2 puppy questions @ 12 weeks

buddydobe · 07-02-2008, 01:34 PM

First Question: Lazy with Commands

I spend tons of time with my pup...training, playing, socializing field trips, etc...he's quite obedient, and has a list of about a dozen or so commands that he's quite good with already. At even 10 weeks he could nail most of them first try (with treat in hand) He's starting to get "lazy" with "sit", and some of the others. I was wondering what you folks recommend. I usually just say it once, and if he doesn't do it, in a reasonably amount of time, then I make him sit or what not. Should I praise/treat if I have to make him do what he already knows? Is it normal to have this testiness at this age? Is he entering his adolescence early perhaps?

Second question: Nip, the yelp/ignore doesn't work

When my pup gets extremely energetic, he can transform into a unruly little wild child. It was somewhat of a problem when my Mom was here watching him for a week while I was at work. He wants to play and then gets really wound up. Trys to jump up, poke with his nose, and play nips at shorts. My Mom got flustered, and as a result got a dozen or so little nicks over the course of a week. He never did anything like that to me, and I couldn't help b/c I wasn't here. He knows I'm boss, and I correct him immediately at the slightest sign of that stuff. The classic "yelp/ignore" just plain does not work with him. With my Mom if she did that, he'd just keep coming back to egg her on, nipping and what not...she had to leave the room. but then there is a puppy loose in a room unsupervised.

I think part of the problem is, b/c Mom was not handling it well, he now thinks he can get away with that stuff a bit. She's no longer here to help me so now he's testing the waters with me. Trying to nip my shorts. I gave him a firm correction everytime. He stops right away but will try again after a few minutes of crazy play. I stop all play and make him sit, and don't resume play until he's calm. Sometimes this requires several leash corrections. Last night he was flying around. And he suddenly nipped my heel pretty good last night. I yelled ouch and grabbed him by the scruff and held him on his back for about a minute. He got the picture. But I'm sure he'll try again next crazy play time. Is this normal? Am I handling it ok? He doesn't try to nip me any other time. It's like everything goes out the window when he's amped up. And the only thing that seems to work, is making my alpha position very clear. Right now I wouldn't let him be with anyone who is not a confident dog handler. I worry about him with certain guests if I had to step out for a minute or 2.

I'd greatly appreciate any input.

Murreydobe · 07-02-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddydobe

First Question: Lazy with Commands

I spend tons of time with my pup...training, playing, socializing field trips, etc...he's quite obedient, and has a list of about a dozen or so commands that he's quite good with already. At even 10 weeks he could nail most of them first try (with treat in hand) He's starting to get "lazy" with "sit", and some of the others. I was wondering what you folks recommend. I usually just say it once, and if he doesn't do it, in a reasonably amount of time, then I make him sit or what not. Should I praise/treat if I have to make him do what he already knows? Is it normal to have this testiness at this age? Is he entering his adolescence early perhaps?

.

Once a behavior is learned, you need to put the treats on a variable schedule, working towards (long term) phasing them out. It's pretty predictable that performance will start to degrade if the animal thinks it's going to get a treat every time. If the animal isn't exactly sure when they'll get a treat, they tend to give their best performance every time.

So start only giving the treat every other time for awhile, substituting verbal praise only for the time he doesn't get a treat. Then go to giving a treat every third time, and so on.

cookie725 · 07-02-2008, 01:45 PM

Oh the puppy crazies....

Vito and I JUST went through this! So I would guess it's normal.
I tried everything to stop the play niping (it hurts!), and finally found something that would work -- which I think would work for your ma in the future too.
I figured when he was crazy like that, he wanted attention. I got a "special" toy, made him sit, and then played with him. If he nipped, I would yelp, stand, cross my arms, and turn away -- making sure to take the toy. If he continued, I would walk away -- never paying him attention. With Vito, he would even still try to nip and the like, so I'd ended up going into another room for a minute. Once he calmed down, I calmly praised him and resumed playtime. This worked for me even when it wasn't play time. They want attention, and even negative attention (scruff grab and a no) is still attention...
I will say it is very hard to ignore a cute Dobe, but stick with it -- and do it constantly. Once your pup knows it doesn't get him anywhere...it'll stop.
Since using this method, Vito has inmporved considerably! *knock on wood*
Though he finds other naughty Dobe puppy ways to keep me on my toes -- at least the biting has ceased!

Hope this helps at all!

buddydobe · 07-02-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murreydobe

Once a behavior is learned, you need to put the treats on a variable schedule, working towards (long term) phasing them out. It's pretty predictable that performance will start to degrade if the animal thinks it's going to get a treat every time. If the animal isn't exactly sure when they'll get a treat, they tend to give their best performance every time.

So start only giving the treat every other time for awhile, substituting verbal praise only for the time he doesn't get a treat. Then go to giving a treat every third time, and so on.

Thanks. I've been sporadically treating, but not as systematically. I will definitely try that.

buddydobe · 07-02-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie725

Oh the puppy crazies....

Vito and I JUST went through this! So I would guess it's normal.
I tried everything to stop the play niping (it hurts!), and finally found something that would work -- which I think would work for your ma in the future too.
I figured when he was crazy like that, he wanted attention. I got a "special" toy, made him sit, and then played with him. If he nipped, I would yelp, stand, cross my arms, and turn away -- making sure to take the toy. If he continued, I would walk away -- never paying him attention. With Vito, he would even still try to nip and the like, so I'd ended up going into another room for a minute. Once he calmed down, I calmly praised him and resumed playtime. This worked for me even when it wasn't play time. They want attention, and even negative attention (scruff grab and a no) is still attention...
I will say it is very hard to ignore a cute Dobe, but stick with it -- and do it constantly. Once your pup knows it doesn't get him anywhere...it'll stop.
Since using this method, Vito has inmporved considerably! *knock on wood*
Though he finds other naughty Dobe puppy ways to keep me on my toes -- at least the biting has ceased!

Hope this helps at all!

Thanks, I will try that. But my concern is that i'll leave, and he'll get into something else, like chewing the couch, or eating yard debris outside or whatnot....thoughts on that?

cookie725 · 07-02-2008, 01:58 PM

I never really leave Vito...just enough to make a point. I try not to give him enough time to do any other damage!

So far, no problems with him tearing up other things!

JagerMonster · 07-02-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddydobe

Thanks, I will try that. But my concern is that i'll leave, and he'll get into something else, like chewing the couch, or eating yard debris outside or whatnot....thoughts on that?

I make Jager leave...it is my house. He gets an "eh, no bite", if he stops then I do a "be nice" and at first he would lick now he just bumps me gentle with his nose and then I praise. We then continue to play and if he bites again...same "eh, no bite"...and is escorted calmly (hard to do somedays, sigh) to the mudroom where I have puppy proofed with no worries of something to get into. He has a time out, I open the door and say "sit, be nice" and normally I get my lick or bump and out to play. I know some use their crate...but I didn't want to associate being bad with the crate. Any room he could be separated to? Separation worked wonders for me!! I rarely have to do this anymore!

Side note: I was leaving but then I felt like, huh, he wins the big room and I go to the little room...um, no!

cookie725 · 07-02-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JagerMonster

I make Jager leave...it is my house. He gets an "eh, no bite", if he stops then I do a "be nice" and at first he would lick now he just bumps me gentle with his nose and then I praise. We then continue to play and if he bites again...same "eh, no bite"...and is escorted calmly (hard to do somedays, sigh) to the mudroom where I have puppy proofed with no worries of something to get into. He has a time out, I open the door and say "sit, be nice" and normally I get my lick or bump and out to play. I know some use their crate...but I didn't want to associate being bad with the crate. Any room he could be separated to? Separation worked wonders for me!! I rarely have to do this anymore!

Side note: I was leaving but then I felt like, huh, he wins the big room and I go to the little room...um, no!

Jager that's not bad...
So, alas, Vito wins again....

I can hear his puppy laughter as he sees me just realize this...

Zombie · 07-02-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddydobe

Thanks, I will try that. But my concern is that i'll leave, and he'll get into something else, like chewing the couch, or eating yard debris outside or whatnot....thoughts on that?

He'll probably be a little miffed that you've suddenly disappeared. Keep an eye on him and he should be fine.

Sometimes those bounds of excitable energy come from boredom. Give him something constructive to do with his time instead, like a puppy kong full of treats! :3

changa · 07-02-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie725

Oh the puppy crazies....

Vito and I JUST went through this! So I would guess it's normal.
I tried everything to stop the play niping (it hurts!), and finally found something that would work -- which I think would work for your ma in the future too.
I figured when he was crazy like that, he wanted attention. I got a "special" toy, made him sit, and then played with him. If he nipped, I would yelp, stand, cross my arms, and turn away -- making sure to take the toy. If he continued, I would walk away -- never paying him attention. With Vito, he would even still try to nip and the like, so I'd ended up going into another room for a minute. Once he calmed down, I calmly praised him and resumed playtime. This worked for me even when it wasn't play time. They want attention, and even negative attention (scruff grab and a no) is still attention...
I will say it is very hard to ignore a cute Dobe, but stick with it -- and do it constantly. Once your pup knows it doesn't get him anywhere...it'll stop.
Since using this method, Vito has inmporved considerably! *knock on wood*
Though he finds other naughty Dobe puppy ways to keep me on my toes -- at least the biting has ceased!

Hope this helps at all!

This is what we've been doing for nipping, too. We say Ouch and then stand up and turn around immediately. It used to be that he would still continue a bit after that (sometimes he still does), but that's getting less and less lately. If he would, we go into another room that is gated off from him. Once he's either laying down or sitting and calm, we come back in the room.