persephone

I think a pen is a good idea. provided it is more than just netting/posts the plan is to make a pen such that the pup has NO chance of escaping. At all. No way. That usually means floor/roof /walls sunk into the ground- whatever... because......if pup does discover he can dig/chew/climb/barge out....just once....then NEXT time, he will try harder..and so on! The pen also needs to be his favourite spot Nice bed, some shade, somewhere to dig- stuff to play with... and , getting in early... a dog which sleeps inside, and is around its family often will usually be MUCH calmer, and will not tend to bark at night noises, annoy the neighbours, and invite nasty comments

LOL~

If you have him on lead inside- attach it to YOU- that's the idea.. so you are aware of when he needs to go. Tying him to his bed won't achieve much in the way of training- which is what he needs

There is good discussion HERE which may help

and it won't work pups live in the moment. Unless you catch them actually pooing- save your breath. the pup will have NO idea what you are doing- it will just seem like bullying to him yes, he will look 'guilty'..but that is just a reaction to being told off... You may well need to start toilet training again properly ( take pup out every hour, or couple of hours and wait until he does something,then praise him a lot, keep him on lead inside so you know what he's up to... and clean the messes with an enzyme based cleaner ..most other stuff does not remove the smell..so pup goes back there) there are lots of toilet training threads in puppy problem forum

He's only a baby- he doesn't know about these things yet Instead of peanut butter- use mince poke a chicken wing in the kong Don't expect him to sit & play with it for more than a few minutes tho- he just can't focus for too long

Two Spirit- how much time has your boy spent 'free' and exploring by himself as a baby? perhaps he missed out on a lot of the baby mouthing/tasting/smelling stuff, and is now trying to do it all? I would not advise the constant 'leave it' stuff... esp. as he has not mastered it yet... makes life miserable for everyone yeah- I was mortified when I had to do it with Hamlet (post surgery to remove sticks etc ) BUT - after a short time- he was much more interested in sniffing, running and playing, than constantly searching for, and eating stuff. result? much more relaxed owner, and dog. Mind you, he was not under 12 months... and still had plenty of chew time with meaty bones/kongs/etc.... and when he grew some brains, and was a bit more settled the muzzle was not needed much I do still use it if we have had visitors who may have thrown away BBQ bones etc- or there is new junk lying around....

aah.. here's a trick you may want to try..tho it may annoy the heck out of you :D What I have done with pups is get one of these- It's called a ROD BELL..and is a little round bell - like the ones in pet toys/on collars but on a flexible spring- with a clip. It is VERY sensitive to movement. I used to attach them to the pup's collar and after a short while, you get to know exactly what the pup is doing- by the sound the bell makes it is also useful at night. handy for praising/correcting, cos you can tell if pup is scratching/eating/running, whatever..even if you are not watching! The other thing I can think of is that , whenever you go out..have a special toy- one he LOVES..and that is only for outside..he gets it as you go out the door, perhaps? Does he enjoy kongs? Iceblocks? Does he actually EAT stuff, or just play with it? thinking maybe , because ,when he does it you come running, and check him out, and talk to him... maybe he enjoys the attention. Have you done T O T with him, to get his attention on YOU before he gets his food/toys? The other think - if you feel it is compulsive..ie: if it's the first thing he does when he's outside..is try him with a basket muzzle when he's not actually being walked on lead/played with .... I still use one with hamlet on occasion..he will eat anything resembling food- whether old bones, fat dripped on the dirt... Hope someone can help you out- it is a worry, I know! edit to add- the 'leave it' command, or in my case a loud 'YUCK'.. is ok.. but for a constant ,driven ,Hoover.. it soon loses its appeal

Hey, seven- I have never used a crate to train a pup... but I have done so with April, my piglet :D She is now 4 mths old- and is toilet trained. She slept in the crate alongside my bed- if she squeaked, I'd take her outside... Same in the Kitchen .When she was inside.. she was in the crate most of the time..and if she sqeaked- it was outside, toilet, and back in for a play/feed, then crate again. No accidents on the floor... she is very happy to run into her crate/pen...and doesn't mind at all being on her own. i know- not a dog.. but similar IF I lived in a city again, and not in the bush... and had a puppy - a crate would definitely be on the list of must-haves. When your pup is desexed...the crate means that there is no running around unsupervised When you have to duck out in a hurry..pup goes in crate with a toy...safe and sound . When you have kids to visit, and don't want pup to be overwhelmed/over excited.. pup goes in crate, and kids are taught that puppies NEED time alone- and the crate is a kid-free zone!! I do not approve of leaving a pup crated for long periods while someone is at work.. that seems cruel.puppies need to run and explore and dig... A secure, roofed, pen outside , with good shelter, is a great idea!

Corvus- you have lots to share, and obviously are keen to learn ,and to discuss.. and I enjoy hearing the 'harey' tales , having had wild things in my home as well.. Must admit tho,as a lazybones, I often find your posts seem too wordy for me to concentrate on properly. The discussion can be flying along...and by the time I read it all, and think about it... the 'conversation' has taken another turn, and I'm lost ! sorry

I would be giving them treats separately... until they grow some manners

yep I use food treats for April.. not the dogs..so my pockets are always full of stuff I have some very soggy and holey pockets

And that's what should be done a dog like the one you described- screaming/snapping etc sounds very traumatised and definitely in need of REHABILTATION.. This is different to a dog who asserts itself by answering back or refusing to obey, IMO,

I agree ....with photos!

Very cute! Boxer pups are designed that way!!

(my take on it)The only reason 'baby dogs' have such sharp teeth is because they are carnivores, and before they were domesticated, had to use those tiny daggers to chew up bits of meat/skin/bone their dam brought home. Imagine gummy 4 week old wolf/wild dog cubs? they'd die!! Carnivores in the wild need to move around and hunt, and a bitch carting around gallons of milk can't do that! pups have to start consuming meat early on, so they grow and learn skills quickly....Those sharp teeth can and do play a big part in helping guard food resources, sure- but if they didn't eat the food as little pups, they wouldn't need the sharp teeth to guard it

It can take months ....What method are you using? Puppies need AN OPPORTUNITY to toilet immediately after waking up (EVERY TIME), after MEALS after PLAYING, after a DRINK some discussion HERE and here TO START YOU OFF

he will have some discomfort, of course- that's natural Life is not pain free! Try giving him larger things to chew- frozen turkey wings/necks--as chciken necks would be a bit small for him now, I think... the larger frozren things will stay that way a bit longer for gum relief Make him iceblocks! Water or saltless chicken stock a few chunks of meat a few bits of kibble a few bits of fruit/cheese put it all ina margarine container (or icecream container) freeze solid- tip out on grass or concrete- and leave him to it!

When pups are babies.. they certainly get aversives ! Mum, siblings.. the rules are learnt by trial and error, and growls/nips/shoves........... all aversives, in my book simple, direct, communication . It's how pups learn their boundaries.. Pups run, they come up against a branch/fence/puddle.Oops... nasty... won't do that again. Aversive ? I think so... I am also not in favour of bullying or abuse.. but a timed and well delivered gruff or scruff ,I believe does no harm.

Hi- while this is excercise- it is not 'good' excercise. It is teaching him to be rowdy/bouncy with humans... it is also getting him excited around a human... throw him a ball/rope toy instead, and teach him to bring it back by swapping it for a tiny treat ;) DO NOT chase him! Only do this for a minute at a time.. he is much a baby still! Get him a soccer ball.. and kick it around until he gets the idea that he can roll/chase it himself He will jump on it and roll with it and head butt it.... Start teaching him to walk with his collar and leash on...around the house and yard This will give him lots of mental exercise too- VERY good ;) Kongs are good .. smear the inside THINLY with cheese spread..or a tiny bit of peanut butter - wedge in a chicken wing... Lots of sleep is a good thing ;)

Is bite inhibition training so good that it overrides the instinctual bite from an animal in agony, or one who is in fear of its life? serious question.... I have never studied bite inhibition as such.. if a puppy(usually a few weeks old) nips-..... it gets scruffed and gruffed at... and that is usually the end of teeth on humans.Full stop. I still expect them to try and bite if they are injured or very fearful.... and approach them accordingly..I don't think I would trust ANY dog to remember to be soft mouthed in a very stressful/painful situation .... So do/can they?

Aahh, the stumbling block of communicating via the written word ..and , in particular, conversing via the written word !

and why would you do that??? If you think things are getting out of hand- then a cup of water tipped over them may be safer!or a loud noise I prefer to not engage the pointy ends of dogs/pups!

We were getting along so well..now you are speaking nasty words I get very confused with all that stuff

He was a cute boy- and as a worker was just coming into his own ! ..No second chances here with aggression though, unfortunately. Thanks to everyone