• If you're a past member of the board, but can't recall your password any more, you don't need to set up a new account (unless you wish to). As long as you recall your old login name, you can log in with that user name then select 'forgot password' and the board will email you at your registration email, to let you reset your password.

Does Charlie need puppy training

quoman

Well-known member
Hi everyone, we've had charlie for 3 weeks now (he's 10 weeks old), everything started off fine as we expected all the normal issues, however now all he wants to do is bite and snap everyone who touch's him while playing, but all the time his little tail is wagging, also I'd heard that they tend not to go to the toilet where they play, not our Charlie, when he wants to go he just go's, its beggining to go from the playful to the general naughty and he won't be told off as he just backs away barking. Do you think I need to book some puppy training classes ? Help
 
Hi Quoman,

First up, I have to say "relax", your Charlie is a normal little 10 week old. He is not naughty, he is just doing what baby puppies do.

all he wants to do is bite and snap everyone who touch's him while playing, but all the time his little tail is wagging,

Did you get to see Charlie with his litter mates? If so, cast your mind back to when he was playing with his brothers & sisters. He would have been biting, pulling ears, yelping, chewing on someone elses legs etc. This is all the normal socialising that goes on where puppies learn how to be dogs. They practice at asserting themsleves, and they are working out where they are in the pack.

Of course you don't want him biting, so you have to teach him that biting is not acceptable. You don't do this by scolding, but you can get the message to him by saying "uh!" quite sharply to him and move your hands away from him so he can't bite. Just stop playing with him & ignore him. When he settles down, you can pat him & tell him what a good boy he is. He will soon learn that when he bites, nobody wants anything to do with him.

also I'd heard that they tend not to go to the toilet where they play, not our Charlie, when he wants to go he just go's,

A 10 week old puppy has about as much control over his bladder as a 10 week old human baby. The only difference is that a baby wears a nappy but a puppy does not. It just comes out & that is that and he has no control over it at all.

its beggining to go from the playful to the general naughty and he won't be told off as he just backs away barking.

He truly is not naughty. His backing away & barking is becuase he is confused and does not understand why you are getting angry with him.

Do you think I need to book some puppy training classes ? Help

Yes, I think this would be most beneficial. Now please don't be offended by what I am about to say, because it applied to all of us at some time. The puppy training classes will be not so much about teaching him, but about teaching you. :D You will learn what to expect of a puppy, what he is capable of doing at a given age, and how to guide him into behaving in a manner that is appropriate for a dog of his age.

You may have to wait a few weeks yet as many puppy training classes don't take puppies under a certain age, or until they have had all their shots. In the meantime, take a look at all the wonderful articles Karlin has posted in the Information section of the forum. There you will learn how to toilet train your puppy, how to teach a puppy not to bite etc.

Good luck. It is meant to be fun! (y)
 
Thanks for all the info Caraline its really useful and comforting to know that everyone else seems to experience similar issues at some time, as the owners of a wonderful new puppy I knew we were going to have certain issues to handle and anyway the joy he has brought to the family easily ofsets the little issues we are having to learn to cope with, I'm hoping to posts some pics of him soon, he's a Blenheim with an almost pure white face.
 
Just wanted to comment on this, although I'm definitely not an expert, but Sammy was exactly the same at 10weeks. It IS just a phase. He really is not a naughty dog! I wrote an anxious message here too, and he turns out to be the most obedient, soft dog I could get.

Sammy insisted on play attacking me constantly when he was 10 weeks, and the more I tried to stop him, the more excited he got. He thought we were playing and he was winning. Ignoring him didn't work. But putting him in the other room for just 30seconds at a time solved the problem almost immediately. And now, at 7 months, it applies to nearly everything that I don't want him to do. I just say 'ah ah' and he stops. If he doesn't, he goes into the bedroom for 30seconds. But he nearly always stops.

If he isn't actually play attacking you, but just being mouthy when you are patting him or playing, simply 'ah ah' and then stop patting or playing. Show him that when he bites, the attention stops. Eventually, Sammy learned to always have a toy in his mouth when he greeted guests. He needed to bite something :D, but he also wanted the attention.

Sammy was also a little bit more difficult than some to toilet train because he was so active. He just didn't think before he went :) He actually peed as he ran! But it just took patience - saying no and bringing him out, and bringing him out, and bringing him out. I think we were going out about 12 times a day for a while!! But, it paid off. By 6 months, he wasn't having accidents anymore. And then you forget how tiring it was and just enjoy having a toilet-trained dog :xfngr:

As to puppy classes, although these basic problems were solved already, I did take Sam to a class. It was useful in learning things like recall, contact walking, and in socialising. So it's a good idea to take a class anyway! I'm glad to know the different techniques, so we can keep working on them after the course.
 
Last edited:
I have put all of my dogs (exept Zoey, she is next!!) through training classes simply because it is a structured environments that really does benifit the both of you!! :D
I know all of the steps, tricks and rules because I have gone through it so many times, but I still would take every dog that I own from here on out to classes because it opens a line of communication between me and my pets. :luv: It is a wonderful, positive experience and it really is about learning the proper approach with each individual dog's set of issues.(e.i: the classes are for me, not the dog!!! lol) :dogwlk:
 
I've recently had two pups in quick succession, both have been playful and have both mouthed and nipped a bit when very young but I have always kept a calm environment around them, they don't get to play mad-tug with noisy people, they don't get manhandled. As a result they don't get over-excited and suddenly just wee whenever and bite madly, they don't live in a hyperactive state which I have seen other pups in when their families are pushing toys at them and being 'rowdy' around them. Pups are a testimony to their nurture and a calm pup learns to be calm and learns their lessons much quicker. Play by all means but not to the point of losing control. My pups always get put in the kitchen alone to calm down when it's clear their adrenaline is on overdrive. An over-excited dog is not necessarily a happy dog.
 
aloha, my pup maile is just about the same age. I almost posted the other day. my girl can get all worked up and can growl and groan as well as being a bit too mouthy. we continue just to try to redirect her to a chew toy. we had to remind ourself to start using more words when interacting with her. the good girls, go potty, no, stay, off. come. I have started to try to make sure she gets her rest as well. she wants to be with the action so much that she will do anything to get out of taking a rest. I am trying to maintain calm as well which is hard to do. she eating flowers like they were liver treats, and now that she knows, I don't want her to have them, she makes a point of running away from me when I tell her to leave it. but what a cutie pie
 
Back
Top