Hi, sorry to post again, but feeling somewhat out of my depth today :'( Maisie is so excitable and is snapping and nipping very hard from the minute she wakes up! I know that's what pups do, but she's doing it when she hasn't been playing or been revved up by anyone! Everything I've read talks about over excitement caused by play, etc. So, today started at 5am , when she was crying very loudly in her crate. Waited for her to be quiet, opened crate, didn't speak to her and she was all over me so excited, but snapping and nipping, tail going mad. Held her tight, trying to keep my face out of the line of fire and took her to the garden for a wee. No wee (and she hadn't been since 3am), lots of nipping at my feet and legs. I stood still trying to ignore her, but, every time I walked away she had another go. (She does not behave like this at 3am). Back in the house and she's a little live wire, cup of tea for me and try and calm her down with a rope toy. She loves that, and eventually starts dozing. OH comes down stairs at 7am and it all starts again, but aimed at me. I have been very calm with her and have been saying ouch!, and had to time out this morning in her crate. She did reduce me to tears this morning (lack of sleep I think :) and did back off when she saw I was upset. We have been in the garden in the rain doing recall training. I spread her meal around the kitchen which kept her happy for a while. She does play happily on her own for a while and then comes tearing in to see me and it all starts again. Do you think this is just a phase? We've been out and about socialising in different places and she is brilliant with people, lots of interaction. She's calm when she's in my arms. She's only 8 weeks old and I really don't expect too much from her. She is adorable and very loving when she is calm.
Re: Over excited puppy Ah Debs never apologise about posting,that's what the forum is for!sorry you've been in tears..I've been there a few times over Dexters pulling!i didn't have this really hectic puppy stage as Dexter couldn't be imported to Dubai intil he was 4 months ( he was actually 5 to be honest)but from what I've read from others this does sound like a normal puppy.... You sound like you are handling it right,distracting her with toys.....giving her things to challenge ,ie her hunting her food.the only thing I might suggest is not holding her when she is going nuts ?i would just turn your back on her .....your story has given me a flash back of me and my siblings having breakfast before school when we were kids and my mum walking round the kitchen ignoring the spaniel puppy that was hanging onto her trouser leg! .......you are using a crate so if she gets too much,pop her in with a frozen puppy kong to give you and your patience a breather,she won't come to any harm. She sounds lovely and bless her,bet she was puzzled she saw you upset...you are going to get much better,practical,advice from other members and there seems to be loads of puppies a t the moment so I'm sure there are others going through exactly the shame shenanighans as you and your family Best wishes Angela x
Re: Over excited puppy Yes - it's just a phase for sure! Tatze was a crazy crocodile at that age too. Keep doing what you are doing, she WILL learn Edited to add - I remember one day, we'd only had her a couple of days when my friend came to see her. She breeds miniature schnauzers, she's very experienced and loves dogs - she came to visit new puppy Tatze. When I opened the door I said 'here is a chew, don't let her mouth you, her teeth are sharp'. My friend put the chew down and said 'don't worry, I'm used to puppies, hello pup pup ...................................... OWWWWCH!! She didn't let her mouth her again! Labs are different but wonderful!
Re: Over excited puppy Absolutely, it's a phase, and quite a shock to the system it is too! I didn't even LIKE my pup for a while, she was so bitey and exciteable... Hang in there, you are doing the right thing, she is just a tiny baby and in a few weeks this difficult stage will be over. Remember to reward her for good behaviour, i.e. cuddle her when she is being quiet, and ignore her when she is being boisterous, she will soon learn.
Re: Over excited puppy Thank you both, feeling a bit calmer now! She's in her crate snoring away peacefully!! Have you seen the "how to beat the Labrador puppy blues" on the home page - Pippa must be psychic!! Debs x
Re: Over excited puppy Agreed its just a phase. Our Nero was like this and there was a time when I thought things wouldn't improve but they do. I find a 'time out' area works to calm them down. If Nero gets too worked up we put him in the kitchen and close the baby gate where he stays until he calms down He calmed down at about 4 months old but now he is 7 months and is starting to get a little naughtier again....think its his teenage phase showing!
Re: Over excited puppy Oh I do sympathise Debs, believe me we all have or had those days , the ones where we think " What the heck have I done ?" These pups can be testing at times , I remember being in tears over Sams pulling on his lead , how silly is that ? Lab pups are angels and devils in equal quantities at times , she will get better especially when she can go out and exercise , keep the faith
Re: Over excited puppy Hi Debs I have Albert (12 weeks tomorrow) who also nips and bites a lot! He was waking at 5.00am full of beans, ready to bite me for England (but fine at 3.00am) and like you I felt overwhelmed with it all. But I decided after the 2nd week that when he woke at 5.00 I would take him out for a wee and put him back to bed (crate) and go back to bed myself. This worked almost instantly to the point where he now goes to bed at 11.00pm and doesn't wake until around 5.30 sometimes 6.00. Out for a wee & poo and back to bed for another hour at least. He is still biting me when he gets up at 7.00 (ish) but I give him breakfast, have something myself etc and after an hour take him out ( which has been a godsend) for a little while. This distracts him and he is then ready for another good sleep when we get back. I'm not so stressed because I am getting some sleep too. I have also given him rice bones and pizzels to chew on and an old trainer as these are hard enough for him to really get his teeth into without any damage. The pizzels he absolutely loves and it will occupy him for 30 mins but they stink to high heaven!! (Not surprising really given what they are!) I spend time training at home every day, which he enjoys (more food!) and this tires him mentally too. I have also bought a Kong wobbler and give one of his meals in this which is amusing for me and he thinks it's a great game, and we also play hunt the dinner in the kitchen! He still bites and nips a lot, but it is gradually getting better, but I still have to give him time out in the crate with a chew or kong to cool down. I'm 3 weeks further down the road from you and since we have been able to go out it is a lot easier. Good luck.
Re: Over excited puppy Hi Debs, i have the same with Buster he is now 12 weeks old and a couple of times today he has come at me quite hard, i have walked out of the room and when i walk back in a ignored him, he soon went away and to sleep, he is ansolutely lovely but the bitting i do find hard sometimes. I know what you mean buy when your OH comes down its aimed at you, as i seem to be Busters play buddy he doesn't do to my hubby what he does to me. With the bitting when i see him in the morning i now have to have a small toy ready to put in his mouth so i can give him the fuss when he first sees me so that he doesn't bite me. This helps alot. I do feel for you as i'm going through the same especially today.
Re: Over excited puppy Thanks for all your kind words and comments, it's a real help and much appreciated. It's a larning curnve
Re: Over excited puppy [quote author=Debs link=topic=5693.msg72552#msg72552 date=1398958596] What size Kong wobbler should I get for an 8 week old, small or large? [/quote] I got a small one which is surprisingly large! Jan
Re: Over excited puppy The kong wobbler is great to give all meals in Harley finds it strange when we give her tea in her bowl It does improve and please don't apologise for posting, that's what we are here for x
Re: Over excited puppy I've never heard of the Kong Wobbler and never seen one in the shops, looks fun
Re: Over excited puppy It sounds as if you're doing everything right and I can imagine you must be exhausted with young children as well. At least we should get more dry days than rainy ones now and then you can spend more time in the garden with Maisie. We have a stack of cardboard boxes, for my son's business, and when I got desperate I used to knock the bottom out of one to make a kind of cardboard tube. She got a good ten minutes entertainment from crawling in and out of it and sometimes ended up with it around her waist like a hula hoop. If you don't mind the mess, sealing a few bits of kibble inside a box can provide an activity to give you a breather too. It will soon pass!
Re: Over excited puppy Ah, what a great pic! Having a great time! Good idea about the kibble, I'll give that a go! After being a absolute little madam for most of the day, she is now all relaxed, not biting, just gently mouthing and playing nicely.
Re: Over excited puppy Here are my pup-in-a-box photos. Boxes still keep Tatze entertained at 12 months old as she is our Chief Amazon Box Flattener! In the last photo you can see a recently flattened box. Plastic milk bottles are good, when they are little pups, for a week or two until they learn to shred them! I think you can see the naughtiness in her face in the first two photos and the steadiness on the last one 10 weeks 15 weeks 12 months
Re: Over excited puppy Ah, these are lovely photos. I love the pup photos, but what a gorgeous photo at 12 months.
