no no no physical corrections for an 8 week old puppy that has only been with you for 2 weeks!!!!
And take off the E collar!!!

If you're worried you're overdoing it, than you are!!

Have you read this article?
http://leerburg.com/bitingpuppies.htm
Actually, here you should read these too:
http://leerburg.com/bitingpuppies.htm

 Quote: steve strom

I wouldnt suggest that Lee.

Can you expand on why not Steve? I know of several people who have done this and are exceptionally happy with great dogs. I'd be interested in hearing the potential down sides of programs like that.

 Quote: steve strom

I wouldnt suggest that Lee.

I wouldn't either.

Almost, because of the extreme nature of the errors described, but still, no.

Going with the previous training, what I got out of it 'be the alpha dog at all times'. Ok, so puppy bites you, you take your hand out of his mouth, tell him "NO". Find something else for him to chew on.
Keeps biting you, grip his muzzle, tell him NO, physically push him back from you. Get up, walk away.
Next level, basically I push him on his side and tell him no. Stand over him. Be all big and mean feeling in the head.

None of this did anything with me and he at the time. He would usually keep gnawing on me, and I would get frustrated.

E-Collar corrections - the warning tone is what I use mostly, I used the e-stim on lowest settings to get his attention when he won't listen to me/look at me with a warning tone and what he's getting in to would be dangerous. Ie. under the neighbor's truck. Better solution - long line. You won't need to tell me that one. I was pretty uncomfortable with the collar to begin with. The tones seeming to be obeyed by him made me think he was responding ok. Using the negative marker 'NEIN' with the warning tone would get his attention. There is also a positive tone that can be used with the positive marker - I mostly use praise and toy play, along with treats when he obeys, even if it's as simple as coming inside when he is supposed to.

So, is it better for me to use the tones on him when he's not paying attention, to never let him off the line and pull him on the leash when he's not paying attention, or to have me pick him up and cart him around instead of trying to get him to listen? I will try any and all, I want him to be happy and feel like his life is worth living, while having him fit into the family. That part, for me, is far more important than any sort of training (outside obedience training)

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: steve strom

I wouldnt suggest that Lee.

I wouldn't either.

Almost, because of the extreme nature of the errors described, but still, no.

I third that.

Kristin...you really need to slow down with this pup.
leash pops, body blocking, etc etc.....this is an 8 week old pup!!!

Now is the time to bond with him, not over do it with corrections and training.
This is a whole new world for him, new family, no littermates etc etc....
let him get used to his surroundings, let him be a pup.

read some of the articles in my other post. They may just answer alot of your questions.

Wendy, I read that article probably 10 times now.

"When littermates play with one another and one gets bitten too hard it screams. This screaming is their way to communicate that the play biting is too rough. So there are times a human screaming is enough to teach the pup that what they are doing is unacceptable"
Not working.

"You can redirect the puppy by either tossing it a foot or two (not too far) or move it around in front of the pup in a manner that builds interest. You will learn through experience how to redirect your puppy off of you and onto the toy."

Been working on that, moderately successful.

"The DVD THE POWER OF PLAYING TUG WITH YOUR DOG teaches you how to show the dog that the only time a toy is fun is when he plays with you and the toy" And that's what's working for us right now.

http://leerburg.com/bitingpuppies.htm

You will not see what you described here:
"Going with the previous training, what I got out of it 'be the alpha dog at all times'. Ok, so puppy bites you, you take your hand out of his mouth, tell him "NO". Find something else for him to chew on. ... Keeps biting you, grip his muzzle, tell him NO, physically push him back from you. Get up, walk away. ... Next level, basically I push him on his side and tell him no. Stand over him. Be all big and mean feeling in the head."

Yeah, I was going with the 'cesar millan' 'be the pack leader' 'calm-assertive' 'let them know you're in charge'. As I mentioned.. did not work for me. Or him.

You can lead a horse to water,...

 Quote: Kristin Muntz

Going with the previous training, what I got out of it 'be the alpha dog at all times'. Ok, so puppy bites you, you take your hand out of his mouth, tell him "NO". Find something else for him to chew on.
Keeps biting you, grip his muzzle, tell him NO, physically push him back from you. Get up, walk away.
Next level, basically I push him on his side and tell him no. Stand over him. Be all big and mean feeling in the head.

None of this did anything with me and he at the time. He would usually keep gnawing on me, and I would get frustrated.

E-Collar corrections - the warning tone is what I use mostly, I used the e-stim on lowest settings to get his attention when he won't listen to me/look at me with a warning tone and what he's getting in to would be dangerous. Ie. under the neighbor's truck. Better solution - long line. You won't need to tell me that one. I was pretty uncomfortable with the collar to begin with. The tones seeming to be obeyed by him made me think he was responding ok. Using the negative marker 'NEIN' with the warning tone would get his attention. There is also a positive tone that can be used with the positive marker - I mostly use praise and toy play, along with treats when he obeys, even if it's as simple as coming inside when he is supposed to.

So, is it better for me to use the tones on him when he's not paying attention, to never let him off the line and pull him on the leash when he's not paying attention, or to have me pick him up and cart him around instead of trying to get him to listen? I will try any and all, I want him to be happy and feel like his life is worth living, while having him fit into the family. That part, for me, is far more important than any sort of training (outside obedience training)

PLEASE put away the e-collar. You should anyway, but also: Don't have a remote tool in a frustrated hand no matter what age the pup.

Don't touch the puppy with a frustrated hand. Crate the puppy. Walk away.

"Long line" isn't really what we mean when we say "tether."

Do you have a very light-weight leash or a piece of a long line?