Hi I just got a 11 week old wheaten terrier and i need help. She was wonderful and sweet the first week, and now on the second week we've had her, she's crazy! She has all this energy that i try to get out by taking her to my families houses with yards (I live in an apartment) and It doesn't help. I can't walk her yet for another month when she has all her vaccinations. She's biting A LOT and HARD. I never thought baby teeth could hurt so bad. I've been training her to "sit", "shake", "come", "lay down" to try to mentally work her, but just playing with her toys isn't good enough. She has to chew on everything she's not supposed to, and when I'm not looking for a second she's chewing on my boyfriend's wooden desk, or stealing socks or whatever. If she really wants something, she won't listen to me at all. I want to try and get her used to the leash i got, but i want her to listen to me first. I do the whole pack leader thing where she works for her food before i give it to her (like doing a trick or something) I go through the door first always, and i don't feed her from the table or anything like that. She's crate trained and sleeps in it at night and during the day, but i don't want to dread her waking up everyday, and it's getting to that point. I think the only thing i need to change is i get really mad sometimes, and it's hard to stay calm when she's biting me in my face. I'm not used to puppies, I've always had cats so this is new for me. I really need something i can do with her since i can't take her out for walks yet, and i need her to listen and stop biting. Someone please help!

Oh it takes time for the training - the biting is probably teething much like human babies. I got Mochi when he was 9 weeks old and let me tell you the crying in the middle of the night for attention lasted 2 months! even tho we tired him out before bed =( I actually started him on leash walking in-doors then to the backyard. I then took him out for walks (kept away from heavy foot&dog traffic/dirty areas) even before he got all his shots - and knock on wood he was okay. We starting basic command training as soon as we got him home so he was okay with those. As for the chewing? we use this spray call Bitter Apple (PetCo.) and spray it on things we don't want him to chew and dogs hate that stuff. We do confine him in the hallway when we are not home (even now). Took him till he was 6 months old before he was totally accident free (no poop/pee anywhere but on weewee pad). Have patient - it is well worth it - you get to see a puppy grow into a sweet dog =)
Have fun!

[Yogi]

Generally Terriers are not the recommended breed of choice for first time dog owners primarily due to their natural high energy. These breeds need a day of running to wear themselves out where daily walks will generally in no way provide enough exercise. The biting is typical of most breeds when the teething period is going on. Shoving a chew toy in their mouth in place of your hand usually will get them to catch the hint but note, Terriers are the only breed of dogs created for the sole purpose of killing other animals ie: vermin. They were bred to be free thinking and act on what they were bred for so getting their attention to train is a little more difficult on the average than many other breeds. This in no way implies they are stupid, in fact Terriers on the whole are actually quite intelligent but can appear to be stubborn to some when actually this is their inherited independent trait coming out. Terriers require a great deal of patience in all aspects of training more so generally than other breeds which is why they are not generally a first time dog. Your best bet is to get the dog out in a secure yard and let itself tire out every day as this is a need that they have and then when tired start working on the training issues. They are more receptive when they are tired and their high energy has been diminished for the day. When the time comes note that this breed needs to be on a harness and leash not a collar and leash. Weak necks and can injure easily. Using a halti or a gentle leader may be needed as Terriers can many times pull excessively on the leash leading to luxating patella issues. They will bolt when they see small objects that move quickly as this is what they were bred to do so be cautious in public to avoid them taking off. Good Luck.

[CorkyMax]

Welcome!
I don't reall have an answer for you. But I see you will be getting shots soon. I know it is the law as far as Rabies goes but I hope you will check out these web sites: What You Should Know About the Rabies Vaccine for Dogs (What you should know about the rabies vaccine for dogs)
Dog Health Report - Dog Care - Dog Health Problems Solved! - Dog Health Report - Dog Care - Dog Health Problems Solved!
Pet Vaccination danger - adverse reaction to routine vaccination ---scroll down to Pet Vacc. danger adverse, etc NaturalRearing.com :: Loading Website... --then find article on "rabies the big scam" (guest authors)
F.Y.I.---frm book I have----under Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier--It once earned its keep by performing guard duties, herding sheep and hunting badgers, otters, rats and rabbits. Friendly and appealing and easy to train. It makes an excellent watchdog. These dogs can get by w/moderate exercise as long as it is regular. Health problems-They are hardy dogs, but may suffer frm hip dysplasia (I have heard that making sure they have V.c helps to try to prevent this---vet won't tell you that--they don't get much on supplements in their training!) Can tell you in another posting on V.c and how much if you would be interested! Wheatens may suffer frm (prone to) skin allergies and eye problems, such as PRA (don't know what these initals stand for--at the moment!) They are also subject to hereditary kidney disease. Suggestion--Look up--internet-dog books etc and bone up on these things as it would be good to know about what to do to try to avoid tendencies and be able to recognize them to catch things early,etc. Getting back to this book--Pet facts (Wheatens)--Exuberant, friendly, fearless--daily groomings (Frequent, even daily, combing of the long, profuse coat w/a med.-toothed comb is recommended to keep it free of tangles, beginning when the dog is a puppy. The object is to achieve a natural look and brushing can make the soft coat fuzzy.) Adapts well to urban living. BE AWARE *These dogs need regular exercise and play to stop them from getting bored. Male: 18-20 inches 35-45 lbs. Female: 17-19 inches 30-40 lbs.

[CorkyMax]

Hi!
I just sent you a reply but for some reason I seem to be getting 'picked on"--Being held up by moderator again---3 times now in last 4 or so days and I still have the other 2 to show up---Again I ask--WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!!?? I had mentioned 3 websites for you to check out--Don't know if this has anything to do w/it or not!! So for now to make this quick (I prob. spent nearly an hr. giving you some info I had frm one of my books on just about Wheatens and frankly I"m getting a little frustrated and am not going to attempt at this time to go through all that again right now--see what happens-see if 1st posting will show up yet!! Since I want this to get to you I will just suggest look up on web about vaccinations--adverse effects Look up specifically about rabies

[CorkyMax]

I beseech you---can you please give me some feedback on all this--why my previous 3 posts have not made it to their destination!!? It is very frustrating and maddening--I am a one-fingered typer as it is and I do write long posts because I love dogs so much and want to help them as much as I can so I do tend to be on this forum hours at a time(h---whole days and even into the night---MY 2 dogs are even getting bored w/me! Please get in touch now please!! Do you have any idea what it feels like to write all this and so much time involved and then have it make no difference at all cause it gets "killed" and it was all for nothing!!

Don't you just love puppy breathe? I do!

For training bite inhibition: do as her momma would do--when she bites, yelp really loud and then turn away from her. If she does it again, yelp again and take her by her scruff (side of neck) and give a GENTLE shake and say "STOP IT"....OR you can put your hand in a claw shape and poke at her neck in a mimic of a momma dog's correction for being naughty.

For energy: get her outside in an enclosed space and wear her out--if she will retrieve, throw balls. If she will chase you, run in circles. Actually, if she will chase you, you can work on the recall while having her chase you.

For your frustration: take a deep breathe, let it out slowly, repeat. Puppies can be adorable and frustrating at the same time. You are not a bad person for getting frustrated. BUT, you need to correct her only when you are calm--do not act out of frustration or anger.

Prevention of mistakes is much easier than correcting them afterward. Keep her away from inappropriate "chew toys" by tethering her to you so you always know what she is doing. Remember that she doesn't know what she is being corrected for if you didn't catch her in the act.

The leash: go ahead and let her get used to the leash--by tethering her to you, you accomplish this at the same time as keeping her restrained.

First of all i am not an expert or a dog trainer, so i will just try to help with what i have learned and did worked for me. I own a belgian sheppard malinois, that is my first dog, and concidering of mal`s reputation you can imagine what kind of problems i had with my Aron. Now he is a very obidient dog, spend most of his time inside the house with me and my wife.
Ok, first of all me and Arone passed 2 "schoolls" here in cro: "Responsible dog owner" and first class of "Croatian belg. shepp. club".
For lesson #1 we were told that I should be the "ALFA" and the first step to achive that is to control the food. So the bowl with food should not be available at all times for the dog.
When is time to eat make ur dog sit and wait...lol, sounds hard right? He should look at u at least for split second and be patiente when u put the bowl on the floor. Now dont let him eat right away! Another look at u (hold his collar) and then let him eat.
If he refuses or gets distracted during eating take the bowl away and wait for another 30 min at least for the next try.
Why is this important? Dogs are hurd animals, relatived to wolfs. When a pack of wolfs hunt down prey, the ALFA eats first and the rest get what thex can grab. And they have to eat it all at once, if not somebody else will take their food.
So if u leave the food for ur dog available at all times, or trying to mix something nice to please him to eat, u are telling him this: "You are my ALFA, i have to please u, me and everybody in the house always come second..."
This should be the first stage of the training to make ur dog listen and respect u as a leader. Next come the toys, the game....
Once again please dont get me wrong, i am not an expert, just trying to help from my own experience...
All the best and good luck!

[wishbone]

I feel his behavior is more on dominant behavior. You need to train and drain some of his energy, one could help better is enrolling him to agility or behavior class. There he will receive good training + behavior correction...