Jigsaw

Glad to hear other people have had problems with nipping! I have to day she has settled down, and is mouthing much more although I did notice today a couple of her front baby teeth have disappeared so will make sure she has lots of chewing things around. (She's about 17 - 18 weeks - I think - I'm tired!)

Dont use a sentence on your pup, use one word for him to learn from. Like no, stop, or bahh,

This was actually based on advice to use my attitude rather than the words. Dogs read body language much better than they do words. But I must admit that this technique was discarded as it was not as effective as the yelping - however it has/had to be the right type of yelp otherwise it is ignored! A dog has to be taught what no means first otherwise it is useless, you could train your dog to sit using "no" if you wanted to!

NoodleNut - maybe Noodle is calming herself so she doesn't get too excited when watching those other dogs! My pup did this during puppy classes - it was like "I must not get excited, I must not get excited"! Check out some books on dog calming signals, it's interesting reading if nothing else! If I hid treats in the backyard at the moment they would be sodden messes within minutes it's so wet here!! Go away rain!

This is Paxy at 15 weeks!!

Name: Paxy

Sex: Female

Age: 15 weeks

Breed: Koolie (aka coolie, German coolie)

Colour: Blue merle

DOB: somewhere close to Christmas 07

Likes: chasing balls, squeaky toys, chasing cat, getting whacked by cat, eating anything, barking,

Dislikes: walking on wet grass to wee, being left outside (only for short times), wearing a harness in the car (she can get out of it! )

My puppy was doing this too - she dug up every fresh bit of cat poo in the garden and then found the kitty litter and dragged it around the laundry. Fortunately my cat has a "poo palace" ie it's got a top and a bottom. It also has a flap which I had left off because the cat, being on the large size, had not much room. But since I've put the flap on no more cat poo in the house but I also don't think the cat has been using the litter as much either. I have thought about putting the kitty litter in another room the dog can't get into - we have baby gates up to stop her getting in most of the house!

But it really is gross and disgusting and they look so happy with themselves. I wonder if it's because cat's have a high protein diet and their waste is well, I guess refined protein!

Thanks again for your posts!

Vaccinations 1st one 6-8 weeks, 2nd 10-12 weeks and third one month after that. 10-14 days after second vacc dogs are able to be taken outside for walks. That's how my vet does it these days. I still won't take her to dog parks for a while yet - too many unknowns re temperament, size etc.

I think we are getting there with her. She did jump and nip me today and drew blood but that was the first time for four days and she is starting to mouth me rather than biting, well most of the time. She seems to be listening to me now when I yelp whereas previously she would bite harder. She is now giving me this look as if "OMG what've I done"! Maybe my yelp technique has improved.

I did work her hard today - working on "touch", sit, drop, waiting for food even going up and down stairs (in our house) which she hadn't done before. I will definitely continue her education with obedience and/or agility. Even managed to get her to sit while she was concentrating on the cat!!

Thanks for the help!!

Firmly grab the muzzle and GROWL (you don't want to hurt puppy though, so be careful here).

Tried this early on as this was recommended by most koolie owners as being successful - mine only got excited and then went for my hand!! So I stopped this one!! I have asked the koolie forum and they've been really helpful but apparently she's one of the exceptions it doesn't work for! But each dog is different.

Tried the water pistol when she gets going with the cat and it's turned into a game for her but haven't tried the Apple Cider.

I have been working on the NILIF - all food has to be worked for and playing has to sit for ball to be thrown.

Will try the TOT as I think she is doing what she wants when she wants and if she wants to get a treat she'll sit or do whatever I ask. Actually started it last night (without the tie up) with her dinner making her wait before I posted. Will try it outside tonight.

I'm hoping that once we get out and about the extra exercise will help, she definitely needs the stimulation - although walking on a lead is another fight we have - paw on top or lead in mouth or both!!! She's better in a harness but has managed to get herself out of the harness while in the car too!! That was fun!!

I have a 12 week old koolie pup. She's quite a nice pup, she's gorgeous but she has a tendency to nip and bite. She is much much better than she was when I got her at 71/2 weeks (jumping and nipping) but the problem still remains.

Generally when she starts nipping, biting, chewing (especially toes -she likes toes), if I am sitting I will stand up and say "don't you bite my toes" and generally blather on in a growly voice and leave the area she is for a short time. Now often she will stand in front and bark at me and try to stop me leaving and nip as I walk away! If I turn my back on her to ignore her she sometimes goes for the ankles or the toes, if she can get at them. She gets worse when she is tired or hyperexcited (just like a kid!).

Does anyone have any extra advice about anything else I should be doing, the family is getting a bit frustrated with it - we haven't had a puppy for about 18 years!! Our last dog went to the bridge 2 years ago at 16 years. We can start walking this weekend after 2nd vacc!!!

Hmm can understand your dilemma I used to have a toy poodle and drying that fluff is a necessity especially in winter!! He loved being dried and pampered, he was the scruffiest little thing but he looked so cute when he was fluffed!

To the problem, you might have to desensitise him to it so it becomes a positive experience. Try showing it to him when turned off (and unplugged) using lots of positive encouragement and treats, maybe a really special treat like chicken instead of usual treats. Let him sniff it, paw it, sit on it, play with it, as long as it is a positive experience for him. Do not turn it on when it is next to him this first time or until he is used to it. You first of all want him to get used to it as just an another object. It is a slow process and probably should be done over some time, a little bit every day. If possible have someone else turn it on, perhaps in another room initially, again lots of positive praise and treats. Gradually over time bring it closer to him always with positive encouragement. Even let him see you use it on your hair or someone else while you treat him - dogs are great observational learners!!

Great photos!! Love those gorgeous wrinkles.

Re toilet training. The crate is a great way to go. If you are having trouble with whining barking carrying on I'm afraid you have to ignore it. Reassuring the little darling only makes them worse!!! They do settle down after a while and get used to the crate. They will rarely pee and poop in their own den which is what the crate becomes. Just make sure that there is not excess room in the crate so that they can use their bladder/bowels.

I'm afraid the surface that pups prefer to toilet on is usually hardwired into them by about 4 weeks of age. So if your pup was using grass at it's breeders that may be why it prefers the grass at your friends place and why you are having a hard time at your apartment with the pads.

Pups usually don't have full control of their bladder and bowels till 6 months, even when we think they're housetrained they can still have an accident when they are excited, playing or scared.

Are you using an enzyme spray to remove the scent of the urine/faeces from the rugs? If not he will continue to think that this is a toilet area as their sense of smell is so much better than ours and even when we think it is clean they can still smell it!!!!

Have fun and remember it will just take time as everyone has said!

Edit - forgot to mention putting a (puppy) kong filled with kibble and sealed with cream cheese or peanut butter is a good way to keep them quiet when you first put them into the crate, it gives them something to do!! My pup has a look of sheer bliss when she tucks into her kong with her little bit of cream cheese!!

I've just started the distance learning course of the NDTF. How many others are there out there who've just started??

I'm really excited to do this course - I'm not sure where it will take me but that's all part of the journey.

My first assessment is due 17 March!!! I'm learning so much!!!

I've just started the NDTF course by distance learning. Literally the stuff arrived this Monday morning. I have 4 DVD's to watch and notes and an assessment. They are trialling the practical blocks in Dural this year for NSW based students - I snuck in on the last place for my course. I've only just started but it is exactly what I wanted - the training and behaviour. First part is about senses and body language of dogs. I think it is a pretty comprehensive course and it seems the trainers are highly regarded by people who have had their dogs trained by NDTF trainers.