Hey everyone! Well thanks so very much for taking the time to respond to us. My wife and I have been working hard with our little mister all week and it's paying off. The point made about agitation due to having to go potty was a good one - sometimes we realized that he might have to go and was anxious because of it so we took him out. Several times that was definitely the case.

Other times, he's just excited (usually in the morning first thing and after dinner with huge naps in between) and we try and work the energy out. We live in a condo building but we've started to take him to run full-speed in the halls between the two of us and he seems to really enjoy it! We can't believe how fast our little guy is!!

We encourage playtime and gentle little mourning/bites are okay, but when it's too much he gets "ENOUGH" and right to time-out. He's really stopped biting altogether so I think it's working!

Plus the additional interest/reward of training him new tricks keeps him occupied and gives him lots of positive feedback.

It's a long road ahead but so far we're starting to see progress so thanks to everyone for your input!!

Well goodness me! Appears there is quite a strong field of opinions on this topic. Our breeder gave no choice on the neutering - preserves the quality of the breed. As for the hernia, it was our choice to do it at the same time as the neuter. Might as well get it over with. He's doing just fine :) Pimple is drying up - false alarm.

Hey all!

So update for everyone. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Our little Bailey has stopped being so bitey and directs most of his attention to his toys. We let him run like a Wildman in the the hallways of our condo (it's freezing outside right now!) and that seems to tire him out. We still tolerate little nibbles because it's playtime but anything that's too hard get stopped right away. He knows it and comes over to lick instead with his guilty-pooch eyes :P

Thanks again for all the advice! Next step, figuring out why the heck he's started waking up at 4am and whimpering when he was totally fine and sleeping all night before!

Cheers,

Hey all!

So our little guy had surgery for a hernia before we got him and the stitches all healed up nicely (exterior ones that is...internal ones are still around).

This past week, however, we've noticed a pimple-like bump growing in size next to the scar site. It isn't painful for him and doesn't appear too nasty, but I'm concerned that it's growing.

I did some research online and saw mention of an infected sebaceous gland. Might be that. Any thoughts? I tried to attach a photo (Imgur URL) but it doesn't show :(

Thank you very much to everyone for your input! I've tried being more strict with the feeding times and taking it away if he's picking. I think I'm going to consider the switch to wet food and actual meat products because any time I add in some "bonus" meat to his kibble, he goes nuts.

Teething certainly doesn't help, but variety is definitely key as well it seems. Also feed him out of the big Kong rolly thing sometimes where he has to tap it the right way to get food out. Seems to engage the hunter in him.

Anyway, on with the battle! This little guy is growing into quite the little gentleman :)