My Charlie is a much different puppy than my Gracie was. I am so frustrated with him. I love him so much, but I seem to spend more time yelling No or being upset with him than loving him. He is constantly barking or biting. He has plenty of chew toys but doesn't want to use them. He is always biting me, mostly my hands, feet, arms. Tonight I heard something funny in the kitchen...walked in and found him chewing on my kitchen chair. I was so angry. He destroyed it. I can't afford this and I don't know how to fix it. Gracie never did these kinds of things. I use the bitter apple spray on the baseboards because he chews on those too. He bit me so hard the other day (not being mean, just playing) and made me bleed. I want to snuggle and love on him, but he hurts me. Gentle swats on the butt don't seem to affect him. Putting him in a time out in his crate doesn't seem to work either. I just cry because I don't know what else to do and then he kisses me. Please help.
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Here is a youtube video from Ian Dunbar (my favorite!) about teaching Bite Inhibition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vrPDMc-I-k&feature=relmfu
There are lots of great videos with Ian Dunbar on youtube (including chewing), you can also search Sirius Berkley Puppy and there are weeks and weeks worth of training videos using his methods. Just some additional info if you are interested. Good Luck!
I think my puppy is almost the same way, though he's not quite as bad. He nips but not hard enough to bleed. Usually when he's excited, or if I'm doing something he REALLY doesn't like, such as wiping his feet. Still trying to figure out how to stop that, cuz I'll yell "OW" really loud but it hasn't stopped him for long yet. And he chews stuff up when I'm sleeping if I don't crate him. Exercise helps though. Sometimes I get too tired and I fall asleep before I mean to, without a walk or crating him, I'll usually wake up to something being chewed up. But if I take him out, even for just 20 minute walk, he gets tired out, and he just sleeps. (Unless he's destroying something in a corner somewhere and I haven't found it. Haha. Knock on wood.) Otherwise if he's bored (I'm assuming), he'll try to chew on things he's not suppose to even when I'm right there in the room. I'm hoping with some training, he'll grow out of it. Hopefully it'll be the same for your pup too. Good luck!!
Thank You for the advice. Charlie is 17 weeks tomorrow. He does like to snuggle and I have no problems holding him.I can clean out his ears and pet him wherever. But there are times when he just wants to bite. We go on walks everyday and play outside. He only has access to the kitchen and living room, but now the kitchen will be off limits. It's been 7 years since I've had a corgi puppy and boy he is the complete oppostie of what Gracie was. I tried the Yelping and he could care less.The swat gets him to stop, but 30 sec later he's back at it. So he does understand.He's just stubborn :/
Snickers never wanted to snuggle either. She just wanted to PLAY. Even when she got past the puppy stage she did not want to her body messed with, and only liked to have her ears scratched, but nothing else. About a year ago, I learned that I could use conditioning to get her to tolerate being touched. Now she comes and asks for love. Work on him when he is sleepy, and he may come to appreciate cuddle time.
Hang in there. I know how it is to have an awful 2nd dog! Franklin was my little angel and now I have Kirby the holy terror. While Kirby doesn't bite, he is VERY destructive, hyperactive, and obnoxious ALL the time. The ONLY thing that worked for me was strict confinement ANYTIME I'm not able to keep 100% watch on him. He is VERY destructive so will sit right in front of me and chew a table leg or tear the underside out of a couch or chair, he climbs on bookshelves and pulls books off, gets on my dining room table and my counters, etc. It took me 3 different set ups with an ex-pen to figure out a way to keep him IN the pen, but now that I have found a way, he is a much happier puppy and I am much happier with him. Confine Charlie, it will help. Also with the biting, I know it sounds cruel, but with the pitbull puppies at my school it is all that worked, if he bites you roll his lip into his mouth so he is essentially biting the inside of his lip. If everytime he tries to bite you it hurts him, he will quit. I've used this method on several mouthy dogs, including adults, and it works great. From what it sounds like the simple methods (like yelping) probably won't work with Charlie. I would also get him into obedience classes ASAP. Good socializing and great structure for an out of control puppy. Every dog I've ever owned has had at least one, but usually 3-4 different training classes. I learn new things with every class. Its worth the money I promise.
Another suggestion with the biting is letting her play with another older dog that you can trust. Do you have any friends with dogs that would fit that bill? Kadi did a lot of mouthing and biting when we first got her and just a few play session with our Boston cured her of that. He told her in no uncertain terms that he wouldn't put up with it and she stopped. Now that we have Brodie they FRAP and do it with each other, but not with us.
He doesn't understand what you are saying when you swat him on the butt. When his teeth touch yo let out a high pitched dramatic screech and if he continues put him in a puppy proof place (preferably not his crate because that should be a happy place). Be sure that he is getting plenty of walks (if he is really young you have to kindof follow him) and play time to expend his energy too. Puppies bite each other during play and scream "bloody murder" if they are hurt and eventually they learn bite inhibition. A lot of puppies need more things to chew on at first. Try smearing peanut butter inside a kong to help him focus on chewing the right things. Puppies are teething and have a huge urge to bite so you have to work with this. Have you checked on any puppy classes in your area? Hang in there you can do this!
How old is Charlie? I would highly recommend a good positive based puppy class. Depending on how old he is, maybe he needs a bit more exercise? I also think he has too much freedom, you can't trust a puppy and he should not be out of your sight at any time. Use baby gates, leash him to you, or put him in an xpen when you can't watch him so he can't get into trouble. Not all dogs are big snugglers either, (neither of mine are) so I personally wouldn't try to force him to be cuddly if he's not enjoying it.
I suggest you go to the Corgi Behavior section in the forum and look through some of the old threads. There are TONS of comments on things just like this in there. It will help you feel not so alone and also help you find ideas of what to do.
Logan was a crazy puppy too! One thing that I was frustrated with when he was a little pup was that he wouldn't just let me hold him. I remembered the words of my mother. "Who is in charge over there?" I would regularly hold the puppy tightly until it stopped squirming. I would count to ten then say something sweetly and release. This taught them that there is a time for play and there is a time for love. I expect both. We even have a saying, "The couch is for love." As far the chewing. Put him on a leash and take him everywhere in the house with you. I know it will confuse Gracie at first. The number one rule for puppies is YOU CANNOT TRUST THEM! Good luck!
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