Playing Problem!!!!!

[Enigma]

Hi all,
I have been taking my male Beagle puppy to dog parks and beaches etc and whenever there's other dogs around in the offleash area he plays with them as puppies and dogs do.

BUT......

He is little and only 12 weeks old. But he has big puppy syndrome, he thinks he's the biggest dog around and will take on anything. I personally dont have a problem with that except when he thinks he can be jut as rough with little dogs as he can with big dogs.

The big dogs are gentle with him but he rips into them. When he plays with little dogs and other puppies he gets very boisterous and rough.

He currently has a Beagle girlfriend who we by chance met at the beach and whenever he plays with her he is always rough, she is a very shy puppy and he is the total opposite. They never play nice, he just always wants to wrestle and bite her face.

How can I calm him down and get him to play more gently with her and other dogs. Its embarassing when I have to keep picking him up and telling him off whenever he's rough. Most of the time he doesnt listen and thats why I have to pick him up.

PLEASE HELP! ITS URGENT!

 

[bubbatd]

How old was he when you got him ? This sounds like a breeding problem .

 

[MericoX]

Breeding problem how? Please elaborate....

I would suggest letting the puppy play like he is. Other dogs will tell him when he is being too rough and will put him in his play. But if he is bullying the other beagle (or other dogs for that matter) I would suggest finding dogs more suitable to his roughness.

 

[Enigma]

He was six weeks old,
we observed both mother and father dogs. Mother was weaning them off her when we got him. Father was very very playful with the pups. not rough though, more like how a father would play with a baby. dont think it has anything to do with the parents, they both looked to be very caring of the young ones.
I think he just doesnt realise that sometimes he needs to be more gentle. He thinks that he needs to be rough with everything. Even me, and my partner, he can get very bitey when we pat him but we always tell him off. I suppose thats just what puppies do though.
I just want to take him down to the parks etc and play NICELY with other dogs, not wrestling and tackling and biting ALL the time.

 

[Blue_Dog]

Well six weeks is about two weeks too young to be getting a pup. He never really had time to be away from his mother with his siblings, too learn how to play nice. I agree with MericoX though, the other dogs will let him know when it is too rough.

 

[Enigma]

Breeding problem how? Please elaborate....

I would suggest letting the puppy play like he is. Other dogs will tell him when he is being too rough and will put him in his play. But if he is bullying the other beagle (or other dogs for that matter) I would suggest finding dogs more suitable to his roughness.

ive taken him to off leash areas alot. He's been about a dozen times if not more. But no matter what. He still plays rough.
And i dont want to take him away from his girlfriend lol
he just needs to calm down

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Dogs learn manners from their littermates. Which is why when weaned they stay together for at least 8 weeks bare minimum, 12 weeks is better. You will have to teach bite inhibition because your dog didn't get a chance to learn it from its littermates.

 

[Enigma]

Dogs learn manners from their littermates. Which is why when weaned they stay together for at least 8 weeks bare minimum, 12 weeks is better. You will have to teach bite inhibition because your dog didn't get a chance to learn it from its littermates.

Whats the best way to teach bite inhibition?

 

[4dogs3cats]

Its going to be tough, my parents got their huskyX at 6 weeks old (despite my protesting) and she was VERY bitey and crazy for the first couple months. He NEEDS dogs to tell him no, put him in his place, and teach him puppy manners.

My foster had this same problem when I got him, and my other dogs corrected him when he annoyed them (98% of the time) and now they all get along wonderfully.

 

[bubbatd]

I should have said Breeder's problem . There 's a reason why pups should not leave their Mom and litter mates until 8 weks old .

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Good post by Redyre on how to teach bite inhibition with articles linked http://www.chazhound.com/forums/t83183/

 

[Enigma]

I should have said Breeder's problem . There 's a reason why pups should not leave their Mom and litter mates until 8 weks old .

Look, you have your own opinion about what age they should be taken. I personally think six weeks is ok. They dont just learn things from their litter mates.
If anything the mother was trying to get rid of them coz they kept suckling her.
They learn things from every dog around them. My partner has a dog two years older and he is a big inflence in my puppys life.
I dont see any problem with taking them at 6 weeks so you cant really say 'theres a reason why pups should not leave their mom and letter mates until 8 weeks'. because it is a completely false assumption.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

Look, you have your own opinion about what age they should be taken. I personally think six weeks is ok. They dont just learn things from their litter mates.
If anything the mother was trying to get rid of them coz they kept suckling her.
They learn things from every dog around them. My partner has a dog two years older and he is a big inflence in my puppys life.
I dont see any problem with taking them at 6 weeks so you cant really say 'theres a reason why pups should not leave their mom and letter mates until 8 weeks'. because it is a completely false assumption.

This honestly shows just how much you know... and this is why you are having problems with your dog.

 

[MericoX]

Look, you have your own opinion about what age they should be taken. I personally think six weeks is ok. They dont just learn things from their litter mates.
If anything the mother was trying to get rid of them coz they kept suckling her.
They learn things from every dog around them. My partner has a dog two years older and he is a big inflence in my puppys life.
I dont see any problem with taking them at 6 weeks so you cant really say 'theres a reason why pups should not leave their mom and letter mates until 8 weeks'. because it is a completely false assumption.

Unfortunately you are wrong, as puppies learn sooo much between 6-8 weeks old. Taking them young, you are now the one responsible for that. Yes the pup will be okay health-wise, but that time period is very crucial especially for bite inhibition.

Again, alot of dogs play rough. Other dogs will let your puppy know (especially since he's a puppy they will correct him) what is rough, what is too rough. As far as letting him continue to bully the other beagle just because YOU want them to play together is asinine.

 

[Enigma]

This honestly shows just how much you know... and this is why you are having problems with your dog.

I think its quite sad that you would actually get personal in this situation.
All I asked for was advice, not accusations that my dog has problems with breeding etc.

If you feel like you need to critise then go somewhere else, I really do not value your opinion or your advice at all. Everyone else has proved to be helpful. All your saying is that I shouldn't have done this or that and my dog has problems etc.

I do not have a problem with my dog at all. He just plays rough. How the hell is that a 'problem'. Its more of an inconveinience than a problem. If only I could change the title I guess.

If he does have a problem then why was i able to teach him to not only sit, come and call after only a week of having him, but also to sit and wait for his food and refuse to touch it until i give him the command to eat. All that within one week of having him with me.

What you are suggestion is ASSUMPTION, not knowledge. I will assume myself that my puppy would much rather be here with us where he is loved and cared for and spoilt rather than competing for attention with his littermates.

 

[OutlineACDs]

I agree with everyone else. 6 weeks was too young. It is illegal in most states to sell a puppy before the age of 8 weeks. But, what's done is done.

Continue to socialize your puppy with other dogs who are suitable to his play-style. Please, for the sake of his "girlfriend" you need to keep him from bullying her. If that means he doesn't get to play with her until she's a little more confident then please don't do it. Allowing her to get beat up constantly will only make her feel vulnerable and scared. She may turn into a dog who hates other dogs because of your puppy's bullying. I can't stress enough how critical it is for the other puppy to have POSITIVE experiences.

In the mean time work with your puppy. Get him enrolled in a puppy obedience class. Have fun with him. If you are taking him to offleash places he needs to learn a recall. Start work immediately. You should be able to call him in the middle of playing and have him come to you. Start small, build his recall based on success and rewards.

You can get lots of good advice here. Stick around, you WILL learn.

Congrats on the new puppy.

 

[Enigma]

Unfortunately you are wrong, as puppies learn sooo much between 6-8 weeks old. Taking them young, you are now the one responsible for that. Yes the pup will be okay health-wise, but that time period is very crucial especially for bite inhibition.

Again, alot of dogs play rough. Other dogs will let your puppy know (especially since he's a puppy they will correct him) what is rough, what is too rough. As far as letting him continue to bully the other beagle just because YOU want them to play together is asinine.

Please refer to my previous post.
my puppy has learnt more by being with me than he would have with his littermates. Can they teach him to be obedient? no. Really all they can teach him is how to behave in certain situations. I am able to teach him the same things as what his littermates can, I was just asking what the easiest way to go about it was.
This discussion was not meant to turn into who is right and who is wrong. I was asking for suggestions on how to help TRAIN MY PUPPY to not play so rough.
So instead of trying to be right maybe you guys should either provide some decent advice for someone who needs it or move along.
The two beagles get along fine, they enjoy playing with each other, as i keep saying, all i want is for him to be more GENTLE. not to stop playing altogether.

 

[AGonzalez]

Enigma,
You were given good ways to help your puppy learn to be a better playmate in several posts. So why not take the good with the bad and use it to your advantage?

Your puppy does need to learn bite inhibition...that's why he's playing so rough. That is one of the downfalls of not staying with littermates is that they yelp when he plays too rough and thus this is where he'll learn to not be so rough - this is something they learn from 6-8 weeks of age. This is something YOU can do as well, as in if he plays too rough or bites too hard playing, you yelp (say OUCH loud and sharp but not in a mean way) and then not play with him when he's being rough...other dogs will teach him this as well, and I'd suggest keeping him away from his little beagle playmate because it's a bad experience for her if she is shy.

I won't knock you for getting a puppy at 6 weeks, but in several states it's illegal to do so, and probably for a reason. So, considering that it's already done I think the above advice and Redyre's thread on the STOP puppy biting are your best venues. Good luck.

 

[Enigma]

I agree with everyone else. 6 weeks was too young. It is illegal in most states to sell a puppy before the age of 8 weeks. But, what's done is done.

Continue to socialize your puppy with other dogs who are suitable to his play-style. Please, for the sake of his "girlfriend" you need to keep him from bullying her. If that means he doesn't get to play with her until she's a little more confident then please don't do it. Allowing her to get beat up constantly will only make her feel vulnerable and scared. She may turn into a dog who hates other dogs because of your puppy's bullying. I can't stress enough how critical it is for the other puppy to have POSITIVE experiences.

In the mean time work with your puppy. Get him enrolled in a puppy obedience class. Have fun with him. If you are taking him to offleash places he needs to learn a recall. Start work immediately. You should be able to call him in the middle of playing and have him come to you. Start small, build his recall based on success and rewards.

You can get lots of good advice here. Stick around, you WILL learn.

Congrats on the new puppy.

Thanks so much, your advice is very helpful and sounds like it will be very successful. I will put it into practice asap.
As i said before about taking him early. I had no problems with him. He is a happy little boy who LOVES life. Dogs will learn anything you teach them. They listen to the leader. If he is a bit behind in behavior with other dogs then its fine, i will just teach him good behavior. The same as what his littermates would have done.

Oh and I live in Australia by the way, so its different here with laws

 

[Enigma]

Enigma,
You were given good ways to help your puppy learn to be a better playmate in several posts. So why not take the good with the bad and use it to your advantage?

Your puppy does need to learn bite inhibition...that's why he's playing so rough. That is one of the downfalls of not staying with littermates is that they yelp when he plays too rough and thus this is where he'll learn to not be so rough. This is something YOU can do as well, as in if he plays too rough or bites too hard playing, you yelp (say OUCH loud and sharp but not in a mean way) and then not play with him when he's being rough...other dogs will teach him this as well, and I'd suggest keeping him away from his little beagle playmate because it's a bad experience for her if she is shy.

I have taken the good advice, trust me. I think that some people are so set on being right that they feel they need to criticise me for taking him away too early.

This advice is wrong. There is no need for it. If you have good advice on how to HELP my puppy learn then I'm all ears. After all, that is what I asked for isn't it?
However I do not agree with people saying that im wrong for taking him away etc. I can teach him just as much if not more than anyone or anything in his life. Things just take time and persistence. Just because something is easier doesnt mean its the right way