help!

[Ziggy]

My yorkie is 3 months 2 weeks old. I cant stop him from biting my fingers. for some reason he thinks my fingers are chew toys. He also barks at me if I'm lying down on the couch. Not a playful bark but more like "GRRR, I hate you, I'm mad" bark... i dont get it. So i get off the couch and sit on the floor next to him but he only barks at me more... If I tell him "NO", it makes him more aggressive and tries to eat my hands! I''ve tried all kinds of things... tapping his nose while saying "NO"... also pushing him away and saying "NO"... Giving a bone to redirect him... I just dont know what to do.

If I'm going in the balcony and I want him to "come"... i kneel and tell him "come here boy"... but he starts to bark at my hands like I'm attackinghim with my fingers... please someone.. help me... I dont know what to do... he's sooooo cute and I know he doesnt mean harm... I'm getting rally frustrated...

Also, how do I get him not to eat or tear up his pee pads.... he's about 98% potty trained.. about 2-3 accidents a week... (he misses his pads by 2 inches) Why does he miss his potty pads?? It only started about 2 weeks ago... before that he didnt tear up or miss his potty pad....

thanks!
Ziggy's Mom -Krystle

[chloeandj]

Put some latex gloves on and spray them with bitter apple, Offer fingers to puppy...

I know it sounds nuts, but my little girl did this terrible when she was a puppy and my young sons were getting mauled. The gloves and bitter apple worked after the first try for us

Try not to get too frustrated, believe me, this will pass, it is a puppy phase!

You can get a potty pad holder at petsmart or you can try taping the pad down to the floor until he loses interest in tearing it up. Also, he will get better at his aim

[chattiesmom]

first things first

WELCOME ZIGGIE AND KRYSTLE

At three months of age, what you are expreiencing with Ziggie is not aggression, but just over zealous play. From his point of view, your fingers ARE the absolute best chew toy. They have the feel and taste of what represents the center of his life -- YOU. . Remember, you have a terrior on your hands, a mighty hunter in the making -- be patient and redirect him with a toy or a chewey. I use BullySticks that I buy from a vendor on ebay -- eddieb260. The product he sells was not involved in any of the recent recalls.

For whatever reason my dogs shred the pads that contain baking soda. You might try the washable pads many of us buy from Valethics http://www.valethics.com Very reasonable prices (I buy the "reclaimed" pads) and fast service!.

[lreed]

My boy is six months old now and he still likes to shred. I place two plastic crate on two sides of the pad and for the most part that does the trick. But sometimes they still shred it just for the heck of it. As to the nibbling on your fingers....he's still teething. They get their permanent set of teeth around five months, so he'll be a beaver until then. Give him lots of toys to chew on, play tug with him with a toy. Anything to divert his chewing to non-distructive things. And be patient, he'll grow up!

[Lola'sMommy]

Ziggy,
How did you potty train your puppy so quickly?! HELP! Lola is about the same age, and she's not even close to understanding that she needs to go on the pads?! What is your secret? Do you take him out as well, or did you just train on the pads?

[Annie&Badger]

It's completely normal behaviour for his age but I know exactly how you feel. It can seem that they're being really aggressive and you worry you might have a problem dog but it's actually all just part of the process. The most important thing to do is to teach him that mouths don't go anywhere on skin. What I did with mine was if he started nibbling on my fingers, I would say 'no' very firmly and loudly and push him away (I really wouldn't tap him on his nose either, by the way). If he ever put pressure on, I would say 'no' very loud and firmly again and then get up and leave the room for a few minutes. They do get the message but it's a learning curve and they need time for adjustment and you also have to factor in that their brains are developing in a certain way and at a certain speed so they're not going to get it immediately. You just need to create a routine and stick to it. In terms of the barking and growling at you, I think he's telling you he wants you to play with him. Again, I would say that routine is everything here and that he needs to learn that playtime is on your terms, and not his. Again, what I did with mine when I noticed this demanding attitude, was put him out the room if he got to be a pain. We had (and still have) about four play sessions a day where I bring out his toys, he picks one and then we play for about half an hour or an hour depending on how I feel. Of course they always want to play but looking back, I can see now that when they're at this very young age, they don't know that they're annoying you or worrying you with their temperament - you're very much an object to them: the source of all their food and pleasure and play and what have you and because they haven't learned to have 'manners' yet, they just behave, well, like any typical toddler really. In terms of the pee pads - I think what happens with puppies is they see the pad or paper and then they have their wee. It's not that they're trying to miss: as far as they're concerned, they 'saw' it which means in their puppy mind, they're 'on' it. I would think you just need to kind of keep repositioning him or put down a few more pads to make the area bigger for a little while.

But honestly, please don't worry. He sounds like a great little fella to me and everything he's doing is normal. It might seem that he's changing his behaviour from week to week and that's something to worry about but truly, it's completely normal - their little brains are changing and learning at an incredible speed and because it seems so sudden, you think 'uh oh, problem' but really, give it a few months and you'll see he'll settle down. This age: between 3 months and six months is when I had the most 'issues' with my puppy but it was a great learning experience for both of us and the next yorkie I get, I'll know exactly how to deal with as a result. Create routine and sort of try and see him very much as you would a young child who needs to learn and you can't go wrong, really

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Lola'sMommy

Ziggy,
How did you potty train your puppy so quickly?! HELP! Lola is about the same age, and she's not even close to understanding that she needs to go on the pads?! What is your secret? Do you take him out as well, or did you just train on the pads?

I had 2 weeks off for spring break so I could actually nip housebreaking in the butt!! All I did for teo weeks was "babysit Ziggy".
I bought the wee wee pads and introtroduces it ti Ziggy. I then gave him a treat while he was sitting on the pad. Then, Every hour on the hour I breought Ziggy on the pad and told him "GO POTTY!" with a stern voice. Sometimes it would take 10 minutes on the pad. My boyfriendt hought I was forcing him and taking too long but it paid off. After waiting 10 minutes, he'd go... if he doesnt then try back in another 15 minutes or so. Sometimes my timing was really off and he needed to go in 5 minutes and he'd have an accident. At that time, if I CAUGHT HIM IN THE MIDDLE... then I interupt by saying "NO Ziggy" and bring him to the pad. The first two weeks consisted of doing this almost 4 times a day. I look for sensorial cues like sniffing and walking in circles. If Ziggy makes an accident and I was not their to witness while he was doing it, then I DO NOT scold him.... you'll just confuse the puppy, he already frogot what the did a few minutes ago..... Use praise all the time, i think that positive reinforcement works best. Now once Ziggy goes on the pad, i say "Good Boy Ziggy" almostlike 5 times in the most happiest and joyful voice. He knows he's doing good when he hears this. Try it, your pouppy will get in with time. I just have alot of vacation and it took Ziggy about 2 weeks to get it down!! Good luck!!

[Ziggy]

Thank you thank you... all soo much for your support and welcoming me to YT!! Thats for the suggestions that you all gave, I will keep them in mind and try then out!! So far hoursebreaking for Ziggy is going great... he's just a little monster sometimes. =)

[Lola'sMommy]

Thank you, Ziggy! That's amazing that you were able to train him in two weeks! I'm so jealous!
I have another question for you if you don't mind? Where does Ziggy sleep at night? Do you use a crate, or does he sleep with you? Lola cries ALL NIGHT in her playpen, and I just don't think she should still be crying after 12 nights..I'm exhausted, and losing patience HELP!

[Lola'sMommy]

One more question? What treats do you give Ziggy?

[Ida]

I love this site - You think you're alone in the world until you read everyone elses issues and find out it's all normal - I was saying earlier I was changing my dogs name from Baxter to Devil Dog - All of a sudden he feels play time is all the time and he loves feet - bare feet especially - He barks and growls and runs around like a complete nut - it is very cute but can also be very frustrating. Especially when you are not playing - But you gotta love them - they are soooooooooooo cute.