Pup Biting And Barking!

[cooperblue]

hi

we have recently bought a ACD from a breeder, we have had him for 3 weeks now and is almost 11 weeks. in the last week he has started to bark at us, we have told him NO in a deep tone but he thinks its a game and runs away. the biting problem happens when we sometimes try to pat him or we are playing with him, he gets too excited and goes for our hands. again we tell him NO in a deep tone and i have also tried to yelp when he does it. that only worked a couple of times.

Also is he old enough to learn to go for walks?

we are finding it hard as he is getting bored of just playing in the house and yard.

he has tones of toys but a short attention span.

Another thing we are trying to get him in to puppy pre school but because its getting close to christmas everyone seems to be booked then closing over December to February!

Other than that he has been a really good pup.

thanks sarah

[jillybean]

In regards to the walking - you should wait till your puppy is fully vaccinated rather than risk him catching something whilst out on a walk. They can pick up viruses just by sniffing at other dog's poop.

So it's usually recommended that you wait till he's had his 16 week vaccination.

[Ahona]

Just be consistent with pushing him away/putting him down (if he's on your lap), saying no firmly and ignoring him if he persists.

He will get the message eventually! And make sure every member of the family is doing the same, so he doesn't get mixed signals about what is acceptable and what isn't!

[Stewie_the_Frenchie]

In regards to walks, just be careful not to over-exercise him. Pups tire easily and need to stop when they need to. Puppies also need a lot of sleep too, so just keep that in mind.

With the rough play, my 5 and a half month old newfie took ages to get the message - just be consistent with him. Mine still "forgets" though. It will be a tough few months, and then adolescence comes, so just be patient, consistent, firm and caring with him.

[First Time Puppy Owner]

If they get do not understand "ahaha's", pushing them away, screams or shoving something else into their mouth to chew on - then the puppy school teacher we had told us to spray ourselves with areoguard and once they taste that, they will generally never go there again!

Not advised long term - kind of a shocking type of taste to make the puppy think other things are much more pleasurable to chew on! Also foil I understand is equally as disgusting to a pup!

Edited November 19, 2007 by First Time Puppy Owner

[coco22]

obi does the same as well... he bites our hand or chew on my shoe when he's playing and gets excited. we would give him a firm 'no' and then stop playing with him immediately. when he stops, we will then praise him. but sometimes he would persist in the biting/chewing and i hv to give him a deep and loud 'no' that almost sound like a bark and he would stop. i have also tried yelping and then whining when he bites my finger during play... sometimes he would stop biting and lick my finger instead.

[Gayle.]

If he's bored, start doing some basic obedience training with him. He's old enough to learn to sit, drop, stand, stay etc.....and it will give his mind a workout as well as his body. ACD's are highly intelligent dogs, but they need something to use their intelligence on. You don't need puppy pre school for basic training.....buy a book on dog training.

[alananddora]

One technique that has worked well for us is to hold our puppies muzzle with a firm NO with eye contact.

When this failed we would actually hold her down with one hand with the other holding her muzzle. We started with 30 seconds and gradually reduced this.

After two weeks she had stopped mouthing and barking at us.

Good luck.

[Cosmolo]

Whereabouts are you located? Perhaps someone can recommend a pre Christmas puppy class or trainer for you. I would not be waiting till after Christmas to start if you can help it, even a private lesson or two would be better than nothing.

You must do some research on a dogs critical period- which occurs between 6 and 16 weeks and as the name suggests is a critical time for socialisation and learning about the world. If you do not (safely) socialise your pup until after 16 weeks, your chances of having problems are greatly increased and you have a breed which IMO needs very good socialisation (i have 3)

I hesitate to advise to strongly on the mouthing without seeing the pup except to say that it is something that you want to get under control ASAP and it is highly unlikely your puppy will just grow out of it. I have seen 3 Cattle dogs in the last 12 months that have had biting issues as adults which IMO were contributed to by puppy mouthing being left unchecked. Even though it starts as a developmental phase, it often continues as the dog learns its is a fun game.

[chloebear]

Just an idea, buy a extra large kong and start packing his breakfeast in it, that way he will have to work for it and therefore occupy himself for a while.

[cooperblue]

thanks guy for your advice, he is now 12 weeks and has been to 2 puppy classes. he has learn't how to sit, watch, drop, and almost stay while walking away.

we have just started to put his food in his kong and treat ball which is helping to keep him occupied. he also is learning that if he barks while playing or waiting for tea he doesn't get it until hes quiet, same as if hes playing with us and starts biting we put the toy in his mouth to stop him or walk away.

he is a very intelligent dog learns fast and has a lovely personality, now i just can't wait till he gets his last vac so i can start taking him for walks.

does anyone in Adelaide know of a good dog school to take him to after the new year, possibly in the northern suburbs.

thanks sarah

[kim21]

My puppy school and vet both reccomonded that you start walking your dog before it is fully vaccinated just not at parks that you know lots of dogs are taken to, because apparently these days more dogs are put down from agression related problem then die from catching something before they are vaccinated. This is because almost all dogs are vaccinated these days and the earlier they are introduced to sights and sounds the more sound the dog will be and less likely to grow up nervous.