Scout's Mom Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Whew! Here I go again . . . I swore I'd never have another puppy, but someone dumped a beautiful black and white little BC girl off in our woods, and here I am at the BC Boards and my collie is named Scout! She's between four-six months old. I have two labs who I raised from puppies and are four and five years old now. They were nippy and chewy in a normal lab way when they were puppies, but nothing like Scout. She nibbles hands, arms, legs, ankles, etc. Grabbing her muzzle and trying to roll her lip onto her teeth doesn't have an effect, nor does ignoring her when she gets in these frantic "nipping frenzies." I'm having some success with carrying treats around and working on a command when she gets frenzied (she's learned sit, down, and shake in just a week), but that's not always practical. She may also be teething, and I've bought her lots of Nylabones and stuffed animals. Suggestions? We start obedience school next week, which might help some of this behavior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bailey44 Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi and welcome! It is wonderful that you took this little gal in. Always try to have a toy on hand and give it to her quickly to let her know what she IS allowed to chew on. Also, you can yell "ow" in a very hurt voice and remove yourself from her. Fold your arms, look away, frown, generally let her know that she's lost her playmate and will not get you back until she controls herself. Rinse and repeat if she does it again. It sometimes takes awhile, and all family members should do this or it will be less effective. When my pup would get totally out of control with this as you described, and toys and ignoring her wasn't working, she would earn herself a time out in her crate for just a few minutes. I take a kong toy, put peanut butter in the tiny end, place it in a coffee cup or small container in case it leaks. I fill the kong up with diluted beef or chicken broth and freeze it--this is great for sore puppy teeth and an outlet for chewing energy. (My dog is a year and she has a "broth pop" right now because we're trying to buy time after dinner to enjoy a cup of coffee!) Maybe your labs will help teach her manners. Kudos to you for saving her and post pictures for us to admire! Charlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scout's Mom Posted March 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Thanks, Charlene, for the tips. My mother has BCs, but she lives on a farm and they run all day before collapsing into sweet little heaps in the house at night. Scout is going to have to be a normal dog who goes for a little hike everyday and lives in the house, so she needs manners. The Kong and broth pops are good ideas. Scout drives me crazy in the morning after she's released from her sleeping crate -- she's like a wild Tasmanian Devil. I had hoped to find her a good home, but no one could take her . . . I guess I'm that good home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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