Fly1170

Hi How do I stop my 4 mth old puppy humping my toddler? I heard he is doing this as he thinks he can dominate him and be above him in the 'pack' (family). This isn't on and my toddler is too small to understand to get him to stop. It seems everytime I turn around when they are playing my toddler is pinned to the floor with the puppy on his back humping. It's awful! What can I do? Thanks Louise PS He doesn't do it with any other family members.

Thank you spotted devil for taking the time to patiently reply to me! He is a mini schnauzer and we are in the Nthern suburbs of Melb. I am starting puppy school with him next week but it's with the same vet that recommended the clap thing. I have the laundry with the tile floor that be suitable to put him in when I'm out of the room. It's a large room, we have already set it up as a safe play space with toys etc and his soft crate is in there (which we put him into to sleep at night). I could maybe put him in there everytime I'm out of the room. By 'the room' I am only talking about the kitchen/family room which has a wooden floor anyway so the messes aren't an issue in terms of cleaning up. He has no access to rooms outside this area in the house at all and that will always be the case even when he is fully trained (if that ever happens!). Thanks for the advice about the barking i will now bring him back in immediatly he stops barking to show him that the barking doesn't work. Thanks again. I'll keep trying. You are so right it's very hard work much harder than I thought it would be. I so want to get it right and have a happy well behaved dog! Edited to add thanks also Steve!

Hi God this is so complicated. I was following the advice from our vet about the clapping and saying no, surely I can rely on my vet for the right advice! Maybe not. I can't attach him to my waist it's just not practical so it looks like unless I can watch him he'll have to go outside. I do have a command outside and he goes when I say it. I snatch him up when he's doing/just gone inside so he knows what it's all about. I'm not expecting miracles I know it'll take time and I will persist and be patient. I keep hearing it's my fault if he goes inside and I accept that but was actually looking for advice about the barking when he goes outside. He's not an exclusive indoor dog he stays outside most of the day so do I just ignore him when he barks to come in and it's not able to happen (because I'm putting the children to bed and can't watch his every move to make sure he doesn't toilet inside)? Thanks for the help so far Louise

Hi I am training our 11 week old puppy to toilet outside. He goes outside when I stand with him and wait and then I reward him but isn't asking or wanting to go outside to toilet yet. He seems to have sussed I get cross when he goes inside so now waits until I'm out of the room (even for 2 mins) to go inside. When I clap and say no and put him outside after this accident he goes crazy and barks and barks and barks (which I feel is also unacceptable). How do I solve the barking while being punished issue (I'm confident the toilet thing will come with time). Thanks Louise

Hi I think you've seen from my other thread I also have a 10 week old mini! Our little boy loves his crate and goes in there on his own when left alone in the house (I come home and he's asleep in the back of it) or just to get away from the kids. During the day I feed him in there (as per the breeder advice), during the night (or when I'm out) I put his sleeping cushion and some soft toys in there. Maybe you could try this? Mine also tries out 'garden food' but as yet hasn't actually swllowed any. I'll be keeping an eye on it now after the responses you got regardng the issue. Good Luck - I'm sure we'll see each other in here regularly Louise

Hi Thank you so much everyone for your replies. I am feeding him fatty mince meat as that is what the breeder told us to do ('good for puppies'). It's only for the next month until he is three months old and then then on it'll just be dry food. Surley just three months of fatty meat won't lead to health problems? He is doing much better now that it's been a week since he arrived and I'm taking the food after 10 mins. He still isn't eating as much as the breeder suggested he would but I'm thinking that may be as someone suggested beacuse we have no other dogs. As I've already said he's a little plump so can afford to slim down a little without loss of form anyway. Thanks again everyone. Sorry it has taken me so long to reply , it's been a crazy week Louise

Hi Yes he had litter mates and here there is no competetion. We are feeding him Ekunuba dry puppy food (wetted down), advance tinned puppy food and fatty mince meat (all mixed up). We were told to do this and gradually wean him off the wet stuff until at 3-4 mths it's only the dry food. Thanks for the help so far Louise

Hi We have just bought our 9 week old mini schnauzer puppy home. He is a gem (knows his bed and uses it, is toileting outside, using dog door to go outside, no night crying after night 2) and so cute. But I do have a few questions about food. 1. We are feeding him exactly what the breeder was (type, amount and frequency) but he is not finishing his meal (maybe eats half). Is this as he is still settling in (has been with us 4 days). The breeder told us he is 'a great eater' and is even a little chubby so it seems strange. This leds to my second question..... 2. Should we leave the uneaten food out (we are feeding three small meals a day)? Or take it away after a certain time (if so how long)? I'm finding he'll eat a 1/4 then come back an hour later and eat a bit more etc etc. 3. How important is it with the 'leader of the pack' issue to feed them last? We all eat a different times and so while he might eat after one member of the family he'll often eat before another (which family member this is varies). Does this make sense? I can't wait until 11pm to give him his dinner which is when the last member of the family might be arriving home and eating. What should I do? Thanks for your time