Hello everyone! We got our new puppy Owen (7 weeks old) a few days ago. So far he is doing a really great job. He goes pee and poop mostly outside, and after I tell him to. He is completely quiet when placed in his crate for a little Owen time. And he is starting to learn sit already. He even settles down with me when I put him next to me. The only things he has some troubles with are biting when playing (which we are working on) and he is extremely frequently messing around at the bottom of the couch. I have checked under the couch and found nothing. There is nothing I can detect on or around it. He just keeps going back to it in all spots and smells, scratches, and bites it. We have tried to spray a bitter spray on it to keep him away, but the spray hasn't worked on anything for him. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am at a loss.
Hi and welcome. Have you tried redirecting him to something he is allowed to chew/bite? For example, if he starts chewing the sofa, pick up a toy he is allowed to chew and make it really exciting for him so he chooses to play with the toy instead. Everytime he chews/plays with the sofa you will need to redirect him and he will get the message if you are consistent. You can do the same thing when he is getting bitey/mouthy with you - put a toy in his mouth, or stand up cross you arms and ignore him for a few seconds until he stops and calms down. If he doesn't stop then pop him in his crate for a few mins.
We do that when he starts getting bitey, and have tried for the couch but he goes right back to it again after a moment with his toy. We also have a few coins in a can and shake it really loud when he is chewing, that distracts him for a second.
Welcome to you from Mags, Tatze and Mollie Tatze is my pet dog, a black Lab three years old. Mollie is my fourth Guide Dog puppy, a black Lab and she's thirteen weeks old. He's only a tiny baby. You need to restrict access to anything you don't want him to chew. Then, as he gets older, train him not to chew your things, this takes a lot of time and patience. Shaking a can is a really bad idea as it will frighten and startle him and he may acquire a phobia for loud sounds, which would be disastrous. I strongly recommend the Happy Puppy Handbook and that you read this info - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppies-biting/ ... ...
I wouldn't use a loud rattle to distract him, you might make him fearful of noise. Try blocking access to the sofa if you can, or a short time-out in his crate. He will get the message eventually.
I can't really restrict his access to the couch, cause if I do he will always be alone in the kitchen. And I have read the puppy handbook.
You need to be in the kitchen with him when he's awake for play and training. We live in the kitchen until our pups are able to settle in the front room - around five months old.
Persistence and consistency are the keys - redirecting, redirecting and redirecting again - just try and remember you are dealing with a baby that explores with his mouth (just like a human baby). It will take a while but he will get it eventually. Please don't scare him as @Boogie and @edzbird have said - rattling a tin with coins or stones in could make him wary of loud noises going forward.
Hi Mags sorry for hijacking the post, Rolo is hit and miss as to wether he will settle with us in the front room. He is now 5 months do you do anytbing to assist his abilitiy to settle? Thanks xx
Stanleys nearly 9 months now and it's only this past month or so he's really started to settle. He was kept on a lead before that and had to settle either on the couch or his mat and got loads of treats for doing so. Now he just settles on his own
Thanks jen I did try the treat thing but he just waits for treats and when they stop he gets up he doesnt stay down or go asleep of his own accord
I have Mollie's bed by my sofa with a chew and a toy. I put her on the lead and sit on it with her, holding the chew for her for about ten minutes. Then I get on the sofa with Tatze and keep Mollie on a short lead on her bed, she mauls around with the toy for a bit then snoozes. I don't play with her but I do give them both the occasional treat. At the moment we are only doing this between 9pm and 10pm, it will move earlier as she gets older. My other pups very soon got into the routine of front room = snoozes, I'm sure Mollie will do the same, she's a very snoozy pup!
I will just keep redirecting redirecting redirecting then! I just realized he didn't mess with it today as much as he did yesterday, so we moved a step in the right direction. Great news for today though! He sat without a hand motion, just the word sit. And it was multiple times. He also rang the bell once to go outside. We have it right by the door, and I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but he went potty as soon as I set him down outside. I never knew that the can could cause him to be afraid of loud noises. It usually just distracts him and he looks at it. But I will stop using that.
