I gather rules are diferent in US and Europe. However, I’m slightly perplexed abnout the idea of buying a dog from a pet store. No pet store over here would sell a dog, be it 5 or 8 weeks old. You buy it from the breeder, and when you pick it up, it’s the breeders responsibilty to have given it all shots, seen to worms ASF. Documentation shoud be provided. Alsom docking tails and doing things with the ears is illegal here. And I heartily apporove of the law.
As to this puppy. You say you’ve had a dog before. But did you raise it from the start? As everyone else have said, this is perfectly normal behavious. From your frustration in these posts, I wonder if you’re ready for this task. Figure at least two hours daily to take care of your dog. It should be more, since it needs mental stimulance as well. Companionship is also important. And never, ever forget rule #1:
Don’t punish bad behavious, encourage good behaviour.
Gaspode–it is routine (and has been for years) for pet stores to sell both dogs and cats. Most of the time the dogs that come from the pet stores are horrid little creatures picked up from puppy mills where bitches are bred until they literally die from overbreeding. Another unfortunate side effect of buying a dog from a pet store (besides not knowing the exact age a nd whether or not he/she has had all their shots)is that they are often very difficult to housebreak. In the small cages the pet stores typically provide there is little definition between ‘sleeping area’ and ‘pooping/peeing’ area. The dogs get confused a nd often end up sleeping in their own feces/urine which is a difficult, if not near impossible,habit to break.It’s not that they necessarily LIKE doing it, they just get used to it and think that’s how it’s supposed to be. teemingone–I hate the idea that you bought a puppy from a petstore but at least you are headed in the right direction with that poor thing.Good luck.
What happened to the dog you had before?
What breed is it? Where did you get it? Why did the irresponsible f*ks sell you a five week old puppy?
Let me say something to you, that you might not have picked up from all the other people who already said it… THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH “IT”. Your puppy is NOT “vicious,” it’s a puppy. Puppies bite and chew and play. One of the biggest reasons NOT to remove a puppy from the bitch and littermates before ten weeks is because they learn bite inhibition between the six and eight week mark. Obviously, your puppy has not learned that, and MAY never learn that as well as one who is properly raised by its MOTHER for the correct period of time. This is not to say that it can’t learn bite inhibition, but it will be a longer trial than one who learns it from the mother and littermates. Reason #98234982358923489234 not to buy a dog from a pet store or a backyard breeder. Hereare a couple articles on bite inhibition and training.
Raising a puppy is a long, hard road, and your dog will remain a puppy mentally for at LEAST a year to two and a half years, depending on the breed. This means you will have to deal with puppy behavior for a year to two and a half years. Not a couple days. If you think you “did everything you could” with this puppy in a couple days, the best advice I could give you (for the health and well-being of the dog) is to find it a new home.
Barring that, get a couple good dog training books, join a couple e-mail lists, talk to trainers, reputable breeders, learn, assimilate information, and raise your puppy properly, with a lot of time, a lot of love, and a whole lot of patience.
Peace,
~mixie
I agree, the puppy should be with its mom. Do get the books by “The Monk’s of New Skete”. They have written more than one book.
He should have had a shot at 4 weeks. Then the series of shots starting at 8 weeks. Go to a Vet right away. He can also tell you how old the puppy is.
As a former, responsible dog breeder, I kept my puppies until they were 9 weeks old because the crucial age for personality developement is 8 weeks. How it is treated that week is very important for his developement.
At 5 weeks, they are almost not ready to be completely off of their mother’s milk. They need an enormous amount of gentle love and touching from you. At that age, a puppy who was rejected by its mother was sleeping in a box at the top of my head at night. There was a hole in the box so it could cuddle up to my head like it should be doing with its mother. You don’t want to roll on the puppy, so keep it at your head. Body contact means everything and it will bond to you. Make the box very small and it will not soil its environment. You may have to take the puppy out at night because that is very young to “hold it” all night.
I stopped beeding show quality dogs because I was never 100% sure the person I sold a dog to was the right person. People appeared perfect for the dog, but you never know. I just couldn’t sell them anymore.
If you have a herding breed type dog (Australian Shepherd, Border collie, shetland sheepdog, or german shepherd TYPE dog) it is NORMAL for them to bite at your heels!!! It’s NORMAL HERDING BEHAVIOR. It’s hardwired in them.
You have to TEACH them that you, however, are not an animal to be herded. This may take some time.
The dog is not vicious. It’s not doing this because it’s a male. Our female Australian Shepherd pup nipped at our heels until she learned not to.
You have to teach the dog NOT to do this. In many dogs, it’s instinctive behavior. But they can learn to use it appropriately (i.e., NOT on your ankles.)
Take the advice already given, for goodness’ sake! Yipe like another puppy when your pup nips you. STOP playing with it for a while (like a time out.)
The dog will get the idea. It will take it a while because the dog is very young. BE PATIENT. Good luck.
