Hi I'm a new puppy owner, I've never had a dog before. So finding my new pup challenging! She's a very clever girl but obedience training is hard. She's very greedy and gets too excited over the food reward. If I try and wait for her to be calm she gets fed up and moves onto chewing whatever is close by or she gets frustrated and growls and bites at me. She practically bites my hand off when I give her a treat. She jumps all over me. She's only 9 weeks so maybe I'm being too impatient? I'm just worried that I'm rewarding her mouthing jumping etc. Any tips would be greatly appreciated xxx
You need to teach her to take the treat gently. Keep the treat in your fist and let her lick all round it, then release - with a flat hand - when she's being gentle. Don't wait to give the treat - she won't know what you are rewarding - teach taking food gently separately. You could always drop the treat when teaching something else until she's 'got' the idea of taking it gently. Mollie was the same and took a couple of weeks to take food 'nicely'. And welcome to you from Mags, Tatze and Mollie from Manchester UK Tatze is my pet dog, a black Lab and she's four years old. Tatze means 'paw' in German. Mollie is my fourth Guide Dog puppy, a black Lab who is eight months old. .
Here is some great advice - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppies-biting/ All of mine have been TOTAL crocapups - the latest being the worst. She's really only just calmed down! .
Thank you. We're in Liverpool ourselves! Luna is a red fox lab retriever. She's a cutie but I'm just a bit overwhelmed. My hubby is at work all day so it's just the 2 of us. All the videos I watch are of calm slightly timid puppies!
I'm looking forward to one of those - one day, I can but hope My friend breeds schnauzers - when she first visited one of my pups I warned her not to let them mouth her, she ignored me, saying 'oh - I'm used to pups' then OUCH! The pup drew blood. She never did it again lol .
She's only hurt me bad twice and it was during play with a rope. She tried to get a better grip and bit me drawing blood. I'm sure you'll hear more from me. It's nice to speak to ppl rather than just watching vids and reading generic stuff. Think my expectations of a puppy where completely a little delusional
My expectations of having a puppy were also completely delusional! By day two I was sitting on the carpet crying but my pup is now 8 months and those initial early weeks are like a bad dream. She really was a whirling dervish but is now so gentle and calm (till she reaches adolescence I guess!) It will definitely get better.
Thank you for this. I too have had a couple of days crying cause she is stressing me out so much. I've tried the "no mugging" training twice today and although she scratched me like mad the first time, she caught on the 2nd time and I didn't get scratched or bitten. Really pleased with this site and forum. so helpful x
That's great! Keep it up, a few times each day and she'll soon learn. I, too am immensely grateful to this forum. I've had dogs my whole life but when I got my first Lab (my pet Lab Tatze) I came her shouting heeeeeeeelp! .
Hi and welcome from me and my red girl, Harley, who is nearly 4 years old. Pups can be challenging, but it is so worth it. I have never had a dog before and it was life changing, but I couldn't be without her now. My work and social life revolve around my girl Keep up with the training and she will quickly pick up what you want her to do. This forum has been a lifesaver for me and everyone has been so supportive through some difficult times.
Having a puppy is like caring for a baby. I had no idea! Growing up, my family always had at least one dog at a time so I thought I knew what to expect. We never had a puppy though. My 3-month old black lab truly is a crockapup. He bites down HARD! Thanks to everyone's advise regarding my puppy's biting issues, I realized that my puppy gets overexcited due to my playing with him and petting him way too much. Last night I decided to try playing with him in 7-minute intervals. It made sense in theory, but when I tried to implement this plan, he would jump at me, follow me around and bite me to get my attention again. If he got too wound up and started biting, I put him in his crate to calm down. I have no idea if this is the right thing to do. We all learn as we go I guess!
Sounds like our Jasper. He would nap late evening but now won't and goes manic so we are doing time out (a.k.a. mummy washing up and cleaning in kitchen whilst Jasper mopes about). I though petting would calm him until people said this can overexcite them in same way as playing. I am alone with him again tomorrow afternoon till late evening for second Saturday in row (OH playing cricket) and although managed ok last weekend am scared stiff for tomorrow! Thank goodness it's World Gin Day tomorrow that's all I'm saying! Am sure our pup's will learn!
