Puppy games and behaviour

So Nifty is all of 9 weeks old and after a week together, I have 3 issues :

Her teeth are everywhere but this is supposed to be normal until 6 months ?
I tell her that she can't bite me (arms and clothes mainly) and offer a toy alternative but she jumps forwards and snaps as if to bite. I presume that this is some kind of game for her but any ideas how to move swiftly on ?
Turning my back on her or ignoring her of leaving the game don't appear to have much effect

She also likes to roll onto her back, belly up. I thought that this was an invitation to play but OH says it's a domination game to invite me to scratch her belly and thus proving her dominant position over me ?

Puppy games in general - she's homebound for another fortnight before her booster jabs and whilst being aware on the hugs side, I acknowledge that I'm no good at playing with her.
She will run after her toy and bring it back close to me, does not play pull/tug games. She has a very short attention span too so what else can I play with her ?

Thanks

First off... patience, with everything. It does take time, it can be hugely frustrating, but you will get there.

Ignoring/yelping/walking away DO work but it's not a quick fix and you'll only get there with persistence and consistency. Very single time those teeth come into contact with you or your clothing, yelp and walk off. Give her no other reaction, no telling off or anything as her perception is that you're talking to her so her nipping has got your attention. She needs to learn that her nipping drives you away. Time the yelp to exactly the moment that she is doing what you want her to stop doing so she can start to understand that your reaction relates to her action.

If you have a moment that her impulse is to use her teeth but she holds back, huge praise!

When she's not nipping, then play with her in any way you can think of. If she likes chasing thing, then let her chase. Don't play tuggy games until she's got her adult teeth and only play tuggy games when you've got 'leave it' in place. Try hiding games, so hiding treats for her to sniff out, putting treats in an old box or packet.

Training - you can start some training now, just go very gently and very slowly. As you've notices, puppies have very short attention spans. You can start teaching recall by simply calling her to you when she's very, very close and giving her a treat and praise. You can start asking her to 'watch me' by holding a treat to your face. Make everything a fun game for her and she'll be happy to work with you. At the moment, do something once or twice then leave it, you don't want her to switch off.

Have a look at the puppy videos here, they're very good:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0C724F6F6A597540

Dominance - this is a pet hate of mine. It is a discredited theory and should be disregarded completely. In this particular case, just think it through. A 9 week old puppy, learning to be dominant? And a dog rolling on its back exposing its most vulnerable area dominant? How? That's the same as saying a 6 month old baby reaching its arms out to its mother is trying to be dominant.

Have a read of this and maybe ask your OH to read it too.

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t65527-is-the-dominance-theory-true

Above all, though, don't stress, don't expect miracles and don't get frustrated. Relax, enjoy and be patient.

I 100% think what Liz has said is spot on, she words things so well. Rebel is 18 weeks & still very mouthy with us. Consistently giving him a toy to chew has helped. He is generally gentle while mouthing people now, only the odd time he forgets & uses to much pressure. It's all learning for them

Thanks Liz for the great advice and confidence boost, thanks Laura for your support
When I take the time to think about it, we've all made huge progress this week - new life for Nifty but also for me. First canine friend and a puppy too, got my hands full.
Just hoping I haven't bitten off more than I can chew

I'm sure you will do great. Sometimes we just need to chat & get reassurance that what our pup is doing is normal & that we are handling it correctly. This forum is brill for that. If I hadn't had a puppy before I would of been shocked at how hard Rebel bit us lol

We finally feel we have conquered the mouthing, but low and behold Gus has a new game for us BARKING

Liz has it spot on. You will get there it just takes consistency and time. A dog rolling over is offering it's submissive side whether that be to a human or another dog after all the belly is the softest part and hardest to defend.

You are going to have a roller coaster ride until things settle so expect to be tested and then to be delightfully surprised but over and above that, expect to be loved

Ah Barking, now my Flo has never really barked until these last few weeks... And oh boy does she have a bark !!

It's only ever around dinner time and the fact she knows we are doing it but she can't see that. I guess you'll have fun training Gus out of that James

Lol, Rebel barks at me to get my attention when I'm busy doing something

Thanks all, your support is really appreciated.

Barking - Nifty very rarely barks but has when playing. She rolls the growl and ends with the bark. It's funny but not encouraged !

Don't forget to get some photos of nifty up

We still have mouthing, sometimes he does it too hard and I get up and leave the room for 10 seconds and come back in again. Takes about 2/3 goes of that before he gets one of his toys.. he's drove me up the wall at times so everything you are going to go through one of us has done haha

One thing which is really good for them teething if you have already read is to wet a tea towel and freeze it, hank is currently chewing on his at the minute as I noticed he was chewing a lot more this evening so his teeth must be giving me bother. Or a frozen carrot

Hank only seems to bark if he thinks I'm in danger if there's just me and him in the house and someone knocks or my OH comes in the house he barks but doesn't do it when my OH is in on his own so I feel quite special

Oh I remember those puppy teeth days well!!! Katy was a nightmare for nipping feet Unfortunately ignoring or yelping didn't work with her so she had to learn with a time out, she soon got the idea I agree with the great advice Liz has given (as always) I also hate the dominance theory, if she is offering her belly she trusts you, Katy always does that or offers me her butt

Jnestie84 wrote:Don't forget to get some photos of nifty up

I tried ! Avatar works but couldn't get photos in a post
Will try again

With the training and your wee pup being able to get out soon, the nipping will become less frequent. Keep training sessions to 5 or 10 minutes a day.i rarely heard mia but i did get a few howls a day for a biscuit use frozen vegetables to ease the teeth also carrots broccoli cauliflower to ease soothing gums.

Nifty looks gorgeous

Nifty she is absolutely stunning! She will soon shoot up so get as many photos of her as you can this age! I love looking back on all the ones of hank when he was a wee dot like Nifty

These are photos of Hank when we first got him and then the other morning, so all in the space of 3 months it's flown by!

Aww she looks adorable, so does Hank

Oh gosh, Hank really has changed !
So shiny

I put salmon oil in his food :)he feels super soft too! I'm so glad I got loads of pictures and videos of him because he has shot up right before my eyes! Love looking back over them