14 weeks old...help!!!

[mossy]

Hi,
   Haven't been on for a while(computer broken,work,etc,etc!!)
My male 14 week old ridgeback Ziggy is becoming a bit of a handful,jumping up all the time(keep telling him no) obviously then scratching,but the main issue is the biting/nibbling all the time,he cant just lay or sit with you without doing it.
Cant really remember back to my last pup(staff bull terrier 12 years ago)so not sure  if its the norm,prob is but it is stopping people coming round and when they do means keeping Ziggy out of the room much to his disaproval.
Any tips or guidance much appreciated.

thanks   Gary

[shodyL]

At 14 weeks he is very much still a baby.  It sounds like he is trying to play with you as if you are litter mates.   Try letting out a VERY loud sharp screech or yelp when he bites you, fold your arms across your chest and turn your back to him.  If he comes around, turn to keep your back to him.  No eye contact, not talking.  Totally ignore him.  After a few minutes, try again.  They hate being ignored.  It may take what seems like forever, but if you are consistent with this, it should help.  Be sure to praise him anytime he is calm, or at east not biting you.

good luck.

[mossy]

Thanks for the speedy reply,have sort of tried that seems like it is just a game to him but i will keep trying.Did lots of research before deciding on an RR even looked at dogs of different ages but wasn't prepared for the size of him in my own home but he is so beautiful!!!

gary

[Susanne]

Have lots of toys he's allowed to chew, and after he bites you and you correct him appropriately - give him something he can chew on.  He's got jaw muscles developing, his head will grow and change and he'll want to chew for that, not to mention teething.  Always make sure when he chews or bites something he can't have, to swap it for something he's allowed to have.

[shodyL]

Some people have good luck spraying theme selves with bitter apple also.  our dog used to want to chew or feet and legs when we tried to watch TV at night, so we would spray down or feet and egs.  Worked like a charm.

Also I forgot to mention, try to always have a toy to give him in substitute for you arms or hands.  shake the toy, you want it to be way more interesting than your hands.

[Deniseeb]

Great advice here.  The one thing we used to do was take the skin at the nape of the neck and give a soft twist when the pup gets too rambunctious.  Replicates what momma does when they get out of control.

We did the yelps and the substitute skin for toy and those seemed to work.  Doesn't happen overnight, but it will work. 

Good luck

denise

[rrmom]

Kumba did this and still does a wee bit.  We found he was very fond of bitter apple, didn't mind the spray bottle, tried some hot sauce in the spray bottle and maybe didn't put enough in because he came back for more.  We did what Denise suggested, just catch a little on the side and twist and yelp.  Also put our hands over his nose and pressed a wee bit.  He has gotten much better.  good luck with him. Do you have any puppy training books? I find mine invaluable and also the folk on here are very helpful.

[Rosebud]

  ah puppies.

Like others have said, let out a yelp that it hurts and then replace it with something that is 'approved of' to chew on.

As for the jumping, I suggest training exercises, teach the pup to sit before being petted and/or given attention. When the pups starts to automatically do it on his own, BIG rewards.

And rrmom, it may not be that you didn't put enough hot sauce in the mix, your RR may be just like what I have noticed over the years......many RR's actually like peppers. Mine will eat jalopeno peppers off the bush and don't even think about eating the jalopeno cheetos around my two......drool city, they LOVE them.

[mossy]

Thanks all ,sounds like  we are just not being persistant enough,from now things are changing in my house!!!


gary

[caro]

Nothing strange here.  Just keep persevering.  It will come right in the end.  Ridgebacks absolutely hate to be ignored so my advice is to yell loudly when he bites and then ignore him for a good long time.  I wouldn't even think of rewarding until a good 15 to 20 minutes have gone by and he has been quiet.  If he jumps up on you, push him off but continue to ignore, don't even acknowledge his presence.  He will get the message very quickly.

When you have visitors, make sure that they ignore him too unless he is quiet. 

It sounds like he is quickly overexcited and needs to learn to get control of himself.  It's up to you to help with this, and paying him attention is simply feeding his excitement.

Caroline

[AliCap]

Sounds like he is a normal 14 wk old puppy to me.  I would make sure he is tired when visitors come over.  It sounds like he is just hyper and somewhat over excited.  Take him for a brisk walk before you have guests, or before they are allowed to interact with him.  Or even have the guyests take him for a spin.

I have also used a plain old bar of soap to deter biting - smear it on hands and arms, they definitely will do a double take when they taste it.

I think it's a really bad idea to isolate your puppy from visitors . . . . this kind of socialization is what he needs most right now!

Alice

[Annette]

And rrmom, it may not be that you didn't put enough hot sauce in the mix, your RR may be just like what I have noticed over the years......many RR's actually like peppers. Mine will eat jalopeno peppers off the bush and don't even think about eating the jalopeno cheetos around my two......drool city, they LOVE them.

Hehe!  When I tried out the reaction to hot sauce, I put some on my finger and presented it to Sali.  He licked, shook his head and didn't like it.  Then Zeta came over, licked the finger clean, and begged for more 

[Rosebud]

Uh oh, annette's got a pepper head RR. 

[k9crazyrr]

All the advise on here has been great.  I would have pretty much said all the same things.  I think it is good to add that a tired puppy is also more likely to be a good puppy.  Make sure he is getting enough play time to tire him out.  This can include 10 minutes of obedience work even in the house.  That will tire him out mentally too.  Work on sits, stay ( even if just for a second ), healing through the house, ect...

For the teething issue, a great treat for puppies are frozen carrots.  I buy the little baby carrots that come in a bag.  Freeze some and give them to him for a treat.  It will take some time to chew it up since it is frozen and the cold will be soothing on his gums.

angie G

[Annette]

Another wonderful way to tire a puppy out mentally is to sprinkle some of their food in a wide sircle in the grass and let them work for it.  You can even add a command to it and let it be tha start of more complicated tracking.