I don't know what's going on :) But my GSD Della is becoming SEVERLY insurgent. She KNOWS when I am telling her "No" that I mean no, she just does not care. She doesn't respond to any bite inhibition, including bitter apple (It only works about 3 minutes, then she is back to knawing on people.) She is HURTING people with this. She won't even respond to basic physical punishment, such as scruff pulling, that only makes her worse! I think she understands that I am in the boss, when I put her in the submissive position, she will only look at me in the eyes for a few moments, then look away and go limp. She does not care about what me or my fiance say or do, and is making my fiance cry from frustration on a daily basis now. I know that puppies are wild and fun loving, but Della is pushing the envelope further every day. A good example is that my brother brought over his boxer who is the same age, and that dog actually LIKED humans.. she bit a few times, but nothing like della. Della is like the dog with ADHD. I don't know what to do. Everyone is telling me about "Puppy discipline classes" and the ones that do not cost $1,000 won't accept my dog because she is not "16 weeks old."

Della loves to cause us problems, and it almost seems like she is doing it JUST to spite us. I've never seen a puppy like this. She is just too smart for her own good!

Should I step up my "No" to a slap? She won't respond to ANYTHING!

Concerned,

Matt

Matt

Each time she starts to nip - put her straight out of the room saying a very firm no!! She wants to be with with you but is trying to set the terms. You need to take over so by putting her away from you - just for a few minutes - she will learn that this behaviour does not get her what she wants. Also you need to be observant and learn to stop the play and change tack before she turns to nipping. I don't think a slap will get you anything. She seems fairly determined from what you have said. I fear a slap could turn into somethign far nastier.

Each time she is playing being nice give her lots of gentle praise - nothing to exhuberant as that encrouages the excitement that can then get out of control and turn into something totally different. She is only a baby - but being the breed she is has the ability to become a dog that could be out of control and do a lot of damage. You need to re-inforce that you and your girlfriend are the boss.

Force does not work with every dog and you need to find out what makes yours tick the main thing with a young puppy is keeping her mind occupied and you dictating what games are played and when - but bearing in mond that like most young animals, she will have a very short attention span so you need to keep her mind active before it becomes bored or troublesome.

hth

Pam n the boys

The problem is that ANY TIME she gets near someone she BITES them! If I put her in her crate every time that occured, she would be in there 24/7! ALL DAY LONG! She nips me before I get the crate door opened sometimes. We're basically at our wits end with this. Our guests love her but become uncomfortable when they are being devoured by a puppy. She does not care about what I say! If I pet her one time, BITE. Instant bite.

mmmmmmmmm - it seems to me that she doesn't like her crate and that she can now sense anxiety associated with her and visitors. You need to make it a nice place for her to be so that you can put her there BEFORE she gets to any person she may nip and not use it as a punishment. I think you need to re-start the crate training. Leave the door open and feed her in it let her come and go to it as she pleases sometimes closing the door sometimes not - but each time she is in it give her lots of encouragement and praise. When visitors come - put her in her crate. If you periodically put her in her crate at different times - then she'll learn to go in when you tell her to.

I would also start engineering the timing of your visitors so that you are prepared. When the visitors come keep her on her lead so that as soon as it looks like she is going to open her mouth pull her back - make sure you do this before her jaws have closed on the poor visitor though:D Let them have a treat for her - but only give it to her when she sits nicely. The main secret is to be firm but consitent with your approach - no exceptions. I know it sounds easy - but is very hard in reality - but if you are to develop a loving trusting relationship with your puppy - you are going to have to go back to basics and keep at it.

I can't believe that she can be this bad 24/7 - I know when you have a new puppy and they are being difficult - it can seem like it is never-ending and that in itself can perpetuate the problem. Dogs sense anxieties and if you are giving off signals of anxiety - then she'll pick up on them and behave badly.

Try to put yourself back to the day you first got her and start all over again - be positive and consistent.

hth

Pam n the boys

Hi Matt

You don't say how old Della or how long you have had her other than she is not yet 16 weeks.

This means she is still a baby, babies have very short memories and even shorter attention spans.

There is no way she is doing anything to spite you - dogs do not think like this.

It is unlikely that she does understand yet that No means No.

If she stops biting you for even three minutes then this is good (although it would be better if you could get her to stop by saying a short sharp NO! rather than resorting to Bitter apple.

If you like the way your brother's pup acts why not go and spend some time with them and see how that family and dog react to each other? It sounds as if you and your partner are both getting het up and possibly expecting more from your pup than she is possibly capable of at her age and because you get het up she will pick up on this. If you can both relax around her things should improve.

Have you read any books on puppies and/or dog behaviour? If not try to find some as this may help you learn what to expect from a puppy and how they think, as I get the impression from your mail that you are putting a lot of adult human emotions onto you pup when she is in fact still a canine baby with a lot to learn

Christine

Keri,

You make some good points. Della is now 12 weeks old. My brother and I are the same way! He does the same things I do, and his boxer acts darling! Della isn't stupid, I've taught her things such as Sit and Down. I don't get very angry or excitable around the dog, my fiance is a completly different story. This dog literally makes her CRY every single day! I am not exaggerating..

Sounds like the fiancee needs to take a more active role in disciplining the puppy. If a 12 week old puppy is making her cry daily then the puppy has come to KNOW IT is higher in the pack than the fiancee - at least that is the message she is giving. EVERYONE needs to be consistent with the puppy.

When ours went through the biting stage I strongly encouraged people to hold her muzzle and tell her no biting - she hated it, but she got the message that NO meant NO, and NO ONE was allowed to be bit.

Wendy

Now what just happened is shocking. I have tried this approach before:

She began biting and chewing on me, I said "Della, NO BITE." and immediatley took her into the next room and left her there for 5 minutes. She came back out and we repeated the process 3 more times, each time she was more and more hesitant to bite us! NOW AFTER ONLY 4 TIMES OF DOING THIS: She has STOPPED BITING US! Also, the power of our "No" is much more potent! This has all happened within AN HOUR.

Great stuff - but keep at it.

Pam n the boys

Now this is funny, she is only applying the "No bite" rule to me, and not everyone else. Sigh.

I think I am lucky to have nice quiet dog.