I got a puppy 3 days ago, and she is a pit lab mix. She is an absolute terror, and no one in my family seems to believe me. I'm only 14, so I'm still in school, but it's summer right now so I'm the only one home. By the time they all get home from work, I've been taking care of her for a good couple hours. They get her when she's all tuckered out (for the 30 minutes she's tired) until she gets playful again. She's an absolute terror, but I love her so much. Also, she shakes when I discipline her, but if I don't do it firmly, she keeps being naughty. What do I do? p.s. her name is Juniper and she is a brindle colored labrabull, as they call it. she's so cute!!!
No it doesn't keep her from being naughty it frightens her. It will not help with her behaviour and she will not like you. Please stop and go and ready the puppy training parts of the main site it will help you with this and give you some ideas for training without frightening her.
Positive training is the only way to go. Train by rewarding not by discipline. Get some good books or look for a good a positive training school. I know that at your age she must seem like a terror but she is just a baby. Nobody disciplines a baby. Have a really good read around this site. Stay with us and ask lots of questions and let us know how you are getting on.
Welcome to the forum! I think all of us recognise what you're describing, we have all been through it. I'm afraid it is completely, absolutely normal... but you can get through it. Do have a look at the articles on the puppy training bit of this website, they helped me SO much with my boy - and let us know how you get on!
Puppies take a long time to grow up - just like human babies and toddlers. Do try to be gentle with your puppy. She needs to learn that your hands always bring kindness, so that she doesn’t learn aggression. At the moment she is just playing - honestly I mean it, even if she bites hard enough to make you bleed as my most recent dog did as a young puppy. Wear old clothes with long trousers and always have a toy in your pocket or nearby. Encourage your pup to chew it and not you by holding it while she chews. If you can get rice bones (hard chew made from rice) they are good for puppies to gnaw on. When we got my previous dog, a Lab called Rolo, my son was 14 years old, and he spent a lot of time helping me care for the pup. They had a wonderful relationship- adored each other - for 14 1/2 years and you can build this slowly with your pup too.
Try to attend puppy class in your neighborhood. You learn a lot from them, also how to teach and reward him. They will learn you the dog language. Also as mentioned read the book!
Welcome to the forum Avery and Juniper. Puppies are hard work aren't they! Here are a couple of articles to get you started What to expect from an eight week old puppy What to expect from a nine week old puppy Ask lots of questions And make sure you avoid punishment. Modern dog training is all about fun for you and your dog and punishment is a particularly bad idea when dealing with tough breeds and breed mixes as it can cause aggression. There are lots of modern training guides here: puppy training Good luck with your puppy
