How do you discipline a puppy?

I'm not sure how I should be disciplining Clover if she's doing unwanted behavior. For example, she chews on the furniture, she climbs in behind the couch even though I have it blocked off she manages to get past it.

If she's chewing on something I'll say a firm No! And sometimes I'll grab her collar and try a correction. If I do that she seems to think I'm playing and then bites more or bites me.

So how can I teach her not to bite things? I read something that if she bites me I say "ouch!" really loud and walk away from her. But that doesn't really work for other things. IS there a way to teach her not to climb behind the couch other then trying to find ways to block it off? She eats the box I have in on place.

I try to walk her 3 times a day so she'll be more calm.

Also, I've been thinking about dog obedience classes but everywhere I've called doesn't start until at least October. I've trained dogs before for obedience so I've been thinking of starting myself for now. The only thing I'm not sure of is what training collar should I use for a 10 week old puppy? I've had older dogs in obedience and they had us use with a choke collar or a pinch. I just feel maybe she's too small for that right now. What do you all use to train your puppies? I've been using just a normal flat collar for corrections and she just ignores it and pulls non stop.

As I recall, my trainer told me to always "sweeten the deal" when they are doing something bad. So if she is eating something she shouldn't, say no and at the same time, give her something she should chew on...i.e. a toy, a bone, etc.

I found that the term "leave it" works with Prue. She will STOP doing whatever she is doing and look at me. If I say ok, she will continue.

Oh, and by the way, my dog DOES NOT come back when I call her, so don't think I know everything about dogs.

If you can figure out the "come" command, let me know.

Your pup is so cute.

Give her lots and lots of toys. I found Crocks are fun for them to chew, too. Prue has her own pink pair she chews on. She has never destroyed toys, so I can give her lots of stuffed things to and she nibbles on them.......good girl.

Keep us posted.

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Originally Posted by sasvermont

As I recall, my trainer told me to always "sweeten the deal" when they are doing something bad. So if she is eating something she shouldn't, say no and at the same time, give her something she should chew on...i.e. a toy, a bone, etc.

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I do that, and she usually goes back to what she was originally doing after a few seconds or when I stop playing with her and the toy.

Prue, my pup, had a couple of spots she like to chew..... I covered them with duct tape until she stopped... I still think you need to keep her busy, busy, busy..... with lots of toys. For awhile, I thought Prue had ADD because she switched toys so often. Now, at 18 months, she likes just a few special toys, no longer chews inappropriately and is housebroken.

The pulling thing....My trainer told us to just stand still and not pull the dog at all. I tell Prue to WAIT when she starts to pull and she stops, usually.....

You still have a puppy there, and it will be a real test for you to figure out what works. It sounds like your pup is SMART.... and will test you for some time to come.... Do you carry treats with you at all times? We were told to do that too.... and to keep them minding you with the treats....

Each dog is so different.

I use EH EH or Leave it instead of no. No just becomes such a common word a dog hears and thus looses its meaning.

Don't use the collar in a corrective manner. Dogs can get sensitive about having their necks touched if they recognize being yelled at with having their collar pulled on. Also they learn to ignore pulling on their neck.

Making a yipe noise when the puppy mouths is the best idea. If the puppy thinks you are playing, to the kennel for a time out. Don't fuss about it, just be calm and to the point and put the pup in her kennel.

If the pup is getting in a spot you don't like, more closer supervision is needed. When you see the pup getting into that spot, block the pup and redirect her. Really get her going on something more fun. If she goes back it may just be time for a time out or to go to a different room. Once she's trained better on basic obedience you can do Leave it work. I don't like a shake can because some dogs are prone to anxiety.

A normal puppy training collar works well. Do no constantly keep pressure on it or the pup will just get used to ignoring it. The best method to get attention is training treats. Positive training works a million times better than negative. Be sure to keep any training sessions short. Holding a treat in front of the puppies nose and directing them what you want them to do will always get you further than choke collars.

What do you mean by normal puppy training collar? Like a normal flat collar?

Thanks for the info :)

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Originally Posted by Sowa

What do you mean by normal puppy training collar? Like a normal flat collar?

Thanks for the info :)

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Yes, I am sure that is what she means.

My initial response to the thread title?

Gently but consistently, and never, ever, ever give in! Resist the urge to laugh, and don't worry about looking ridiculous if you stop every few feet while leash training her so she doesn't pull. The sooner the better for leash training, and make sure everyone who walks her follows the same pattern. Looking silly and being somewhat (inwardly) frustrated now is a small price to pay for having a well-behaved dog on a leash for the rest of her life!

Yelping and stopping play when she nips, and immediately offering her an "okay to chew" object when she starts gnawing something verboten are both important, too. Hide all shoes and keep them out of her reach, as a puppy's teething time often means doom for shoes!

If you've any trouble with her nibbling on certain furniture when you're not home or if you have to leave for a second, try Bitter Apple furniture spray. Dogs usually do not like the taste. You spray it on, they should leave it alone (though I once had ONE dog who liked it...). Other than that... I agree to keeping her busy. Try maybe a Kong dog toy, and try n tucker her out, so nom nomming furniture is too much of a task. And YES, HIDE SHOES. For the love of leather, hide them all if she's chewing!

Redirect her to something she can have and ALWAYS be positive.

When I took Prue to training, the trainer had us bring roast beef, turkey, cheese, lots and lots of really good food.....that I never give her now....but she could not resist them when she was a puppy. The whole point is to get her loving the rewards for her behavior. It seemed to work, as she is great on the leash, etc. She does, however, as I mentioned, run the neighborhood when she is off leash. I think I will sign her up for the next available group of lessons for the "come" command that she cannot seem to hear/understand.

I agree, be positive, lots of treats and one syllable words.....sit, out, paw, down, wait, leave it.....eventually... I even taught Prue to ring a bell when she wants a treat or has to go outside.

We did an hour at a time, when at the training. It seemed to be enough for her and ME. She caught on quickly and was much better with the trainer than with me. Someone once said that dog training schools are for the owners, not the dogs! How true.

I would keep Ms. Muffett confined unless you are watching her like a hawk. Prue did chew my laptop power cord while I was using the computer. So much for my advice.

They do outgrow the chewing, but it seems to takes months....and hey, it does. Prue is great now, chewing only on her toys.

I have watchbands, shoes, corners of furniture with her signature on them....and I was watching her closely. It takes only a second to do the damage.

Have fun! Remember, sweeten the deal with tasty treats and keep her busy and tired.

Well she certainly loves food. Any dog food, treats, anything. She loves it. I usually can always get her attention if I have something.

That's good, if she's highly food motivated it's a great training tool. :)

Yeah, but might that teach her to only listen if I have food to give her? My last dog would only learn new things if I had treats. Otherwise she wasn't interested.

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Originally Posted by Sowa

Yeah, but might that teach her to only listen if I have food to give her? My last dog would only learn new things if I had treats. Otherwise she wasn't interested.

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No, you can always use a combination of treats AND praise, and after a while try using just praise from time to time! She IS a Lab, food will always be a priority for her, but it need not be her only priority!