Update on puppy and advice please

Z

Zoobie

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 January 2008
Messages
2,752
Location
East Sussex
Visit site
I have 15 week JRT I have had for 3 days and she is settling in really well with my GSD (7 years ) and Sheltie x JRT ( 12 years ) I have had JRT's in the past but I am feeling so rusty as I haven't had a puppy for so long

The person who sold her to us said he felt guilty as he hadn't the time for and her hadn't really really socialised her so she came be quite timid and nervous. The first day she did growl at a couple of people she hasn't done this since

She is very mouthy and nibbly and I know she is a puppy and I am doing the NO and stare thing which she sort of responds to although she will show her teeth.

She is crated at night and plays in her crate during the day. I'm not at work this week so am spending time with her.

She started to bark when left with GSD yesterday so todays plan of action is to leave her or short amounts of time in the dining room where all the dogs are left if they are not with us.

Well as I said she has settled quite well no longer scared of GSD infact is now very bold bordering on gobby she has 2 speeds either full on or flat out

I took her to the training school where I trained my GSD its held in and indoor school with lots if space and we will start training next week. She has now decided that she MUST bark and chase my cats and I want to get on top of this so any advice please.

Sorry for the long post but as I said I am feeling rusty when it comes to a puppy so any advice or observations please
 
With barking, you can distract using a noise like rattling keys or bashing a pot and pan, or you can physically stop her by placing your hand over her muzzle.

Also with gobbiness, you can place your hand there, close her mouth, say 'NO'.
Don't turn it into a fighty-bitey game and encourage people in the house and visitors not to do it either!

Keep all your actions and your voice very calm, low and purposeful, not high and excited or you encourage the dog to think of barking and mouthing as fun and a game.

If she is zooming after the cat, keep her on a little collar and lead and physically stop her. Just before she comes to the limit of the lead, say 'no'. Give a little tug and when she comes back to you, give her a treat.
So - chasing cats, 'no' and she gets nowhere. Coming to you ' fun'!
 
Thanks CC for your comments I will try the lead with her and the cats although at the moment she is sleeping next to my 18 year old dea cat who just ignores her, its the more the young ginger boy she chases.

No doubt I wll be asking for advice so please bear with me
smile.gif
 
I like the name Ruby! Any pics of the little girl?

At 15 weeks she is still very young, but if the previous owner did not do much with her she will have missed out on the socialisation window of 6 to 12 weeks. Of course all this can be overcome, but she may need a bit more time and attention as you are able to give her now, so she is a lucky girlie!

There are many views on how to deal with specific issues, may I suggest a slightly different one (sorry CC, we almost always agree!!!):

- don't use the word 'no' as it is in very common usage and everyone will say it all the time without meaning 'no' to the dog. This tends to de-sensitise the dog to the word. Pick a random, weird word (I use the sound "uh-ah" if that makes sense, but pick whatever you want as long as it is not an actual word) and reserve its use to mean "whatever you are doing, stop it now". The dog can then learn what this word means and importantly you can follow through everytime you say it and the dog does not listen.

- for the biting, I keep my hand low and where the dog can reach it (snatching the hand back encourages them to think it's a chase game) and when the teeth touch me I give the most pittiful, high pitched squeeky cry (keeping the hand low). The vast majority of dogs will read this as "ouchie you really hurt me" and stop. Repeat everytime the dog's teeth touch you as if you are extremely sensitive and the dog should come to see you as a really sensitive person with whom you can't really play with. Also give her (and the other dogs in the house) millions of chews!!!
 
No worries Zoobie, and Booboos
smile.gif


I should have learned my 'no' lesson when I was training 'Bo' and 'Bodo' - I think it is also a voice thing with me. My 'NO' to a dog and 'no thanks, I've had enough cake'
tongue.gif
are to completely different voices!

I have been around so many arsey, bitey pups (albeit much bigger, stronger ones) recently I am probably a bit too kick-ass about the whole nipping thing
tongue.gif
 
Totally agree with Booboos re the mouthy/nipping thing. Give a high pitched 'yelp' and turn away from puppy immediately.

Re chasing the cats - our JRT tried this when a small pup, but learned very quickly once the senior cat 'stood her ground' at her. Puppy will only chase if the cat runs away, and probably that is a 'terrier' thing. Now my JRT and junior cat play together (is lovely to watch) and even senior cat will rub up against dog and they occasionally lick each other.

You really need to do as much socialization as you can with puppy in the next few weeks. Visit everyone you know, ask people over (esp ones with nice well behaved kids), go to country fairs/horsy events etc as soon as pup is vaccinated. I have a friend who didn't do this, and her JRT is a yappy/nippy so and so who has to be shut in a seperate room when visitors come. My mum and dad's lab was socialized well but not with children, and she now runs away from children she meets out walking in the forest. Our's first major outing was the week after she was vaccinated and we took her to a major county show. She met so many people that one day she really learned from it, and is fab with people now.

Hope this helps (was only 2 summers ago that our JRT was a pup so still fresh in the memory).

Best of luck (and would love to see pics).

Fiona
 
Thanks everyone I did try the high squeal it and it really works.I'm stuck indoors at the moment but when OH comes they are all taken for a walk and then to the yard. She finally has a name, Sorry these pics are so big
peggysue.jpg

29112009024.jpg
 
I know and look at the size of the collar she came with, I'm a nice smaller leather one made which will hopefully suit her better oh and I have been using the Uh Uh advice given but its kind of turned into a Uh Uh girlfriend ala Jerry Springer...

Umm I think I'm getting the hang of this
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top