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Author Topic:   my dog doesnt listen! HELP!!!
morenita643
New Member

Posts: 2
From:iowa
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-13-2003 08:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for morenita643     Edit/Delete Message
I have a small 2 month old pitmix puppie that was given to me after my life long friend lily (yellow lab) died. I really wanted this puppy although every one else did not because he is mixed w/ pitbull(chuco). Everyone at home is scared of him. I really love him but he just doesnt listen to us. He is too mean and he is just a puppy. He bites alot and it really hurts... and he growls at us when ever we dont give him from our food or for any stupid reason. i feel sorry for him cause no one likes him in my house...but he is just too disobidient. I want to teach him how to behave ...but the other day when i took him to the vet. as soon as she saw him, she discriminated him. or at least that is what i felt. she was like..."oh you are going to have so many problems w/ this dog...some day he will attack you bla bla bla" and well that made me more scared. so what should i do. how can i teach him good manners and how to behave good. do you really think he is that much of a danger? or do you think he might change? i need help. please let me know what you think. any ideas or tips on what to do.

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j맧ï¢ä Përëz §ö£ï§

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rgyoung777
Member

Posts: 40
From:Seattle, WA, USA
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 08-13-2003 12:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rgyoung777     Edit/Delete Message
Hi morenita,

Please keep in mind that your puppy is very young, so there is plenty of hope for him growing up to be a great dog. It sounds like he needs a firm, consistent training schedule. You can't expect him to automatically listen to you, as he's too young to know better.

[This message has been edited by Auspetian (edited 08-14-2003).]

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morenita643
New Member

Posts: 2
From:iowa
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-14-2003 11:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for morenita643     Edit/Delete Message
well thankyou soo much for refering me to this website here... i will definetly take a look at it. i really do hope that there is hope for my puppy...he is just to cute to give up. thankyou so much for writting back to me so soon. take care!

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Jas

Moderator

Posts: 536
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-14-2003 05:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jas     Edit/Delete Message
Your vet actually said that to you? First thing I'd do is change vets!

Find a good set of obedience classes and arrange to meet the instructor and enroll your pup into puppy classes. Also pick up Jean Donaldson's book Culture Clash. Worth the read. Do some internet searching for articles by Ian Dunbar, Karen Prior and Suzanne Clothier. Very helpful!

remember going from a well behaved adult dog to a boisterous puppy is a big change, and prob. seems overwhelming at the moment. Give it some time, as you gain more knowledge you will relearn how do cope.

Don't expect too much right now, a two month old pup is still very young and should only be taught the basics - sit, walking on leash, gentle etc. A young pup needs to be taught manners but this will come. One important aspect of training and listening is making sure you capture your pups attention by looking at you, then proceed with the command. Use food (treats) and praise as a method of coaxing. If a dog is not watching you, calling them is almost useless.

Your pup will be teething for the next couple months and will be bitey and playful. This doesn't mean you have an unruly pup or that he will be mean later on, he is simply being a NORMAL puppy doing normal pup behaviors. he needs to learn bite inhibition (donaldson talks about it and I'll pull up some links), and what play is acceptable and what is not. If biting and play is painful yell OUCH stop play immediately and give a time out - this will get your pup to understand that biting hard leads to playing alone.

Article about mouthing/biting http://www.gsdhelpline.com/mouthing.htm http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/bite.txt

Dealing with common problems in puppy’s first year How can such a cute puppy be so-o-o bad? http://www.canismajor.com/dog/frstyear.html

The first six months You're never too young to learn http://www.canismajor.com/dog/firstsix.html

It takes a pack to raise a puppy http://www.flyingdogpress.com/puppack.html

Just remember to be consistent, and it takes time working with your pup to see results. best of luck and let us know how things progress.

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*Beautiful*Girl
Member

Posts: 138
From:evesham, New Jersey, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-14-2003 11:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for *Beautiful*Girl     Edit/Delete Message
I had a few issues with my dog growling at me and biting me, now he is much smaller than a pitbull but I asked my vet. He suggested that I wait until the dog is about 6 months and then take a formal obediance class which I did. he also suggested that I get a small water pistol and everytime my dog bites me give him a quick squirt in the face, don't say anything, just one squirt and that's it if he does it again squirt again. he said eventually the dog will think everytime I go to bite I magically get squirted in the face and he should ease back on that behavior or stop all together. Also he sounds like an alpha male. which means you will need to establish who is the boss, which means no sleeping in your bed or on the couch they begin to think that they are on your level and try to exercise there rights. I use to let teddy slide when, he didn't listen but you have to be firm, it's hard because they are so little and so cute but once they get big that behavior is just not acceptable. So remember no means no and try a schedule, puppies are not humans they need routine, These are just a few things that helped with my puppy. He's still a wild one but he's come along way.

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Jas

Moderator

Posts: 536
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-16-2003 11:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jas     Edit/Delete Message
I think there are huge misconceptions about establishing dominance. I like to allow my dogs on the bed sometimes but the way I see it is that I am still the leader. For instance I say when they can come up on the bed and when they are booted off. They also look to me naturally as I am the one going to feed them walk them, care for them and let them in & out.

since the pup is only 2 months old, I relate this behavior is "normal" puppy behavior - 2 months old is too early to truly tell if this is going to be a dominant dog, as well many external factors (like environment) will also determine this.

I do agree that a regular routine is necessary.

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honeybear
Member

Posts: 926
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-18-2003 10:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for honeybear     Edit/Delete Message
It sounds like basic puppy behavior to me I have a friend who has puppy lab about 3 to 4 months old and is doing the same thing. It is a change going from an older dog to a pup. I wouldnt get scared off because of the pit mix, he just needs some basic training as Jas mentioned and probably the sooner the better. (ie about a little while ago I was at my friends house and the pup was jumping all over me and I asked what command to use and she said what ever works which is really the wrong answer. The are great puppy classes out there at that age. I waited to long for my dog, it used to be to wait until 6 months, but by this time they have learned some bad habits my dog was a big and he was basicly unctrollable in the class, I had to go thru it twice.
good luck
honeybear

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*Beautiful*Girl
Member

Posts: 138
From:evesham, New Jersey, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-18-2003 08:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for *Beautiful*Girl     Edit/Delete Message
I don't know I waited till my dog was 6 months, honestly the dogs that were younger that were in there weren't learning much. They just seemed like they were out to lunch. I mean the play time is great for them but some of the 2 and 3 month old pups just didn't seem to catch on. That's just my observation, from the classes I attended. I was so excited when I first got Teddy I wanted to take him to class right away but I think it would have been a waste of money to send him so young. His attention span just wasn't there yet? I'm really glad I waited until 6 months as my vet suggested and he did extemly well compared to the younger puppies.

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honeybear
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Posts: 926
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-19-2003 12:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for honeybear     Edit/Delete Message
beautifulgirl, I am glad to hear your puppy did so well waiting until at 6 months, there are classes out there for specific age groups that teach things at 12 weeks, like social bahavior with other dogs and just simple commands and they are not on leash. Mine would have really benefited from the ones that are for the younger pups. I think dogs are just like kids, some learn faster than others. I could not keep him under control at class because he was so big. It was a waste of my money because I had to go thru it twice. Also my dog is just plain stubborn.
Honeybear

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