Wheaten Terrier/Tasmanian Devil Owner!

[Jembers]

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Hi everyone, I am the proud, but constantly exhausted owner of a nearly 5 month old Wheaten. It would be great to hear from other terrier/Wheaten owners to find out how they are getting on with their own little whirlwinds. We had forgotten how much hard work puppies are, having not had one for almost 16 years. He's a very affectionate little boy and he can be very good when he wants to be, but he's still very bitey and he's not gentle about it either! He's also very stubborn and refuses to back down when he wants something, which can be quite challenging at times. I'm confident that these things will improve as he gets a bit older and the teething process comes to an end, but any advice (or sympathy ) would be much appreciated.

 

[Finsky]

Tasmanian devil.....YES....I do remember that very well and we called our Eva with that name as well as she looked like one when she was little.
All we can do with our 'nippers' is try to keep our sense of humour intact during the blood letting. It won't be long for you anymore and it start easing out.
I find with terriers it is important not to lock a heads with them...but try to be like magician..distract and with trickery get them do what they don't want to do. Though there is always still plenty of those moments when you are tested of which one is more stubborn...the owner or the dog.
I'm about to be reminded again what terrier pups are like. Our last 'pup' is now 17 months so although it is not that long we too did those battles, passing time does tend to make you forget what it actually felt like.
Our current pup are only 4 weeks old and they are just starting to experiment what human flesh taste like

 

[JudyN]

Awww, I love Wheatens

Have a read of this thread on puppy biting, which might help: Puppy biting

As for being stubborn, and refusing to back down, I think the best approach is to avoid conflict, and then train so that he will be more compliant on future occasions. For example, if he is on your bed and refuses to get off when asked, just walk away and ignore him. If necessary, go into the kitchen, open and shut the fridge door, call him, and reward him when he comes (hey, you've now got some recall training in too!!). Then focus on teaching an 'off' command in a positive, reward-based way (keeping him out of the bedroom till he's reliable).

 

[Jembers]

Awww, I love Wheatens

Have a read of this thread on puppy biting, which might help: Puppy biting

As for being stubborn, and refusing to back down, I think the best approach is to avoid conflict, and then train so that he will be more compliant on future occasions. For example, if he is on your bed and refuses to get off when asked, just walk away and ignore him. If necessary, go into the kitchen, open and shut the fridge door, call him, and reward him when he comes (hey, you've now got some recall training in too!!). Then focus on teaching an 'off' command in a positive, reward-based way (keeping him out of the bedroom till he's reliable).

Thanks for the advice. It's all too easy for situations to become a battle of the wills, but you're spot on about the ignoring and distracting techniques. I just need to remember to be consistent with it, which is easier said than done when I'm completely knackered!

 

[Jembers]

Tasmanian devil.....YES....I do remember that very well and we called our Eva with that name as well as she looked like one when she was little.
All we can do with our 'nippers' is try to keep our sense of humour intact during the blood letting. It won't be long for you anymore and it start easing out.
I find with terriers it is important not to lock a heads with them...but try to be like magician..distract and with trickery get them do what they don't want to do. Though there is always still plenty of those moments when you are tested of which one is more stubborn...the owner or the dog.
I'm about to be reminded again what terrier pups are like. Our last 'pup' is now 17 months so although it is not that long we too did those battles, passing time does tend to make you forget what it actually felt like.
Our current pup are only 4 weeks old and they are just starting to experiment what human flesh taste like

Such a relief when people reassure you that it does get easier. Right now it feels a million years away, but even now when I stop to think about it, he's much better than he was just a month ago!

 

[Finsky]

Such a relief when people reassure you that it does get easier. Right now it feels a million years away, but even now when I stop to think about it, he's much better than he was just a month ago!

He could literally turn around corner tomorrow and stop it..you just never know...and then you missed it all
Does you dog get many challenging chews at all? Good quality and smelly 'body part' type of chew can take its mind from nipping you for some time and having tired out its jaws its effect might last longer than just while at it.
Bull's pizzles, dried tails of various animals, deer foot etc. they are not cheap but worth of every penny when the dogs are in that difficult age and 'sharpening' their teeth on you.

 

[Jembers]

He could literally turn around corner tomorrow and stop it..you just never know...and then you missed it all
Does you dog get many challenging chews at all? Good quality and smelly 'body part' type of chew can take its mind from nipping you for some time and having tired out its jaws its effect might last longer than just while at it.
Bull's pizzles, dried tails of various animals, deer foot etc. they are not cheap but worth of every penny when the dogs are in that difficult age and 'sharpening' their teeth on you.

He loves a Yak Snack/Yakers type chew. He's got all sorts of other chew toys as well, but often prefers to chew on humans if he gets the chance! I might try him with the pizzle sticks. I've heard many people recommend them, although not keen on having a bit of penis dragged around my rugs!

 

[JoanneF]

not keen on having a bit of penis dragged around my rugs!

As a dog owner, you'd be amazed at what you get desensitised to

 

[Finsky]

He loves a Yak Snack/Yakers type chew. He's got all sorts of other chew toys as well, but often prefers to chew on humans if he gets the chance! I might try him with the pizzle sticks. I've heard many people recommend them, although not keen on having a bit of penis dragged around my rugs!

a bit of penis on your rugs is much easier to cope than having to live with finger stumps. I truly recommend you to explore the variety of different sort of animal part chews. There is so many different textures for dogs to explore, some more crunchy...some for ripping...and others very chewy. Not only they help to keep their teeth 'polished' but it gives you dog something to occupy its mind as much as they give satisfying jaw aching tease...when they have something they really like they just cannot leave it alone until either their jaws tire or it is all gone.
Giving us human owners moment of our own time and sometimes challenging chew is like sleeping pill for them too....a double whammy and more of our own time! Win win.
I got away with any major 'trauma' being attacked ..I could say teething with both of our dogs were quite easy..no damage to the house nor much with us as I kept their jaws busy with chews/toys/rope/balls/cardboard... anything and everything!

 

[Hemlock]

Brilliant advice already given, and I echo that it is far more productive to 'change the subject' than go head to head. Terriers don't back down - they have been bred for gazillions of years to have five gears and all of them forwards.

 

[Jembers]

Brilliant advice already given, and I echo that it is far more productive to 'change the subject' than go head to head. Terriers don't back down - they have been bred for gazillions of years to have five gears and all of them forwards.

I agree. To be honest, I should know better by now. We had a Lakeland Terrier before him and he was a stubborn little bugger as well!

 

[Finsky]

I agree. To be honest, I should know better by now. We had a Lakeland Terrier before him and he was a stubborn little bugger as well!

...really!? And I have house full of those 'stubborn little buggers'! Yes, they can be at times but one does eventually learn a way to work around their peculiarities. I'm sure your little Wheaten will give good run for the money compared to your past Lakie's stubborness... Looking forward to hear more of your new dog and how he develop and get up to....

 

[Jembers]

...really!? And I have house full of those 'stubborn little buggers'! Yes, they can be at times but one does eventually learn a way to work around their peculiarities. I'm sure your little Wheaten will give good run for the money compared to your past Lakie's stubborness... Looking forward to hear more of your new dog and how he develop and get up to....

I'll be sure to keep you posted! x

 

[Ksf]

Hey, making sure puppy has regular naps is really crucial, tiredness can be a main cause of puppy biting, unsure if you use crates but I know people who use small pens to place puppies in aswell when they're over tired to have a nap. Also using a lead indoors I find was helpful! Just to give puppy guidance

 

[Jembers]

Hey, making sure puppy has regular naps is really crucial, tiredness can be a main cause of puppy biting, unsure if you use crates but I know people who use small pens to place puppies in aswell when they're over tired to have a nap. Also using a lead indoors I find was helpful! Just to give puppy guidance

I think there's a misconception that hyper puppies have too much energy they need to burn off, when in fact they need to rest. We sometimes have to force a rest on ours and put him in his bed. More often than not, he's asleep pretty quickly afterwards.