for more information on this topicThe Forum RecommendsPuppy Exercise and Training Your PuppyHi there. I have a 13 week old male pup, we've had him since he was 8 weeks old. He's just started going on walks and they're going great, tiring him out so he's much calmer at home. However, I've just got a couple of issues I need advice with... 1. The main issue is his growling. I've heard him growl when he's playing with his toys or playing tug of war with my older dog. However, he occasionally growls at me and my family. Mainly when he has to do something he doesn't want to, or when he's tired. For example, if he's fallen asleep and we want to move him to his crate to bed on an evening he will growl if you try to move him. A few times he will growl & go to bite the persons face. Other times, like today, he was sat at the door wanting to go into another room. I needed him to go out into the garden so I opened the door and called him a few times, after a few minutes he didn't respond so I gently grabbed his collar and started moving him in the direction of the door. This was not forceful at all and he's usually used to being handled etc and doesn't bother. I'm worried about him being aggressive especially as he gets bigger, I want to nip this in the us now. Any suggestions on how to help this? 2. He doesn't listen. You can call his name and it's just blatant ignoring. Once he knows you have food he will listen no problem, but until you actually show him you have treats it's like he doesn't know his name. How can I help this? 3. Loose leash walking. He's a bit of puller. I'm trying to keep him at a loose leash or beside me and when he does I reward him and say "heel". Am I doing this right? Any advice would be great, thanks in advance!
I don't think I can help you, I'm not experienced enough. But just from my own experience regarding your point 2, puppies don't instantly know their names. He might not be ignoring you at all; he simply has no clue that that's his name. It took Snowie some time to learn his name, I don't remember how long, but definitely not by 13 weeks. The fact that you've got food doesn't mean to say he's listening to you; he might just be smelling the food and therefore paying you attention. Having said that, I do often comment that when we have butter (Snowie's all-time favourite treat), his IQ rises to "brilliant"! ie he'll work out what he needs to do to get the treat! Have you considered getting a trainer to help you 1-on-1? I am sure this will quickly help you gain insight into why your pup does what he does and the trainer will help you work out what you need to do to get the results you want. Remember: 13 weeks is still very young! You wouldn't expect a human baby to be performing like an adult, yet we expect it of our pups.
Our puppy (11 weeks) also growls, though at the moment only when he's playing with his toys though I suspect that could change. I think it's normal puppy behaviour. Our Loki does know his name or at least I think he does, he could just be responding to my tone or voice. Though from when we first got him i only ever called him when he was already running towards me. Then treated him when he got to me. So he didn't learn to ignore me straight away by me calling him when he was already busy doing something else.
Cooper (2-1/2 years old) growls when is playing.....tug, having absconded with a dish towel, a slipper,shoe!! As I walk towards him he growls but it's a "play" growl because he knows I am going to say "drop it" and....sometimes....exchange the item for a toy or treat! Smart dog! As to coming to you when you call.....you are going to have to train him....and I am not the one to tell you how because Cooper is not well trained by me.....he comes when he feels like it so have to start working on his recall. 2016 has been a strange year for him....has been in day care a lot, nights with care takers so we have to start working all over again. A 1 on 1 with a good trainer is a good piece of advice from MF. I may go the same route! Good luck....
Yep, real butter. I take a teeny-tiny amount on the tip of my finger and he licks it off. I use it when I need him to do something that he really doesn't want to do -- with the butter I can get him to do anything! He even knows the word "butter", so I just have to say it and he's up and ready. Of course it is not a treat you can take on walks!!
My Shadow is obsessed with butter. He's never had any, but whenever there's a pot around, he follows it, drooling.
Hi @Peach1293 . With point number 2, I think you need to train recall and the book Total Recall gives a complete training program which I know many of us have had success with. It basically involves linking a recall with a food reward and gradually proofing this in more difficult situations, but the book breaks it down into specific exercises and tells you exactly what to do and to expect at each stage. With lead walking, what you're doing sounds similar to my approach. I drove to off-lead areas and just practised lead walking for very short periods during the walk, and in those early weeks I treat streamed ( one treat after another so the lead never went tight). Molly walks very well on a loose lead. Other people on here have had success by simply standing still if the lead goes tight so that the puppy can only move forward if the lead is loose. With the growling, if he's in a deep sleep and you really need him to move, could you try waking him gently, perhaps by stroking and talking to him, before asking him to move?
This is a little bit concerning. Sometimes puppies will growl when moved or handled if they either have a pain somewhere, or they anticipate being moved may cause a pain. I would pop your puppy down to the vet for a good check up. Also, bear in mind that puppies don't need much exercise at 13 weeks old, and may become exhausted if over exercised. That in itself could be causing aches and pains. I'll put a few links at the top of the article for you.
My excuse for having a little bit of Brie late in the evening is that both dogs like the rind - and I don't - so it's their before-bedtime treat! I seem to buy quite a lot of Brie...
