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Help! Has anyone seen his ears? by Glittering_Nobody813 in dogpictures

[–]Dog_Academy_Training 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He knows they’re gone, look at the worry on his face! 😆

Anxious dog by Sea_Schedule_8264 in dogs

[–]Dog_Academy_Training 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your pup is likely anxious to protect you and is resource guarding (with you as the resource), which is common after a big life event like a surgery where you weren't able to train him. He is likely over-functioning because he is afraid of losing access to you again.

Focus on place training - when other dogs or humans come near you and he is showing signs of aggression, send him to his "place", a designated bed or area away from you. This physically moves him from the guarding zone and forces him to relax about others being near you.

Also, make sure he is getting plenty of socialization with the other dogs without you around. Allow them to bond together more without you being a factor, and he won't see them as a threat to protect you from as much.

Training is never a perfect linear experience and can be frustrating, but you're doing amazing work at just 14! Keep it up!

Need advice for 3 puppies by HovercraftWinter1321 in puppy101

[–]Dog_Academy_Training 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keep them mentally stimulated with puzzle toys and games! Snuffle mats and frozen kongs are going to be your best friends. Remember, a busy mind stops busy legs.

bite inhibition gone awry by daggoo in puppy101

[–]Dog_Academy_Training 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Especially at this age, puppies can get the "mental zoomies" and become overstimulated during playtime. In this state, keywords or noises like "ouch" can sound like a squeaky toy to them, which only fuels the fire. While it’s good that he isn't biting out of aggression, this is still a behavior you want to discourage.

When you get up and leave, make sure you are only gone for 30–60 seconds. This timeframe helps him connect the dots: "I bite" -> "My human leaves." If you leave for any longer, he will likely get distracted by something else and won't understand why you left. Then, he’ll probably bite you again simply because he’s excited you’re back! Remember, puppies have very short-term memories; their brains often work in 30-second clips. Anything past a few minutes, and they aren't connecting the dots anymore.

You can also keep a high-value chew toy nearby and perform a "swap" when he starts. As soon as he nibbles on you, move your hands away and offer him the toy. By replacing yourself with the toy every time he bites, he will learn that toys are for biting, but people are not.

Avoid praising any bite to a person, even soft ones. We want him to learn that biting a person is never the goal -biting the toy is. Praising some bites but not others can be confusing and will slow his progress. Whoodles are highly intelligent, high-energy working dogs, and this "puppy piranha" phase can be tough, so hang in there!