Teething/nipping

[Tiki'sMum]

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Hi Everyone

This is my first post and I'm also a first time puppy owner. Tiki is a cockapoo and 11 weeks old - we've had him for 2 weeks - he's adorable! Things are gong really well.

I have two problem areas with him - the mouthing/biting bit, and attacking my feet/slippers when I walk. When he mouths my hand and he gets too hard, I yelp at him. This worked at first, but now he kind of goes into attack mode and barks at me and leaps around at me. What am I doing wrong? He seems to understand 'No', because if I say this to him he also responds with barking at me and getting all excitable! I try to ignore him, and stop play, or turn my back on him, but the excited-ness carries on. Any ideas?

Look forward to chatting with you all )

 

[danthebugg]

hi there,

the thing is all puppies (at lest the ones we've had) do it so it's just normal, we've got 3 dogs and all of them did it as puppies, and we also had a litter of springer spaniels last year and all of them did it too.

Just dont get tiki used to playing/biting your hands because it's cute when they're a pup but not so cool when they get used to it and keep doing it as an adult. you've got to get him some chew toys and when you play always use them, don't play with your hands and he'll eventually learn toys are for playing. And occupy him a lot , these crosses have loads of energy and are really clever (we have got a poodle cross and I swear he's got selective hearing xD) oh and I wouldn/t yelp at him it probably won't help with anything, just make things worse. Just as soon as he wants to play/starts biting you - tak a toy out and try make him associate it with play time.

 

[Hari]

Hi Tiki's Mum

Glad to hear you are so pleased with your new puppy! They are truly amazing aren't they! My little fella had been doing pretty much the same, biting and mouthing fingers. I stopped a fellow puppy owner out on my walk and they suggested toys which hide treats inside but particularly puzzle toys. Something that requires a bit more than rolling a ball around that drops treats. They had some great toys at the local store but I found you could get them cheaper online, especially that favourite auction site ebay. Hari has taken really well to the puzzles and plays more with these than fingers now. I don't always put treats inside as I don't want Hari to eat treats and not his food so I take some of his favourite meaty pieces out of his dinner and put those inside instead. That way he won't binge on treats! As for the slipper biting when you walk I've not had that issue but a friend put a tiny amount of Vicks on their shoes and it stopped their puppy from chewing them.

All the best with you puppy adventures! Remember you get back what you put in with puppies and if you care enough to post on a forum like this looking for advice I'd say go easy on yourself! Your doing a good job! Your not doing anything wrong! It's just a learning curve is all. Be Happy & Have Fun!

Best Wishes

Hari's Dad

 

[goldenbear2013]

hi there!

if he is a a poodle mix they love loud squeaky noises! thats probably why he now thinks its game on when you yelp!

lower the tone of your voice and if no doesnt work then stop using the word as clearly it only spurs him on.

pop a lead on him for around the house and if he does anything that you dont want him to do, like jump up, bark, bite etc then give him a tug on the lead. he is attention seeking and this is negative energy that he wont want.

if he stops then give him a gently stroke. dont talk to him when you do this and if you do keep a low tone of voice. high pitched voice will only think its play time.

if he doesnt react well to this, then without touching, talking or looking at him, pick up his lead and put him a quite place where he cannot get at anything (his crate if he has one is the best) and leave him in that spot until he has calmed down.

once he has he can come out. keep repeating this until he gets the message.

i know this as my puppy is a total psycho when he wants to be! i was at the end of my tether with him and this is what my trainer suggested was a time out.

it took an hour and a half on my first attempt to get him to calm down and numerous trips to his crate before he got the message i wasnt messing about. it has taken weeks to get my little guy to calm down. he still has his moments but i have kept up my correction method with him and it works a treat.

put into place some training time too. it will be mentally challenging for your pup and tire him out too!

the poodle side of him will have bundles of energy and it will take a lot to burn him out!

good luck and with all this fab advice you have got i'm sure you will be fine

Sophie

you have to keep at it and he will get it eventually.