My Westie puppy is a few days shy of 16 weeks. She's been such a pleasure and is very bright. I've read a few books, lots of articles and eat up all the great advice the many knowledgeable people on this board give, but I have one problem with her I can't seem to solve. She's very mouthy. Typical, I know. I've got the nipping of the hands pretty well under control, but twice a day I take her on a 20 minute walk and always a little ways into the walk she goes bonkers and starts a game of attacking my pant legs. She's ripped holes in at least four good pair of pants. I started carrying a water pistol with me. This worked pretty well initially, but then she decided the water pistol was all part of the fun and it doesn't deter her at all any more. I would know what to do at home (give her a time-out), but when we're out on a walk and I have no props around I'm at her mercy. Firm NO's! have no effect - she's crazed at these times. I've been thinking about buying one of those training collars that spritz a little shot of gas in their face when they misbehave. Any thoughts?
Another pair of pants ruined ... help
- Thread starter Kellster
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If you have a yard, what I'm going to suggest will be easier, but even if you have to use the street or wherever you normally take walks, here's an idea:
Take her out as if for one of those long walks -- it could even be soon after you came in from one -- but only for about 3 minutes, a short enough amount of time that she doesn't go bonkers. Keep doing this, working with the behavior as best you can if it does turn up.
In other words, create a situation that is part way between the control you have at home and the bonkers scenario. Work on training anything in that midzone. GRADUALLY you should be able to extend the amount of time she will behave.
Take her out as if for one of those long walks -- it could even be soon after you came in from one -- but only for about 3 minutes, a short enough amount of time that she doesn't go bonkers. Keep doing this, working with the behavior as best you can if it does turn up.
In other words, create a situation that is part way between the control you have at home and the bonkers scenario. Work on training anything in that midzone. GRADUALLY you should be able to extend the amount of time she will behave.
Thank you for your responses. I tried something tonight that seemed to help. I took Harlow on our walk and when we were five minutes or so into the walk she started up - charging my pant legs. I firmly stated the command, "No biting!" and when she didn't back off I picked her up, my hands wrapped around her chest just under her front legs and held her out in front of me in an awkward way she didn't like. But she weighs 7 lbs, so she had no choice in the matter. We walked along like that for a couple of minutes and as soon as she stopped squirming, I set her back down on the street and we resumed walking. Then she remembered that she was interrupted while attacking my pant legs, so she started in again, and again I picked her up and held her out in front of me awkwardly and walked for a minute or two. She squirmed and whimpered, but I didn't relent. Then when she surrendered I put her back down and this time she decided not to start charging my pant legs again. She walked the rest of our route beautifully. Hopefully I discovered the answer to correcting her while we're walking. Thanks again for you input.