I've had lots of dogs and lots of different types. All puppies I've bought have been between 6 (
) and 8 weeks old - though everything I read says 12 weeks should be the
minimum. Unfortunately, puppy "dealers"
, breeders, and the general puppy shops around here aren't in the biz for the puppy's well being (well, this isn't for the general public, but for the general public in NYC/those I've come into contact with), but rather the $$moola$$. Yorkies sell typically from $1800.00 - $3,000.00 around here
. Even when I was living upstate (going closer to Albany) in the country, where standard cost of living is half of what it is here, there was a toy breeder and they sold yorkies at a minimum of 2k a pop! The smaller the puppy (ie: younger), the higher the price. My puppy was close to hitting the "unmarketable", being born 3/28!!!!
I started with the stern, loud, authoritative "NO BITE", then tapping him in the nose (my mother's old method with our old family jack russel terrior). He'd bite my finger as I went to nip the nose. Then I tried the same "NO BITE" and would replace my SKIN (lol) with a toy - but he'd still go for my skin. I have a yorkie book and bought some guaranteed $25.00 7-day-system which told me to "yelp" - tried sounding like a dog - which caused Rocky to bark
and bite me, lol. Then, per the guide, I tried the "time out method" - after the "yelp-and-switch-hand-for-toy" method fails more than once (the dog still playing/failing to recognize my authority), leave dog alone for 2 minutes so he gets that his behavior leads to no attention - negative or positive. I've even tried removing *him* from the site of the incident and putting him in the bathroom for under 2 minutes (in which I sit outside and wait in tears
). Then I began a new method I read about, SCREAMING "OUCH" as if someone shot me in the leg. This does shock him, giving me enough time to thrust a toy/bone in his mouth. ::sigh:: hit and miss.
I've got the typical puppy variety toys: the 3 set "booda bones" - blue spike dental, flavored, and clear nylon. 2 squeaky stuffed animals, a small teething "kong", a tug-o-war rope bone, and a cat toy he loves - a mouse that makes sound and comes on a looooong string so we can play together. He has a ball too - but hates it. He is doing pretty well going potty on newspaper - but I *REALLY* want(ed) him dog litter trained. Any suggestions on that? Or maybe this warrents a new thread...
