Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-12-2003 07:09 PM         

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I recently bought a St. Bernard puppy. He is 10 wks old now (got him at 6). I have a 6 yr old female St. Bernard already, I got the pup to give her companionship(her previous buddy was stolen approx. 1 yr ago). My first problem is that the female I already have is very submissive. She lets the puppy terrorize her....and he is a terror. He bites constantly but she does nothing about it, she just sits there and takes it. She now has a raw, scabby area on her neck where he bites her. She does sometimes yelp but he doesn't get the message.
That is my second problem. He is extremely persistent/stubborn. This biting thing is becoming a problem. I have tried everything with him, everything just seems to 'eg him on. the more you tell him no, the more he wants to do it. He pays absolutely no attention to the yelping method, and when you tell him "No!" firmly, he snaps at you.
Lastly, he seems to have no comprehension about when he is going to the bathroom which is making housetraining very difficult. He goes whereever he is standing; yesterday he peed right in his bed and then laid in it. I thought dogs would at least go somewhere other than where they sleep!
I haven't had a puppy in awhile; my last puppy was the 6 yr old female and she was an angel. Only went in the house once, never had any sort of biting problem/chewing problem, NOTHING. So this guy is a terror. He can be real sweet and good but when he gets in one of his moods he is a nightmare.
Any advice would be appreciated.

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 12-12-2003 09:47 PM         

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Would it be possible for you to get some extra play time in with the puppy...maybe chase him around in the backyard? If you tire him out he'll be less likely to bother your other dog so much.
On housetraining....the best advice I can offer is to keep your eyes on him at all times when he has free roam of the house so that if he starts to go you can make a startling noise and rush him outside right away. Take him out frequently, stay out there with him until you see him go and give lots of praise and maybe even a treat directly after he goes. Best of luck.

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-13-2003 02:40 AM         

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Hi, is there any way of seperating them? I feel for your six year old dog. Perhaps if when you notice the pup biting on the other dog so hard it hurts her, you could give a stern "no" and seperate them for awhile. Puppies need to get out thier energy. I liked what nern said about giving her some one on one and waring her out. Another thing you could try is: every time you see her being too hard on the other dog, give her a toy of some kind to chew on, like a rubber bone or a rope.

My vet told me the way to teach my dog to "go" outside was: to use a one word command like potty, each time you take her out to "go". Then praise her when she does....it worked for me!

Good luck! Jamiya also has a little terror on her hands, maybe she would have some advise for you. Although her dog is getting better now......Susan

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Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-15-2003 08:49 AM         

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i keep them separated most of the time. i put them together a couple hours a day when i am home so if it gets too rough, i can break it up. Samantha ( the older dog ) is getting somewhat better about reprimanding him but it doesn't deter him any. I don't know if I should even step in between the two of them?? I think that it only encourages Samantha to just cry for me when he is bothering her rather than deal with it herself. My concern is that this will never eventually stop. I keep thinking that it will curb itself when he gets older (he is 11 wks now) but I don't know how long that will be?
As for giving him one on one time, I give him lots of time. i don't do the crate training so he is always free to run around outside, which he does.
And I have tried giving him a chew toy when he nips but he just drops it and keeps biting me. Also, is it normal for a puppy to completely destroy a middle sized Nylabone in ONE day?!? That is his favorite toy but he will drop it when he is in the mood to bite me. When he plays too rough I have just been putting him out.

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Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-15-2003 09:41 AM         

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I think crate training is important here. He is pretty young, and you got him young. Do a search for "bite inhabition" on this site, you shuld find a link to an article Jimaya posted and I think there are others. My guess is because your pup was taken from mom and littermates at 6 weeks he hasn't learned any inhabition in biting or playing too rough. It is normal for puppies to bite and play and snap. At 11 weeks, you are not out of the woods...you just have to keep consistently telling him "no bite" when he bites and stop all play. If he learns that when he bites you too hard or at all you will not play with him he will be more likely to stop it. Teach him the command "enough", then you can end play when he is driving your adult dog nuts. This command is soooo useful for many situations. I personally feel like if your adult dog is asking you to stop him you should, most adult dogs would teach him a little lesson or scold him when he goes too far...if she's not doing that and she seems like she is upset I would end it for her. I don't think he shouold be punished, after all he is doing what puppies do. Corrections are important, but telling the pup what it is you DO want is more important. You can tell him "no bite" but then you have to tell him what you want him to do instead. It gives you the opportunity to work on other skills as well and the chance to reward some good behavior and boost confidence. So maybe, "no bite" and then "sit" if he doesn't sit the first time you say it, don't say it again...instead guide him into a sit and reward. When all else fails a rest and quiet time in his crate would be good. This is not punishment, it's time alone...a time out. Your older dog should have access to private time too, a bedroom laundry room etc...maybe put a baby gate up and let her alone for a while each day, she may appreciate the break.
Crate training him will help him learn to "hold it" instead of going potty on your floor, it is a safe place to keep him when you are not home...puppies can get into alot of dangerous mischief, things you wouldn't even think of. If he was ever ill or injured many times you will be instructed to limit his activity or motion by crating him. It's also great for travel.
Just so you know...11 weeks is still very young and not unusual for him to still have accidents, every pup is different and it takes each one a different amount of time. YOUR consistency, patience and persistence will get him there quickest.

PS..if a nylabone lasts him a whole day...consider yourself lucky! My dogs blow through those in about 30 minutes.

[This message has been edited by Maisey (edited 12-15-2003).]

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Member

Posts: 228
From:Grand Rapids, MI
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-15-2003 12:13 PM         

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Have you tried the "edibles" brand bones from Nylabone? I wasn't sure if you were referring to those or to plain nylabones, but I know with Cameron, when she was in her nippy stage, an "edible" Nylabone kept her occupied for at least an hour, and that was enough time to get her to calm down a little. Cameron doesn't care for regular Nylabones too much, she drops them after about 10 minutes, but the "edibles" brand- she just loves those- I think they are more flavorful. You can find them right next to the nylabones, and they come in bacon and ham, carrot, peanut butter and cheese I think. Watch out for the plain cheese flavor though (dark brown colored), it is the only flavor that gives Cameron Diarriah. Good luck

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