May 20, 2011
I'm unsure if some of my bonding work is ok. Is what I'm doing ok? Also, I am having problems with my pup shredding his bed. Any suggestions?
Full Question:
Hello Cindy/Ed,I hope you had a great holiday.
Recall I have a 3 1/2 month old doberman puppy and a two year old female doberman. I listened to the DVD's and am following the instructions and tips the best I can as I found them most helpful. I'm the only handler to my dog, my wife only takes him outside to do his thing and places him back in the crate trying to be neutral as possible. I don't allow our older two year old female to play with him although she doesn't show any dominant tendencies as of yet. I of course will keep them separated anyway.
I do have two follow up questions for you, I have several training sessions with the pup a day and late at night, when he is more tired than anything I sit on the floor and lay with him for a while before putting him in his crate for the evening. He tries to bite my face or hands more than usual during this time trying to play but I was wondering if I should be actually on the ground with him or if I need to be sitting on a chair forcing him to lay by my feet? The reason I ask is I'm still trying to establish a bond with him besides my training. Do you think I should continue to lay with him on the floor with him on my lap?
I'm also training him to "target" or "place" train to have him go to his place which I have used a sheep skin bed very similar to the one you have in the video as my target. The problem I'm encountering is he loves to chew on this bed actually putting holes in it and ripping the stuffing out of it. This occurred with my older female and now it is occurring with my pup and I was wondering how I can stop this? The video mentioned for chewers to use that bitter apple cider and to take a cotton ball and force it into their mouths for a minute so they hate the taste and the smell resulting in them not chewing it anymore. Problem is I can't do that with the target or place because I obviously want them to go to it and not avoid it. Would you have any suggestions?
Thanks again,
Jason
Cindy's Answer:
I wouldn’t lay on the floor with the puppy, you are putting yourself on his level and this causes many puppies confusion on where they fit into the pack structure. You can bond with the dog in many ways, you don’t need to lay on the floor. You could try sitting on the floor with him next to you, but if he gets “in your face” you may have to sit on the furniture.
Until you can teach him the YUCK command to not put his mouth on the bed, I would simply restrict his access to it. Use something that doesn’t shred for his place training. Chewing on things and tearing them up are reinforcing for some dogs, so I would simply remove the items right now. He is very young and this is normal behavior for many puppies. Try a rubber or industrial carpet mat, that’s not as attractive to chew and see if that helps.
Until you can teach him the YUCK command to not put his mouth on the bed, I would simply restrict his access to it. Use something that doesn’t shred for his place training. Chewing on things and tearing them up are reinforcing for some dogs, so I would simply remove the items right now. He is very young and this is normal behavior for many puppies. Try a rubber or industrial carpet mat, that’s not as attractive to chew and see if that helps.
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