Hey, we have a 9 week old Cairn Terrier, who we've had for a week tomorrow.  We've had 2 Yorkies before now but they didnt live with us permenantly until they were 8 yrs old ( they belonged to a relative who moved abroad).
So having a puppy is very new and its not going as well as we'd expected at all.  This could well be miscommunication on our part I'd really appreciate and advice, and to let us know what we're doing wrong!!!

Firstly the main problem is the biting.  He goes for any part of you!  Usually hands and feet but if you're sat down hell just launch  himself at you, grab any part of your clothes, he even pulls hair clips out of my hair or just chews the hair( makes me laugh that does though, and it's my fault for putting my head near him!!!!)
I dont think he intends to be nasty but just that its his way of playing, unfortunately being a pup, this means any time you try to stroke him, show him affection, play with him etc he get excited and bites.  the only time he doesnt is when he's asleep!
Perseverence is whats needed but I'd like to know the best thing to persevere with!  Tried calm but firm 'NO'- takes no notice.  Ignoring him doesnt work either.  Shouting 'No' sometimes stops him, but only for a few seconds.  Even a tap on the bum doesnt work.  We've been saying 'No' and taking him out the room for a 'time out'.  He doesnt seem to understand what NO means though.  He takes no notice.
Its really disheartening as we cant play, cuddle him, brush him, teach him to sit and down etc, put a collar and lead on or anything except pray hell lay down and sleep, or play tug with out going for us.  Its constant, and really does push my patience.  I shout at him too much. 
Is this normal for a young pup?  Are we handling it correctly?

Also toilet training.  I take him in the garden very regular and praise him when he goes outside and give him a treat.  If i see him doing it inside i shout NO, OUT and make him go outside.  Is this the best way to do it???

Thank you for reading this long post!!

Ellie

Hi Ellie - sounds like a typical puppy so don't panic ;)  Pups always bite initially - it's how they play with their littermates and learn "survival" skills but, with patience, perseverance and consistency, he'll learn it's unacceptable because whatever fun he's having during rough games quickly desists when he "hurts" his playmates :)  Do a search on here for play biting and you will find oodles of tips but at the moment there are a few things you should not do 1. don't shout at him, 2. don't smack him - however lightly a "tap" and 3. don't laugh about it!  Dogs don't understand the concept of anger or physical punishment in the way we do - they are a different species!
Re toilet training take him immediately out on waking, after eating, after short games, every 30 minutes during wakened periods.  Wait with him until he performs and as soon as he begins use a command word such as "busy" which he'll eventually associate with what's expected of him.  *Ignore* accidents indoors - they're *always* the fault of the owners for failing to spot when the puppy needs to go ;)  Quietly and calmly clean up with a water/bio washing powder solution to remove smells and scrutinise his every move :D  HTH, regards Teri

Hi again Ellie,

Try reading this link too http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm which tohme posted recently and is very informative about how best to deal with puppies biting and how important it is for them to learn bite inhibition :)

regards, Teri

Teri - thanks for posting that link - I must have missed it when Tohme posted it - I think it is really good advice, and I've now put that link in favourites, so that I can come back to it and print it out and give it to owners of new puppies if we do have another litter.

Margot

Just to add to what Teri's posted - don't expect quick results! All puppies play like this and need to learn that we humans are silly softies in comparison with their littermates and need to be treated much more gently. This will take several weeks of calm, consistent effort from you, but it will happen!

What I found worked when I've allowed my pups to get over-excited and they've got a bit rough and bitey was to stop playing and say in a low, calm voice "Ah ah! No, gently! Gently!" and remove myself from the playing area. Too much tooth pressure=game over! It's worked every time so far.

Good luck!

Thank you for the advice-much appreciated.  At least we know all this biting is normal and that hopefully perseverence  and a lot of patience will pay off.  Ill read the link you posted aswell- thank you.

Is it ok to feed him dried puppy food and meat puppy food together?
I was giving him 3 dried meals and 1 meat but hes not eating the dried as much now, he's started leaving it so ive been giving him 2 dry and 2 meat meals.
When he goes out to do his business its not very firm, could this be the change in rountine hes had (only beeb with us a week), or is it me with the food, or would keeping him on dry help??

thank you again

Wow- thats link was so helpful. 

Thats where were going wrong- expecting him to stop altogether.

thank you

Hi Ellie :)
As you're discovering, if you offer him dry and then meat he's most probably always going to opt for meat ;)  Bit like asking a child (or me :rolleyes: ) to choose between eating soup or pudding .....  Any sudden addition or change to a pup's diet can cause tummy upsets so always introduce new foods very gradually over minimum of 10-14 days total changeover.  Also if you give too much in quantity it will loosen his motions.
Choices of complete - whether dry or moist - vs. fresh cooked,  vs. fresh raw - food decisions are endless and if you search on here you'll bewitched, bothered and bewildered :D  With complete, in theory, all the guesswork is taken out as to what nutrients etc a growing dog needs.  Dry completes are most common to source, but Nature Diet is an excellent moist complete (comes in plastic trays & a puppy variety) and available from Pets at Home and on-line :)  If he's already going faddy on you it's best to decide on one type of food and try to stick with it providing he appears healthy on it.  regards Teri :)

The best way to stop the biting is to give him something else to bite - other than you or your clothes - have loads of toys of different textures and making different noises etc and when he bites you distract him with a toy - he'll soon learn the toys are much more fun - especially if you play tug or fetch.

Good luck

That link is great Teri.

Warm regards Susan

Thanks once again for your advice.

The link was amazing and just by following that advice hes improved so much. 
It says to let them bite and mouth but try to let them know when they do it too hard.  And its working great, i can enjoy him being with me, he can enjoy chewing my thumb, and neither of us get wound up by him 'going for us' and us shouting at him.

Great news :)  Enjoying each other is what it's all about after all!

Best wishes, Teri

Hi Ellie

My mother in law has a Cairn who is lovely and strangely enough before this she had Yorkies. The Cairn, Bud, was a bit of a shock to the system after the Yorkies, as Cairns are incredibly playful and mischievious. I agree with the other posters that its totally natural for Puppies to bite and I agree with all of the advice given. Rest assured, with pacience they quickly grow out of this.

With regards to toilet training this seems to be difficult with Cairns. Bud had a lot of accidents and for quite some time. I have since heard from a few other owners that theres were the same. Bud seemed to stop doing this over night. With the right training and patience you will end up with the most wonderful, entertaining and lovely little dog!

Good Luck xxx