new puppy owner needs advice.

[asal]

I received this letter today . From a lady who had bought Jaffa and Spot (also cavalier king Charles) from me 13 years previously. I have no idea who she purchased Ruby the puppy being referred too.  My puppies understand "NO" and "be gentle" from the get go.

But she is obviously very much in need of help.

Only had her two weeks.

 

"How are you the family and all of your beautiful animals?

we are all well except for dealing with our new 10 week old cavalier, ruby.

there's no sign of toilet training working, the biggest problem, though, is that ruby is very aggressive, bordering on vicious.

I hope you can help.

I have so many socks with holes from her nipping at our ankles.

I can't go near her until I have on sturdy shoes.

she bites toes and she is so strong in the jaw that I fear injury.

When she tries to jump onto my lap from the floor I get scratches and tooth damage on my hands and legs.

If I start with her on my lap she scratches and bites just as hard.

She sleeps well in the bathroom. Have bee trying the toilet training pads but she just ignores them.

I cant let the grandchildren near her - two are scared of dogs to start with.

If you have any ideas, I'd be grateful.

My shih Tsu and Jaffa and Spot did not give any of the trouble like this, my four big dogs were lovely. I dont know what to do."

 

 

It is accepted puppies naturally do not want to defecate in their sleeping area.

For this reason I have a separate area from their sleeping area with shavings for the puppies and mum to go, as well as plenty of lawn to play and hoon.

 

my dogs are raised outside, as my hubby will not allowed me to raise a litter in the house, no arguments.

one thing I have discovered is without fail all my puppies look to go outside to toilet?  

 

Which is very much appreciated by their new homes.

 

This lady really needs help and I am not sure how to help.

my instinct is make the brat a run outside  so she has to learn to toilet outside for starters ?

Then she cant hurt everyone as she pleases or make so much mess inside?

 

I expect you will all be horrified I said that. but im lucky. mine never make a mess inside.  or the ones gone to new homes, so I am at a loss what would work for her?

 

 

But being so young and small be pretty cold outside now?

Edited May 6, 2023 by asal

[tdierikx]

A week with me will have the biting thing sorted... *grin*

 

I must say though, when I was working in rescue, the Cavaliers were the hardest to toilet train if they didn't already have some sort of instinct going on... but a 10 week old pup should be relatively easy to toilet train if the owner is on the ball and realises when the pup is nearly ready to go and takes the pup outside. I'd be getting a crate and moving pup into the bedroom for sleeping/overnights, so she feels more like a part of the family, and may have some effect of her behaviours too. The crate being a relatively confined space may slow down pup's toiletting issues also... the bathroom is large enough for pup to pee/poop further away from the sleeping area, so isn't inhibiting or teaching to hold (or alerting she needs to go).

 

T.

[Rebanne]

No reason the pup can't spend time outside. I would guess the owner has got older and it's more work then she remembers. So time outside, some crate training, a puppy training class.

[Deeds]

Definitely agree with a puppy training class.  And the trainer may be able to recommend a Behaviourist or another trainer for more advanced training.

 

The puppy class should also help the pup with boredom and socialisation..

[_PL_]

A Delta/NDTF trainer puppy class would be ideal.

It sounds like it's really the owners who need to be trained or refreshed on puppy problems. I've never really known a 'vicious' Cav.

Happy to be corrected, they are more of a breed specific rescue.

 

I'm in Sydney and it's so horrible today. I wouldn't leave a puppy out there. Brrrrr.  

[Deeds]

I'm in Sydney as well.  Turned the fire on around 9am and the thermometer said 12 degrees.  Walked the dog in the rain as well!  Wonderful.

[asal]

So happy to report, went and visited small rough nut this morning.

Less than 10 minutes of , No and ah! 

She stopped bite immediately I made either sound, never bit again for the next 20 minutes. Not just not hands or fingers, no biting shoes, socks or clothes, very impressed , such a quick learner, loves cuddles and tummy rubs yet didn't get over excited or forget new manners.

Her human is delighted and more confident now to say no when needed.

 

As others suspected, had forgotten puppies Need to be taught, NO!

 

Being such an eager to please bub, should be much better from now, going to be more active in taking her to toilet after meals and sleep as well as immediate praise when she does.

 

Will Check their progress in a few days , so relieved to have been able to help but what darling smart eager to please puppy bub too

Edited May 8, 2023 by asal

[Rebanne]

excellent update, thanks Asal

[persephone]

That is a good thing you did - that poor owner . So glad puppy is a quick learner

 

[asal]

On 09/05/2023 at 8:42 AM, Rebanne said:

excellent update, thanks Asal

 

 

from the tone of the letter I really was worried what I would find,  so, pleasantly surprised when I did meet her puppy.  A major part of her distress and depression was obviously the puppies nails, Sharp as razors, her hands and skin of her arms and legs is a mess of cuts, many quite deep, Her daughter had come recently and removed their sharp tips, the day before, I learned, once they were clipped and filed smooth she is no longer afraid of her nails now.

 

Yes, she sure liked to bite but that was only because she had never said no, not wanting to hurt her feelings.   

I left feeling pretty amazed now quickly her depression has been resolved and her confidence in her puppy has grown.  

 

As for the attacking shoes and legs.

No! has resolved that just as quickly, she really is a delightful puppy.

 

I did cheat, I brought an old horse halter to distract her and play with too, while we were talking. The smells on it fascinated her.

 

So it will be brought out when visitors arrive to keep her occupied during the initial excitement of new visitors and burn off the excess energy on the halter and not the people. .  only ten minutes playing with the halter and she had burned off the overexcitement and happy to lay on laps or beside you quietly, perfect little lady.

 

She reports it is working well. 

 

 

She had completely forgotten the importance of taking her out to toilet after meals and after waking from a nap.

 

Let alone praise each time she does go outside.

 

Bit gee whizzed how easily things have turned around.

 

Edited May 10, 2023 by asal

[Mairead]

So did you tactfully explain the importance of early puppy experiences? And find out if she had asked the breeder for advice first? If not, why not? Or is that for your next visit/s ?

[BDJ]

I love the idea of the horse halter (or anything else that is so 'amazing' and different to the pup/dog) as such a simple yet effective distraction.    There are all the new fangled ideas and things out there - but the basic idea of a safe and 'normal' thing which is enough to break the activity and divert attention and exercise is often all that is needed.

 

Can be anything that is out of the ordinary enough to be a 'must check out now' thing.   @asal - maybe you can market it and turn those $20 halters in to a $200 training aid :-D