11 week old bundle of teeth...am I doing this right?

by laikadog Mon Sep 17 2012, 09:49

Hi everyone! So me and Laika are having issues...she'll be 12 weeks old this Friday and is generally pretty great - slowly getting there with toilet training, she walks on a lead already, she loves other dogs and people etc etc.

My issue is the nipping! I realise she's a puppy and that this will happen to everyone but I'm scared she's going to end up hating me soon. I just feel like I'm ALWAYS telling her off for something! When I get her out of her crate in the morning we go outside for a pee, that's fine. Then she comes in and all hell breaks loose - she gets hyper and nips my face, hands, feet, anything. the only thing that works to get her to stop for a few secnds is a loud stamp on the floor and a loud "NO!!" However if I do this and point a finger at her / have her near my face, she oftens lunges and bites the finger / my nose in retaliation. Sometimes she growls but not in a rigid, low, teeth-showing way, more in a loud- puppy testing it's voice kind of way - is this normal??

I'm just starting to feel guilty because EVERYTHING needs a NO - chewing the rug, biting my hands, eating household stuff (i substitute with toys all the time)

Is she going to end up hating me? She already has started being daddy's girl because he never disciplines her and I do!!

by **kaztaz** Mon Sep 17 2012, 09:57

when she bits say no and turn away from her she will learn that she wont get any attention when she bits but daddy needs to do the same Big Grin

by laikadog Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:03

Haha yeah my bf is starting to realise how stressed it's making me and he seems to be telling her no now as well. Only because I ended up in tears last night going "THE PUPPY LIKES YOU MOOOOOORE!!!'

It's just hard because I have her all day, he only sees her at night and early morning, when she wants to play and he lets her. Whereas during the day me and her have a whole day of disciplining to get through, lol

by **kaztaz** Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:06

its hard work but it will pay off i used to get mine teddies to let his anger out on lol we would both end up on the floor playing tug a war to knacker him out Big Grin

by Guest Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:12

First of all, welcome to the forum.

Second - don't worry, it's all perfectly normal! And don't worry about the whole "she likes you more than me" bit. That's normal as well! Big Grin

When my oh & I got our first dog together (I've had dogs for years, but my oh had never had one) he told me that dogs didn't really like him much. Rolling Eyes

Bandit (our staff) was always more his than mine ( Laughing

) but I was the one who he listened to!

When she nips you, just give a firm "No!" (don't shout) and stop all interraction with her immediately - turn away from her & don't even look at her. If she carries on, put her out of the room for a few seconds. She will get it sooner or later! Don't point your finger at her (initiating play in her eyes) and don't put your face near her (initiating play again!).

You're right, growling isn't in the least aggressive, it's play. That's the way pups play with their siblings & we have to teach them that it isn't ok to play that way with humans!

by laikadog Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:26

Caryll wrote:First of all, welcome to the forum.

Second - don't worry, it's all perfectly normal! And don't worry about the whole "she likes you more than me" bit. That's normal as well! When my oh & I got our first dog together (I've had dogs for years, but my oh had never had one) he told me that dogs didn't really like him much. Bandit (our staff) was always more his than mine ( ) but I was the one who he listened to!

When she nips you, just give a firm "No!" (don't shout) and stop all interraction with her immediately - turn away from her & don't even look at her. If she carries on, put her out of the room for a few seconds. She will get it sooner or later! Don't point your finger at her (initiating play in her eyes) and don't put your face near her (initiating play again!).

You're right, growling isn't in the least aggressive, it's play. That's the way pups play with their siblings & we have to teach them that it isn't ok to play that way with humans!

Haha I'm glad it's not just me then! The funny thing was she was very much meant to be MY dog, he wanted no responsibility for her...now she has him wrapped around her paw, lol!

She's currently snuggled up on my knee as if butter wouldn't melt right now...she knows I'm talking about her!!

by Guest Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:32

I suppose I'd better mention this now - someone will, sooner or later........we love seeing pics, especially of puppies! Big Grin

by laikadog Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:41

Haha here goes...

https://i.servimg.com/u/f30/17/80/04/56/img_1410.jpg

https://i.servimg.com/u/f30/17/80/04/56/996c7411.jpg

by Guest Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:43

So sweet!

If you use photobucket, you can get the pics to actually show up on your post...
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t12017-how-to-post-a-photos-onto-the-forum

by Guest Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:45

Normal puppy behaviour so don't worry. When she nips just turn around and ignore her.

by Tessa Mon Sep 17 2012, 10:51

Those pictures are ADORABLE! <3

by laikadog Mon Sep 17 2012, 11:24

Haha only two of many...my boyfriend is a pro photographer so I'm pretty spoiled for photos!!

by Guest Mon Sep 17 2012, 12:10

laikadog wrote:Haha only two of many...my boyfriend is a pro photographer so I'm pretty spoiled for photos!!

i think photopgraphy and staffie ownership go hand in hand as there a few members thatr are handy with a camera Cool

by Lou&percy :) Mon Sep 17 2012, 12:19

I love the title..."11 week old bundle of teeth" Smile

I've only had Percy for 5 weeks,so am still a learner but the advice on here has been amazing and it really works, Percy was also a bit to friendly with his teeth at 12 weeks, but ignoring really works as well as doing a yelp sound. I think it took 3 or 4 good yelps from me and I honestly havnt felt his teeth since. My OH thought this was a load of old rubbish, but soon changed his mind when Percy continued to nip him and not me Wink

X

by Guest Mon Sep 17 2012, 13:21

As said above this is 100% perfectly normal and I know what I'm talking about as I've just been through it all but coming out on the other side now.

The pics are fantastic but the first one really got me Love Struck

by laikadog Mon Sep 17 2012, 18:34

Dave wrote:

The pics are fantastic but the first one really got me

I like you already - the first one was one I took Big Grin

by Guest Mon Sep 17 2012, 19:14

First: oh my god she's gorgeous Big Grin

Second: believe me when I say I've been there. Loki used to bite like crazy, not just nipping but sinking his teeth in my arm like it's a tug-of-war toy. I used to cry over it sometimes and feel like I'm a crap owner. But now he hardly ever bites. As long as you're consistent, it will get better. Even when it doesn't feel like it, it will! I didn't think I'd get through that dark stage of puppy behaviour, but I did, and so does everyone else. Say no and turn away, or take her out of the room for a few moments. Either way, ignore her for a little bit and she'll soon get the idea. Don't point your finger at her, that's a nip waiting to happen lol. And the growling is just grumpiness. Loki used to dive onto the couch and when I'd tell him to get off, he'd whine and lightly growl because he knew what I wanted him to do but didn't want him to do it.

by Tessa Mon Sep 17 2012, 20:09

Amado has slowly been catching on about not biting. I'm basically doing what everyone here is saying: When he bites, I say "Ow!" so he knows it hurts me. Then I immediately separate him for a few minutes. That usually means putting him from the couch or bed to the floor. Since he can't jump up that high, he can't get right back up and try to keep playing. Once he looks like he settled a bit, I'll give him another chance to come up and play nicely. We've gone from constant biting to an occasional bite. He still doesn't remember all the time, but I'm sure he will with time. I hope this is some encouragement for you! Keep at it!

by laikadog Tue Sep 18 2012, 09:07

Thanks you guys!! I sometimes forget that I have 27 years dog owning experience - puppies make me feel like I know nothing all over again!!!

by julespercules Tue Sep 18 2012, 10:41

my dog is 14 weeks and we're still none the wiser with this, we've tried everything but i suppose it is getting slightly better. Perfectly normal though

by Guest Tue Sep 18 2012, 19:52

laikadog wrote:Thanks you guys!! I sometimes forget that I have 27 years dog owning experience - puppies make me feel like I know nothing all over again!!!

They do that to you - you get a pup & all the old experience goes out of your head! Laughing

by Tessa Tue Sep 18 2012, 19:57

Sounds like my experience with relationships doh

by Guest Tue Sep 18 2012, 20:02

Tessa wrote:Sounds like my experience with relationships

by laikadog Sun Sep 23 2012, 21:32

Ok now I'm getting worried that she really isn't bonding with me...she's bitten my face several times in her over excited way and I ended up smacking her today - I just got such a shock.

My hands are cut to pieces and bleeding every day. Yet my boyfriend is unscathed and all he has to do is growl at her and she instantly stops biting and starts licking. I don't know what I'm doing wrong D:

She wont even look at me right now because I just shouted at her for biting my face Sad

by Guest Sun Sep 23 2012, 21:33

Are you involved in training and walking? Also are you on the floor with her?

by Guest Sun Sep 23 2012, 21:39

laikadog wrote:Ok now I'm getting worried that she really isn't bonding with me...she's bitten my face several times in her over excited way and I ended up smacking her today - I just got such a shock.

My hands are cut to pieces and bleeding every day. Yet my boyfriend is unscathed and all he has to do is growl at her and she instantly stops biting and starts licking. I don't know what I'm doing wrong D:

She wont even look at me right now because I just shouted at her for biting my face

Allrighty, let's start again! Big Grin

She isn't doing it deliberately to get at you, or because she doesn't like you. She's doing it because she can. Exactly what do you do when she gets hyper or starts nipping?

Also, what do you feed her, when & who gives it to her? How much exercise does she get & who gives it to her?

by laikadog Sun Sep 23 2012, 22:01

I'm involved in everything - i walk her, feed her, clean up after her and have her with me in the van all day. He's the giver of playtime and that's all. I'm the one who's CONSTANTLY telling her off for eating stuff she shouldn't be, whining at me when I'm working etc etc! I just feel like an ogre!

She's on James Wellbeloved and mince. I make her sit and leave before she gets it. Same as she has to sit when we're crossing roads, sit at the bottom of the stairs to wait for me to take her lead off, wait til she's invited on the sofa etc etc. I basically tell her what to do all day, haha!! We also play with toys and she's getting really good at "leave it" when she's retrieving stuff. It all feels like it's working fine...until playtime!

She's hyper first thing in the morning and last thing at night (right now for example even though she was out with us for 4 hours today!!)

When she gets hyper and starts nipping i either put her on the floor and ignore her or say NO really firmly but that varies in effectiveness - the main problem being when I say no she then gets annoyed and will lunge at me sometimes. So I tend to go with putting her on the floor. Although that doesn't work when I'm already on the floor playing with her - I just have to walk away!

by Guest Sun Sep 23 2012, 22:05

Caryll wrote: Exactly what do you do when she gets hyper or starts nipping?

Also, what do you feed her, when & who gives it to her? How much exercise does she get & who gives it to her?

by laikadog Sun Sep 23 2012, 22:09

Caryll wrote:
Caryll wrote: Exactly what do you do when she gets hyper or starts nipping?

Also, what do you feed her, when & who gives it to her? How much exercise does she get & who gives it to her?

I do everything, all my bf does is the playing!

She's only just had her last vaccination yesterday so exercise is only really just beginning properly. But we've been playing with her for an hour at a time in the house (massive flat therefore tonnes of ball throwing space!), taking her for carried walks along the beach most nights and she's out with me in the van grooming dogs from 10am-5pm Monday to Friday so she gets to run about playing with other dogs for about 4 hours each day!!

by Guest Sun Sep 23 2012, 22:18

Here is a link that may be helpfull.

http://staffy-bull-terrier.co.uk/stopyourstaffypuppybiting.html

by Guest Sun Sep 23 2012, 22:24

What food does she get & what do you do when you give it to her?

by laikadog Sun Sep 23 2012, 22:28

She's on James Wellbeloved and mince. I make her sit and leave before she gets it. Same as she has to sit when we're crossing roads, sit at the bottom of the stairs to wait for me to take her lead off, wait til she's invited on the sofa etc etc. I basically tell her what to do all day, haha!! We also play with toys and she's getting really good at "leave it" when she's retrieving stuff. It all feels like it's working fine...until playtime!

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