[babydoll]

Hi Natalie,

Our puppy is almost the same age (17 weeks) as your Puddles and has exhibited very similar behavior that you mention. We have found some ways to deter the behavior though - not sure if it will help with you. Whenever Sienna starts to get mouthy, jumping up, or biting at our clothes, we tell her to sit and stay. This usually distracts her from her current behavior and focuses her on training for treats. It works magic.

We find that she often "acts out" when she is bored and needs some exercise so we take her often to the park so she can play with other dogs. This has helped tremendously - she gets to mouth and jump and play but not on us. After only a half hour of dog play she is tired out and much nicer to be around.

Hope this helps!

[sessa35]

Yeah, Jac---I like the term "correction" better than discipline!

A quick and deep verbal "no" gets a head slump and lowered tail instantly from Mija--its unusual to hear me say "no" as I reserve it only for those really out-of-hand moments.... ...I have other "correction" terms that I use so as to not wear out the validity of "no".......I like "enough" or "stop" or "that's it" or "too bad"....
I also use "Pay attention" followed by a gentle "poke" from me on the butt or shoulder is another good one---the "touch" is to take her "out" of her own mind and back to obeying mine!! LOL!!

Frankly, at such a young age, I wouldn't worry too much about being a disciplinarian---puppies will be puppies and they should be able to enjoy this short time some....now, don't get me wrong--rules are rules and they do need to be learned from the get-go... ...for unruly puppies--I like exercise to drain energy and then the "time-outs" to check the behavior/energy levels....

good luck,
he'll get better,
it just takes time, patience, and perseverance....

p.s. there is no "acting" the pack leader....you HAVE to BE IT....its an attitude--"I control everything"....dogs pick up on it regardless of your "telling them"---they feel it....therefore, don't fake the funk---BE THE PACK LEADER (it starts in your mind, and your @#$ will follow!! LOL! )


_________________
REASON #50, "Why I love my doodle so": My doodle teaches ME new things EVERY day!

[ChasP505]

[deepnite10]

because of Toby s size compared to his older brother and sister..i refer
to him as a gentle giant..

it s rare that i ll put him on his side..then there are time s when IMO
necessary..from day 1 he was friendly with dog s and people..but, there is on big *NO*..jumping on people..and having a brother and sister makes for great role model s as well..

[Tink]

With my young rambunctious Bella and Chip, The big problem has been teaching them not to jump on people. They're both very friendly and compete for attention. I've used my hand flat out from my wrist right in front of their noses... so if they jump they hit it; while saying Down. They don't get pet until they decide to stay on all 4's or sit. If they are too excited and keep on, I turn my back on them and lavish love on whoever is nearby and behaving. They hate to be ignored and see someone else getting the affection!
They learn that jumping up is not getting them the attention they want, so they eventually come around to my way of thinking and then they get all the loving they want.

I would NEVER tolerate any of my dogs growling at me. The few times it's been done, I make myself as tall and imposing as I possibly can, head right at them yelling NO! and they have to back down. That's as aggressive as I get but they find out that's unacceptable from the start. A growl is a warning... and to let it slide is letting them defy me. That can't happen.

I start as soon as I get a dog handing them treats and removing them for inspection... then returning them to them. Even their precious ham bones, which they will occasionally fight each other over, are safe for me to take away when I choose to. I feel it's good practice since I might also have to be removing sick or injured pups at some point and can't have them fighting me when I do.

I try to be very good to my dogs, but I make a point of letting them know
I rule.
_________________
www.tinkerdoodle.net
Hickory, Ava, Hana, Misty, and Chip (happy master of his Harem)

[deepnite10]

GO TINK!!!

[Lucky Me]

Just caught this thread...my Marley would growl at me as a pup, especially when I picked him up. I was so worried he was some kind of problem dog.
I would use direct eye contact and when he did it I would tell him "NO!" I did grab him by the scruff of the neck once, he yelped....read it somewhere, but I felt so guilty that I never did it again.
He grew out of it very quickly. Hang in there!
He has blossomed into the most beautiful dog & always has his eye on me.
I rarely have bad dreams and the other night had one. I didn't yell or cry(my husband told me) just was breathing very heavy. When I fully awoke, Marley was standing with his nose in my face, checking on me. (Tuesday his mother, sleeps like a log since her litter )
oh....and as far as the grabbing and shaking of the pant leg...I do the same as Imtoth2, I would say "no", and put a rope toy in his mouth.
_________________
Judi,Tuesday& Marley(and little Reba too!)
"Happiness is a warm puppy with wet kisses"

[LuBer]

Well,so far none of the techniques I've read seem to be the right one for us.Doodles are so smart that it takes one mistake ,and after that,no way theyll listen.
..We've tried the bathroom thing..to have max destroy the moulding.
..We've tried to kennel him for time outs...he gets extreme anxiety,to the point he can't calm down when hes out,he's drooling,sweating,and tries to chew his way out.
..We've kept him thethered with a leash,to have him chew out the leash .
..We've,said a firm,Stop,No...to have him talking back at us,and running away.
..We've held him on his side,we've put a partial choke chain,not working.
..We've out of frustration tapped his nose,but this only makes his not trusting us..so not an option.

..we have a squirt bottle...which temporarily stops him in his spot,however we don't have it attached to us,so when we need it we can't find it.

I've been told to think one step ahead of him to mentally tire him..well im obviously not able to out smart the doodle..hahaha.Because he keeps outsmarting me..

So now,we are just out of ideas,and are frustrated with the dog.His nipping and biting,is too much,his jumping is endless.He is extrememly attached to me his mama,so much so when im home he is literally at my feet,and doesnt leave my side.I leave for awhile and come home to have him all over me,trying to bite me out of anger becuase i left him..

So, I would appreciate anyyyyyyyyyyyy ideas,for us ...please....
Thanks
Lu
_________________
Lucille,Claire & Max

Quote:

I do doodle.

Buffy: What is this?
Willow: A doodle. I do doodle. You too. You do doodle, too.

[hmz819]

Lu,
As far as the jumping thing. I am not sure where you leave him when you leave. A lot of times I left Maya outside when she was younger because she hated her crate. So when I would come home I would go outside to see her. At first she was so excited she would jump and nip etc. I would tell her to settle if she did she got love. If she didn't I went back inside and shut the door. If she jumped on the door she got a firm loud NO. I did not go back out til she was settled. (I would bribe her with treats as well to sit) (Sometimes it too a while). Not sure how long it took for the jumping to stop....maybe a month or two but it's gone now. I am not sure if that will work for you but it worked for us.
_________________
Heather, Morgan, Maya, and Sadie
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion-Unknown

[Doggonecrazy]

Have you tried the NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free) method? Basically, it is a method where you control everything and Puddles must work (perform commands) for everything he gets. It is really effective at establishing/re-establishing you as alpha.
_________________
Vicky (Jett and Copper)

[sessa35]

[dgeggis]

We are dealing with the nipping at clothes too. Well I guess is more me than anyone. My Remy has the idea that my pajama's and fleecy slippers are really his chew toys. I can't tell you how many times I have told him to "leave it" and put a chew toy in his mouth. seems like hundreds. We've only had him a couple of weeks.

The other day after he was being adamant about chewing these items I got out the bitter apple and sprayed my jama's and slippers.
A couple of bites on that and he decided that it wasn't quite as good.

We still have times when he starts the nipping, especially after laundry day but he is getting better. I always praise when he goes for the chew toy instead of me.

It can be hard especially if your worn out from the day or have been up all night. Hang in there.
_________________
Diane

[*sharon*]

We use a "NILF" method. For example, Rosie must sit nicely before I will even open the door for a walk. If she rushes past me I lead her back inside and close the door. She knows the routine so well that when she sees the treat bag, her butt hits the floor and she puts her paw up to shake.

[Jac]

Aw, smart little Rosie! Good girl!

You know, I didn't realize that we were discussing very young puppies...give them time, routine, exercise and love...they will grow to respect you. Really, they will...but don't expect too much too soon. Some puppies, just like some babies, are slower to learn. Some are, frankly, smarter than others and are naturally mischievous...but they do learn.

I let my pups be pups. I understand their need to growl and to nip...that is what pups do. But I have found that when my pups are little and if they are too wild or playing too roughly, I pick them up and cuddle them or hold them tight so that they can't bite, and they immediately melt into puddles of sugar! I also do wrap my fingers around their muzzle when they are nipping, but not hard...I never hurt them, just hold their mouth shut while I say, "no bite!" and then I give loves and when the pup licks, I say "good kiss!" They learn...

I actually have a dog that growls her most fearce growl when she feels great...for instance, when I scratch her back, near her tail...she twists and twists and growls...she just can't help herself. When I see growling as a method of communication I really don't get upset...but if it is a threat or warning to me, I let them know it is not acceptable.

When my dogs get rough with each other (not often, but it does happen) I will take the worst offender, put his/her face in my hands so that they can't look away, and we have a stare down while I tell him/her "you don't do that!" When the dog looks away, they are accepting your authority and it ends there. Don't keep yelling or punishing...dogs don't do anything for spite or to get even, they live in the "now" so let it end. The dog will forget what it is all about if you carry on too long!

I think that there are times to draw the line and times to let them be...and you have to understand your dog to know where that line is. It is not the same with every dog.

But keep in mind that with human children, it takes time for them to learn...and sometimes we want our pups to learn everything in a few weeks...it doesn't always happen that way. Be patient, give it time and your pup will come around.
_________________
jacque.bayley.lexie.chase.rosie.nitos.amelia.dupree.madison.sherwood.gerry www.backporchlabradoodles-jacque.blogspot.com www.backporchlabradoodles.com

[babydoll]

We also use the NILF method. The trick is that they learn sit really well....because they end up sitting for EVERYTHING! We no longer have to ask for sit, she just automatically sits when she wants something because she knows that sitting results in positive things.

It works almost too well though ...sometimes she sits and stares at us and we have to play detective to figure out exactly what it is she wants (it is really cute though because her butt starts to scoot out from under her on the hardwood floor and she is trys so hard to stay sitting!)

It is much better than the jumping up on us though!!