Need Help!!! I must be doing something really wrong!!!!
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| your puppy is a baby- that is what baby puppies do. My puppy is 10 weeks and does the SAME THINGS. HE TUGS, HE PEES, HE CHEWS, HE BARKS, HE'S NAUGHTY... Take him to puppy kindergarten classes, wear him out as much as possible, teach him games that do not involve human body parts (Pippin loves "chase the broom") find a neighbor, or a friend at puppy class who has a puppy for play dates, and BE PATIENT. Raising a puppy is a lot more work then you ever thought it would be, I know it is for me. Consistency is key, and don't leave him alone with the kids, ever. Just keep trying to switch out appropriate toys for hands, feet and clothes. If he starts to bite on the kids, they need to get up and walk away from th epuppy, totally ignore him. If I ignore Pip, he stops tugging after a few seconds, but you need to keep at it, time, after time, after time! The more exercise he gets the more energy he'll extend appropriately, rather then doing naughty things, like chewing on you and your family. Keep on with the training! and be patient... this too will pass! WE're here for you...
Karen- who is thinking of starting a new sheepie mom support group  |
| yep he is a puppy and won't grow out of that for a while, but stand your ground, be consistant - never give into him, as it also sounds like he is trying to be dominant, when he's biting, weeing or being naughty, leave him in another room, only for a couple of mins and he will eventually get the message - even if he cries let him, when he's been good reward him, but when naughty, let him know. I've never smacked my dog or shouted, just simple consistant actions and he knows. But is takes patience, also sheepies aren't deliberately naughty, just mischievous and you really need a sense of humour with these dogs, as I've learn't.
As for the children, don't let them get excited or let them raise their voices, if they are excitable, your dog will be and think it is playtime, when they see the puppy, stroke him, if he starts nipping, say no and walk away from him - they don't like being ignored. Don't give in, it will be so rewarding in a few months time - but only if he knows who the boss is - keep smiling |
| Raising an OES puppy is not for the feint of heart!
I strongly recommend the book "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell. She explains what the dog is thinking and why they exhibit the behavior they do. And what you can do to correct it. Anything by Cesar Millan would be helpful as well. Please remember that an 11 week old puppy is still an infant. It takes a lot of patience to deal with children too and there are probably times you'd like to "send them back" as well. Good luck with your puppy, please keep us posted on his progress. |
| Keep the treats going until he is around 6 months old. Then you can start to wean him off of them, but not completely. You will put him on what is called a "random schedule" so that he never knows when he will get one and when he won't. But until then, keep using the treats to make his reponses VERY reliable.
Another think that I like to recommend people with puppies is to get them into a relaxed mode OFTEN. We tend to get puppies all excited, speak to them in excited happy tones, make them chase us, and run after their toys. What I would suggest is that you take time around 3 times a day to have your puppy quiet, and massage him. Don't restrain him, but just rub him nice and firmly, in round circles, just like a massage. If you do this speaking very quietly, he will learn to enjoy it and it will relax him. Do it for 3 minutes, 3 times a day, and you will see how it will be come easy for him to calm down, and even lay down all relaxed, when you are rubbing him. Next step is to get older kids to do this. Teach the children to always be quiet and calm around him. That will help in getting him used to being calm. When they run and scream and jump it is a field day for him! What fun! He is very young and doesn't know any better, and is being a normal puppy. If he jumps on the kids they must stop, fold their arms across thier chest, stand up straight and not move. No eye contact, either. Then, as soon as he stops they can slowly pay some quiet attention to him. He need to be rewarded for the behavior you wnat. Otherwise how will he know what you wnat him to do? I also find that a puppy that doesn't get enough sleep is often very excited, and cannot relax. Make sure he has LOTS of quiet time. Even playtime should be somewhat relaxed, and even. It takes time to get a puppy to learn to be calm, and you need to be consistent, and patient. It will come, and remember that a sleeping puppy is a good puppy. Get him out for walks. If he doesn't want to go, lure him with some treats. Or maybe he is tired, so needs a nap. You will get over this period. Just try to work with him and not against him. You will figure it out, but you need to always have a calm demanor around him. It will help if you take a deep breath, and remember he is a baby. Good luck! |
Wow!  This post took me back to a few months ago and put me back in our house with a Sheepie puppy, a 3yr old and a newborn baby! (Ben and the baby will be a year this month & next and my oldest boy will be 4yrs old the day after Ben!)
Well, we lived in the very same circumstances as you, as far as the biting….and the screaming child…..my oldest boy is incredibly gentle, sweet natured & very sensitive, Ben was, well, a puppy! Biting, chewing, jumping, tugging……on my oldest! I tried everything…believe me! I was going crazy! I was overwhelmed with an 8-week-old pup, a 4-week-old baby & a 3 year old (who was constantly crying, due to the pup!) Now, I don’t know if this is what did the trick or if it was pure luck that Ben is the most wonderful pup ever but it is certainly worth a shot! My first obstacle was my son, he would cry, scream, hit, jump…whenever the pup would bite him! I had to convince him to chill out and call for me and I would handle it! (The pup just thinks this is an awesome game…he doesn’t know that the kid is hurt or scared….) Once he cooperated with me about this, then it was time to move onto the pup……….. When Ben would act up, my son would call me…..I would tell Ben….”No Bite Ben”, “No Jump Ben”…..whatever it was that he was doing…while I held him back by his collar………I would make him stay there with my son in place until he was exhibiting proper behavior, when he calmed down I would then have Micah (my son) give Ben a treat………..in my mind, this was showing Ben that: 1. the behavior is wrong, 2. Micah has rank and 3. if you behave, you will get treats or positive reinforcement… Like I said, I am not sure that this is what did it or not, but, after a few days Ben was over it! Now, the boys get along great! They play gently; they are together all the time! The are the perfect scenario of “a boy and his dog”………….I could not have asked for a better friend for my kids……..honestly……..they are inseperateable! Try this out and see if it works………….you never know!!! Good luck!  |
| I really liked Rebecca's idea of telling her son to cross his arms across his belly--that sounds like it might work for your 2 year old--it is something that they can remember to do and will somewhat protect them from the puppy nips.
Have you tried having your both your kids feed Harvey? The 11 year old could be more in charge of a 'real' feeding, but maybe have your 2 year old give out pieces of kibble to the dog...that way showing she is higher in rank than the puppy. Like everyone said, he is a puppy and it is 'just' puppy behavior, which doesn't make it any better when he does it, but just knowing that he's not being mean or aggressive, just learning how the world works. As for the going out and him not going, then going in the house...I remember long periods of time waiting with Barney on the leash last spring when we first got him. We had him on a set food and water schedule, so we knew when he would have to go. Sometimes we would go out and he'd go right away...other times I'd be standing out in the rain for 20 minutes with him just sitting beside me. But I would ALWAYS wait til he went, even if it was just a dribble. Then lots of good boys and excitement and back into the house, so he would associate that with being good. Also, have you cleaned really well where he has gone? Maybe he still smells it a little and remembers that he's gone there before. Having a puppy is hard, but the good thing is they grow up (and pretty quickly) so that soon these will be memories of how horrible your puppy was, but how great Harvey the dog is... |
barney1 wrote: Have you tried having your both your kids feed Harvey? The 11 year old could be more in charge of a 'real' feeding, but maybe have your 2 year old give out pieces of kibble to the dog...that way showing she is higher in rank than the puppy.
That was exactly my point of having Micah give Ben the treat rather than me! |
| I second what everyone said above. You aren't alone! Being a puppy parent is SO HARD! Please read some of my recent posts today. I'm venting about 9 wk old Fozzie who is a crazy man! |
| I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks trying to gain knowledge about our sheepdog mix that we adopted from the SPCA. I can feel the original poster's pain.
Otis is a little over four months old and I've never had a puppy bite like he does. I've read all of the suggestions about giving him a toy and ignorning and walking away . . . but Otis actually bites so hard and won't let go that he draws blood! Firmly scolding him only makes him angry and he bites more quickly and harder . . . ignorning him and walking away only gets you blood blisters and bruises on the backs of you legs. There is just me and my husband in the household. The only relief we can get is to use a water bottle and lightly spritz him in the face with water when he won't stop biting. That immediately calms him and he stops the biting. I've threatened to buy us each water guns to pack in our waistbands. He can be so loveable when he wants to be . . . but is the spawn of the devil most of the time. I'm hoping I can get help with this problem, too. We love him very much and want so much to be able to enjoy his loveable side more. |
| Carolina- have you enrolled Otis in puppy class yet? At this age, he should be working on behavior every day- minding your commands, such as sit, stay, lay down. If you haven't gotten him into training yet- DO IT NOW! If you have- every time he is naughty, command him to sit or lay down, and give him a treat. Try the Nothing in Life is Free approach- he has to sit for pets, sit for food, sit to be let outside etc. etc. this should help you gain more control over his behavior. At this age, he should have enough mental maturity to start taking you seriously when it comes to commands... but it is still up to you to get him trained. Good luck with you guy!!! |
| I read your posts in the wrong order (last one first). You do have the potential for a very difficult and serious situation. Do you have the access or ability to have a trainer come into your home, one who uses positive reinforcement? Going outside for training is one thing but learning how to deal with dificult situations in the home can be a diffierent situatuin entirely. A qualified trainer may be able to come into your home and in just a couple sessions help turn things around.
WIth one baby and another on the way you do not want to take any chances with their safety. |
| Thanks so much for the advice. I'm keeping my eyes open for a training class. |
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