by Cindy
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Behavior Problem
by Cindy
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
DISCUSSION:
As soon as your little one seems interested in chewing on any item that isn't a chew toy, put a touch of "Bitter Apple" on it. My boys were really good about not chewing anything that wasn't theirs but I was concerned about one electrical cord to a lamp in Busters room. Although I unplug it when I go out, it is plugged in when we're home. Buster saw me plug it in one evening and of course he had to investigate. I put a dab of "Bitter Apple" on it . It was one of the only times I saw him walk backwards! And what a shocked look on his face.
Maureen,Buster&LucaBrasi
Cindy, one thing I've found that is really helpful for ALL issues is to take your little one to a puppy kindergarten (obedience traning). They learn the basic commands, but also "get" that you are in charge and for us, at least, it pretty much put an end to the "who's going to be dominant here" debate. Another technique that worked well for me when Lucy was a baby and eager to chew everything in sight (including electric cords) was to wait for her to attack the cord then make a huge, scary noise (pound hard on something and yell NO! at the top of your lungs). I had her in my office most of the time and those delicious cords to the computer, etc. were under my desk. I would bang on the desk over her head and shout NO every time she went for one and she would jump about 50 ft in the air and look at me like "what the heck!" After several rounds of this (seemingly once for each and every cord under there!) she gave it up. This also worked for getting into the wastebasket and a few other similar issues. Give this a try and see how it goes.
cathy brown
Cindy, Call your library and see if they have "puppy preschool" by John Ross and Barbara McKinney. I have found their training guide really works (so far anyway). My Brandi is 3 months old and she is very stubborn but is coming around. The book explains how to correct behaviors in a manner that the puppy understands and responds to (basicly mimicking the way the mother dog communicated).
Hope it helps.
Law & Brandi
Law
I have found a crate to be invaluable when training a puppy. They investigate their world with their mouths, since they don't have hands to pick things up with, therefore, it is natural and necessary for them to chew on things. The trick is teaching them what is appropriate to chew, and what is not (some things, like electrical cords, are downright dangerous!). Since you can't train a puppy you are not with, the best and safest thing to do is to confine him or her when you cannot be with them. An ounce of prevention at this stage is truly worth a pound of cure! Once they learn to chew on something, it can be a hard habit to break. You have to be patient and consistent, redirecting that chewing instinct to appropriate toys (stuff a Kong or similar hollow hard rubber toy with food treats, peanut butter, etc., for an irresistable chew toy -- it will keep them occupied for hours if you do it right, and all that time will be teaching them how much fun it is to chew on the right things!), and keeping inappropriate objects out of their reach. If your pup does get hold of something she shouldn't have (like a sock, or tissue), don't shout and threaten and chase - you will only teach her to run from you and hide when she has something like that, or to instigate a fun game of chase. Instead, begin by teaching her to give objects up to you easily, by playing a game with a favorite toy in which you give it right back when she gives it up, or you give her a treat when she gives it up (DO NOT bribe her with the treat! Produce it AFTER she has given the object, as a reward). Soon, she will willingly give you anything you ask for, because she will think she will get it back, or will get something even better. She doesn't need to know, when you approach her as ask for that sock back, that she won't get that particular object back, and you don't need to shout. Two really good books on puppy training are "Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey, and "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With" by Rutherford. I would highly recommend reading these, as well as attending a good puppy class. The books are available from the Direct Books catalog, which has LOADS of great dog and cat books available. Good Luck!
M. Mills
It's much easier to learn something if you're told what you're doing right! SO try to catch your sweetie doing something you want them to do, verbalize it within the fast count of 4, and show lots of excitement. Like if a favorite rabbit shaped toy is being chewed, say BUNNY! YES! GOOD DOG! or something like that. If you catch the wire chewing, don't punish, just say NO very seriously, and substitute an appropriate chewing object. As soon as your pup chews it, act like a happy idiot. (within the fast count of 4 please, or they won't "get" it!) They love to please, and you've just shown them how to ring your chimes!
Isabel
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