ROFLOLWLIA!!!!!!!!!!!

Leigh! It's your mind! never even noticed until you pointed it out!

Lindsay, I know you love BSD's but thats no reason to shoot the Staffie!!!!

John. Best laugh i've had since i broke my leg 30 years ago

Must be my Shotgun Mentality *Groan* ;-) lol Leigh xx

LOL i never even noticed it either - I promise I wouldn't REALLY suggest shooting a Staffie, honest!!! <VBG>

LIndsay (still chuckling)

Yeh, but the "advisor" is fair game :D lol Leigh

He he he yes indeedy! ;0

LIndsay

Hi Littleskin

You have certainly been given dodgy advice there. All you are doing by repeatedly hitting the pup is re-inforcing that violence is what you want. You do have to show him that you are the dominant one. Putting him in his basket is no good. He is too young to be expected to stay there yet.

There are several things you can try. When he nips, yell "ow" turn away and ignore him. If this is not working then for both your sanity, you do need to give him and yourself time out. When he nips, say no, pick him up and shut him in the kitchen - just for a few minutes. Do this everytime he nips and he will learn that nipping actually gets him taken away from you. He doesn't want that, he wants to be with you.

If you can, put him on his back and kneel over him in a dominant way - growl at him and stare him in the eye. Do not avert your gaze but wait for him to look away. Don't just do this when he's nipping though - I fear that could turn into a battle, do it when you are playing. Try to have toys that he can get anytime - but then get a favourite toy that you control. Before he starts the nipping, you'll have to judge that, get the toy out and play with him. Basically try to divert his attention, then while he is still enjoying the play - end it with lots of praise and cuddles. Put the toy away and settle down for a cuddle.

I have Cockers and one of the reason I chose them as my breed was because they are so friendly and biddable etc - what a shock I had when my first Cocker pup was doing exactly what your Staffie is doing. He is now 13 months old and we have no problems with nipping or biting at all. It all finally stopped after doing the above for a few days. He would still try to nip my son as he sent out the wrong messages to the pup. By the time Jasper was about 8 months old, all the chewing and "games" with my son had stoppd and we now have a wonderful, playful chap. The second pup who is just 5 months old has never nipped like Jasper did. He did try when very young once or twice - but the firm message from the off sorted it straightaway.

You have the will to do what's right for your pup so it will get better in time. He is still very much a baby and this is very normal - but you do need to control it. Almost all puppies go through the nipping stage and it will turn to biting if you don't treat him properly and unfortunatly because you have a staffi - you already have a large amount of prejudice to deal with. You will therefore have to work harder at controlling him.

I do just wonder a little though if you are trying to do too much all at once while he is still so very young. Possibly ease up on the tricks training etc just for now. Let him settle in more, deal with the nipping etc and move onto more control training in a few weeks. Do sit and stay now - but the rest - I'd leave a while. Enjoy him being a wee baby - it doesn't last long

Good luck

hth

Pam n the boys

I'm not repeatedly hitting him, I have smacked him a couple of times guys, once for biting wire, once for biting the sofa and once for biting me......I hope you realise I'm learning too :)

Hi

As I said before, you are very willing to do the right thing and are doing a great job. We are ALL constantly learning. I have had dogs almost all my life, not as a breeder, but as a pet owner and now show dogs - I hope;).

Don't give yourself a hard time, persevere, enjoy him and you will have a long and beautiful relationship:p

Hi Danny

I would just like to say I agree with what Pam said about doing too much to soon. He is only little, and trying to get used to you and his new surroundings. Doing lots of training so soon is maybe being counterproductive.

When I rehomed my dog I took him off to training classes straight away and started training him at home to sit/lie/get off the furniture/come/give a paw etc etc all at the same time. He was trying to get used to me and a completely different environment to the one he'd been used to, and all this training was just too much for him to cope with. Ease off a little, it's not a contest to see whose dog can learn the most the fastest......take time to get to know him, and give him time to get to know you. Incorporate brief training sessions into your games and as he gets older you can maybe set aside a couple of 10 minute sessions a day concentrating on one particular command (eg come). Remember not to shout/hit etc if he doesn't do it right, and to give him lots of praise and the odd treat when he does!

As you get to know him, you will begin to trust your instincts and know what works and what doesn't; what he likes and what he doesn't. It's all very rewarding, but takes lots and lots of time and patience and at times you feel like its two steps forward and sixty three steps back.

One thing someone told me recently which made me think. At school, did you respect the teacher who had to yell to control the class, and who belted the pupils (showing my age here); or did you respect the teacher who could get everyone sitting at their desk ready to learn with one, quiet word....?

You'll be fine, hang on in there!

Thanks for the support guys, Charlie has been grate today and this morning I sorted out the flat and filled his kong with peanut butter, so he spent an hour or too trying to get that out....as for the nipping, I think I may have been getting frustrated because when I am shouting ow and turning around he is either going for my trousers or when I push him away he thinks it's a game.....anyway to cut it short, he tried nipping a few times today and I shouted "Ow" and placed him in the bathroom which I get the impression isn't the most effective way with him, so when he did it again, I shouted "Ow", and got up and left the room, and I got a totally different reaction from him, he sat there I closed the door and he started whining.......after a minute or so I went back in sat on the sofa and ignored him, and he just sat there watching me, so I'm gonna keep doing it.....as for feeling bad about smacking him, well lets just say I gave him a kiss and he didn't hesitate to give me one back so I think he still loves me :) Anyway will update you all with what is going on, and I am gonna chill and enjoy my doggie :))))

Good for you. One of my favourite trainers always ends her lessons saying "go away and enjoy your dogs". She is so right, and we should remember it. Have fun.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Hi Guys I have uploaded a picture onto a site of Charlie so you can see how cute he is, here's the address.

http://www.facelink.com/littleskin

Daniel

XX

Aww isn't he cute,, you're not kidding! :)

The one thing that comes out in your posts is how much Charlie means to you, and also how hard you are trying to do the right thing, and as other have said we do all get it wrong sometimes. We aren't born with knnowledge (unfortunately!).

I think too there are times when life is a bit of a bugger and even simple things, like cooking or shopping, seem a trial. Sometimes when I feel fed up, my puppy really makes me laugh and then suddenly the sun is shining again and all is right with the world:)

I am sure that you will do your best by your boy, and that you will be the best owner and friend that Charlie could ever want!!

Thanx for the picture Danny. He's great ! :-) Leigh

hi Daniel

He looks gorgeous, a proper little bundle of ischeif - keep up the good work.

very best wishes

Pam n the boys

He is gorgeous Daniel,

I have been reading your posts with great interest and you are doing really well. This lot are always here to offer advice and help and to turn to when things are a bit much somedays so keep posting - it's great to hear how you are getting on.
Keep smiling :)
Sara

Aww, he is adorable. How could anyone resist that cute little face....

Dairylea is another great favourite for the Kongs, Danny, or broken up bits of dog treats and biscuits. Eee, that dog will end up eating better than you ;)

Hi, Sarah here.

I have a 13 week old Dogue De Bordeaux pup and the only thing that works when he nips, is for me to growl loudly at him, in the same way my 2 year old mastiff does. It's kind of saying "no" in a language he understands.

Good Luck

Thanks for your 'sound' advice,

The last week has been really difficult and I haven't been coping very well, that's part of the reason I have been getting so het up with Charlie, I have a few mental health problems, and I get very depressed and stressed, anxious. I haven't been sleeping well and am on loads of medication and have just moved into a new flat without much support, have no contact with family and am finding dealing with balancing the finances and juggling the money etc etc quite hard and scary, I didn't get very good parenting and so I'm as well as finding it hard to cope, scared too, and that's part of the reason why I dealt with charlie as I did, I don't want you to get the wrong impression, I'm not a viloent person and am generally a kind affectionate and caring person, I would never beat Charlie, but on these couple of occasions he was really pressing my patience....anyway I have slept a bit and had time to think and time to change my behaviour, as well as time to feel really guilty....anyway at first I tried shouting "Ow" and leaving the room, but he was grabing my trousers all the time, so I change tactics abit and shout "Ow" take him by the scruff and give him a little shake and "No", and then leave the room, I noticed this evening that even though he is nipping, he is being more gentle or at least I think anyway....He doesn't seem to like it when I leave him alone for a minute or so, so hopefully that will work.

The other thing is what kind of food can I use to give him, I mean I give him Pigs ear and Denta Rask, and I stuff his Kong with Peanut butter, what other things can I get for him, I got him a cow hide bone but he's not intrested in it, although it may be to big for him, I have got him them shoe things which are alright, I wanted to goto the butcher and get a bone, but am not sure if he is old enough, I was told that you can fill them with cheese, but I don't know what kind of bone to get and what's safe for him, what kind of titbits can I give him for good behaviour, I never not once since I have had him fed him from the table. My own appetite is pretty poor through depression, and it may be a good thing, as I am trying to eat some toast or whatever before I feed him and make sure he see's me eating before him.

He has loads of toys and I try to alternate which one's he has with the squeaky one's, but generally I make sure he has his nylabone, Kong and Squeaky toy and I always take away the toys when we have finished playing, I try to make sure he has them avalible the squeaky one's but at the same time trying to make sure I have right over toys, as I never know if I am giving him enough or not enough toys, is a kong, a nylabone, squeaky toy and a teddy which he cuddles too much?

He always sleeps in the kitchen unless I am on the computer and he wants to come in like at the moment, he hanging wit his head dangling of the edge of the basket watching me type.

I've noticed the last couple of day's he has started growling more when he is playing....it sound's sooooooo funny, Like a little Lion cub......ahhh he trys so hard!!!

The other thing he started doing last week was marking his territory, it's so funny, he trys doing to things at once like playing with the ball and suddenly can't help but lift his leg and rub it against whatever, including me, and either looks at me as if to say "Don't laugh" or/and falls over trying to do two things at once.... :)

I couldn't believe it about three night ago he started mounting my leg and then again with my friend this last evening, at what age do dogs start doing that, he's 11 weeks, is that early? A friend whom also has a staffie says it is, although she doesn't have much experience with the frist 9 months, because she got hers later, she also says that he may be an aggressive dog because of the above, should I get him done, I wanna stud him, but if it means his less aggressive then perhaps I should.

I'm glad I got him, although the last few days have been difficult, it's funny because my partner (friend) has said that if I'm not snorring then Charlie is. :)

I suddenly woke two nights ago, to a choking sound, and it took me a minute to work out what it was in a daze, and then suddenly panicked realising Charlie must have eaten something and be choking on it even though he is put in his crate at night, so I rushed out to the kitchen like a blaze only to find he was laying with his head on his kong, causing him to snort and snore....fast asleep!!!

He's so silly..... he falls asleep like in a second, and one minute his trying to dig a hole in his basket and the next his fast asleep again, at the moment his fallen asleep with his head over the edge of the basket, just dangling from watching me typing....stupid Charlie!!!!

Anyway I wanna intorduce him to my friends staffie as soon as he has had his second lot of jabs, hopefully all will go well, any tips? I know it's good to socialise them when there young, have I left it to early late or is it just right he'll be around 13 weeks when we intend to introduce him, perhaps it will do him some good and hopefully her dog will teach him when he nips, apparently her dog is a big softy and is good with other dog so will shall see

Anyway thanks all sorry to have gone on so much

Thanks for the help

Daniel and Charlie

XXXX

One thing is it better to just walk away and leave him in the living room, or actually pick him up and put him out in the kitchen after shouting OW???

For benefit of people following this forum, I posted this on another forum this morning about crates.

I'm not sure if I am doing the right thing with crate training, my pup 11 weeks monday, the first night I put him in the crate he howled the place down, and after 5 hours of it, I finally gave in and let him sleep on the bed as to get some sleep, the second night he wasn't so bad and tried letting him sleep in his basket which he did. I have problems sleeping myself, so I have had to do the best I can. anyway gradually over three weeks he seems to have eased into his crate at night, he sleep right through the night time, he never wakes me at night time to go a wee or anything, and I get up in the morning let him go wee feed him, have a quick play with him and then give him a treat to eat in his crate so I can grab a hour or so more's sleep. He's only messed his crate once when I first got him, I never use it as a place to punish him, I mainly use it when I am trying to get stuff done around the flat, I always make sure he has water and a nylabone, long, squeaky toy and a cuddly toy, which I don't know if is too many toys. He learnt to go wee on the newspaper almost in three days and he amazed me a few night ago and this morning, when I had him in the bedroom and he started crying at the door, so I let him out and he went we in the front room on newspaper, have I got an unusually clean dog, or am I just lucky, maybe I'm doing the right things, I'm not sure, there's never any evidence of him wetting his bed, although if his in a strop he has started lifting the water bowl with his snout and tipping it over so I have to go in and change it, he seems to settle down quicker in his crate now although he has never gone to it to just sleep in, he tend to use his basket more, is it too early, I'd like to keep the crate for him, but just hope he starts to see it more as his space rather than somewhere I just put him when busy, going out or needing 5 minutes to myself. Am I do the right things? Any tips help is appreciated!!

Cheers Daniel

I need to relax man any tips :)

Oh what should I use to groom his coat, I haven't got anything yet, he's got a very short coat and the vet said it was a beautiful coat, but I have tocuhed it yet I forgot to get a brush and haven't had the money

Danny .....do you ever sleep ??? ;-) You are right .....you need to relax and stop worrying so much :-) Leigh

I think a lot depends on the pup, as very often what works for onie won't work for another. Also, it's important to avoid say, getting thepup all excited and it all ending upin play which it can do if you decide to put him out.....this happened with ny pup and she started running round the living room so we couldn't catchher, but she thoguht it was great!!

I would sugest, it may be better for you to leave him, each and every time, for about 2 minutes. Any longer and he will have forgotten anyway.

This worked with our puppy best although we did try other things too.

It's quite importatn to remember to avoid eye contact, and don';t speak, just calmly get up and go (well thats what we did anyway!!!) as then over the weeks thepup starts to realise that nipping hard means "no more fun/company/interaction."

Gradually Charlie should start ot get the message, but don't expect instant results or miracles :)

By the way there is another good book that i recommend, it's called "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey, again try crosskeysbooks.com (or crosskeys.com - i really must check that!!!).

Doesn't make you an instant expert of course, but it is a very good puppy book and explains how to bring up a pup to be a good and safe/happy member of society, and a joy ot own. Has loads in it about socialisation, teaching the pup to learn to be left, and so on.

HTH a bit

Best wishes
Lindsay

I also have a staffie she's 6 months old and she's great.From reading all your e-mails you have doen realy well with your staffie.My biggest problem with brooke is that she jumps up at people when thay come round i no she only wants to play but people dont realy like it .She did use to nip alot but she seems to be growing out of that . Now her bigger teeth are coming through .I read in one of your e-mails that you where going to have your dog tagged we were think about it to its £20 at are local vet.Have you found that your staffie has had any health problems like lossing a lot of her hair me staffie seems to be lossing it on her chest the vet is doing test but they have'nt come back to us .WE are also thinking about joining a clud we live in milton keynes the nearest one to us is nothampton.I have realy enjoyed reading your e-mails.

Hi Daniel and Charlie

Charlie is going to be so good for you. You are building a really good string relationship.

You asked if you had too many toys. I think you might be overdoing it a little bit - and remembering the instinct of a staffie - I'd be inclined to do away with the squeaky toys. I know they love them but that's because the sound they make sounds like them killing something. Lots of toys he can chase and chew - tug toys bouncy toys are all great. They also love soft toys especially when they are young. They also help to keep their teeth clean.

Do watch what you give him in the way of chews. Some are not meant for such young pups - not always easy to tell though. Rawhide chews and Pigs Erras can break of into bits that can stick in thier throats. You just need to keep checking them for bits breaking off and when the chew gets too small.

Be very careful with shoes and things made out of rawhide. You know those bits that look like stiching. Pups are very adept at undoing that and they can try to swallow it and it get tangled in their stomach. Go for solid ones - much safer - IMHO.

keep up the good work

Pam n theboys

You'll also need to watch on a few weeks when his teeth start to come loose. His chews may show signs of his gums bleeding. Don't worry about this - just be aware that his gums may be a little sore and so treat his mouth very gently.

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