20 week old puppy who will not stop nipping and also puts paws up on kitchen work surfaces ADVICE PLEASE?

Question

I have a 20 week old puppy whi is a cross between an afghan and a labrador. Hes a lovely boy but he keeps on nipping, I brought a soft muzzle but he hates it! Also as he is so big he forever puts his paws on the kitchen surfaces and pulls things down etc....any advice welcome...thank you

Answer 1

my german shepherd used to nip alot when she was young, each time she done it i let out a loud yelp after a while she soon got the idea that it was wrong, also when he is playing if he nips you then distract him with some toys, as for the jumping up at work tops etc that is down to basic training you have to be firm with him and tell him no , mine was just the same but after training she no longer does either, she is now 2 years old and a brilliant pet and friend.

Answer 2

To stop the nipping, bite him back. A quick light jab with all five fingers on his back lets him know he shouldn't do that anymore. Also introduce him to a nice older dog, they are the best puppy teachers out there, and not biting is one of the first things they teach

As for the putting paws on things, start putting things further from the edges of your tables/counters, also whenever you catch him with his paws on something say "no" or make an angry sounding noise if he doesn't get down right away go over and put his paws on the floor, then go back to what you were doing, don't scold or give him any attention. He should stop after a while, if not you might as well get used to the fact he won't break the habit.
There is one other technique I've seen used but it only works with about 50% of dogs, take aluminum foil crumple it slightly and cover the top of your table/counter with it, from the edge til just a little bit further than the dog can reach, make sure its taped down well and sit back. Some dogs can't stand the feel and sound of the foil so they stop putting their paws up, but some don't seem to care and some of the ones that won't put paws on foil start back up as soon as the foil is removed. Good luck you're going to need it

Answer 3

Sounds like a typical puppy. OK for the nipping part. does he do this mostly when he is playing or just when you walk by??

Everytime he nipps say ouch loud. Redirect his nipping by giving him a toy to play with instead and praise him for playing with the toy. If he nipps your hands and feet, put bitter apple spray on it (can get at any petstore). He probably wont like the taste and will stop doing.

You might want to enroll him in an obedience class he is old enough and it will be good for both of you.

As for being a counter surfer. On thing you can do is put clear tape (the one that is a couple of inches wide) sticky side up on the counter. he wont like it much on his paws.
You can put a can with pennies in it on when end so when the tape comes down it will make a loud noise.

Don't let him loose on his own in the house. Keep him teethered to you while you are home, so you can correct him when he does something wrong.

When you cant watch him, crate him or put him in an area he cant get into trouble.

Good luck

Answer 4

Many problems going on at the same time. He is going to be a tall boy and will be able to see everything up on the cabinet.
For a while make sure everything is back from the edge. Take him on power walks so he learns who is pack leader.

You should be able to back him from the counter and let him know the counter is yours. You will have to really watch him and catch him at it. Get a strong whistle or noise maker, when he approaches the counter, make the noise and with your body and hand back him off. Claim the counter as yours.

The nipping is a normal puppy trait. Siblings nip and play fight and that is how they develop dominance. Make a hurt noise and withdraw totally from him if he nips. Stand, turn away, leave the room. whatever....play stops if he nips. Don't pinch his nose and don't pet him...remove yourself. When he knows you are not available and don't like the bites he will stop. Be consistent> Don't every pet him when he is bad...that tells him that behavior is OK. Pet only when he is doing correct.

The training of a dog is actually the training of the trainer. The dog just watches and follows your lead. And I think that shows how smart they are. They don't even speak our language but manage to understand anyway. Some dogs are even bi-lingual.

Answer 5

First off, forget the muzzle. All that does is teach them not to bite when the muzzle is on, and "all's fair game" when it is off.

A young puppy will play bite often, and they need to learn that it is not acceptable. When you are with them, if he bites, give a loud yelp and walk away. I know this sounds strange, but it is what dogs and other canines do in the wild. the dog will soon learn that when they play rough, their buddies leave and they are alone. However, when they play nice, their friends stay and play with them.

As for the jumping, keep a very close eye on him, and as soon as you see the front paw start to leave the ground, give a good firm "no" or "off" and call him to you. Make sure when he comes that you praise him, verbally and with a hand scratch so that he knows that's a good thing. Never let him make contact with the cabinets - your timing is critical.

If he does not respond to the "no" and come command, if you close enough, grap him by the collar and pull him off the cabinet, at the same time giving an "off" command. Then, when all 4 feet are back on the ground, praise him.

If you are not close enough, there are a couple of other options:
Again, start with a "no" or "off" command. If he does not respond to this, then have a water gun handy and squirt him at the crest of the head. This should distract him from the counter, and you can refocus his attention on you and not the counter. However - be careful with this. Depending on how much lab behavior he has, labs are water dogs and he may think this is fun! So watch his reaction a couple of times, and if he's enjoying it, then obviously don't use this for a correction.

You can also have either a bean bag or empty soda can with a handful of pebbles/pennies in it. After you give the "no" or "off" command, if he does not respond, throw the bag or can near him, but not to where it will hit him. Again, this will create a distraction for him, and most dogs will either go to the object to see what it is or will be startled by it and run away from it. Either way, it has stopped the behavior you don't want, so you can praise him for being on the ground.

At this age, they need to be kept a close eye on, for they are extremely inquisitive and need a firm leader in the alpha position.

Answer 6

When he nips stand still and squeal Don't speak to him or give him any attention for a minute or two. This is what his litter mates would do if he hurt them. He'll want to play and will discover that nipping ends the fun.
Is he going to puppy classes? If not then try to find a class for him quickly. If he's too old for puppy class get him into obedience training.
Have you got a crate? If you don't want him to get at things crate him when you can't suprervise him and don't leave food or other temping items around. If there's nothing good on the worksurfaces he'lll be less inclined to jump on them.
He's still young so be patient. It does get better in time, but you need to train himn so try to find a club or class.

Answer 7

As for nipping, is it mean nipping or playing? Try scolding him by saying NO loudly when he nips. As for the counter... lol I have a husky wolf mix and a German Shepherd mix. There favorite past time WAS to jump up and see whats on the counter... until..... I put mouse traps up there, in just enough space if they were bumped SNAP!!! not on the paws just the noise would scare the crap out of them.. They did this a few times but got the hint quickly and haven't had an issue!

Answer 8

Get rid of the muzzle. When your puppy nips, say "no bite" in a firm voice not a yell. he is just a baby. you can also use a product called bitter apple. you can put on your hand and let him nip then give the command and he will not like the taste. this product also works on puppies that chew other inappropriate objects. I have a poodle that use to "Counter surf" my obedience trainer told me a great trick..make a pyramid out of empty soda cans about 3 or 4 levels high. close to the edge of the counter. when your puppy goes to surf, the cans fall down and that is called noise aversion. it takes a few times but it works. you can also use binaca breath spray for nipping, just don't get it in the puppies eyes. hope this helps you. Just don't get frustrated with your puppy. Go to Obedience classes.

Answer 9

You need to give consistant corrections every time he misbehaves by nipping or jumping on the table. My suggestion is to have a rope attatched to his collar at all times. When he misbehaves, give the rope a firm tug and say "leave it" or "off" as the case may be. You might have to repeat this a few times, but he will eventaully get the message. Make sure you use a firm voice without yelling. Dogs respond to voice tone and body language. After a while, when he begins to behave more (this could be a few months) you can slowly shorten the rope or take him off of it for a little while. (Just so he doesn't know you removed the rope...kinda be sneaky about it.) Good luck!

Answer 10

Play biting is a part of puppyhood. You don't need to muzzle him, you just need to teach him that skin+teeth=BAD. Pups mouth pack members during play, so this is not an agression issue. When he nips, replace whatever limb he's gnawing on with an acceptable chew toy. Be sure to say "No" quite sternly if he mouths you. It also helps to let out a loud yelp so that the dog understands he's hurting you.