Question:He is a Lapso Apso x Pomeranian and he is just a hand full, He is constantly tring to play which equals biting in his mind. Also, He chases my cat and bites chunks of fur out of him. I have been holding his mouth closed and firmly saying NO but its just not working. Also, he isn't getting the whole house training thing very good, I try to take him out when i think he might have to go, as he does not make any sign that he has to, no whining or anything. And crate training does not work for this pup, he barks and whines till he poops all over himself and throws it around, or throws up. So I have been just letting him on his own in the house. I just don't know what to do. If anyone has any serious ideas, please let me know as it would be a great help! :) Thankyou
Answers:
I agree that a lot of this is the puppy thing, but you still need to stop this now or it will become an acceptable thing later on.
I agree that its playful biting and not meant to do any harm. If dogs were still with their siblings at that age they would be "testing" their boundries by biting their siblings and rough housing with them. That's how they learn their boundries. The siblings will allow them to play and rough house until they've had enough or until they go to far and it hurts.
I'd suggest a couple of things. If you are playing with the dog and he starts to bite...squeal like a dog would if they were hurting (I know this sounds odd) and then get up and walk away and immediately stop the play. Don't look at him or play again for a while. If he is biting the cat, I'd either use a shake can (several penny's in a pop can would do fine) or spray him with water and say NO BITE.
If literally EVERY TIME he bites at you or bites at the cat you do this he will figure out that biting equals no more play or biting equals a loud noise or a squirt...he'll get it. He's very young now though....so his brain isn't quite at the point where it is caught up with his body so it will take time for him to realize that biting equals something he doesn't like.
On the housetraining thing.... I'd suggest at least keeping him in one room, the smaller the space the better. If he has run of the whole house then the whole house is available for him to potty. Maybe a bathroom or the kitchen is a good idea. As for signals....your dog is giving signals right now, you probably just aren't recognizing them yet. Often they will be playing or focused on something and they will get up and stop and start walking around sniffing at the floor, or walking in circles or wandering around or heading to the corners of a room or under a table. Those are signs.
I'd really suggest continuing to work on the crate thing. I'd suggest putting him in the crate for very short periods (I'd start with a minute or two)then letting him out and praising him and if you are treat training giving him a treat. Slowly build up to longer periods of time. You can also feed him inside the crate or toss his treats or toys inside the crate when you are playing. Eventually he will start understanding that the crate is a good thing and that he will not be trapped in the crate forever and that you are coming back and that good things happen after he's in his crate...etc.
Other Answers:
Cut all your hands and ankles off and kill your cat .
when my puppy did that i used a squrit gun and sprayed his nose with it when he was biting
tap him on the nose and say NO! firmly. He'll quiet eventually.
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He's only a puppy! But don't let him get away wth it. Have a spray bottle with you at all times. If he goes for your ankle or hand/whatever then spray him on the butt or chest. (NEVER IN THE EYES OR ON THE FACE). Do not hit, beat, or scare your dog. No flicking of the nose, either.
ADVICE: Do what I say - do not hurt your dog because he will live in fear of you all his life.
The very second your dog bites put your hand around the muzle holding his mouth shut and say "no bite" Tempt the dog to bit hand by holding hand near dogs mouth, again the very second the dog tries to bit you hand repeat
You've tried just anything that a normal person can do. Next step is to try an animal trainer. A professional. They go to school for this kind of stuff, so they'd know how to train that pup of yours. Puppy boot-camp isn't quite as bad as human boot-camps, and it's actually a good way for your dog to get to know you better and certainly start to learn to obey your commands. (Try asking your vet about an animal trainer or an animal training school...I think PetCo sometimes also have them...)
When he bites he thinks he is playing. The only way to get this idea out of his head is to see that he gets no attention whatsoever when he bites. If he wants your attention, he needs to do it on your terms. If he nips you while playing, simply brush him off and walk away without saying anything. If he follows you, go into another room and shut the door. Come back out in a few minutes and resume your normal activities- if he tries to initiate play in a way other than biting you after this, you can go ahead and play. It is important to make sure that EVERYONE he has contact with deals with this in the same way. If you walk away when he bites, but your friends don't, he won't understand.
Get him a chew toy like a Kong so that he has something acceptable to bite- this is normal puppy behavior, he just needs to learn not to bite living things.
You can try negative reinforcment...as you have been...but you may have already noticed that it doesn't really work...This is a puppy thing...he has those awful needle teeth and he wants to use them...they will fall out soon (pray that you don't find them in the carpet with your bare feet...not fun) and he'll eventually quit... It really is jsut a puppy thing...he'll get better. I'll pray that your cat makes it throught the teething time...lol.
There is hope for the puppy and kitten look for obedience trainer in the area
When i first got my puppy (a lab/retriever mix) i kept him in eyesight at all times to prevent him from going to the bathroom, the second he started too i would say his name loudly and rush him outside, the second he went outside i woudl say good boy and give him a treat. I did this for a good 2 monthes almost always and he is now almost always potty trained.
As far as the crate training goes. i agree with what someone else said, you have to work into it slowly, my puppy came from a shelter so he was used to cages. But just put his food in there and like him eat in the crate and then put a favorite toy or treat and shut it for a few minutes with him in it. IT's a hard thing to do but this will also help with the potty training! And give him/her a sense of security (and he'll be safe) when you are not around..
as far as the biting goes. i am having problems wiht that as well still.. puppies are a work in progress. :)
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