New Pup Advice Please :)

MrsElle

MrsElle

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 November 2008
Messages
6,183
Location
Back Where My Heart Is :)
Visit site
We have had our little lad for three weeks now. He is a JRTxLakeland and is 10 weeks old today.

Now it has been several years since we had a puppy, we tend to go down the rehoming an older dog route, but here he is, and my word, what hard work he is!

The main issues we are having at the moment are biting and waking up in the night. He bites, as all puppies do, but what can we do to stop him? We have tried squealing. It just gets him excited. We have tried just leaving our hand in a fist and not snatching it out of the way in the hope that he gets bored. It doesn't work. He digs in his little razor like teeth and tries to rag our hands to bits. We have tried removing him when he bites and put him in his cage, but it is every few seconds and it is exhausting. I know he will grow out of it eventually, but is there a way to speed up the process?

On to sleeping. His parents are working dogs and he was born on a farm. He goes to sleep when it gets dark, and wakes when it gets light. Therefore, he is up at 4.30 every morning, and to him that is it. Up, outside for a wee and poo, and back indoors for play time. We have tried putting him back in his cage, but after half an hour of his shouting his little head off at stupid o'clock in the morning, it is easier to just get up with him and go back to bed a couple of hours later when he takes himself back to bed. We do wake him and take him out for a wee before we go to bed, and I do know that he will only have a little bladder and it is probably full again after five or six hours. Any tips for extending his waking time in the morning?

Other than that he is pretty good. He loves his walks round the estate (country, not town!), and does keep us smiling :) OH and I can't wait for him to grow up, sounds bad, but we don't 'do' babies really!
 
Our puppy is now 6 months old - the biting is getting better.

I would just remove my hand/arm/foot from her mouth and replace it with a toy.

Sleeping wise, we are an epic fail in many respects. The crate wasnt working for us (didn't try very hard though), and so she sleeps with us......

We would take her for a wee at whatever time we went to bed, and then again 4 - 5 hours later. She would then wake again at about 6.00-7.00, and back out for a wee. She would then get an hours play, and then back to sleep.

Within about 3 weeks she was sleeping through the night (providing she had a late night wee, around 11.00ish). And after about 5 weeks our routine was pretty established, and she would go back to sleep after her early morning wee, without the play).

I must admit I was exhausted initially. But I wasn't prepared to leave her cry, so probably made things harder for myself initially with my 'attachment' style parenting. But it's worked for us and her.
 
amymay is right about removing hand or anything else you don't want him to bite and replace with a suitable replacement. It shouldn't take long to establish that rule. If they persist then don't be afraid to growl at him. It's probably one of the most important lessons he has to learn. Do NOT bite people!!
With puppies, routine is best, take for a wee last thing at night and stay with them until they have been, in the morning, take out for wee when they wake up then straight back into bed, no talking or stimulation, no lights on if possible. They will soon adjust and as you know they will be able to hold bladder for longer when a little bit older.
It's hard work with puppies but the work you do now is set to make your life as easy as possible when they are adults.
 
Not much advice to offer but would like to think you for reminding me why I shouldn't get a puppy :D I've got a friend going through sleepless nights with a 10 week old Maltese x schnauzer . Meanwhile my rescue 18 month old is still learning not to chew on me at times. I make it as uncomfortable as possible for him without making it seem like a game. I tried yelping too but he seemed to think it was funny and a cue to chew harder. Making progress though. He used to pinch my bum if he wanted attention and he now pokes me with his nose :) However my hands still seem to spend a lot of time in his mouth due to me retrieving undigestibles!
 
To reuce biting buy a product called bitter apple, spray hands with it then when puppy goes to bite your hands it tastes horrid. Say nothing to puppy until he backs away from the hand then praise and reward with a toy or titbits. if you can't get bitter apple you could try Vicks vaporub again dogs hate the smell. I have also known someone use cribox with the same effect.
 
You can start your training now re the biting by saying no to him grab his face firmly but gently and look into his eyes, resounding no.. As for the waking up, crate him and make sure he goes out for pee before you go to bed and also hes had a good run before bedtime ( about 7pm). He should last until 7am...this is what we did with our now 5 month old gsdxlabxcollie and it works! Make sure he has a good chewy toy in his bed/crate too, that helps.
 
Swap your arm/leg for a toy, I think with terriers that squeeking that something hurts just eggs them on. Teach him to swap, it will be useful for other situations too as he grows up. Please no not grab him by the face, the quickest way to teach your dog you are scary and possibly get yourself bitten !

As for night time, do you cover his crate ? Keeping the area he sleeps dark should extend his sleeping time, even blacking out the windows might help.
 
Its not grabbing the face, its firmly holding it and saying no...doesnt matter what breed it is, its pecking order and the owner is leader of the pack, not the dog/pup!!
Look up your local dog training...I have a gsd x..he tried to bite, mouth etc and it worked.now i just say no and he licks and is very obedient..up to gold training at 5 months old!
 
Dogs need rules and boundaries,not coerced into complying, 'firmly holding' a dogs face is downright dangerous. It's not about being a pack leader, its about setting rules and boundaries and teaching those boundaries in a way the dog understands or wants to repeat the behaviour you want because it was rewarding ( got a toy/treat), not because they are afraid of the consequences.

This little pup is only 10 weeks old, he needs lots of help to get things right. Mrs Elle if you got him at 7 weeks, then he left the litter a little early, so may have missed some valuable time with his litter mates, learning bite inhibition.
 
Micky said:
You can start your training now re the biting by saying no to him grab his face firmly but gently and look into his eyes, resounding no.. As for the waking up, crate him and make sure he goes out for pee before you go to bed and also hes had a good run before bedtime ( about 7pm). He should last until 7am...this is what we did with our now 5 month old gsdxlabxcollie and it works! Make sure he has a good chewy toy in his bed/crate too, that helps.
Click to expand...

its totally unfair to expect a 10 week old pup to go all night .just because it worked with yours doesn't mean it will for all..some dogs have better bladder control than others and if he really needs to go he will go indoors which is what the OP is trying to avoid....
 
Crabby said:
Not much advice to offer but would like to think you for reminding me why I shouldn't get a puppy :D I've got a friend going through sleepless nights with a 10 week old Maltese x schnauzer.
Click to expand...

Oh my, I'm just trying to imagine how cute that mix is!
 
Meems said:
Oh my, I'm just trying to imagine how cute that mix is!
Click to expand...

She is really really cute and a smart little thing who's managed to get my friend to take her to bed with her so that she could actually get some sleep. At the moment she's got a pale grey undercoat with darker longer guard hairs..
 
splashgirl45 said:
its totally unfair to expect a 10 week old pup to go all night .just because it worked with yours doesn't mean it will for all..some dogs have better bladder control than others and if he really needs to go he will go indoors which is what the OP is trying to avoid....
Click to expand...

I completely agree. Most unfair, and in most cases nigh on impossible.
 
With biting, there are numerous methods, replacing your hand with a toy, saying no etc, it's completely up to you. Just try all of them and see if any work. Another method is to just completely switch off and ignore them when they bite, and don't fuss them again until they're calm and gentle. Sleeping through is difficult because they're just like babies. Try to make sure they go to bed reeeeally tired. But they won't be able to go through, say 10 hours without going to the toilet.. because they're so small. Try to put him/her to bed as late as possible to try and encourage pup to sleep through the light. If not put a blanket over their crate like a black out curtain so it stays dark.
 
Put the crate in your bedroom with you, it gives the pup comfort hearing your breathing...he will settle within no time....my pup came out of bedroom into kitchen when he was 4 months old and dont hear a squeak out of him unless he is desperate for a poop. Dogs wont naturally soil their own beds and he should be able to hold on until morning for pee, as long as he is suitably shattered from walks/interaction before bedtime.
 
At night in your bedroom, yes... I put a cuddly toy in with mine and he could hear us breathing heavily ( on purpose) and he went to sleep and no, we did not have to get up in the night to let him out unless it was a poop, which happened approx x1 a fortnight...He whined a bit, we grunted back and he got the message it was sleep time..We are up every morning at 6.45 and in bed at 10pm.
We dont crate in the day unless I have a docs appt or similar, the dog goes everywhere with me and always has done, feels very secure and I started training classes after the final injections..
I work with 3 dog trainers...all done the same and works everytime.
 
MICKY.....while it can work why not be open to other routes.....my lurcher couldn't go thru the night when she was 10 weeks so she was in a crate in my bedroom(same as you) and taken out as and when required.. result a very clean dog who knows that if she asks she will be let out......my collie cross however went thru the night from day one and she was only 8 weeks old...so you have to look at the individual dog and treat accordingly IMO.
 
Training pads aware my saviour...my pup was crated in a large crate with a training pad at one end and his bed at the other. He would frequently mess but would take himself back off to sleep. I never heard a squeak at night from the day I brought him home.
I gradually moved the pad outside his crate and left the door open and he would use it like that until we lost the crate altogether. During the day the pad was by the back door although he quickly learned (thanks to my older dogs) to go outdoors.
 
Splashgirl45...I am open to other routes re sleeping...however I am not open to people who dont know how to discipline their dogs, so when i give advice which was asked for in the first place, its thrown back in my face...and i work with a dog trainer! Thats what i dont appreciate!!!
 
Micky said:
Splashgirl45...I am open to other routes re sleeping...however I am not open to people who dont know how to discipline their dogs, so when i give advice which was asked for in the first place, its thrown back in my face...and i work with a dog trainer! Thats what i dont appreciate!!!
Click to expand...

Sorry but the forum has a mixture of people on here therefore you get a mixture of replies

Advice has been given and im withdrawing my comments
 
Micky said:
Splashgirl45...I am open to other routes re sleeping...however I am not open to people who dont know how to discipline their dogs, so when i give advice which was asked for in the first place, its thrown back in my face...and i work with a dog trainer! Thats what i dont appreciate!!!
Click to expand...

It's the way you gave the advice that caused your issues, you came on all huffing and puffing throwing criticism out... If you had worded things better people would have listened. You could be the best dog trainer in the world, but you'd need people skills to be able to teach the owners.
 
Micky said:
Splashgirl45...I am open to other routes re sleeping...however I am not open to people who dont know how to discipline their dogs, so when i give advice which was asked for in the first place, its thrown back in my face...and i work with a dog trainer! Thats what i dont appreciate!!!
Click to expand...

I am a dog training instructor, and I would not advise face-holding in the way you describe.

There are many ways to train a dog, and many people calling themselves trainers using all sorts of methods of greater or lesser efficacy. What there is not is one way that suits every owner and dog. As every experienced trainer should know!
 
I have a 11 week old Golden Retriever pup and boy is she hard work. She is a right little madam! The older boy was no where near as cocky when he was a pup.

She is horrendous for biting and is obsessed with it. You don't get a minutes peace as she just tries to jump on you and bite your hands and face and she is so, so persistent. With the old boy we just squealed and acted hurt and he is so sensitive that stopped him straight away. With the madam, she just cocks an ear and then tries to bite you again. We tried firmly saying NO and looking her in the eye and she just tries to jump and bite your face :-) We tried replacing hand with toys but she prefers the hand/face. Far more fun. Imagine a cocky fluffy biting whirlwind and you might get an idea. I spend my whole life going NO Poppy NO!

What seems to be working, and may be a little bit of an odd way of doing it but seems to working for me, is teaching her what NO means. I have some treats in my clenched hand and when she tries to bite the hand to get the treats I say NO firmly and repeat patiently. The moment she backs away from the hand she gets a treat. She seems to have picked up that NO means leave whatever it is you are doing sit down and you get a treat. It took some time and needs good timing but seems to be getting on top of it.

I'm not sure if that is a sensible way of doing it. I might be storing up problems for later but it does seem to be working so far!
 
Well I'm a straight talking person and dont flowery up a conversation...always been that way...Wont be bothering to give 10pence worth from now on...too much effort.life is too short
 
See, I read that as "I can give it out but I can't take it". That's a shame. Some people will agree, others won't. That's a forum for you. There's a talent to being straight talking and being able to get your point across without offending people.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top