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Help -- Scary puppy

Last post 01-25-2008 2:18 AM by stanton. 13 replies.
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  • 01-18-2008 12:40 AM

    Help -- Scary puppy

    I got a puppy for Christmas. She is about 9 weeks old now and super cute.  Her mother is a yorkie/chihuahua and her father is a yorkie/jack russell. She likes all the members of our family, she runs up and licks our faces and is happy to see us and stuff.  She normally likes to be picked up and handled by us.  She sleeps in a kennel at night, I set boundries with her, she is not possessive of her food or toys. But sometimes she just growls and snaps at us. I'm not talking about the typial puppy play-biting. She does that too and I'm working on teaching her not to. But she seriously gets ferocious on us and I don't know what to do. She will do it sometimes if I just pick her up, or when I wipe the sleepies out of her eyes.

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  • 01-18-2008 1:00 AM In reply to scarypuppy

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    If she is nine weeks NOW, then she was very very *very* young to have been taken from momma dog and siblings.  (Most states actually have laws against placing animals younger than 8 weeks and this IS why.)

    Taken from momma and the pack too early, a dog doesn't learn 'bite inhibition'.  It's partly taught by mother dog, partly siblings teach each other -- when they play OR when they are having a bit of a tantrum and they bite at each other, they will TELL each other (in no uncertain terms) THAT HURT DARN IT!!!

    6 weeks is too young -- that extra 2 weeks means a whole lot.  So essentially you have to be 'mom' to her.  Don't allow her to mouth you (put her teeth/mouth on you) NOT AT ALL.  Not even once.  Yelp (mean it -- let her know it hurts) and stand up and walk away.     Don't let her play that way and don't let her have a temper fit either.

    I would also have a vet examine her -- you may find she is actually hurting and that causes her to snap.  It could be a neck problem or something else and when you mess with her it may hurt and cause her to lash out.


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  • 01-18-2008 1:17 AM In reply to calliecritturs

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    Thank you)  I forgot to mention in my first post that I do have vet paperwork.  She was thoroughly checked and cleared by the vet to be adopted out at 6 weeks.  She came to me with her tail docked and dewclaws removed, and with her first set of vaccines and first 2 wormings.  I have been teaching her not to play-bite and am having some success with that.  She is coming along on potty training.  The pain thing you mentioned makes sense, but she was checked out by the vet right before I got her.  Maybe they missed something?  She just seems to freak out sometimes when being handled and goes "psycho".  When she normally doesnt mind being picked up and stuff. 

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  • 01-18-2008 8:32 AM In reply to scarypuppy

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    Welcome to the board! Smile

    You should be taking her for the next shot in the series soon, right? I took my puppies every two weeks. Ask the vet about it then.  

    Also, what do you do when you pick her up and she freaks out? How do you respond?  

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  • 01-18-2008 9:13 AM In reply to FourIsCompany

    • glenmar
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    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    A vet check and health certificate doesn't mean a whole lot sometimes.  I have seen vets do a cursory exam, the staff fills out the paperwork and wella!  Health cert.  I had a young foster pup who was examined, got his health cert and was dead two weeks later.  And this was a really GOOD vet who I took my own dogs to.  So, often those checks are not comprehensive and not worth the paper they are written on.  The fact is, however, that MOST states do have laws making it illegal to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of a pup prior to 8 weeks.  And Callie gave you the really good reasons for those laws.

    I also personally do not agree with vaccines at such a young age.  I prefer to wait until 9 weeks, but there is a lot of disagreement on that. 

    I agree that the pup may be in pain, OR that she simply doesn't like being picked up.  She's tiny and it's a very LONG way from your arms to the floor.  That can be pretty scarey for a pup.  Have you noticed a difference in her reaction based on HOW you hold her?  My thinking is that she'd be more likely to get snappy if she is frightened if you are holding her like a human baby?

    I'd be getting her to my OWN vet for a comprehensive exam to rule out anything PHYSICAL before you decide that she's a "scarey pup".  And I'd also be getting her into a puppy class PRONTO.

    A house without fur is not a home.
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  • 01-18-2008 10:53 AM In reply to scarypuppy

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    She will do it sometimes if I just pick her up, or when I wipe the sleepies out of her eyes.

    she's probably scared and is trying to defend herself from this giant who is grabbing her or doing weird things to her head. All of her "parentage" are breeds prone to "snap first ask questions later". At nine weeks she's probably in her primary "fear period" too, so you REALLY want to avoid frightening her. There are lots of reasons why pups shouldn't be "placed" until they are MUCH older than 6 weeks.

    Why haven't you taken her to YOUR vet? first thing you should do when you get a new pup is to go straight to a vet you trust to make sure the pup is ok.

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  • 01-18-2008 1:44 PM In reply to mudpuppy

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    mudpuppy:

    She will do it sometimes if I just pick her up, or when I wipe the sleepies out of her eyes.

    she's probably scared and is trying to defend herself from this giant who is grabbing her or doing weird things to her head. All of her "parentage" are breeds prone to "snap first ask questions later". At nine weeks she's probably in her primary "fear period" too, so you REALLY want to avoid frightening her. There are lots of reasons why pups shouldn't be "placed" until they are MUCH older than 6 weeks.

    Why haven't you taken her to YOUR vet? first thing you should do when you get a new pup is to go straight to a vet you trust to make sure the pup is ok.

     

    No reputable vet clears puppies for adoption at the age of six weeks.  What some of them do is clear a puppy for transport at six weeks.  But, the vet has little knowledge of how the pup will be transported, or whether it is leaving its litter to be transported.  Just from this information, it sounds like your puppy possibly came from a "puppy mill", Internet mill, backyard breeder, or pet store.  These entities often ship pups too soon, or separate them too soon from their mothers, just to meet shipping schedules and the demand, seasonal or otherwise, for a certain type of dog.  It's a nasty practice that ought to be stopped.  You can read more about puppy mills here: www.stoppuppymills.com.  If you know that this has happened to your puppy, the most important things to do now are to get her checked out by your own vet, and enroll her in puppy kindergarten just as soon as you can (some trainers will take very young puppies).  Puppies learn bite inhibition from other puppies, and it is CRITICAL that you expose her to playing with other pups.  Many positive trainers now run classes specifically designed for the tiny dogs, so that they aren't overwhelmed in class by large puppies bowling them over.  If you don't have such a trainer in your area, look for a dog day care that has a separate area for small puppies - and enroll her.   Wherever your pup came from, you have her now, and it's your job to see that she gets what she needs to be the best dog possible.

    Read this, too: http://www.clickertraining.com/node/168  It might help.



     

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  • 01-21-2008 8:10 AM In reply to spiritdogs

    • Cita
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    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    In addition to the socialization, I think it would really really help you to educate yourself quickly on body language signals. Little dogs (or at least my little dog, and others' as well, from what I've heard) can be super sensitive to "scary" body language that we humans exhibit without even realizing it. Things like bending over the dog to pick it up or putting our face up to theirs and making eye contact. Hugging can also be terrible!

    I've learned a lot from these books, you might want to give them a look - my dog has had some fear/aggression issues, and working on the human body language has really helped him settle down.

    Little Dogs: Training Your Pint-Sized Companion
    http://www.amazon.com/Little-Dogs-Training-Pint-Sized-Companion/dp/0793805376/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200920927&sr=8-1 

    On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
    http://www.amazon.com/Talking-Terms-Dogs-Calming-Signals/dp/1929242360/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200920970&sr=8-1

    Take a look at the books, they're both fun to read and have some really great information. 

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  • 01-21-2008 2:59 PM In reply to Cita

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

     Cita, those were great points, and good book recommendations, too.  Smile

    Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association
    Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program

    AKC CGC Evaluator #3669
    Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer

    Sioux, CGC, TDInc.
    Maska, CGC, TDInc.
    Sequoyah, CGC
    Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 19
    Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog

    "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George

    "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz



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  • 01-23-2008 11:23 AM In reply to Cita

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    Thank you for all the replies.  I have read that book "calming signals" and a couple other books on small dogs.

    My puppy did not come from a puppy mill.  I had advertised online that I was looking for a small dog as a companion and the puppy was given to me.  This breeder never sells any of her puppies but places them for free.  She also gives lots of supplies with the puppies, for free.  Whatever her faults, she definately is not in it for the money but is truly trying to good things. 

    I have decided to give my puppy to a more knowledgable person and I have adopted an older dog that we feel more comfortable with.

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  • 01-23-2008 7:17 PM In reply to calliecritturs

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    calliecritturs:
    Don't let her play that way and don't let her have a temper fit either.

    Most definitely!  You did get her too young.  But stop the behavior before it gets out of hand.  Tabitha does it too, and I correct her right off the bat!  I don't put up with that I don't care how little she is, or how many teeth she has!  LOL  She's old, she's barely got any of her teeth left, yet, she just snapped at me a couple of days ago.  But, sometimes, too, these little dogs have HUGE egos, and they have to be put in their place the sooner the better.  Good Luck! 
    Handle every situation like a dog.

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  • 01-24-2008 11:17 PM In reply to scarypuppy

    • Mdog59
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    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    Bravo!  I was about to chime in with agreement about the age of the pup, but I will give you kudo's to you for making a sacrifice for the sake of the pup and your family.  Not many people will do that while the pup is still at a viable age and the family still has all its fingers. 

    BTW.  Here in Pa, it is illegal to place a pup before 7wks.  I hope that breeder does a bit of research about what is the proper care of pups.

    Good luck with you new friend.  What did you get?

    If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I would climb right up to heaven and bring you home again.
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  • 01-24-2008 11:38 PM In reply to scarypuppy

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    scarypuppy:

    I got a puppy for Christmas. She is about 9 weeks old now and super cute.  Her mother is a yorkie/chihuahua and her father is a yorkie/jack russell. She likes all the members of our family, she runs up and licks our faces and is happy to see us and stuff.  She normally likes to be picked up and handled by us.  She sleeps in a kennel at night, I set boundries with her, she is not possessive of her food or toys. But sometimes she just growls and snaps at us. I'm not talking about the typial puppy play-biting. She does that too and I'm working on teaching her not to. But she seriously gets ferocious on us and I don't know what to do. She will do it sometimes if I just pick her up, or when I wipe the sleepies out of her eyes.

    What sort of boundaries do you set? How do you set them? What are the circumstances involved in when she gets into her biting frenzy? How do you respond to it? What are the circumstances involved during the times when she likes to be picked up and handled? It sounds to me like there's a fair amount of stress going on in the pup.
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  • 01-25-2008 2:18 AM In reply to corgipower

    Re: Help -- Scary puppy

    I have a pomeranian that does this at odd times, it's getting better though. What I quickly learned with Dakota, it's not always based around what the boundaries/punishment is for doing this, as much as it is into finding what SETS it off.

    We found him in a Wyoming dumpster a few years back as a puppy, so don't know his history.

    It all started a week or so after we got him. For one thing, this dog is a VERY heavy sleeper, and the first time it occured, we had accidently startled him, he came out with a parania type attitude and biting. Not just a nip or two, no this dogs mouth moves in a speed of light type action with little parania bites on your hand. It's hard to explain, but when you look into his eyes during this time, it's like he doesn't even know who he is, like he's wigged out and on drugs...it's really weird.

    Other times of his parania type biting began occuring....like when someone would wear yellow and try to come near him; or when someone would try to put him either on their lap or on the floor when HE wasn't ready; there were many many instances when the biting would occur. In the beginning, and even now, we never get upset with him cause we can tell he doesn't know what he was doing....he'd shake his head almost immediately and then be back to the sweet little Pom.

    We've had him a few years now...we've learned a few things that set it off, for one, he's highly allergic to sage and dairy, either one of those come in contact with him and he'll be hell on wheels for a day or so; one other HIGHLY cause of his anger was the fact that he has bad luxating patella's, it took us quite a few vet visits to determine that this was the leading cause of his ferocious attacks at times. He's been on Glycoflex for over a year and it's made a remarkable difference in his overall attitude.

    He's come a LONG way...in the beginning people couldnt' understand why we kept him, cause this little 6# dog can REALLY tear your skin apart literally, but we've learned together what makes him tick, and overall, he's a very sweet dog to own...just do NOT disturb him or even think about coming close to him while he's resting, no kidding, this dog sleeps so heavily that it's scary at times. If there was ever a house fire, he'd never be able to move fast enough.

    His true to the saying....Let sleeping dogs lie!

    One corrective behavior we use on Dakota when he starts the paranoa attitude is a squirt bottle...no harming him, just water in the face, quickly puts his brain back in check and we don't get bit, cause man IT HURTS! He has razor like teeth that just shred the skin.

    Currently owned by:
    Kuaui (chihuahua/Dat); Missy & Dakota (pomeranians); Rivers (NSDTR/Golden mix)
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