignan]

By mouthy I meant verbal...She doesn't bark at me or to get my attention...she's very quiet.

[Judi W]

Oh, that is not how the term is usually applied, hence my confusion.

[dignan]

Ummm...kay

mouth·y (comparative mouth·i·er, superlative mouth·i·est)


adjective
having much to say: tending to talk rudely, loudly, or too much ( informal )

http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/mouthy.html

[debbiej]

but dogs don't really speak, so they can't be mouthy like people. they are mouthy like dogs, with their teeth. oh, they can bark, and whine and make noise, but mouthy in a pup ususally means biting.

[ArwensMom]

I always took mouthy to be, well, mouthy. Not like in a belligerent teenager, but in a dog that likes to place his/her mouth on his/her people and/or anything else. Barking and yipping is vocal. Oh well, to each his own.

[miccmill]

When you get home do not go immediately to let her out nor should you speak to her. Go to the bathroom, put up your mail, heat some coffee, change your clothes, whatever, but don't make it such a big deal that you are home and that she is going to be released. After about 15 minutes, calmly go and release her and walk straight out the door with your mail to read or coffee to drink. Let her zip around out there and go potty. Then you can greet her calmly.

I took this advise and it worked like a charm. Not immediately but with some practice.
We also rewarded her for sitting for a greeting or attention. The minute she sat her little butt on the floor, she'd get a good-girl and a pat. They catch on quick that that's what you want.

[Judi W]

There are many terms that have a certain meeting in the dog world that is not in common english useage. Another example would be "wet" which in common english would refer to moist or having water. In the dog world it indicates wrinkled. Mouthy usually refers to a dog putting its mouth on things. Not to worry, it all becomes clear after time.

The issue at hand however is youngsters who are past baby stage that feel free to put people between their chompers. I personally consider that a big no and it does not happen at my house (except when a rousing game of tug has the grabbing get my knuckles skinned which I do not equate with biting). No, not being allowed to bite people does not inhibit tug or the taste of jute or using their teeth appropriately, it inhibits the dog from biting people.