ShellyF

Thank you both for the extra info

I’m definitely not doing it in a way that hurts him but it does enable me keep his little crocodile teeth from grabbing me lol! I’m reading a lot re positive training and the positive approach is definitely my MO for training him

That is helpful thanks! I will double check with my vet at his 16 week check up but I value the opinion of other BC owners just as much haha!

Thank you and you are so right! It was a bit of an instinctive reaction when he ripped my brand new pants but it was such a growl that I made I doubt he would have recognised his name in there! Most of the time I am calm but assertive. He actually responds well to me holding his scruff. I DON’T mean shaking him - I just hold it. It seems to calm him down and he always wants to lick my face afterwards. I reserve this for when he is clearly finding it hard to switch off from what he’s doing and won’t respond to a command. Incidentally he’s not a puller. He enthusiastically goes forward but if he gets too far ahead I stop and and he will stop and sit and wait for me. Or he will respond to a little jiggle on the leash and look and wait for me. I notice he gets very leash bitey when stressed - cars, dogs barking etc. There is one road (unfortunately our nearest one) that’s almost impossible from him to walk down without seriously playing up yet a walk in the woods and he’s as good as gold. Inside the house we are adopting a zero tolerance rule of 10mins in the crate for any teeth on the legs that arise from him either choosing to nip us or instigating play with a biting lunge. We think it’s working and we will keep it up. So thanks again all for your help. He’s a sweetheart and i’m looking forward to the challenge of helping him be even sweeter

Thank you both. Yes the calcium/phosphorus is fine. I just didn’t think that BCs counted as large breeds so the pet store lady confused me by saying I should be feeding large breed and not the regular puppy. My BC is certainly tracking above the ‘high average’ growth percentile but I thought that would mean he’d likely be a 45lb adult :/

I am feeding my 14 week old Acana Large Breed Puppy whole prey kibble. The holistic pet food store that I purchased it from said that he would count as large breed (even though the min weight specified for large breed on the pack is 55lb) because ‘she said’ opinions are changing about weights. I have studied the analysis and the only key difference between the two is that the large breed formula is 15% fat (supposedly to restrict speedy growth) and the regular puppy food is 20% fat. Protein in both is 33%. Any opinions out there on this?

You have all given very helpful advice. I’d like to say I will always remain with a neutral voice but i’m Human and fallible and I hear myself shouting his name when he lunges and ruins another piece of clothing - but I try really hard not to!

Thank you both very much. I will do that. It makes far more sense to me as well - thinking back to my parenting days haha! If you have an opinion on what to do when he jumps up on the leash and adds in a lunge whilst walking that would be appreciated. I’m pretty sure he does it when tired or frustrated so trying to manage that aspect too but I clearly need a different strategy to ‘time out’ whilst walking. I am very grateful to have access to these boards for advice

My 13 week old is still taking biting lunges at my husband and I once or twice a day. He’s mentally and physically entertained and I know he’s just impolitely instigating play albeit he mostly does this when over stimulated. We typically give a loud verbal correction and then time out in his crate. He doesn’t protest. We did try the ‘stand still’ to no avail and the diversion method. The latter just seemed to let him know that lunging got him a toy! Water bottle had no effect. What have you found most effective? I really want to be consistent so this doesn’t get out of hand when he’s older. I don’t think I can pick him up and put him in his crate for much longer!

Thank you both. Yes I guess I must remember these are still early days. He loves water so yes that probably won’t work in his case lol! As there is some progress I will persevere. I think I am also going to have to give him more nap time. He does get over tired for sure!

Hello and by way of brief intro I am a new BC pup owner; my little guy is now 11 weeks. I am an experienced dog owner but have always rescued before so this is my first pup. I am familiar with the breed but thirsty for knowledge. I have been reading these boards for some months and have also read three specific BC books prior to getting my pup. I am at home during the day and after three weeks have progressed reasonably well with training the basics although ‘stand’ and recall only lasts as long as his attention span haha! I am just about grasping the difference between him being bored and being overtired and in need of a crate nap! What I struggle with is when I take him round the yard on a leash he just wants to yank the leash, nip at ankles etc. Sometimes he does this in the house too. I have read the importance of not fueling his energy and either standing still or ignoring him but that’s hard when he’s having fun at tugging the leash or then trying to nip. I believe I am making some progress. I give him a ‘behave’ command and if he stops I praise and reward. But sometimes I just have to hold him by the scruff (not harshly) and sit with him until he calms down and stops trying to imitate a crocodile! I would welcome any tips please as I want to have good control of this before he gets much bigger! Aside from this he is a cutie