Help Please?
 

I am very frustrated and even on the verge of tears at the moment. I love Bailey to death but I have 2 problems with her that are really bothering me.

1- She gets so wild and bites like crazy when she wants to play. If I try to pick her up she wiggles so bad she almost makes me drop her. On the floor she zooms back and worth so fast she bangs into furniture. And she goes crazy attacking me with her teeth, biting my skin, clothes, face, hair. And she bites hard! When she's on the couch she acts like she wants to jump off, which she kind of did once. And a second ago she got surprised and kind of somersaulted off the couch. :eek: That's what got me on the verge of tears because I freaked out. She seems fine and as soon as I put her back on the couch she acted like she still wanted to jump. When she bites I tell her no, make sharp noises like claps, "AH AH", etc. She responds to nothing. I usually just put her in time out by taking her to the gated kitchen, which brings me to problem 2...

2- She won't be apart from me for a second. Even if I put her in the kitchen with gates and I'm right next door in the family room she cries, howls, works herself up so bad that she almost threw up once. She also just peed on the floor, which I think could have been on purpose since she's recently gone and has been doing very well with the pads. If she can't even be in another room than me while I'm home, how am I going to leave her for 8 hours when I work?

Anybody have suggestions??? Encouragement? Will she grow out of these things or is it gonna take as much work as it seems it will?

;)First how old is she? Second we had this problem with Laddy when he was younger and every so often now he will nip. Our solution was to say no bite and put him in his crate and ignore him for 5 min at a time each and every time he bit. It only took a couple days of this to get him to stop. Now he only tries it with strangers and at first sign of it into crate he goes and it stops. Hope this helps.

Sorry Bailey is misbehaving.
 

Sorry to hear your Bailey is misbehaving. How old is she? When my guys were teething they'd bite, and I'd make a loud, crying like noise. That would get their attention and make them stop.

My guys never developed separation anxiety, but I had two, so they just kept each other company. You can give Bailey a kong toy to occupy her time, or just keep practicing leaving her alone for small increments, reassuring her that you will return to her. There is also a toy that makes heartbeat sounds that she might find comforting.

Also, make sure you take her out for at least 1/2 hour walk. I find that my guys behave better when they've had a bit of exercise. It mellows them and then they sleep more soundly too.

Martha

She's just over 10 weeks old, so still very young. And obviously because she's not fully vaccinated I can't use walks.

I forgot to mention that I also try the crying like a dog when she bites, but it doesn't work either. She just gets so hyper she keeps biting no matter what.

She has a kong in the kitchen as well as lots of other toys. I've read over and over about leaving her for short time periods. I will leave her in the kitchen while I go upstairs to do something. She cries but doesn't seem to cry as bad as when I'm right in the next room.

I know part of my problem is that I'm such a worrier and her crying makes me feel guilty so I eventually come back and get her. :rolleyes:

Puddin went through a similar stage at about the same age. Bailey needs to learn the word "no" and, if you don't already know how, you need to learn to use the word in a strong, commanding, no nonsense way. Think about the way a drill sergeant barks orders at a bunch of new recruits---that is the tone of voice you need to use. A loud, sharp NO will usually make them stop what they are doing, at least momentarily, which gives you the opportunity to reward her compliance. If she persists, then she needs a consequence...put her in her crate or shut her in another room where she can't see you for a few minutes. Right now, she has found ways to get what she wants and as long as these behaviours are successful for her, she will not stop them.

Same thing with the clinginess...you have to harden your heart to her cries and just leave her alone. I don't know if you use a crate or how you isolate Bailey, but I have a very large tiled bathroom where Puddin's bed and crate are kept, along with her food, water, and pad...in fact, we now refer to it as "her room." She is left there with the doors closed. If she paws the door for us to let her out, sometimes we do, sometimes don't. But if she accompanies the pawing with setting up a ruckus, we tell her "NO!" and when she has quieted down, we reward her compliance by letting her out.

Bottom line, Bailey is behaving this way because it works for her. When it doesn't work anymore, she will try something else. Eventually, if you are consistent and firm, she will try what you want her to do and when she gets rewarded for that behaviour, she will settle on it.

I can guarantee you that she will become a legendary whiner. It's just like kids. If you are going to give up, do it right away, or she will learn that whining works, as long as she is very persistent.

As I've mentioned, Thor used to belong to my coworker. Every time I came into the office, I'd hear him make these heart breaking little whimpers to let his owner know he wanted to say hi to me. She'd hold out for anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, but eventually she would give up and he'd come running over. So when I got him, I knew he'd developed a monster whining habit. Me, I'm like stone. He's tried whining with me - one of his favorite tricks was to drape himself along one side of his crate and cry like a damsel in distress - but he stopped it after a few weeks because it didn't work.

Now if he whimpers, I know something serious is up.

Good luck with everything! It's probably just puppy stuff she's grow out of. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. :xfingers:

Oh, one other thing. Some people recommend rolling a dog's lip into his mouth if he is a persistent biter. This gives him a taste of his own medicine. I will do this if a dog won't stop mouthing me, even after "puppy squeal" and a firm "no".

Sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advice, especially the don't give in part. I know how tough it can be. Try not to get frustrated.

I'd check with your vet on whether your dog can go for outside walks. My understanding is that it's OK if you don't bring them around other dogs or let them get into dog poo. The fear is Parvo and distemper, and if you can keep them away from other dogs, it shouldn't be a problem. And exercise will go a long way to helping with the excess energy issues.

For biting, try to have a healthy chew that she likes always handy. If she gets nippy, give her something that's acceptable to chew on. A bully stick, nylabone or stuffed Kong.

Good luck. The puppy months can be overwhelming.

We had the same kind of problem with Xavier at first. I couldn't tell him no or discipline him to save my life! My hubby had been telling me for months that I had to tell him no and I just wouldn't do it. Finally, one day a friend was over and he wouldn't quit biting me...she was like, tell him NO! And of course I did in a timid voice and that did nothing...so she had me kinda swat him on the nose when I said it and BOY! Did that work!

It took about a month of being very firm with him and crating him off and on, but now he's pretty well behaved! I felt awful doing it, but now he's a much better dog.

While he was teething, the poor guy couldn't help but chew on everything. We just started giving things he was allowed to chew on when he began chewing on things he wasn't supposed to.

He's so funny. You can get him super hyper now and in the same 10 seconds he'll go from play biting to kissing you. Now, even if we are playing, I don't worry about him hurting me or anyone else. Yorkies are true terriers and you MUST treat them like that. Its hard because they are so tiny & sweet, but sometimes you hafta be strict.

Hope Bailey learns soon :)

Very good advise from everybody I would just also not sit on the couch with her but on the floor and really play with her with a toy that she could pull and not get to your fingers to get rid of all her energy and then when is has calmed down and is ready for a nap put her next to me on the couch where I can keep my hand on her so she does not jump off. This will pass but like with children you have to do it everyday. Remember YOU are the pack leader NOW.;)

Can you leave something that smells like you when you leave, a t shirt or something. They have something called a dap, dog appeasing pheromone that smells like the mother when they are nursing, some people have had good luck with it. Try taking your hand and close his mouth and say no when he wants to bite, he is still young so all of this is pretty close to normal for most puppies. They are hard to say no they are so darn cute.

Regarding the biting; our puppy kindergarten teacher told us that we should do what the puppy's mother would do-take her down. By that I mean-when your puppy is biting your hand, etc. take your hand and gently grab the mouth, then firmly (but carefully) put the puppy on his side and hold him there for a short time, and say "NO". This is what the mother would do, and it works great. It only took a very short time, and we never had a problem again.

OMG..I had this problem SOOO bad. The biting I mean. When Marley was athe age of your pup, he would bite bite bite and when I would try to correct him, he would bite more and go after my finger.
The advice given so far is very good as far as I can tell. I finally got a trainer to help me with him, ( He's 9 months), but prior, I would grab his muzzle and tell him NO..every time he would bite, then put him in time out. I also would lay him on his side, Cesar style.. no luck. It just takes persistance. Remember, his crying is not going to hurt him.
It's hard but there are lots of little things that go along with this that helps him learn you are the boss. You have to be for your baby to be happy.
First, no sleeping with you.
Second, he's never to be higher than you ( like on the back of the couch)
You should make him earn everything.
You put the food down, make him sit to earn it.
Etc Etc. You always go thru the door before him..
Sounds silly maybe but it works.
Marley is finally complying.
The biggest thing, was kicking him out of my bed, and kenneling him at night..or crating. I hated this.
But that alone stopped much of his barking and changed his behavior immensely!
We have to be the boss for them to be happy. And also for US to have a dog that is a happier dog

[QUOTE=TishaMoon;2552616]She's just over 10 weeks old, so still very young. And obviously because she's not fully vaccinated I can't use walks.

I forgot to mention that I also try the crying like a dog when she bites, but it doesn't work either. She just gets so hyper she keeps biting no matter what.

She has a kong in the kitchen as well as lots of other toys. I've read over and over about leaving her for short time periods. I will leave her in the kitchen while I go upstairs to do something. She cries but doesn't seem to cry as bad as when I'm right in the next room.

I know part of my problem is that I'm such a worrier and her crying makes me feel guilty so I eventually come back and get her. :rolleyes:[/QUO


She's just over 10 weeks old
This is the reason for being hyper and nipping,..She is JUST a puppy! Puppies do this...Mine were like this...eventually the calm down with the nipping..Give her time...Get her a toy that she can chew on so she doesn't use your toes and fingers. Don't give up the ship! The day will come that you miss the puppy stage!

Wow lots of good suggestions! She is so good in her crate at night. She whines a little but I never give in then so she quickly goes to bed. Sometimes in the morning she doesn't even wanna come out! The crate is too heavy to carry up and down stairs all day (it's a metal petmate crate). So her downstairs place is the kitchen. She's got a smaller plastic crate, blankets on the floor because it can be a cold floor, toys, food, water, and 2 pads. She should be fine being left in there, but I still worry about her because she picks up every little crumb off the floor. What I want to do is find bigger baby gates that will allow me to keep her more in the dining area of the kitchen and out of the spot past the island. That way she also wouldn't be able to see me when I'm in the next room.

Today I will try leaving her downstairs for a while while I work upstairs.

For the biting I've bought her a small nylabone chew toy and a orca bone. She likes chewing on both of these as well as a rope toy (I don't give it to her unless I'm with her). Sometimes, when she's calmer, it works if I just say no when she bites me, give her the toy, and then praise her when she bites the toy. I guess what I have to get consistant with is putting her in time out when she starts jumping for my face or anything she can get. I will have to try locking her in the crate for time out instead of just the kitchen.

I guess I just have to work at it and not let her get to me. She's just so tiny I feel like I have to constantly protect her!

Oh and I'm surprised that some people say they still take their unvaccinated dogs out. My vet talked me out of even taking her in my backyard! He said parvo can stay in the dirt and stuff for 10 years.

You have already gotten lots of good help but I wanted to add my advice :) Tobie does both of these too but he has gotten soooo much better so I think the biggest part of it his her age. Tobie would whine so loud and so much if I just went to the bathroom and now he may whine a little bit if I leave the room for quite a long time but it's not bad at all. With Tobie I just make sure that I don't come to him everyone he cries. If you know that they aren't hurt or hungry or need to potty then it's best to just let them cry. When she stops crying then go to her and give her lots of praise and attention.

As far as the biting, I make sure to pet Tobie quite a bit and if he starts trying to bite at my hand I stop, take my hand away and say "no bite!". I wait a few seconds and then start petting him again. Usually after three or four times he gets it and will start licking my hand instead.

I just wanted to let you know what is working for me since I am going through the same thing. I think you'll be amazed at how much better she gets just within a few weeks time :D

This is what I've been thinking. My question is how long should she be quiet before I go to her. For a while she's so stressed she does this very loud houling cry. But sometimes she'll stop that for a bit. Then she'll start little whimpers again. Today I was trying to wait for 1 full minute of quiet, but right when it was almost a minute she started whimpering.

Bailey gets very angry when I take my hands away and that's when she tries to jump and bite my face or hair. And when I try to stand up and turn my back to her like I've read, she bites my socks or pant legs. Today I had to put her in her crate for 4 times before she got it. After the 4th time she licked me when she came out instead of biting. Not sure if she really made the connection thogh, but I know it'll take time.

Thanks! It's good to know these are issues with all (yorkie) puppies and I just have to work on it. Good thing I have the month off to keep teaching her. :)

With Tobie I started out praising him after only about 10 seconds of quiet and then each time I would increase the amount of time he needed to be quiet. That way they start to slowly make the connection - "when I'm quiet I get attention". It does take patience but it really did work for Tobie.

With the biting it sounds like you are doing the right thing with folding your arms and turning away from her. She will learn that she gets ignored when she is misbehaving. Just make sure to praise her as soon as she stops and then if she starts biting again then turn away from her. If this just is not working at all then I would definitely have a designated "time out" area. We have also had to do this with Tobie when he bites at the other dogs ears and legs. It usually only takes one or two "time-outs" before he stops.

Puppies are exhausting, huh? LOL. It's so worth it though when they catch on and all of your hard work pays off :)

I didn't get a chance to read all posts, so if someone already said this, I apologize. She needs to learn no. Condition her with it. I took a coffee can and put coins in it. When she misbehaves I shake the can once and say Noooooooooo at the same time. They don't like the noise the can makes. At the same time they are hearing no. Soon you will not have to use the can, just the word No. She then has been conditioned to No and the can as a not a good thing.
This worked wonders with my Jemma. But pups will try biting, I call our bones their teething bones. So they think, lol

I tried this with Tobie and it worked the first couple of times and then he just thought it was a game. Little monster! LOL.

I agree, start out with a very small interval of quiet, four seconds even. Once the connection is made, you can hold it longer. Eventually they realize, hey, I don't get what I want when I bark anymore.

This might be a good time to teach the "Quiet" command while you're at it. :D

My shelby is 8 and she still whines at me when she wants my attention but as far as the biting kaylee does that she's almost 5months but when she does we say kaylee no bite..and stop playing and she stops...she is getting much better but she still forgets when she gets excited....she too does the wiggling but we've learned to hang on to her firmly so she can't fall and she will stop that too..good luck just alot of patience...it;s like a baby...gotta love yorkies..

Gucci also went through the EXACT same stages as your baby!

He would just act like a total nutcase when I did the puppy cry thing ... I used no consistently and firmly but it didn't do any good! He went through the tearing up puppy pads and whining too. I took him to the vet to ask what was wrong because he was NUTSO! she said he would eventually calm down just keep doing what I was doing and for the seperation anxiety just teach him that I am COMING BACK by leaving for small intervals and returning.

Also No contact with him for 20 minutes before leaving and no contact for at least 10 when I got back.

I did this consistently and I am happy to say 4 months later he is as sweet as ever!! HE NEVER BITES OR NIPS AT ME or The kids.. But he does at Hubby because Hubby makes him think it's ok to do it to him! He doesn't tear things up when I leave anymore. But he has developed a habit of crying for me when he hears me get in the shower because he KNOWS I will be leaving soon. I have to ignore that type of behavior or it will get worse, so far so good!

Hope that helps somewhat.. But please, pelase REMEMBER Although it may not seem like it now.. IT WILL PAY OFF If you are consistent! It did for us, and it took some time (months even) but he is 7.5 months now and so mild mannered. These lil guys sometimes require lots of patience and dedication or they will totally run the house and you.

Wow, this part sounds hard to do. :(

Bailey is already getting better with whining when I leave for a second or am in the next room. I still need to practice leaving for a little while. The only time I left so far she was sleeping and never even woke up. :rolleyes:

The biting is another matter. It can be very frustrating, especially as my hands are all red with teeth marks! :eek:

It was and still is VERY HARD but it works so I try to stay consistent with it ( not always am I though lol).

As for the biting I feel you!! My hands used to hurt so bad I almost feared getting the lil stinker out lol.. Never did I resist him though :p I just took the beatings kept saying no to him and pulling away and eventually he stopped.

I think the key is just consistency, as long as your baby realizes that you are upset she will learn .. she just needs to mature a bit.

Hope I helped a lil,
Adrianna

Thanks you have been a big help! What concerns me though about that 20 minute rule before you leave, is about when I go back to work. I had heard people say you should get up early to have half an hour of play time with your puppy before you have to leave her for 8 hours. That seems like a good idea, but making time for that 30 minutes AND 20 minutes to ignore her before I leave sounds hard. I'm not a morning person, haha. Plus she's in her crate all night and then to leave her alone for 8 hours I'll feel so bad. :(

Well in that case, it does sound hard. I would just try and do the best you can even it is ignoring her for 10 minutes or even 5 as long as she realizes you leaving isn't this huge deal and you'll be back I think she will learn. Dogs just pick up on your cues so easily and it tends to overstress them when they already know you are going and you give in to their wanting you and then you leave.

If Gucci sees me go into my Undergarment drawer he freaks and starts jumping and barking because he knows I am getting clothing to get into the shower and I will be leaving soon. So me ignoring him is important or he will think that everytime I leave he can make a fuss and it's ok. If I ignore him he rarely ever destroys anything. If I coo over him and pet him etc. he gets upset when I go and tears things up and when I get back I immediately have to tend to him making matters worse.

Hope I make sense there...

Adrianna

I am late posting on your thread. Sorry about that.
I agree with the others . About the biting . Teach the word NO, to Bailey. As soon as she begans biting your hands playtime is over. Say NO! to her, get up , and walk away from her. This will tell her, OOPs I did something wrong.
If you can, make it a special time before you leave for work just for you and Bailey. Spend time with her. You are going to feel bad leaving her .Remember that Bailey will pick up on your feelings. Stay calm . Bailey will probably sleep most of the time your working. When you get home, it needs to be Bailey time.
Also, be ready for when Bailey get to be a few months older, because the chewing stage is going to come. She may be play biting now, however she will be chewing on everything soon! Most things I caught Suzi chewed up stuff, but, it was not until later that I saw that she chewed up the corners of an old oak end table . That can be redone. I am not one get angry about it. Just be prepared for a little chewing puppy .

Uh oh, she already chews a bit. She chews on the wood baby gates, on the bamboo rug, and on the carpet. Bitter apple seems to have no effect on her.