Hi Abigail, mouthing and biting is a really common issue with young puppies! Responding calmly & consistently, and not adding energy to the situation, is really important in encouraging a puppy to use more self-control. If your puppy is mouthing/biting, and you are finding that offering a distraction only makes him more excited, then I would go straight to Time-Out. He may need quite a few before he understands what the consequence is for so be sure to stick with it!
I’m not sure if you are a member on my membership website (TheOnlineDogTrainer.com) but we do cover this issue in detail…as well as lots of other great information about raising happy and well behaved puppies! We also have a Form where you can ask for help or guidance any time you need it…..maybe take a quick look…it’s a $1USD trial for 3 days…All the Best, Doggy Dan

Hi, I have a 13 wk old male Boston Terrier. I decided on a Boston Terrier because I read they are good dogs to have for 1st time dog parents and good family pets. Good for children & elderly. He loves to bite our hands. We have tried yelping to let him know it hurts. It worked for a bit then he started to bite harder. We tried redirecting with toys and treats, again worked foe a bit, but now he tries to jump over the toy toget to our hand. We tried ignoring him, but then he finds our shoes, bed cover, electronic wires to chew on so we have to hold him to settle him down. Also, he is now barking and growling at us when we try to pick him when he starts biiting. I love my bevo, but his constant biting is making my husband upset. We have been spending a lot of time outside with him because if not, he will bite and/ or poop inside the house even if we just brought him in after pottying outside. Texas summers are hot and I really need Bevo to settle down so we can enjoy his company.

Hi Linda,
Just by allowing your dog a little time and space when meeting strange dogs it can put him at ease. Many dogs feel a bit threatened if another dog rushes up to them and is a bit too pushy, so if you can protect him from this it will help. Also bear in mind the other dog’s behaviour a they may be giving off quite a threatening demeanour that has your dog react to defend himself. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com does cover this behaviour and shows you very clearly how to overcome it…maybe take a quick look…we have a FREE 3 Day trial…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Ofelia,
Supervising children when they are interacting with dogs is really important…even dogs that are familiar to them. This way you can make sure that they are both behaving appropriately and can intervene when things start to get a bit excited. If you can see that you dog’s excitement level is increasing then it would be better to intervene then before he starts to jump or nibble at your children. If you are consistent with doing this then your dog will learn how he is expected to behave and then he will start to use a little more self-control around your children. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com covers how to overcome these behaviours…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Debra, I’m glad you found my Blog interesting.
Dogs can feel more protective closer to their home territory as the potential danger (other dogs) is far greater in their mind. Reacting towards other dog sis a very common issue and it’s something we help owners with all the time. If you’d like to learn a little more my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to calm things down…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Tiff,
There is no doubt that some dogs do need a little patience and time when working through their behaviour but the one thing that certainly helps is consistency on your part! If guests coming over is an issue then I would even think about having your dog on a leash and under your control so that you can calmly and immediately respond to his behaviour as soon as it happens. It will also mean that your guests feel comfortable, are able to ignore him until he calms down and you will be better placed to create new habits. You may be removing him from the room quite a lot initially but he will learn to use some self-control as long as you are consistent…and lots of practice always helps!
If you are out on a walk with him and there is another dog ahead then try giving him some space so that his excitement level stays lower and you are able to work with him. If he gets that excited/agitated that he loses focus on you then you are best moving him away to restore calm. The initial aim is to have him tolerate other dogs in view, rather than in close proximity…you can work towards that! Remember that there is a Forum for members on my membership website, where you can ask for help and guidance. It’s a great resource and one that is incredibly helpful in helping owners work through their dog’s behaviour. Keep up the great work…Doggy Dan

Hi Renee,
You can absolutely improve things here with just a little practice and by giving both your dogs the right information. One of the things I say routinely is that dogs rarely just grow out of behaviours, they require you to teach them how to behave appropriately in whatever situation they may be struggling with. Its’ not complicated to do but it does require a change in your behaviour first. Initially working individually with each dog will allow you to see how they behave without the influence of the other and you can really focus on addressing their individual behaviour as well. Doggy Daycare centres can be great, if they are operated correctly, however I wouldn’t rely on them solving the behaviours for you as your dogs will see day care as a different scenario than going on a walk and encountering strange dogs. If you are familiar with the 5GR’s then my advice would be to really tighten up on each rule as they are equally important in overcoming behavioural issues. A lot of the behaviour you mention in your post are topics we cover in depth on my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com …and there are strategies about how to address individual behaviours there as well….maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Angela, thanks for sharing your experience!
You’ve actually done a really helpful thing for Stella here by allowing her to get used to a strange dog (Rusty) without feeling things are moving too fast for her…essentially you’ve given her time! When we walk our dogs in an area where they encounter a lot of other unfamiliar dogs, they don’t have the luxury of enough time to assess that other dog and work out if they are dangerous or not….especially if that dog has raced straight up to them at the park! By giving Stella the time and space to work out that Rusty wasn’t posing any danger to her, she was able to relax in his presence and not feel the need to protect herself. When bringing two dogs together for the first time I always advise owners that the first aim is to have the dogs be calm and relaxed in each others company, before they try a closer encounter. Well done on helping show Stella that not all dogs are to be feared….Best, Doggy Dan

Hi,
You can certainly retrain a dog’s toileting habits, even at a more mature age, and the keys to success are being proactive and consistent when doing so. You need to be really involved in setting the new routine, taking your dog outside to toilet regularly so as to reinforce that new routine. I do have a section about toilet training older dogs on my membership website and its very similar to toilet training younger puppies really. There is a special offer on My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com …maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Penny, as dogs age they hit a point where the behaviours are no longer puppy behaviours, and are most likely not going to disappear. I generally say that at around 7-8 months of age, if a dog is showing behavioural issues at that point then you need to start thinking about getting some training underway to help overcome the issue. Have a look at my previous blogs and YouTube videos as there is plenty of information there if you are unable to purchase my online training program. Hope that helps, Doggy Dan

Hi Rosemary you’re more than welcome, it’s very likely that your dog Monty is starting to take charge, starting to make his own decisions including where he wants to go what he wants to do what’s dangerous and what’s not. To overcome this you really need a comprehensive training program such as http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/
I am not sure if you could find a couple of hours, however that is all it takes to get started and it will only cost $1 using the three day trial. That way you can get started turning things around and you will soon start finding Monty is calmer, more relaxed, less reactive, and listening to you more. Then all the training you do will have much more impact. Hope that helps regards Doggy Dan

Thanks Rob, appreciate it, cheers Dan 🙂

Thanks Robert! All the best…Doggy Dan