I'm in the Richmond, Virginia area. Not close to Louisiana.

I'm not taking offense to anything anyone said. I understand that everyone here is passionate about this stuff. That's why I'm here to learn a better way to raise this dog than what I have done in the past. There just may a thing or two that I choose to do different for one reason or another.

Tonight I stayed in my recliner while playing with Marco and obviously he could not get to my back. He did a few times go after the couch or chair and I had to redirect him. Most of the time that was fine. A couple times he started going for my hands and then the legs of my shorts. I put him in the pen and he calms down. If that's the worst that I have to deal with because of playing with him inside rather than outside, that's not too big a deal.

Hey Kory, I’m no puppy expert but I do understand your question. And you know, it wouldn't even occur to me that a puppy would know that "he's not supposed to chew on" the couch, chew on this, that, whatever.

He's chewing on something and getting a response from you. Loud, distracting, frustrated (read fun to him), whatever you are giving off. It's working, he redirects his attention to you...oh, I was biting this, he must want me to bite that, you, whatever. Okay, here I come and now he's latched on to you.

I think what people are trying to say is that with a puppy, you need to make sure his baby needs are being molded and satisfied.

If my pup is chewing on a couch, it tells me he's bored, has some energy to burn and I've allowed him access to it. I'm going to focus that into something that is acceptable. Prime teaching time.

I'd have some chewy treats handy and when he goes for the couch, a simple but attention getting "uh uh" and when all his redirected focus is on you, give him the chewy treat. It will probably only take a couple of times and he’ll learn that being calm beside (not biting) the couch is more acceptable.

Maybe have a few bully sticks handy or a small froze kong. Something chewable that will keep his attention for few minutes.

Again, JMHO, but he simply sounds bored, has energy to burn and access. Your pup does not know he's not supposed to chew on it and he is not upset at you for stopping him. He thinks you are joining him or are now there to play with. You've done a great job at getting his attention when he's in a little alligator mode and you're going to get chewed on if you don’t have a plan.

Take your face away from the couch, look at me and I'll teach what you can chew on - would be my plan.

Just some thoughts.

 Quote: Kory Fox

Really my only question was weather or not, when he goes after my body when I redirect him from something he's not supposed to chew on do you all feel that's just play or is he trying to stop me from doing that? No one seems to want to answer that.

Hi Kory, sometimes we try and over analyze the "Why's" with our dogs (I think anyways) It's difficult to tell why he does it, not being able to witness it ourselves (video post maybe?) Either way, it is not acceptable and should be dealt with. If I get nipped in play or in frustration the fun is done- period. I don't care why they did it, but they did and now I'm taking my ball and going home Sometimes I'll try again in 10 minutes or so and end quickly, on a good note with lots of praise and treats, and offer up a long lasting chew as a trade for "our" toy. It seems to help them get it better (during play at least) IDK what to tell you about the furniture other than you need to be more exciting than the couch or whatever else it is that he wants to chew. Squeaky voice and bacon might prevent the redirrecting on to you. Also, getting him to leave the item and come to you instead of going to him to redirrect him could help prevent a frustration based issue. Good luck!

ETA: I missed that part that your pup was pretty young, my advice about taking my ball home is generally dirrected at older pups, but the legth of time in between could be shortened (and use an upbeat or neutral voice when handling the situation)

Edited by Amy VandeWeerd (05/25/2012 08:40 PM)
Edit reason: added eta

CJ and Amy-I totally understand that he has no idea what he's allowed to chew on and not chew on. Going back to my original post, the situation is that we'll be playing. I toss toys a short distance, we play a little tug. At some point during the play, when I'm engaged with him, he'll go after something I don't want him to. I redirect, he'll continue to go after an object I don't want him to, I continue to redirect. After redirecting several times, he'll then go after me. Primarily my hands at first as I'm trying to redirect him. That's why I am trying to figure out if this is him still playing, or is it that he's annoyed with my continually stopping him from chewing on things I don't want him to. I understand if no one can say which it is without seeing it, just trying to explain a the situation.

It sounds to me like he is a baby with a short attention span and maybe you might be getting him too wound up.
When my pup was at this age we did lots of walking outside where he had to follow or be left behind. Like a mile. At least.
Then we'd come indoors, he'd eat, go potty and sleep.
I didn't like all that biting, so we didn't play too many bite games, it always deteriorated into him biting me, me getting mad. By 3 months of age I knew his biting had a serious edge to it. So we kind of quit that, except for occasional tug, always outdoors, generally on a ball of baler twine or a stick, something I didn't care about. I had taken all "toys" away by 4 mos, because the got my dog possessive and over excited.

 Quote: Kory Fox

I redirect, he'll continue to go after an object I don't want him to, I continue to redirect. After redirecting several times, he'll then go after me.

Hey Kory, please don’t take this wrong but it doesn't sound like the engagement and redirecting is as successful as it needs to be if he keeps going back to what he's fixated on.

Personally, I don't think it's aggression directed at you. He may be a bit frustrated at what sounds like more "nagging" type redirection attempts, which to me would be all the more reason I need to be successful the first time.

I get that he's a persistent little guy (they really do give it their all ). You just need to be a little more interesting the first time.

Going for the couch, going for your shorts, running around grabbing your back. Sounds like he's at a stage where he really likes the success of sinking his teeth into cloth type stuff, amongst other things you've mentioned.

Have you tried waving a washcloth in front of his face? My babies have all found the flighty, lightness of these quite exciting and great for little teeth gripping. If he’s really into it, maybe even make a little flirt pole. You could stand in one spot and exercise his little butt quite a distance around you.

Again, just some thoughts.

CJ-I do have a couple of rags that I've been using and those along with two particular toys are what he's usually most interested in right now. I see what you're saying about being more interesting the first time. When he goes after something I don't want him chewing on, I tend to grab the closest toy and try to redirect with that. I'll try to make sure it's one of the favorites.