New Puppy Question

**Caramel** · 07-10-2011, 04:52 PM

Hey guys,

So I have questions regarding my 7 week old pup. Also, FYI, I've been using positive reinforcement in everything so far.

1) Usually just she nibbles on our hands and we'd say no, then give her a chew toy. We praise her once she is chewing her toy or bone. However, my girlfriend was holding today her got bit hard and even though we yelled NO, she wouldn't let go. I had to pry her mouth open for her to let go. Same thing happened to me later on but it was my toe this time. It seems like the firm "NO" and then giving her a chew toy with a praise isn't working.

2) At what age do I start training the basic obedience commands? Her attention span is very very short. I try to get her to sit by luring a treat over her head so she naturally sits. As soon as her butt touches the floor, I click. The problem is she follows the treat for literally 1 second and as soon as its over her head, she loses interests and just looks around. Will her attention span get longer as she gets older?

3) It seems like her sleeping schedule is reversed. She sleeps A LOT during the day and less at night. This doesn't seem normal at all. Should I let her sleep less during the day so she'll be tired at night?

I'm just confused because I've been reading some books and watching Youtube videos but when I'm applying those principles, it doesn't always work out for me. Any advice I get will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

**deidra** · 07-10-2011, 05:06 PM

1.No is used a lot and sometimes taken for granted. I would use a different command and use that command only when she is bitting you. Other wise I would keep give her,her toy to chew on. Also I do not know how old she was when you got her but mst breeders keep them till they are 8-9 weeks old since during the 6-8th week is very crucial for them to be with there mom and littermats. So that could also be causing the problems

2. You should have started basic obedince the day or around the day you got her. Another way I have trained a puppy to sit is let them so the treat and psuh their butt down just a little and as soon as they sit all the way down I say sit then praise with words and treats. Yes,her attention span should get longer and she gets older.

3. During the day let ehr sleep but also play with her some more. Play fetch in the house run around the back yard.

**Caramel** · 07-10-2011, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by deidra

1.No is used a lot and sometimes taken for granted. I would use a different command and use that command only when she is bitting you. Other wise I would keep give her,her toy to chew on. Also I do not know how old she was when you got her but mst breeders keep them till they are 8-9 weeks old since during the 6-8th week is very crucial for them to be with there mom and littermats. So that could also be causing the problems

2. You should have started basic obedince the day or around the day you got her. Another way I have trained a puppy to sit is let them so the treat and psuh their butt down just a little and as soon as they sit all the way down I say sit then praise with words and treats. Yes,her attention span should get longer and she gets older.

3. During the day let ehr sleep but also play with her some more. Play fetch in the house run around the back yard.

Hey thanks for your reply.

I did try to start obedience training but I cant hold her attention long enough to make her sit before she runs away to play. Maybe the treat I'm using isnt tasty enough and she doesnt really care for it. I'm using a peanut butter treat right now but maybe I should switch to chicken liver treats for training. I've heard dogs like those more? Maybe mine will, hopefully.

**deidra** · 07-10-2011, 06:37 PM

How long are you doing training sestions? With Tracker and his brothers and siters ( accident happeed but that whole thing is in another thread) had very short spans of I will listen then of leave me alone. I would do 5 minute trainng sestions 2 times a day then just build on to it. It could be the treats.. Bentley is very picky and likes the bacon bits one. He also likes home-made peanut butter treats but not store bought ones. Tank he will eat everything and I mean everything.

**Caramel** · 07-10-2011, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by deidra

How long are you doing training sestions? With Tracker and his brothers and siters ( accident happeed but that whole thing is in another thread) had very short spans of I will listen then of leave me alone. I would do 5 minute trainng sestions 2 times a day then just build on to it. It could be the treats.. Bentley is very picky and likes the bacon bits one. He also likes home-made peanut butter treats but not store bought ones. Tank he will eat everything and I mean everything.

I try and I mean TRY to make it 5 minutes but after she "sits" once, then she is done listening to me. I'll try to keep it consistent and try different treats and see.

**Caramel** · 07-10-2011, 08:03 PM

Hey guys,

So I've been trying to crate train my puppy during the day without much success. I'll lure her with a treat and point inside the crate while saying "crate." Once she is inside the crate, I close the door and say "good crate." After she is done eating her treat, she turns around and waits for me to let her out but I wait 5-7 seconds. I try to extend the stay each time but she whines before I can get to 10 seconds. It's very frustrating because I cant train her to stay in her crate long enough for me to do anything!

I'm thinking about leaving her in there and do what I need to do for 5-10 minutes and if she whines, just ignore her until she calms down then praise her and let her out. What do you all think about this?

**deidra** · 07-10-2011, 08:44 PM

Yes,keep her in there even if she whines. It is painfull to keep them in there when you hee them whining but DON'T give in. She would be training you not you training her. I think you have a independent dog which is a good thing not all bad. It may change as she gets older ( it si with Bentley). I would teach her that training is fun! She may not be food driven either. Try her favorite toy. Bentley will rather sit for a tennis ball rather then a treat.

**Sophiesmama** · 07-10-2011, 08:52 PM

We have been working with Sophie since we got her at 8 weeks. She is 12 now. We have nicknamed her "piranna" because she wants to chew and bite on everything! We also did the chew toy substitution when she was little. We have always said "don't bite!" in a rough firm tone. It has taken time, but she is getting better. About a week ago, we did have to resort to leashing her when my sons dog came for a visit. She wanted to play, but was biting and too hard. So we leashed her and made her sit at my husband's feet. She fought the leash and we were commanding "lay down". When she finally laid down, we praised her for laying down. Since then, she has done so much better with her biting.

As far as training goes, we started right away. We always say her name first with each command. We say Sophie sit etc. Sit came pretty easy. We used soft yogurt flavored treats, or a little cheese. The second command was "Down". I would get her to sit, then point to the floor with my forefinger and say Sophie down. Put the treat in the pointing hand. She learned it almost immediately. Third was Sophie shake. I would command it, with the treat in my shake-hand, and grab her paw. It only took 4 or 5 times and she got it. Labs are really smart! She had these three commands down pat by 10 weeks. The Don't bite has taken longer. If you got her at 7 weeks, she didn't get to learn from her siblings that biting hurts.

We have not crated Sophie. I am lucky that we are retired and someone is home with her all the time. She sleeps between me and my husband...that should be fun in another 50 lbs! We have a fenced yard, and after we fixed all of little Houdini's escape routes, can go outside on her own. We still check on her every few minutes. She tends to put everything in her mouth! We have found a joy in Sophie. The biting gets better, keep at it. Use a specific command tho, NO isn't specific enough.

**Caramel** · 07-12-2011, 09:20 PM

So my gf tried the pressing her lip on teeth trick when she bites and it seems to be working so far. i've noticed she only nibbles now instead of biting. i know it seems kinda mean to do that but this is the only thing that has worked so far, and my hand and feet cant afford to be patient with positive reinforcement when it comes to biting. everything else tho, i'll use positive reinforcement.

**BigBrownDog** · 07-12-2011, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Sophiesmama

We have a fenced yard, and after we fixed all of little Houdini's escape routes, can go outside on her own. We still check on her every few minutes. She tends to put everything in her mouth!

IMO, she is still way too young to be outdoors unsupervised for even a few minutes. She can ingest something (rocks, sticks, vegetation) and wind up sick or with a blockage. Just as I would never leave a 3 year old child in the yard alone for a few minutes, I would not leave a 12 week old puppy out there.