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Hi Ladies, I usually spend time on the Holiday Board, but do occasionally read the messages here, which I really enjoy.
I have a 9 week old mini Dachshund named Mac. He is doing well in all his training except he wants to bite while playing. He bites my hands and arms when I hold him, and when he is on the floor he will attack and bite my ankles, pull on my pant legs.I have given him all kinds of things to chew on, but he seems to have a taste for my skin!! Help, please. Any ideas will be appreciated.

Pattyo

This message has been edited. Last edited by: NC HillBilly,

The recommended age for puppies to be separated from their litter mates is 9-12 weeks. 12 weeks being the best. Their siblings train them to not nip, by yelping and not engaging in play when nips hurt.

You adopted the pup sooner than this, so it is now your job to do what they would have. Yell "ouch" or yelp loud enough to be startling to the pup. Then put it down, push away, walk away, ignore it. Do not play or encourage it in any way till it settles down a bit. Then offer a gummy chew toy.

Soon as you get nipped again...same action. Some need you to walk away, turn your back and ignore them for longer. Make sure to offer plenty of safe chew toys or gummy bones to chew on.

It takes effort, but it is a good lesson for the pup.

OH, thank you Conrad! I didn't know all this. I have never had a puppy this young. My daughter gave him to me on the 1st of this month. I will certainly try your suggestion.
Pattyo

You might also check out some puppy training books from the library. So many issues are easy to curb at the young age, and get harder later.

Golden rule of mine? Not to allow or encourage any behavior in a puppy, that will not be acceptable in your adult dog.

There may even be a puppy socialization class in your community (yours will be a bit young yet, but for later this spring). Questions and problems can be addressed to a trainer, and the dogs learn to interact/socialize with other dogs.


OH and try to take LOTS of photos. They change so fast, daily pictures are not too much. Enjoy!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: conrad,

Wow, Conrad, I am so glad I posted my question. You have given me some excellent advice. One question, what brand of gummy chew bones do you recommend? It seems like every thing is bad for puppies. Thanks again.

Pattyo

Who knew that young animals need to stay with their mothers(and litter) over 6 weeks?

That was the age we always heard that was okay for taking the little one from mom. But now, I have learned 12 weeks is best because beyond meeting their physical needs, they learn important behavioral skills that make them better pets.
I saw this first hand when we had a mama cat and newborn kitten dumped off on us. It was so sweet to watch her with him. Once he passed the six week mark, she took him everywhere she went. To the litterbox, to eat, when she got ready for a bath or nap she called till he came running and she bathed im and made him go to sleep too. That kitten today (other than being crazy!) has no litterbox issues etc and is the perfect indoor cat!

We have a male we adopted that we know was taken from his mother at about 2 weeks. He was so bad to bite and play too rough. We scold him with a sharp, "AAACKK!!" and stop what we are doing. And he is much, much improved. He simply didn't know any better because his mama didn't teach him.

Congrats on the new puppy and hope you break his bad habit! Make sure you are always consistent with deterring him.

When my pekepoo was a tiny pup, she loved to chew on me. My niece told me to stop her by holding her up and saying "Kiss,kiss." I don't know why, but it worked every time. Now all I have to put up with is a dog who loves to "go at" me with her tongue. She did, however, chew the heck out of the corner on one of my end tables. Who knew that a dog weighing two pounds had perfectly working teeth!!!!!

I think the nyla-bone brands are good. Get a larger one than you might think as they will wear them down. For young puppies, they have the gumma-bones, and aren't quite as hard?

One more addendum to the puppy vs adult behavior? If you start them out with the adult rules of the house (example, not getting on the furniture if you choose), you can always soften those rules when they are past a year old if you want, (suggestion: and only when invited). By then is is considered more of a privilege to them, rather than a right.

Becky, several of our dogs were brought home at 6-7 weeks, as I mistakenly thought it best to expose them to lots of things early for their intelligence. We went through the sore fingers and hands before that training was complete. Our very first Golden was left with her Mom & litter mates till 12 weeks, and boy was that a sweet dog from day one.

I agree Conrad- they need to stay and are better pets for it. 6 weeks might be young enough to survive easily,, but they need what mom and being with the litter can teach them.

I agree, staying longer is better, but the standard for most breeders is 8 weeks.

My oldest German Shepherd was a terrible nipper. He nipped and bit us until he was 5 months old. No amount of training, yelling ouch nose bopping, or chew toys stopped it either. He just thought it was playtime. I still have the old t-shirts and shorts with holes in them to prove it. LOL!

It's strange though, he just grew out of it. He never chewed the furniture or ruined anything in the house, just our hands! Being 100lbs now...I'm so glad he grew out of it!

Now my second white German Shepherd has never bit us or chewed on our hands, even as a baby. He takes it all out on his older brother...Karma is a bee-atch! LOL!