Biting me, and ignoring toys

rambosaur · 07-05-2008, 09:33 AM

I decided to go for it and adopt the puppy, and he's already got another good home lined up if it doesn't work out with my dog. He's been very good about using the bathroom outside, though he did pee once in the house. I've been taking him out once an hour according to the advice of several puppy care websites. Also, what should I do when he messes in the house? Should I take him outside immediately so he knows that's where he should be, or what?

Panda, my shih tzu, doesn't like him, and seems a little put off by the whole thing, but she's been plenty of attention from myself, my boyfriend, and the family, so hopefully she'll adjust.

He is a Pomeranian mix, with the father possibly being a chihuahua or another pomeranian. The three other puppies looked very much like chis, but he looks more like a pom. He does have more of a chihuahua set of markings though, I think. He's simply precious, I'll post pics soon.

Right now, he's got a good sized carrier to sleep in until I can find something more suitable. He doesn't have any toys of his own, and he's currently using a muffin tin for a food and water dish. Heh. I know. I sound totally unprepared for this and I AM. I'm 100% ready for the responsibility, but it's been a looooong time since my dog was a puppy and, since I was so young when we got her, it was my mum who trained her. So this is technically my first time. I've been reading a lot about what to do but, like most things, it's not really going accordingly.

The hand-me-downs that were Panda's I felt comfortable giving to him because she never played with them he has no interest in whatsoever. I finally introduced him to this horrifying firework-man plushie my brother won from one of those crane games. It really is one of the ugliest things ever, but he seems to like it. I suspect it's because the thing has got arms and legs.

Well, I completely missed the giant sticky thread all about my problem, HA. Sorry! The rest of the questions still stand, though. Thanks!

Let's see... since I am going shopping today, I'd also appreciate some suggestions for good puppy food, treats, beds, toys, etc... really anything to help my puppy get started on house training and training in general.

Thank you!

Oh! Totally forgot. How old should a puppy be before you take him to the vet for shots? And what should I be looking for in that category?

rosemaryninja · 07-05-2008, 12:22 PM

This is a recommended vaccination schedule:
http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

When you go to the pet store I would pick up the following things:

1. Food. Innova, Wellness and Canidae all make pretty good puppy foods. Buy a small bag at first - he might not be interested. It may take awhile for you to find a food that suits both of you, so depending on how picky he is, some experimentation may be required.

2. Toys. Pick up a variety: one squeaky, one stuffed toy, one Nylabone, one interactive/treat-dispensing (eg Kong or Buster Cube), one ball. See what he loves and doesn't love. For example, my dogs are crazy about interactive toys and squeaky toys, but don't give a hoot about regular chew bones.

3. A crate. Get one that is large enough for him to stand up and turn around in - no larger. This will serve as a bed, a private space for him to seek refuge in, a place to confine him while he can't be watched and it will also help with potty-training.

4. Bowls. There are several different kinds, but I like the metal ones (they're easier to keep clean, especially since I feed raw) that have rubber lining the bottom edge so they don't slide on tile. Some people have issues with metal bowls because their dogs' tags clang against the side and their dogs get frightened. I've never had this problem.

5. You might also want to pick up an X-pen or a baby gate.

alphadoginthehouse · 07-05-2008, 12:30 PM

Well, looks like Rosemay said it all. Can't add a thing other than I hope it works out for the new and the old together. Give it some time...I've had Daja for a little less than 2 months and they are all still getting adjusted...it gets better every day.

rambosaur · 07-05-2008, 08:59 PM

Thanks! I did as you suggested and picked up a bunch of toys. He's still completely disinterested in them and goes for any part of skin that happens to be showing on me. He bites others much less. I must taste delicious.

How is Science Diet? I couldn't find any of the brands you mentioned and they didn't even carry the stuff that I buy for Panda. (I went to Petsmart. Don't have a lot of options here.)

I got him a Kong toy and some of the treats for it, a smaller type of treat for training, and a couple of toys.

I'm trying to get him to stop biting me by following the suggestions of the sticky thread dedicated to it, but he just... really doesn't seem to care if I don't like it, hehe. Hopefully time will tell. I'll just keep working at it. Any other suggestions would be fantastic.

Thank you again for the advice!

carrie_griffes · 07-05-2008, 09:19 PM

I don't know what the sticky says because I haven't found it yet, but what usually works for me when it comes to the biting and rough play is; when a puppy starts chewing/ biting on me I put them down for a few minutes.

If they ask to be picked back up after a little bit, I'll pick them back up untill they start chewing on me again, then put them back down. After a while, they go else where for the chewing, usually toys.

Good luck

rambosaur · 07-05-2008, 09:32 PM

Does that work even if I'm not holding him when he does it? He's been getting better about paying attention to the stuff I've given him, but sometimes he'll just see my toes or hands even when I'm just sitting there and lunge at them. I'm not taunting him, so he shouldn't have any reason to think I'm playing with him that way.

carrie_griffes · 07-05-2008, 09:53 PM

This does work for me. At the times they go after the feet, a stern no, pulling the feet out of harms way, and giving a puppy chew or stuffed toy really does work for me.

All my dogs come to me for cuddleing and fetch but go to others they know will play more roughly with them.

It has ALWAYS worked for me.

rambosaur · 07-05-2008, 10:22 PM

I see... I'll have to try it. He bites me less when I'm holding him, and when I set him down he just goes straight for my feet. He's not getting the whole "NO is bad" thing.

carrie_griffes · 07-05-2008, 10:54 PM

Takes time but works.....

rosemaryninja · 07-06-2008, 08:16 AM

Science Diet is generally considered to be a pretty terrible food. In fact, I've never seen a single recommendation on it on DF, ever. What kind of brands do they have at your local store?

This is a good page for making sure you have a good food down:

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index....e=labelinfo101

rambosaur · 07-06-2008, 02:24 PM

Unfortunately, my Walmart has pretty much removed the Pet section and the closest place is Petsmart, which is 25 minutes from where I live. Let's see...

I know they had Eukanaba, which I saw that a few people here used and I regret not picking that instead - at least I've heard good things about it from dog owners instead of reviewers, unlike Science Diet. They had quite a number of brands I'd never heard of, like Nature-something. I wish I could remember all of them. I've got a really terrible memory, and I went there looking for very specific foods.

And their smallest bags were huge. The puppy seems to like it quite a bit, but I don't want him to eat it if it's really bad for him.

I feed Panda dry Pedigree. She's never had any problems and her fur has always been soft and shiny (well, as soft and shiny as she'll let it get when she loves to be so filthy). But I got her a different "flavor" of the food recently and now her coat is kind of greasy, her skin is dry and she's itchy. I've fed her this variety before and she didn't have a problem, so I don't know if there's something wrong with this batch or if she just developed an allergy. I read that Shih Tzus tend to be allergic to Red Dye #40, which this food has, but... the treats I've been feeding her for years use it as well and she's never had a problem. I was hoping to get her a good bag of food when I went shopping, but they didn't have the recommended brands and I just needed to get something for the puppy to eat temporarily. Which is unfortunate since both bags of food are so big.

Since I can't drive and have to rely on other people to take me around, I think I'll have to order the products online if I'm going to find smaller bags. There aren't any pet stores around here that I know of, and my searching has resulted in Grooming places. It's kind of bizarre, really. I know our vet carries some food, but I'm not sure what.

Of the three brands you suggested, which do you suppose is the best? I'm looking at the ingredients of them and right now Innova seems to be the best as far as that goes, after comparing with the site you linked for me.

Argh, this is frustrating. Thank you very much for your help, again.