I have a problem

I adopted a puppy not to long ago && she is currently 3 months old. I have a couple of problems going on. Iam trying to potty train her by using pads but she does her business anywhere BUT the pads, it's very rare that she does use it. Someone told me that she does this because we don't walk her enough. She still stays inside the house because she had to get treated for kennel cough, deworming and the vet said to keep her indoor until her last shots because of the risk of her getting Parvo. Another thing is that she tends to bite a lot and growl at us when we play with her or send her away from the rooms, keep in mind we don't yell at her we simply tell her to go to her bed. Sometimes she stops and leaves and other times she stays and barks and growls. Any help on these issues will be greatly appreciated.

This all sounds like standered puppy behaviour and your vet is right about waiting until she is fully vacinated. Do you have any outside space at all? If so take her outside and wait until she goes to the toilet, as soon as she does give her loads of praise. Try and spot the tell tail signs that she needs the loo and take her straight to the outside spot again lots of praise. The pads are OK but mind saw it as a toy rather than a place to go to the toilet.

I have both a very spacious backyard && a front yard as well. The thing is that we we have a metal gate that has enough space for small dogs to pass through, and being that a lot of stray dogs live around my neighborhood I don't want to take any chances of her catching something. Yesterday she got her third shot so not too long before her last one. She also plays with the pads and sometimes tears then up, and as I said before she would use the pad probably once or twice in a week.

For the toilet training take her outside after eating, sleeping or playing until she goes. Give loads of praise when she does right and repeat. A small dab of her urine on the pads will make her want to go there and again praise when she does right. If you can't have her out at all put the pads in a confined space and keep her there like you would if you took her out until she goes.

For the nipping she is trying to iniate play or seeking attention. Turn around and ignore her and she will learn the nipping ellicits the opposite response she is looking for and will stop

Thank you. I will try this and see how she reacts.

Patience and consistancy are key. They have a strong desire to please but make sure everyone that comes in contact with Nylah does the same thing so she doesn't become confused.

The toilet-training is difficult for me to say because you're using the pads, but the same concept applies; every 30 or so minutes, and after sleeping, eating or playing, take her to the pad and wait until she does something. Or...try to see when she's going to do something (circling, sniffing the ground a lot) and then move her onto the pad. If you catch her doing something, just move her to the pad, and then when she's done, give her a ton of praise

As for the biting and growling, they can get very excitable when playing and make lots of noises, and puppies bite (unfortunately ). Say 'no' or make a yelping sound and then turn your back on her. If she carries on, put her out of the room for a little while. She'll soon learn that biting will result in you ignoring her.

Also, she's gorgeous anymore pictures?

re the metal gate. Could you fix some chicken wire to it??

Or take the pup in the yard with a lead or long lead

Cant help you with the potty pads, we did the snatch and dash for about 3 days and she got the picture lol. the growling and barking, we had that 2 weeks ago. she is testing the waters. she would only do it to my wife, not to me. i told my wife to be a bit more involved, get down and play with her, show her some dominance, feed her, treat her. no barking episodes since. she now knows that my wife is the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge) lol. i say that respectfully and in jest. Just hang in there, puppy behavior is just that.

jojobda wrote:Cant help you with the potty pads, we did the snatch and dash for about 3 days and she got the picture lol. the growling and barking, we had that 2 weeks ago. she is testing the waters. she would only do it to my wife, not to me. i told my wife to be a bit more involved, get down and play with her, show her some dominance, feed her, treat her. no barking episodes since. she now knows that my wife is the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge) lol. i say that respectfully and in jest. Just hang in there, puppy behavior is just that.

Yes, she now knows that I am the HBIC. I hope it gets better for you, it just takes patience.

If you are worried about taking into the garden you could use synthetic grass with a wee mat under it? Sometimes they are more inclined to use that.

I took honey out into our garden only to toilet. Supervising her every move! She now has got the idea but occasionally when the door is shut we still have accidents.

Thank you all for the tips and advice. I will try what each and all of you suggested. I will keep you posted to see the progress that is being made.

I also uploaded some pictures in the gallery for those of you that want to see more of Nylah.

I put Bruno on his training pad by the back door and coax him to do his buisness and don,t stop until he's done, takes time though....then I Praise him and give him a treat......biting and growling is normal as Bruno does it.