 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey drive?
#266350 - 02/24/2010 05:25 AM |
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Hi- I have a 10 week old black lab, purchased from reputable breeder that I have a 6 yo one from.
Belle is doing well with house training and marker training. I have purchased and watched the DVDs, "Puppy to 8 months, Marker Training, and Basic Obedience". I am trying to follow closely to Leerburg methodology.
Problem: I cannot get her to stop nipping @ me. She is VERY mouthy and I have tried distraction, correction with a shake of the scruff, telling her NO, but she comes right back @ me. She gets even more nippy/biting/growling when I do correct her. I realize much of this is an attempt to establish pack order. The times that seem the worst are when I arrive home and just before bedtime.
She is not my first pup by any means, but is proving to be my most challenging!!
I would appreciate some guidance.
Thank you!
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 Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey drive?
[Re: Gina Hamel ]
#266355 - 01/08/2015 08:45 AM |
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Since she is excited when you get home, give her the opportunity to burn off some energy with the appropriate toy such as http://leerburg.com/784.htm. She can bite without getting reprimanded (10 weeks is very young) and her bond with you has time to grow and strengthen. Leerburg also sells a fleece tug that would be great to keep tucked in a pocket at all times.  AFTER the pup has been exercised and given a chance to burn off all that puppy energy and she keeps nipping but won't take the toy or object for redirection, calmly and patiently put her in her kennel with a kong or something similar. This pup may simply need more exercising/playing than your other pups and her drive may be higher. Keep telling yourself this is a phase.
When Falcon was a young pup, he was often at his worse in the evenings when he was tired. It took me a few times to realize that just like a baby who gets cranky before bedtime, he was letting me know he had had enough and needed to go to bed!
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Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey drive?
[Re: Gina Hamel ]
#266357 - 02/24/2010 07:53 AM |
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She sounds like a good 'un!
It's prey drive, and you are doing the right thing by redirecting.
A couple of things:
'a tired puppy is a good puppy', is a phrase that you will see here often. Make sure she's getting enough exercise, and always have something to redirect her mouthiness nearby (rolled up, knotted handtowel or soft leather bite rags work well).
Especially in the house, try to keep excitement to a minimum; no roughhousing or racing around inside. Work on marker training in very short sessions. This can help to bring her drive down also, and keeps her little brain occupied.
If she gets too wound up and won't calm down, put her in her crate with a stuffed kong or other chew toy and let her chill out there.
The mouthines will pass (but you have a ways to go yet!  ); in the meantime, stock up on bandaids and peroxide...
(ETA: Barbara beat me to it! I'm a slow typer  )
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Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey drive?
[Re: Lynne Barrows ]
#266365 - 02/24/2010 09:00 AM |
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Lynne and Barbara, THANK YOU for your input!! She is my 5th Lab, so I know the breed, but it has been 6 years since I've had a pup in the house. I will continue what I've been doing and add your suggestions. (and buy more band-aids )
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Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey drive?
[Re: Gina Hamel ]
#266799 - 02/27/2010 10:00 AM |
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I purchsed the leather pup tug and a coule other long toys that I could hold in one hand and would flop around at my legs. When LJ is in the mood to grab shoelaces or pants legs, I simply carry one of these, and when he hits me I immediately offer the toy and give him a couple minutes of my attention. Sometimes that's enough and he goes on his way, sometimes he gets really wound up and we have a real exercise session. I'm trying to keep a simple journal to see when his most exciteable times are... first thing in morning, right after supper, and any time the four kids get wild -- if they're running in the house, though, he goes in the crate.
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Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey drive?
[Re: Paula Colvett ]
#266835 - 02/27/2010 01:57 PM |
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Sounds like you are equipped to handle your little alligator! Keep us posted, and don't forget the marker training. GREAT stuff!
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Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey dri
[Re: Gina Hamel ]
#266888 - 02/28/2010 01:49 AM |
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Labs are some of the mouthiest pups I've met. As a time saver and to make it crystal clear that biting my hands=bad and biting the toy=good I will take bitter apple and spray my hands with it. I don't say a word when the pup bites my hands. Don't have to. They spit it out fast as possible. They get a mini party when they grab the toy. Cat toys with securely attached feathers are irrestible to most pups.
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Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey dri
[Re: Cathy Goessman ]
#266921 - 02/28/2010 02:25 PM |
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I am happy to report Belle is making some progress. I made some bite rags out of OR towels (which I get for free). Those are tossed about the house and if she starts to nip, she gets a towel.
I am also doing a training session with her when I get home in the afternoon. That completely refocuses her.
We are progressing with marker training. She knows the "sit" and is getting the "down". Her focus is great!! My older Lab will be barking about the tennis ball and Belle will completely focus on my face if we are working. I hope this is a sign of good things to come!
The link is to picture of Indie (6) and Belle (11weeks)
http://wishous.smugmug.com/Other/Dogs/DSC01855/799090948_VZ7bQ-S.jpg
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Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey dri
[Re: Gina Hamel ]
#266925 - 02/28/2010 03:31 PM |
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Yeah! This is great news. Really cute picture too... ALMOST makes me want another puppy (NOT! LOL!)
I think the fact that she does focus when the other dog is barking/etc... is a great sign that you have a dog who is willing to learn. You will be able to put that focus to great use.
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Re: 10 week old lab: Hard puppy or strong prey dri
[Re: Barbara Schuler ]
#266930 - 02/28/2010 04:50 PM |
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I forgot to add that Belle is house trained!!! Soooo proud of her!
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