I've been doing rescue and breeding (not Basenjis, and not for 20 yrs now)... and I have to say that among responsible trainers, rescues, breeders and professional veterinary behaviorists, you won't find any who will say under 8 weeks is okay for any breed... and for many, 10 to 12 weeks is recommended. It is in fact illegal to take puppies under 8 weeks from some states and it should be in all of them. Call a few dozen rescues and ask them how many animals they deal with that have issues started from being placed too young. It is good you are working on things, just hopefully the physical responses won't continue. No breed needs to be swatted or even mildly hurt for training. Basenjis even less so than many. It hurts your relationship with the puppy, and you are punishing a baby for being a baby... there is no "rebellious thing"... just normal behavior you have to patiently train away from.
Puppy nipping?
-
Any ideas on teaching a 6wk old puppy not to nip and bite you when they are playing? The puppy out of my litter Im keeping is HORRIBLE when it comes to that.
-
Is the puppy overexcited when she is doing it or more calm?
-
She usually does it when excited and when shes just chill in my lap. She'll get over-stimulated at random and go for anything on me she can reach
-
ALL PLAY STOPS OR PETTING. Put her back with the litter or with the adults. They will teach her…... Advantage of having littermates and adult dogs in the house.
-
ALL PLAY STOPS OR PETTING. Put her back with the litter or with the adults. They will teach her…... Advantage of having littermates and adult dogs in the house.
And this is exactly why puppies need to be at least 10 weeks before they go to their new homes. They learn so much from their mom and the litter mates at this time - bite inhibition is one of these things.
-
I agree! I brought Spencer home at eight weeks, and I will wait another 2-4 weeks next time. Spencer was a play-nipper, because he simply didn't understand that his teeth were hurtful. I started shrieking in pain (not always pretending!) and withdrawing whenever he would nip, and he would stop and stare at me in total puzzlement. Soon, all I had to do was scream "Owww!", shake my hand like it hurt and stop playing. Luckily, he caught on quickly.
-
ROFLMAO, bitey might be the call name. I of course have Cara who had a gazillion play mates and adult B's and she still is the single most mouthy creature I have ever owned. As I have posted, she often went to sleep with her mouth wrapped around my arm or hand rubbing me with her tongue. And I didn't get her til 12 1/2 wks of age.
That said, yeah, most of the time the pack puts an end to the mouthiness and immediate "NO TEETH" and ignore helps.
-
Some are more mouthy then others…. and ones that are over the top with biting, nipping, etc usually are dominate.... It is important to watch the interaction with the all the pups in the litter as that will really tell you the temperament types of the pups.
-
LOL someone posted this yesterday and I have to share. Your pup?
