Help, my puppy is making me feel guilty!?

Question

My puppy (about 8 weeks old) came from the RSPCA, after being found starving on the street, and is apparently half Australian bull-terrier, half short-haired border collie. She is very active and demanding. She wants me to play all the time and jumps up at me, trying to bite my hands and feet (whether I'm sitting in a chair, on the floor with her, or standing up). If I tell her off, she looks up at me with big eyes, then she lies down looking up at me, like "You big bully, you scared me." Then after five minutes she starts again with the jumping. I have never hit her, and never would - I just say "NO" so she understands I don't like to be bitten, but she makes me feel so horrible! I don't have time to play with her non-stop. I take her for walks twice a day and she has lots of toys and rawhide to chew. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can teach her to calm down?

I did say "I take her for walks twice a day" - I am not a human dynamo, I can only do so much. Good training suggestions will be very welcome, thanks.

Answer 1

Well done for adopting her.She's quite a handful isn't she?
First you are doing all the right things with her-playing with her when you can and walking her regularly and the way you are disciplining her is right too.
The 'problem' is that she is at the age when she is in one of two states-either asleep or completely hyperactive and up to a point this is going to continue until she matures a little.
The second reason that she's acting like all of her life needs to be lived today is that she has suddenly been moved into what is for her a completely new and exciting environment and there is just soooo much to do,see,chew and it's all too much to take in when you are 8 weeks old
Of course you cannot devote every waking minute to her and don't feel guilty that you can't.
What to do?
The part collie in her suggests to me that you have what on the face of it is an intelligent dog in the making.Dogs need 2 forms of stimuli -physical (the walks etc) but also mental.
Whilst the dog training manual would preach that it is too early to train her at eight weeks,you might try starting her off with little commands and see how you progress.In other words divert her energy if you can into constructive activities.This will also serve to
impress on her that you are the boss here and may help you with her overall behavior.
I agree with you not hitting her but if this biting continues don't feel you are being cruel by giving her a good tap on the snout when she does this.The problem with bad habits like hers is the longer you allow them to continue the more ingrained they get and the harder it is to get the dog out of them at a later stage.
The other thing you need to do is to ensure that when disciplining her you have her full attention.
Do this by holding her with both hands either side of her scruff-below her chin.Take hold of her skin firmly and in doing so look her straight in the eyes.She cant move from this position until released.Tell her then your command of 'No".It will have more effect than shouting it across the room-no doubt she invariably takes no notice of you yet at a distance.
All in all it's a time thing but believe me it will get better bit by bit.
You need patience and she needs to have manners put on her like every other dog if she is not to become an out of control adolescent.Good Luck

Answer 2

The big mistake that humans make with dogs is they assume that dogs understand human language. Unfortunately they do not. Dogs respond very well to a rewards based system with positive reinforcement, and I am happy to hear you have not scolded her yet. This is what I recommend for her.... whenever she jumps on you or bites you, ignore her (when you tell her NO, you are giving her attention which she sees as a positive thing). OFten times, a puppies behavior will get worse before you see a change. It is also very important to reward her for good behavior as well. For example, if she goes potty outside, she gets a treat. Or if she sits, she gets a treat. Never give the treats unless she does the behavior you desire. If she is good, you give her the affection she loves. It is important that you initiate play with her. As opposed to her initiating it. This way she learns proper play behavior and you both can have fun. I also recommend you take her to a puppy training class if possible. If you train a puppy early in life, the dog will be a lifetime enjoyable friend. =0) I hope this helps.

Answer 3

I had a dog that wouldn't stop jumping on me either and the BEST thing you can do (the only thing that worked!) is turn your back to her and ignore her... after doing this for a while she will see that she's getting nothing out of jumping on you (negative attention is still attention after all) and will stop. If it's especially bad, leave the room and shut the door. the come out in a minute and she will have settled down. Also instruct others that come over to do the same thing and she will learn a lot more quickly!

Answer 4

she is still a puppy, my pup did the same thing now he is 5 months and is just starting 2 calm down, as for the biteing and jumping that would be because she is half border collie a working farm dog.... just continue the "no" to jumping and biting and she might get the picture
good luck!!!

Answer 5

Shes still a baby - puppies are rambuncous silly things -and anything with a bordercollie in it will be energetic all its life - try walking it more or teaching it tofetch then al you do is throw a ball ? Geta crateso you can havea bit of rest inbetween play time & the puppy can rest too ... When your dogs has had all its shots etc you can find it a friend to visit & play withto tire it out s bit more ( dogs must be around the same size - to insure puppy or other dog isn't hurt

Answer 6

Puppyhood is a glorious thing to experience with your animal.
She'll have to get us to not having attention 24/7.
You may feel guilty, but after a while she'll get teh hint.
I raise and breed pomeranians. :P they're attention demanding little buggers.
since you didn't get her when she was still in the very begining of her life you're going to have a fun time of adjusting her to fit your lifestyle.
the walks are good, you're doing way better than most of the people we sell our dogs to.
btw, they love treats so when you can't take her out just give her a special treat and she won't feel jipped.

Answer 7

I assume she is desexed? I have no immediate advice as I think alot of it is about time. When she matures a bit I think she will settle and in the meantime, keep up what you are doing. Whenever she jumps up, say NO and gently force her into sitting and command SIT. Also rewarding works well, when she jumps up and bites, tell her NO, tell her to SIT, and then give her a treat (something special like meat cubes but healthy). Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Answer 8

Not trying to be rude, but you have to remember you are the human. If you let the dog control things and make you feel guilty when you scold her, then it will continue this as it gets older. She has to learn now, when you tell her something she has to listen. Be firm with her and she will learn. And try not to feel guilty, it is part of raising a puppy.

Answer 9

my dog was found in a bin then he was owned by a woman who said he was unmanagable so i got him.he gets one really good run a day for over an hour he runs like he is mental lol.if your pup mouths or bites you(mine used to)yelp out loud as if he really really hurt you and shout no.turn your back on the dog and ignore his attemps at getting you attentio.never feelsorry and praise or stroke him at this point or you are giving reward for bad behaviour if he stops biting for a while praise him.a mother dog will growl and warn her pups if they get too rough so the dog expects this.

Answer 10

poor little girl has gone through a lot in her short little lifetime!! she's at the age now when she should have just left her mom and siblings. she's just starting to learn her place in "you pack". be firm with the "no bite". she's needs to know you're the alpha dog. she'll grow out of it...she's still a baby now.