Working with undesirable behaviours - Page 1

Hello there, working to reinforce good behaviours is nice and "easy". My almost 7 weeks puppy already sits, come, look at my eyes and "give me" things he has in his mouth. But I'm struggling in the part about desincouraging bad behaviours: trying to bite my legs as I walk, playing with no desirable objects, pulling the laces of my shoes, biting my hands when we play and so on. I don't hit him in any way, but is it admisible to push him away? How can I show him that playing with a toy is good but with my hand isn't? I've already tried ignoring him and walking away but... he doesn't ignore me all the times (LOL). Sometimes he walks behind me and between my legs and continue playing. Should I be tolerant while he's a little older (In other words, is he just being a puppy)? Or must I correct him from now? Thanks a lot!

I was tolerant with mine. She grew out of it eventually. I never really let her play with other people enough to where she had the opportunity to do that with them. She has always been very sweet and gentle with children or people in general. Maybe thats just a reflection of her temperament. I think not correcting her has made the bond and her trust with me stronger. I always liked it when she would go to bite my ankles, or whatever to get my attention. It showed me that she was very focused on me. Things I didn't want her chewing on, I simply put them out of reach, or, "puppy proofed", as I still do with my dogs. You wouldn't leave a knife on the floor with a child and just expect them to understand not to play with it, and trust that they won't. Also, I think when she did bite my pants leg, I tried to introduce other toys, like rope balls, or a tug. Never praised when she was hand or leg biting, but praised quite a bit with the other toys. I guess it comes down to showing her that the other toys are more fun and exciting. This all seemed to work fairly well for my pup and I.

Yes be very tolerant, eventually you will be seen for what you are which is the "pack leader", The golden your brining in soon, will HELP you with this task... If you have truly just "had enough" and get to a point during the day that you just can NOT deal with it, try crating the pup or putting him/her outside for some "alone" playtime... But definately be patient, continue to give toys when he insists on playing and biting at your hand, just keep that toy there as the "appropriate" thing to munch on and reinforce even if with only your voice, that your hand is NOT appropriate to munch on... Munch on toy, You say "good girl" very excitedly Munch on hand, you say "ouch" NO very stern and very loud and let it sink in for a moment but only for a moment, don't linger on that "hurt" issue too long, replace your munched on hand with the toy and resume praise for approprite munching... What a lukcy puppy to have you !!!

Are you planning on doing any bitework or Schutzhund with this puppy ?? If you are then you need to keep alot of toys out for him. When he/she is carrying around a shoe, sock or whatever simply trade it for a toy. Don't ever force the puppy, yell at him or pull out the shoe. As he will not want to bite (this is extremely important if you plan to do Schutzhund or retrieving. The puppy you have has alot of drive, biting on hands and pants leg is part of that, it is normal behavior for a high drive puppy ! If you do not plan on doing these things with the puppy, then you have purchased a too high of a drive puppy for yourself.