Positive Petzine

Hi Helen, I've always recommended against the loud "ouch" or "squeal" method. I'm not saying that it doesn't work, but it doesn't work with all puppies. The method I described here works consistently if you follow the instructions properly and don't try to do anything differently.

If you're unsure about anything, please write back. The technique I describe in that link will work if you can apply it correctly, but I think people really need to understand the theory behind it in order to apply it correctly every time.

Taking Food Treats Nicely:

This is actually very simple so long as you consistently apply the rule - 'take it gently or you don't get it at all.'

Taking treats roughly, nipping, pincing or mouthing when taking treats is LEARNED behavior. In other words, it is behavior which has been reinforced. It is very easy to reinforce this behavior, you simply allow your puppy to have the treat when they are too rough in taking it.

So never ever let Cricket have a treat if he is too grabby. This should over-ride everything else. It doesn't matter what he did to earn that treat, if he nips you he doesn't get the treat.

I would suggest that if Cricket does do something extra good and it's important that he is reinforced for it that you toss the treat instead, so you don't miss a reinforcement for something that is important to reinforce.

some training wouldn't go astray. start with the basics - sit, down, come, stay. a dog with a focus and something to think about tends to be better behaved. they know what to expect, because you are doing the asking and controlling. they learn what is expected, and what is not tolerated.

you dont necessarily need treats to train a dog. kind words, a pat where they like it most, or a toy to play with can all be used as rewards. you might want to look at clicker training too. it gives you a more precise way of rewarding the right thing, at the exact moment it happens.

you could also move onto trick training, if the obedience is going well. shake hands, roll over, stand on hind legs, that sort of thing. most dogs love it, and look forward to their training sessions. and you can add "manners" training, like waiting at the door, and not going thru the door (or gate) until asked. this can also be a safety thing for your dog - teach him to drop, or stop, on command, and you have a way of stopping him before he gets himself into trouble (runs onto the road, or out the door, or is about to do something wrong).

a mouthy nippy dog might also benefit from meaty bones, or commercial chews, to keep his mouth busy and occupied.

I'm finally glad someone said the loud ouch and or squeak is not always good because that is what basically anyone has told me to do...Cricket has always ignored it. I think we did alot of "bad" things to over compensate for him being treated so badly so young and we have had to undo alot of things. Both the vet and behaviorist are sure that he was held and sqeezed to tightly and possiblely drop ped when he was young. Remember he was 5 weeks when we took him and has never like to be held with any restrictions. And also had problems being picked up... We never let anyone pick him up but my husband and myself and we have had to treat him like crazy to let us do that he no longer growls at us when we pick him up.. He also had a hand issue anything moving too fast around him he would go after. So we are very restrictive if any one wants to play with him only with our instructions and we dont have problems now. We have always made him sit before going in and out of doors. Because he is such a high energy dog. Getting him to do a sit stay and down stay has always been hard for him but we are seeing that he is finally getting calmer. He most certainly also wanted to take the leadership role and we must admit we gave into him quite a bit but realized we were only harming him so if he gets out of hand and he will try we now just fold our arms and look up and he stops. It is hard not petting him when he wants to be pet and we are working on that also. It is so wonderful to see him do a sit and down and be excited to do it and he is really proud of himself if you know what I mean. You can see it in the way he does it. (by the way he does both on command and hand signals)

We do give him alot of chews to keep his mouth busy. Like I said I think alot has to do with him wanting to control us and he is finding out that isnt going to work. I will work with your ideas. Thank you.

Helen

Hi Helen, you're on the right track and it sounds like Cricket has been able to teach you some very important lessons :-)

Regards,
Aidan
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