Advice needed please?

[hayandrob]

Well we have two young children in the house plus our 11 week old Rott pup~to top it off we found out we're expecting baby number three today! :blink:This was TOTALLY unexpected before I get judged as irresponsible for having a puppy whilst pregnant! We've registered Ruby for training classes which begin on 26th August and are taking her to the local vets puppy parties to socialise her.Is there any tips anyone can give me on really making sure we have a good basis to our training with Ruby before another baby arrives on the scene?She's full on into the whole puppy nipping at the moment but we are dealing with this.At what age do these pups grow out of this mad mouthing stage anyway?Many thanks~

[hayandrob]

So I take it from the number of views of this post but lack of response that you all think I'm as mad as everyone else so far? Makes the whole situation feel even more hopeless~thanks anyway.

[Judi W]

Perhaps because there are no special needs for a puppy in a home that is expecting the addition of a baby than there are in homes that are not expecting one. I was pregnant when I had my first Rottweiler and I do not recall any special activity due to that confluence of events.

[Canadianrotti]

I am sure that more of the "regulars" will post soon, many are at agility tourneys, and such for the weekend I am sure!!

I would suggest getting the book Culture Clash ASAP and doing a quick read, especially the first half of the book. It will explain a lot of what to expect from your pup for the first few months, and how to deal with things like puppy biting.

If you pup is 11 weeks old, chances are that he does not have all of his shots yet. I would be NOT bringing him to amy play dates with un-knowen pups untill he has all of his shots. You never know where the other dogs have been, and you are always better safe than sorry!!

As for the pup with the kids, there are a lot of things to be mindfull of here. I know that the kids love to play with the puppy, but the puppy does not know how to play with the kids yet. Your pup does not understand (yet) that he is not to bit down on human skin, and your kids don't know not to run and scream which will excite the little guy. Having a puppy in a house with kids is not a problem, IF you control the relationship between your kids and the pup.

One thing I can say is that it is VERY important to socailize your pup for the first 5-6 months of it's life. Get him out as much as possible, and introduce him to as many different people and places as possible!!

Good Luck.

[hayandrob]

Thanks for your reply Was getting worried there that no-one was replying incase they offended me with their answers!
We were actually sent the invite from the vets.It's for puppies who've had their 1st jabs and who haven't been on walks.I assumed that as the vets are organising it it would be ok?
Judi~I wasn't thinking that the pregnancy itself would affect the training rather that I know in 8 months time I'll be a little more tied up than I am at present.I was really asking how to really ensure that I got the most out of the next 8 months I suppose if I was to rephrase the question
Thanks you two

[Judi W]

Well, sorry, but the answer still remains. (dang, not what you wanted to hear) You can only put in the training that the pup is mature enough to handle and it takes time for things to be absorbed. Attempting to cram in 2 years or even one year's worth of training into 8 months just doesn't quite make it with a puppy. In fact, even with an adult cramming becomes quite unfair. Dogs and pups do a remarkably good job of learning to live with a different species than their own. They learn quite willingly not to potty in the house, try to figure out why it is OK to chew on some things and not others, and why people don't seem to appreciate the grabbing biting play that comes naturally to them. They delight in learning that people are happy with them when they figure out what the word sit means but when they don't have it programed in a short period of time, it simply confuses them and makes them miserable to have impatient owners unhappy. Time and patience and things are determined by the puppy's schedule. We cannot make the pup skip readiness periods and the process of growing and maturation and understanding.

[JeanT]

She's full on into the whole puppy nipping at the moment but we are dealing with this.At what age do these pups grow out of this mad mouthing stage anyway?Many thanks~

I was the first to read your post. I didn't answer because I don't know timetables in puppy development. However, you sound so desparate (? ) for some encouragement...
It hasn't been very long since you first posted about the nipping and biting. You are following suggestions and there has been some improvement, yes? Still some to go, but you are on your way. You're starting classes at the end of the month, another way that you will be seeing overall improvement. Now, you still need to go through teething and the chewies that come with it, but do a search here and you will be all prepared to make it through that stage.

So let's see, you'll make it through the teething and you'll be continuing classes. I'd say in about 120 days, +/_ 3 days, you will have a tolerably well behaved puppy. Still a puppy with lots of energy, though you will be directing the energy pretty well, and he will be complying with basic commands, though his butt wiggles will tell you he'd like to do otherwise.

OK, mark the 120th day on your calendar. See, lots of time! Now, at day 120 - X, you may be getting discouraged. Don't be. Go back to your first post and amaze yourself at how far you both have come!

There. I hope it makes you feel better - the end is in sight!

[Meka]

Hi - I don't have a great wealth of information, but wanted to add my 2 cents. I am in a somewhat similar predicament - I am 17 weeks pregnant (with our first baby) and I have a rumbonxious 8 month old (mind you 90 lbs) Rottie pup at home. Not too long ago, I asked (on here) about preparing the dog for the baby's arrival & was given lots of great tips (I'm sure you can do a search on that topic on here & find lots of stuff). I think that sticking with training classes with the pup will be great for everyone. I don't know how young your kids are, but when we went through the "Family Manners" class there were families there that brought their young kids to be part of it, (and involving your children will benefit everyone, I think).
As for the nipping - they do get past it... you just have to be consistant with redirecting the pup & eventually they'll get it. (We also thought that our dog would never "unlearn" that behavior - but she did!!!) But mainly I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone... (some of us have been there, or are in a simliar spot to yours ). Good Luck!