I've read all the articles so I hope I'm not repeating anything Tess is 9 weeks and from the beginning she has had a lovely gentle mouth. My husband and I let her mouth our hands and there have only been a couple of times I've needed to say 'ouch' and, in all honesty, she just doesn't choose to mouth us much anyway. Is this ok? I know they learn a soft mouth from mouthing - should we just be grateful that she's quite soft already?! Like all puppies Tess likes to attach herself to our slippers or an item of clothing as we walk around the kitchen. I can tolerate this for a while but I detach her from the children - what is the appropriate way to deal with this? We try to refocus her on something she can play with or chew but so far toys haven't really interested her. If she's really persistent I put her in her room or her crate with a Kong and she usually goes to sleep. Is it a good idea or a bad idea to give her an old slipper?! I'm not sure whether she will be happy she has one that she can legally chew or whether it will just encourage her to continue to try to kill our slippers all the time!!
Re: A couple of questions re biting I wouldn't encourage her to have a slipper - a very bad habit in the making My rule is 'never do with a tiny pup what you don't want a 30Kg dog with huge teeth to do'. I made some mistakes with my first - like playing with her with the broom. It has special attraction for her now and I can't sweep up without her wanting to 'play', except that now the broom would be destroyed in seconds if I let her! I would use treats to get her attention then distract her with something else. Do you have squeaky toys? - or an empty plastic milk carton is often a great 'toy' for pups this age. Putting her to bed for a sleep is also a good idea - they are often crazy crocapups when tired. (I'm getting very puppy broody now - my next one will arrive July ish ;D )
Re: A couple of questions re biting July will be lovely with the warmer weather! Tess has got really good at taking herself out to her toilet area when she needs to go but it ain't half cold with the door propped open all the time! Ok, I'll be firm then Unfortunately cardboard tubes/boxes/milk cartons don't seem to hold much appeal to her. She quite likes a plant pot but I have to take them off her when she starts trying to eat them which is no time at all really! She has one squeaky toy but isn't too fussed, she really just wants to play with us - and I don't really know how to play with her if you see what I mean?! I can do some sits or downs or heels but she doesn't even care for me throwing a ball! I might put some bitter apple spray on my son's shoes, they hold a special fascination for her for some reason!
Re: A couple of questions re biting [quote author=zanacal link=topic=10187.msg149411#msg149411 date=1426332578] Tess has got really good at taking herself out to her toilet area when she needs to go but it ain't half cold with the door propped open all the time! [/quote] It's not a great idea to leave the door open - this doesn't teach pups to hold on until they are taken outside. When you close the door, the usual result is a puddle on the mat. They don't know what to do when faced with a closed door, and haven't learned to hold on (because they wander out whenever they want).
Re: A couple of questions re biting This is only when she's in her room (the utility room) unattended. I work from home and can't give her my attention all the time! When she's with us the doors aren't open!
Re: A couple of questions re biting Thank you by the way Julie, I will make sure we only prop the door open when we're busy and that we continue to take her out regularly the rest of the time!
Re: A couple of questions re biting So I made sure the door wasn't open all day today, walked out in to the utility room and Tess wasn't there! Started looking in stupid places where she couldn't possibly be ... she'd let herself out through the cat flap to do a poo in her toilet area!! That could end badly in a few weeks time the rate she's growing ;D
Re: A couple of questions re biting Bella loves running off with my slippers and socks, i try not to make a massive fuss and either give her the leave it command - so she drops it or redirect her attention to something else. Sometimes I do just let her play with it for a few minutes.... then she gets bored herself and moves on ha , she has got a toy rubber boot tho with laces! she wants my iphone at the minute and has tried everything she can to snaffle it ;D
Re: A couple of questions re biting Tuggy is a great game - and you can soon get your face close to the pup, which is great for bonding. Here is a good video about it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QEJDE2WjPA&index=37&list=PL0C724F6F6A597540
Re: A couple of questions re biting Fab thank you. We started learning leave it today. Love how much of a sponge she is at the moment!
Re: A couple of questions re biting [quote author=zanacal link=topic=10187.msg149502#msg149502 date=1426359047] So I made sure the door wasn't open all day today, walked out in to the utility room and Tess wasn't there! Started looking in stupid places where she couldn't possibly be ... she'd let herself out through the cat flap to do a poo in her toilet area!! That could end badly in a few weeks time the rate she's growing ;D [/quote] Get a bigger flap then. We have a huge one, big enough for most large dogs, I had to get a labrador proof one as the last one was destroyed by Bouncer coming through it at supersonic speeds.
Re: A couple of questions re biting [quote author=Leanangle link=topic=10187.msg149623#msg149623 date=1426413016] Get a bigger flap then. We have a huge one, big enough for most large dogs, I had to get a labrador proof one as the last one was destroyed by Bouncer coming through it at supersonic speeds. [/quote] What sort of lock does it have when you go out?
Re: A couple of questions re biting I think we'll just lock it, I don't want a dog flap, I worry that if it's big enough for a Labrador it's big enough for a human and I don't want her letting herself out when we're not home (she's in her crate for now, but in the future). I just thought it was rather clever
Re: A couple of questions re biting [quote author=Boogie link=topic=10187.msg149635#msg149635 date=1426420439] [quote author=Leanangle link=topic=10187.msg149623#msg149623 date=1426413016] Get a bigger flap then. We have a huge one, big enough for most large dogs, I had to get a labrador proof one as the last one was destroyed by Bouncer coming through it at supersonic speeds. [/quote] What sort of lock does it have when you go out? [/quote] It has an inner removable solid door insert.
