My wesite has been playing up recently, I made a post about a week or so ago about his increased barking.

Now its graduated onto howling when ever I leave the house, even to get something from the car he howls. But according to my neighbours his howling stops as soon as he hears my car drive off, and starts up as soon as he hears it arrive. So thankfully it doesnt bother them at all.

He has also started biting - hard. Its a very new development. Part of which I think is because my fiancee likes to play rough with him - boy dog games he calls them :rolleyes: Im not happy about the rough games that he plays with the dog and he just inst listening to me because he has always played those kinds of games with his dogs growing up.

Today I got up to answer the phone and he bit my toes as I was walking and hard enough to draw blood as my foot draged through his little jaws.

Hes only 5 months old, and he is teething, so I guess hes going through a terrible twos stage. But do any of you have any advice at all?

My mother - who breeds westies back in Australia - thinks he is lonley.

I am home most of the time because Im trying to start up a design label, but I do work 2 days a week from 8 - 5, but my cousin stops in on his lunch break during school to pick up his lunch and he plays with the dog and again on the way home from school to take the dog for a walk. So he isnt alone all day long.

Im at a loss. I know westies are headstrong little guys but he just inst behaving at all. I dont know if him being lonley is the reason behind him holwing and biting.

Im going to take him to a dog trainer. Any suggestions for one in east glasgow?

Well dogs are pack animals so they do prefer to be with other dogs but they can also be very content with being with just you.
As for the rough play exaclty what sort of play ?

when he bites you is it in a playful way?

i think you need to go back to basic and train from the beginning teach him that why you are his friend you are not another dog and certain play with you is not acceptable. When he bites i would say no firmly without screaming at him place him in another room or a certain place tell him to stay walk away and dont go back to him until you think he has had enough time. Its similar with children they need to be taught and punished occasionally (not physically) because all of the stuff he needs to learn isnt preprogrammed and wuite often in a dogs first year you need to go back to basics a couple of times.

The biting will get better as he loses his baby teeth - the adult teeth are less sharp and won't draw blood as easily.

Make sure you are reacting in the right way when he mouths you: http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm

Try to get your fiancee to try to play with toys with him, rather than with each other directly.  I mean - it's fine for your dog to be rough with a toy, play tuggy, shake it about etc - but trying to play with your fiancee's clothing or limbs isn't fine.  So try to control the games with toys.

I think he could be understimulated and you probably have a good idea with the training classes.  Have a look at www.apdt.co.uk for a list of reward-based trainers.  Be careful which trainer you go to - don't go to a trainer who tells you to, say, push your dog's bum down into a sit (should lure a sit with food) and don't go to a trainer who advocates any kind of "corrections", such as lead jerks etc.  Might be an idea to go and watch a class before you join.

I think "rough play" can easily get misinterpreted by a pup if it isn't constructive and I'd be interested to see just how rough your fiancee would be prepared to play if this wasn't a westie but a rottie pup!! Rather less, I suspect! Without wishing to depress you, five months isn't quite the doggie equivalent of the "terrible twos" which tend to come on later but you certainly don't want to be struggling with bite inhibition at the same time as "Kevinhood". But if you follow the link that's been posted you will crack the bitey problem - honest!  Does your pup get the chance to go out and play with other dogs regularly? Only this is also very helpful in teaching them bitey manners too! Training would give him extra stimulation too.

He will be teething right now which is an added factor and something I've found helpful with my pup is ice cubes which can be chased around and "seen off" whilst having a cooling effect on those tender gums.