Anita's Page

Hi Anita, Welcome! I got your email this morning, but now can't find it, and I cant find where it is here... but anyway, it sounds like the potty training and nipping are your issues. My puppy, Lily, is just 3 mos. and I must say the past 5 weeks we've had her, have been challenging in the same areas! In other words, it's all normal! The housebreaking is going well now, but for the first few weeks we took her out at least every two hours during the day. Now she barks at the door (or rings the bells when they're up, but she also likes trying to destroy them, or she rings them as soon as we all sit down to dinner)... and I either let her out and watch her from the doorway, saying "outside go potty" or put her on a leash. I put her on the leash still and take her outside when I'm pretty sure she doesn't really need to go potty, but rather to go outside and hunt down some earthworms or track mushrooms. It's been a slowly evolving process. We had (and still do to some extent) the nipping issues. We've had great success with a water bottle... we carry it around and squirt the second she touches teeth to skin. It doesn't take long for her to stop, and now we pretty much just pick up the bottle when she gets nippy and she will stop. My youngest daughter is 12, and Lily nipped at her the most. I actually would stand there with the squirt bottle and squirt instead of getting my daughter to do it. I could do it faster and more effectively (I'm apparently a pretty good shot!). Now that Lily seems to understand that this is an undesirable thing, we can often just walk away and ignore her when it starts and that's all we need to do. The squirt bottle isn't always handy... we just have used it in short increments that are more like training time. We didn't do the squirt bottle until she was around 11 or 12 weeks... we tried some other things that she seemed to think was just an extension of playing! She's a riot. Lily loves to chew as well as nip and loves rope toys as already mentioned here and bully sticks and beef ears (not as fatty or gross as pig ears and very digestible)

Nipping - much harder than potty training. Be consistent, always have a toy Lucky can chew on in your hand when you play with him. Try ropes as they something your boys probably do not have to play with and he will be able to learn that it is his toy. You will have all kinds of ropes all over the house for a while. Lucky thinks your boys are his littermates and his littermates love being nipped. Lucky must learn that he gets no attention as soon as he uses his mouth. With some dogs it is enough to tuck you hands under you armpits and cry ouch in a high puppy voice. You will no this is working if Lucky backs off or looks away and then comes back to make up. With some dogs that is not enough and you must walk away ignoring all play attempts until he goes away and comes back. In the meantime you can teach him leave it easily in a few days. Hold a treat in your hand near Lucky and say "Leave It' as he ries to take it close you hand, if he still pursue it keep your hand closed and wait him out. He will sit down, back up or look away or some combination of those. When that happens, turn your hand up open it and say take it. Three 2 minute practice sessions for three days and he will pretty much get it. Keep reenforcing this with treats everyday and you will be able to say "leave it" whn he nips in play or takes something he shouldn't. Another useful word is "kisses". Usually you can catch a puppy licking you often enough to just say "kisses" and "godd dog" as he does it. You can then use the "kisses" to turn nips into licks. The dey to the nipping is play STOPS at the first nip and resumes in a few seconds when he starts cheing on the toy or licking or nosing you.

9+ weeks your puppy is young. Just start over - take Lucky out every hour. While he pees say "Lucky ,,," pee or potty or sniffers or whatever word you want. When he is done lots of praise. repeat hourly unless crated. Every time you go out nudge the bell before you go out, Don't worry about the teaching Lucky to nudge the bell, yet. Before long, you will be able to say "Lucky pee" and he will. With patience you can do the same thing for poops. You can increase to every hour and one half then every two hours. I know this sounds tedious, but if you are very consistent in two weeks you will have a dog that knows where to potty and then you can add asking to go out with the bell. Do not treat for bell or potty as that will probably earn you a dog who nudges the bell and or pees every few minutes just to get a treat. You can expect a two month old puppy to hold it for about 2-3 hours in the day and 4 hours ar night. Pick up his water about three hours before bedtime for awhile and just get up at three and take him potty - no talk no games just potty. It is much easier to get up for five minutes at three than to get up and clean a dirty cage for 15 plus no doubt Lucky is getting your attention even if it is negative attention. Whatever time it takes to have zero accidents for two weeks will pay you back for Lucky's whole life. Expect a little back sliding between 7-12 months. Catch it quick, return to puppy training with only a little praise for appropriate behavior and no comment on errors. Honestly I have had dogs for well over forty years the two weeks is worth it. Good Luck

Hi Anita! Glad to see you joined us at Puppy Madness!! Its a great group and you will get plenty of advice and help from the group. I got an e-mail that you posted a question but I don't see where you posted it?

Welcome! Sounds like your life is busy with wonderful things! Enjoy the site. I do!