Thanks to you all for your reply's, plenty of ideas to be getting on with.. today after a bite on the chin, and after dragging him off some ivy in the garden a real tussle which left me with my heart pounding and scared I thought now then Oscar we have to sort this out.. I was told that some plants are dangerous to pups so in his best interest I just picked him up to take him inside, he thought that was time for battle to commence, after the bite on the chin I put him on the floor and grabbed him behind his neck where I thought my hands would be safe from those teeth and frog marched him inside, he didn't yelp but sort of had his head and eyes down,after a day of him launching himself into the dishwasher, fridge, cupboards, and finally it took two of us to keep him out of the oven when I was basting some meat, all I need is a puppy with a scolded nose, so when he took a nap later I came and read all your replys to my post, I decided it was make or break and before I resort to the hitting which I'm putting on hold I decided to try the rolled up paper, someone said that the pup gets so engrossed in what he's doing a "No" won't work , well the paper seems to stop him in his tracks,(hurray)So tomorrow will carry it with me at all times, hope it works.. if not will try the water in the face spray, and the hands on stuff as a last resort..Thanks to you all once again..xx

One more suggestion - we used to scream NO!!!! (really SCREAM) at our pup and then pull him by his collar and push him into his cage. It never failed to startle him, but it's still not hitting him. Sure, he would whimper and bark, but we would ignore him until he fell asleep. He stopped biting!!

I know exactly how you feel, I had the same problem with my westie,Cookie, when he was about 4/5 months old, would he do anything, would he heck, one day he was on the sofa and I told him to get off, and he turned and snarled at me, well, I got hold of the scruff of his neck and his back and pinned him down on the sofa, yelling NO! well there was the two of us, him growling and snarling and me shouting as loud as I could NO, Quiet, this lasted about half an hour, and then suddenly he stopped, so I let go of his back first, then started talking quietly to him telling him "good boy quiet" then let my hand go from the back of his neck and pushed him off the sofa, after that he was quite good, till it started again, a friend of mine, who is an experienced breeder, told me to get the scruff of his neck and just lift him off the ground until the back legs were not touching and keep saying NO to him, well this worked and he realised that he was not going to be the boss of this house, I was, he is now nearly 1 year old and a more loving dog you could not get, what a difference, I find dogs "try it on more than bitches" ive a 6 month old bitch pup and ive never had these problems with her. Hope this helps you.

Hi Irene, yes isn't it a shame that we have to assert ourselves, altho I must say as much as I loved Oscar straight away a few alarm bells were ringing, when you get a pup as a family pet the last thing you want is the whole family afraid to go near it for fear of being eaten alive..I knew for all our sakes that I had to beat this problem,, thank goodness the last 24 hrs have brought on quite a dramatic change.. Oscars changing into a much more docile dog,, we've all had some lovely cuddles with a few nice licks not bites .. the minute he shows any signs of biting again I use the rolled up newspaper and just bang it at the side of him..at first I banged it on my leg but to make a loud enough noise it hurt me too much lol..he's still trying it on with our litle son but I'm getting our Danny to feed him now and that should show Oscar that he's further down the pack than our danny..Even at 9 weeks old he is so strong and wilful that at all costs we have to gain control before he grows and it becomes physically impossible.. Many thanks for your help Irene.xx

Hi
Glad the newspaper is working with Oscar:D I have personally found that shouting at bernese does not work:(
I have found that as a breed, it makes them panic and fearful (as they are such docile creatures) and they stop listening to the commands they are being given.
Marley, at 18 weeks is still behaving like the devil incarnate:) Its the chewing at the moment that is being a challange:(
Perserverence and consistency in the way I shall go with this one. But I am sure when he is being naughty I can see his head swivel around:D Maybe I should of called him Damien:D
Let us know how Oscar gets on:)
Vickie & Marley (demon from the hellfire pit) :)

Hi don't want to sound stupid...but what is the newspaper thing? My pup too loves jumping in cuboards, at the washing machine, the oven and the toilet...oh and eating the toilet systern!

Hi Franc, well I was advised when Oscar was continually biting us and ignoring our "No"..also still nipping us when we turned our backs, to get a rolled up newspaper and bang it at the side of him when he was biting and adding a firm "No" at the same time, the noise just stops him in his tracks and altho I don't think it frightens him he doesn't like it either..eventually he will just stop the naughty stuff at the "No" without the newspaper.. he is very willful and still trying to get into cupboards etc etc.. but doesn't seem to nip when we pull him away ..altho today he has nipped a bit more than yesterday, maybe he's just getting used to the paper now..phew this is hard work..but will succeed eventually..What sort of pup have you got Franc?

A chocolate labrador, he's 12 weeks..but my vet told me that Chocolate Labs are a bit boysterous. He has these mini tantrums and ignores my NO! commands. I will try the newspaper thing tonight..I've never heard of that before...keep your fingers crossed for me...and I'll report back if it works when he next goes ape. Thank you for explaining that for me.

you're welcome Franc, theres one thing I do know and that labs grow into loverly dogs so you are just going thro the boysterous stage and will see an end to it as he matures.. what is this thing he's got with the tiolet cistern? I think our Oscar is just hoping to find food when he's launching himself into the cupboards..Maybe you're not giving him enough to drink and he's on the search for water lol(only joking) good luck with the paper..
Sandy xx

The toilet systern thing...he's trying to pull at the plaster masterial on the U bend of the toilet. He's not actually sticking his head in the toilet seat..its on the outside...it's gross.....

Thank you as the newspaper thing seems to be making a big impression on him!

Love Francy

All Labs are and should be the same but it will depend on the dogs temperament on how it is behaving. A lot of people do say that chocolates are worse but this has a lot to do with the breeding as it is becoming more and more fashionable to have a chocolate Lab and so some breeders are breeding for the colour and not the temperament which can cause problems.

He is only 12 weeks old and so he is being a normal puppy. You have a long way to go before he will settle down into adulthood. Just wait for the teenage stage !!

Lucy

Hey Franc,

Dare I ask how you're getting on with the rolled up newspaper?

Regards Sandy :)

Hello ....

Sorry for not replying sooner. As i mentioned above...the newspaper thing is definately making an impression. He's stopped quite a few times...and if he's tries to be a brat again...I hit the paper on the floor again...only now's he's started to kinda bark at me a bit... but then he backs off!

I'm sticking with it!

francy

Sorry Francy didn't see your earlier reply,I'm backwards and forwards on this site like a busy bee.. I'm keeping the newspaper at the ready, it does have an effect on our Oscar..Anyway the paper comes into a better use than reading the rubbish thats written in it most of the time lol :D

Regards Sandy xx

So when do you think all this teething and chewing stuff should come to an end Vickie.. Must be wonderful to walk into the room and just be normal without carrying weapons(ie.rolled up paper)or titbits.. must get into town soon and buy the "perfect puppy" book...

The perfect puppy thing must be a myth! These little devils who look all cute and cuddly in pictures are mini maniacs. But my vet told me that puppy milk teeth will fall out by 6 months...so its chewing heaven for them until then. I can't wait for the day the teething stops so my clothes and furniture can relax without having a sharp little mouth twisted around them...

Hi
Well there's a question:)
My friends year old bernese will still chew if things are not out of reach (ie. her friends daughter's lizard beany baby, which I add went down in one but 2 days later fortunatly came out still in one piece!!!)
Marley is not as bad as he was, but because they are such a greedy breed with huge appetites (just had Marley weighed and he has put on 3.5 kilos in one week), everything is considered to be food:)
Talking to friends I have found that they all vary and they are not mature until they are two years old.
Marley has a few things he still loves to eat, the sofa, socks, and one of my new plastered walls:( I have just brought a bottle of Shaws natural repellent, So hopefully the sofa and walls are safe and the socks are out of reach:)
After one week of newspaper banging, the nipping stopped and I only have to wave a rolled up paper at him and he behaves himself:D
Oh the joy of berner ownership :D

Vickie & Marley (the even fatter demon)

Hi Vickie yes our Oscar has a fancy to my Sofa, cushions etc,, he's just an eating machine..(nothing is safe) yes they should be called Demon Mountain dogs!!!He's kept in the kitchen at the mo.. which is quite a big one so it's not being cruel but we just can't cope with him on the loose just yet..He does have his moments when the paper works but other times not.. will just persevere..Give Marley a hug for me..little ball of demonic fluff lol
Regards Sandyxx

Hi
I am glad it is not just Marley who enjoys eating the sofa. Oscar and Marley sound very similar in temprement. Both TYPICAL BERNESE THEN!!!!!!!:D:D
Keep on with the paper and yes, carry at all times and have eyes at the back of your head:) I have always given Marley full run of downstairs (would be difficult to put him in one room as we are open plan!). My friend crate trained her bernese and did it work I hear you ask? Er........ no! As soon as he was let out he ran riot, full of pent up energy and naughtiness!
So I have resigned myself to the fact that I have to constantly watch him, praise when being good and manically wave the paper when he is about to launch himself into a feeding frenzy on Oliver (my other dog) or anything that is stationary long enough, for him to get his teeth into! I think it is a case of showing authority at the moment, as Marley is behaving like an unruly teenager:)
Give Oscar big hugs (mind he does'nt nibble your nose:)) lol
Vickie & Marley ( demon hellraiser) :D

Did I say I thought we were getting somewhere with Oscar, well he was just fooling us.. I just can't work him out (part of Oscars cunning plot to gain control of all the humans in this abode)there are so many sides to our darling huge ball of fluff.. today he attacked the newspaper (with tail wagging I might add) and during the day as I innocently walked from one side of our kitchen to the other I felt this excruciating pain and Oscar had launched himself at me and from behind (the coward) bit the back of my leg.1 1/2" wound, by th time I'd sorted myself out it was far too late to reprimand him, but I was so glad it wasn't my little boy who would have been quite hurt..In our house just now its like what will we find thro the square window(being the kitchen door), a docile pup who just licks, or one who is in a playful mood and what part of us is going to be attacked next..My little boy is trying aso hard to listen and do the right thing with Oscar but his little voice has no effect on him whatsoever, sometimes I'm saying now Danny just stand still, "stop moving" and i'm rushing around for the rolled newspaper, in the meantime our Danny's trying to stand still whilst Oscar is trying to sink his teeth into any part of Danny's body he can get..Before we ever got Oscar I got all the info I could about all dogs and thought the bernese sounded our kind of dog."good with children and other animals" so loyal they would die for their owners..(I suppose that applies to lots of other breeds too tho)Someone said to me that you have to gain control of bernese at an early stage.. I'm afraid today I've had to hit him..I didn't want to..don't want to..I'm going to try the spraying him but can just see it...... he'll be soaked from morning to night..There is something there I can work on...he sits and stays he goes down to the floor when I gently push him down as long as he knows I have some titbit he's going to get.. I do this about ten times a day..and have complete control then.. but when he's on a "I'm doing what I want then I've had it.."I just hope it's a puppy stage.. but I don't know wether I can last for two years at this rate i'll be a shadow of my former self...
sorry for the long post...XX

Hi,
We found that a water sprayer worked for Sonny. He's a Goldie pup of five and a half months and was constantly nipping etc. Just generally trying to assert himself as 'the boss'!
Spraying him with water quite vigorously did the trick and he really is quite obedient now although he listens more to my husband than to me....must be a 'man' thing!

Ruth

Willis my Great Dane has been an absolute nightmare at times, but he is now 18 weeks and most of his little teeth have been replaced, he's stopped biting hands except for gently when playing, walks to heel and recalls (90% of the time), and although he forgets himself and sometimes chews a couple of things up, he is getting much much better. He never pees in the house, goes to bed at ten and goes out at 8 in the morning and stays on his own for up to four hours or so very happily.

To be fair, I do think I forgot just how hard it can be - raising a puppy - and things that are perfectly normal to *him* made me think I had the devil dog from hell!

Theres hope for us all :)
Chloe

Well lets hope that theres light at the end of the tunnel, I think that I need to learn about controlling our Oscar..sometimes you have to be what (You'd normally consider "cruel" to be kind) I'm not a controlling sort of person in my normal life and am finding it very difficult to assert myself over Oscar..I feel "cruel" constantly battling and trying to win the fight.. but every day there is some soft moments when we have bonded.. and then he goes on one and those moments have gone..After the injuries so far I must admit I'm frightened already.. what worries me is If I don't get control whats he going to be like when he's fully grown..I thought these bernese were supposed to be such docile creatures..Oscars so good thro the night , almost toilet trained. can be left on his own for2 to 3 hrs..so on the positive side theres a lot going for him..

Hi Sandy

I have a 3 year old little boy - who Willis would not leave alone at first. So I got a HUGE bottle of of water, and every time that Willis gave chase I SOAKED him - right in the face. I only had to do it 3 times and it was sorted, and now he is as gentle as anything with Zack.
How old is Oscar? Sorry if I have missed it on your post - too much red wine :)

Think positive - nearly house trained, can be left, lots of good things going for him!!! :)

Chloe

Thanks Chloe, yes there is a lot of positive things going for Oscar, after all he is only 10 weeks old now..we've a long way to go yet and reading all the replies on here is certainly helping..

Poor you, Sandy, I remember it well.... the tearing the hair out, the "I should never have got him", the "he's going to be a dangerous menace and eat children"......I thought that about mine......and they've all grown out of it become lovely. (So has my teenage son!)

It's hard to do, and very easy to say, but CHILL! It'll all come right in the end. If the training works occasionally now, it'll work more and more often, and in a couple of years you won't believe how panic-stricken you were.(I very nearly returned a VERY naughty pup to her breeder after a week - she turned out to be a soulmate for 15 years!)

You're doing fine. Don't worry.

Oh thanks so much Jeangenie, you are reading my mind.. I didn't like to admit it because we had thought so long and hard before we got a pup, but yes yesterday I really thought "what have I done" I think I felt on the brink of taking Oscar back, panick stricken is just how I felt, should I take him back before we all get too attached to him ..But todays another day..and I will try and "Chill" and be positive..it's early days yet, I can remember when my older children were babies and the sleepless nights etc..I thought it would last forever..now theyre all leading their own lives..then I started allover I'm 51 and our Danny is 6yrs..I'm a Glutten for punishment..At least Oscar is sleeping thro the night, no dirty nappies.. and thank god doesn't need breast feeding.. lol

Why not keep him on lead in the house this way u can get a hold of him real fast and correct him, and he also has to go everywhere u go. If ur sitting down ur child can play with him on lead, then give him some free time off. It also makes house training easier too. Just my opinion. When u r not able to watch him kennel him, and only allow play time with ur child with u in eye sight. Also have ur child hold the other end of the lead and tell him to sit for a treat. I would think that he just see's ur child as another playmate and not alpha to him. I did this with my BT (boston's) and it has worked great. Never had the problem with our hybrid.
Good luck
ttfn :)

Yes some good ideas there thanks.. my son is only 6 but I explained why we all must be above oscar in our pack..our Danny quickly told me today that I'd fed Oscar before us and he said "oh mummy you fed oscar first.. now he'll think he's above us in the pack"..
Sandy xx

It could be something to do with your husbands voice being deeper or more assertive than yours Ruth..or maybe he just does like men more than women...lol
Sandy

HI
With my dogs i use " agh agh " quiet loud and sternley when they are doing something i dissapprove of in the immediate instance, i think they can tell when i am not happy by my tone, that seems to have worked for me!

Just picking up on chloes recall 90 % of the time, any tips! When a dog is fully trained to come when called do they do it every single time or do we still expect some refusal?

Mark

Hi

I have never had a dog (although my staffy bitch comes flying back when called) before who has recalled - thats why I was determined to drum it into him from an early age!! :) Basically, I reinforce it constantly around the house "Willis come!!" followed by titbit... when he's in the front room, upstairs, outside...just keep calling and calling him. Always take food out with me and keep it in the same pocket and keep calling him back throughout the walk aswell. I also "over-socialised" him with other dogs to the point where he just got less and less interested in them and more and more interested in me :) He is only 18 weeks old, but I know if I can get him to do it now it will get better and better.

I was also advised to teach him tricks - as it increases the bond between you.... give it a try... works for me.
Course, I've probably jinxed myself now and he'll leg it as soon as i let him off the lead
HTH
Chloe

Oh ok chloe i'll try that. What i will say is that Benji was our first dog and we actually use the command 'heel' when hes off the lead and
'heel in ' for when hes on the lead. Im sure this wont make a difference to useing 'come', but what do you think?!

Mark

Willis probably wouldn't hear the difference in the two - cos he's not the sharpest pencil in the box :)

I find "come" good cos its got a kinda edge to it - but really its not the words its the actions that go with it I think!

Thanks Chloe, Looks like me and you are the only people on here that are at work! No i didnt think it would make a difference either my way of thinking is that with heel i am asking him to heel to my legs or feet on or off the lead so he should associate both with the same action!? Anyway he is a 2 yr old dog that has recently been done at the vets so hopefully he will get better!

Mark

Hi Mark, yes sometimes "agh agh" has worked for me too..but how do u get anything to work all the time.. with our Oscar one thing works one time and not another I feel so mixed up..lol

Hi
Poor you:( Oscar is getting the better of you at the moment:(
Yes, bernese are docile dogs BUT it is the normal case of taking control:)
Marley is adorable and I love him to peices but I have to be strong (with a very firm voice) and constantly be on his case (much to his disgust) This nipping must stop (arm your son with his own rolled up paper) but to be fair Oscar is playing and pushing his luck:(
It seems he is trying to take control of the family at the moment and the nipping is being used to put you in your place.I did try the water pistol but bernese love water, so that was a great game!!! Are you getting your son to feed Oscar?
I am also being quite cruel at the moment with Marley. When I feed him I make him sit and wait for his food.....and I make him wait at least for one minute before his food bowl hits the floor. I am doing this because he used to nip me at meal times to encourage me to hurry with his meal:( He does not nip now:D
When Oscar does manage a nip do you ignore him or tell him off? I find with Marley if I ignore his bad behaviour he lays down and sulks because he did not get a reaction. After a couple of minutes I call him to me for a cuddle and if he nips again I walk away from him. This seems to give him time out as he does get over excited and then at the next cuddle he is all licky licky with me:D
Please do not despair and do not be frightened of him, his nipping is not through malice, just play. But they do not understand how sharp their little teeth are:)
He is still a baby but he will learn. He just needs time and firm guidance:D
Take care. lol.
Vickie & Marley (the demon in fluffy disguise)

Hi Vickie, yes Oscar is trying to push his luck, but today I'm making him sit before we do anything sit and stay before his food.. sit and stay before going outside. I try to go outside the back door first or win the fight to get outside thro the door first.we've had a very good day today overall, so Oscars bags haven't been packed yet lol..have managed to stop him nipping anyone today..so our scabs should get chance to heal now..crossing fingers..It's great to share these problems with some other doggy folks thanksXX Sandy

i have found that the book "the culture clash" by jean donaldson is excellent, very thought provoking ! i do have the perfect puppy but i do prefer the culture clash
imho
scatty

Will need to get the "perfect puppy" book and the "culture clash" too..lots of reading to do armed with my books and puppy training classes.. should get somewhere eventually.. thanks scatty..
Sandyxx

Hi -just wanted to say -keep going and persevere and it will pay off ,I've been reading this thread and it is very similar to how we where when we got Murph (Dobe ) .WE made him almost totally reliable on our youngest ( 8) and it has paid off :)
I've had Murph in the car going to the rescue centre on more than one occasion ( never quite made it though ;)
Murph is 15 months now and although he is not perfect :rolleyes: at all -He is marvellous with all the kids that come and go through the house ,
Keep at it
best wishes
LIz

Hi Liz, our little Danny is so willing to do what we tell him so Oscar can become a "good dog" and it's a good thing Oscar hasn't made our Danny frightened of him..altho he has quite a lot of scratches from Oscars teeth, I'm very proud of him..and I'm sure we are turning a corner now danny feeds him whenever he is in the house except for lunchtime when I'm there on my own..This site has helped so much, I never realised that you had to show a dog its position in the pack,or the alpha stuff..bit by bit all the help and info from everyone here has saved Oscar from going back to the kennels from where we bought him (the lady gave us 10 days )and believe me when it got to the 8/9th day I was getting panicky!! I was like so many, I believed you got a pup just showered it with love and got a perfect loving puppy..Dugh!!

Sandyxx

If nothing else, you can hit him on the head with the books!!! (Joking of course) :D :D

Or Dizzy's Baseball bat :D :D
LIz :)

lol lol lol, my husband must think I'm mad he's in the kitchen and all he can hear is me laughing in the computer room at your comments.. I just realised I haven't laughed at anything since we got our Oscar..thanks xx

Hi sandy -I'm glad things are getting better -It can be a struggle, but your not alone ,:)
Liz

Thanks for the advice Liz - am gonna try it on the walk today :)

Sandy - I know how you feel. I caught myself tiptoeing upstairs today really really quietly so as not to wake Willis up. Its harder than having a baby sometimes :)

Yes Chloe I'm afraid I've fallen into that trap too, if anyone goes into the kitchen I automatically say "SHHH". Our stairs are so creaky theres no chance of creeping up or down them, so we all sleep downstairs now(only joking) Our friend came to see us the other day and he said he has a picture in his mind of our house in another two yrs.Oscar layed in our bed, with sunglasses on and a cigar in his mouth shouting "FETCH ME A BONE" \:D \:D (first time trying Emoticon hope it works)

Sandy xx

Obviously not :D :D If at first u don't succeed ..