Struggling New Mom

[Glitchy]

I'm going to keep this short, because I'm not sure of what info is pertinent.

Our Heidi is beautiful, and I think she has a sweet personality. She turned 11 weeks yesterday, and I know that she is just a baby, but I'm becoming overwhelmed.

She is having lots of tee tee accidents when out of her crate, even though I feel like I'm taking her out all the time. I take her out sometimes, when I think she has to go, and she will just sit on the patio and look at me, like I'm just going to sit here and watch whatever it is you are doing. Then, I go back inside, and before I know it, she's had an accident somewhere.

In addition, and possibly more important, is that we are having issues with her biting. I've been lurking and reading here for a while, and intellectually, I don't think she is being aggressive; however, I've got to learn how to stop this behavior. She is nipping at my 10 year old all the time, biting his shorts, pants, anything she can get her teeth into. She does the same to me, as well, and it is extremely frustrating to not know what to do to teach her this is unacceptable. She does this either when she is excited or wants to play, or when she wants attention. I understand that is probably normal, but she nipped the back of my stepson's leg and broke skin. My sisters or brother would have an absolute freak out if that would happen to one of their kids when they were over for a visit.

I researched this breed for years, and knew of their energetic nature. She has a ton of toys and we've been trying to redirect so far. But I'm going through a lot of stress at home and work, and now I'm wondering if getting this puppy was a mistake. I work full time, and maybe I just don't have enough time to work with her. I'm starting to get depressed about the thought that I won't be able to fix these issues, and even have to remove her from the home. After all, I wanted an active family dog, but not one that is biting us. :( I'm feeling overwhelmed.

 

[joannaryan]

Take a deep breath and breathe....Now when it comes to potty training you have to keep a very close eye on them and take them out every 30 to 40 minutes regardless and tell to go pee. She is still very, very young so this will take a lot of patience and consistancy she will learn, as she gets a little older you can stretch out her take out times. As far as the biting goes you have to nip it in the bud now, their teeth are very sharp. This again take time and constistancy. When she starts nipping pull away and tell her NO BITE and walk away, give her something else to chew on, but you have to keep the routine up, everyone will have to do this. Boxers are very energetic, very people oriented. They are like kids, they will have to be taught and are very quick learners. Just be/have patience, it will be ok. Good luck

 

[jrczib]

Hi!

Your puppy is still very very young, and has a lot to learn. When we got Bruno and he started to get giddy and biting, I just yelped (as if he'd hurt me) and turn away from him and ignored him, if he got too giddy Id just yelp and walk away for a bit till he calmed down. I must say he realized really quickly that biting, even gentle, means that he is ignored. My son was only 4 years old when Bruno was a pup, so it was very important to make sure he will not bite. For it to work, you will need to get everyone to do the same. Make sure that when your pup bites them or their clothes, they need to yelp and ignore the pup for a bit till it's turned away from them or sat down, and then make a fuss. That way the dog should learn that biting is boring and being good gets lots of attention. Good luck.
In regards to house breaking, you will need lots of patience and taking your puppy out often, telling it to wee wee, or whatever the command, then making fuss when they do it. But this part will take much longer than teaching not to bite, I think.

 

[Luvmygirl]

Ah the memories! LOL. Like the previous poster, when Zoe nipped me, no matter how softly, I always yelped and turned my back. That usually did the trick and she did learn very fast. There were a couple of times that she was VERY persistent in trying to make that into a new game and I had to lock myself in the bathroom for a minute. One minute of being ignored to a Boxer puppy is absolute torture!

 

[CoraBoxer]

Good points covered already but wanted to post to let you know that I had the same sort of nipping like a lot of other posters and that you're not alone and its going to get better Its a lot of work at first but consistency pays off. Everyone, kids and adults have to understand that if you're going to play with the pup you might get nipped and what you should do. She's not doing it to hurt anyone. If they have a problem with getting nipped that's ok but good idea to not engage/excite the pup. Those little teeth are super sharp. Its more routine, time + puppies age then training. Even if you yelp walk away etc its still going to take time unfortunately. She's teething and learning bite inhibition.

In terms of potty training, we didn't go inside until Cora did her business. We made sure to make it a routine peeing outside. And yep lots of trips and I made them with her, sun, rain (wet and freezing) and snow. We didn't have very many mistakes but when we did we showed her, brought her to the bells at the back door, rang the bell and took her outside + quick clean up. Love the bells so that the pup doesn't have to figure out what sign to give you. But so young she doesn't feel it yet, not developed.

What you're describing is not a breed thing. Its a puppy thing. BTW I love the name.

 

[Glitchy]

Ignoring and bells

Thanks to everyone. With the new game plan, when my son "yelps" and then turns to walk away, what was he supposed to do with the puppy hanging from his shorts by her teeth?

Right now, he is assertively saying, "NO HEIDI, NO", and trying to distract her and get her under control by saying "SIT HEIDI, SIT". When he turns to walk away from her is when she is jumping/nipping at the back of his legs, back of his shorts, etc.

She proceeds to barking very loudly to protest any decision we make that she doesn't like, i.e. when she wants to get on the sofa and we have not invited her up because we are eating, or when she wants attention, but we are busy with dinner or homework. In these cases, we are trying to speak gently to her and also saying "shhh, shhhh, Heidi, it's okay." If she is just barking because she wants to come up on the sofa, we've decided that we will not let her come up until she sits and is quiet, so we "shhh" her, then tell her to sit, and then pick her up. This is working pretty well, but we really just came up with this in the last 3-4 days.

Bells--We had read about that here I think, so they've been hanging on the back door since her first week with us. We shake the bells when we go out, but we haven't taught her to ring any bells. Instead, she will go sit by the back door sometimes and even make a little talk/grunt sound, to tell us she needs to go out. Other times, I don't even notice that, and instead, she has just made a pee puddle somewhere else.

I keep telling myself that this will just take more time, and that she is SO YOUNG, but I just need support to keep up what I'm doing, or implement new strategies.

THANKS again.

 

[Jerrybobby]

One suggestion I didn't see that seemed to work well for us with the potty training was I took my girl out on a leash rather than just let her out free. I would walk her around and go over the top with praise and treats when she went. But the leash seemed to be helpful, not sure why...

 

[Britbox]

Oh, those puppy days, you have just brought back so many memories that made me laugh!.
Boxers are one of the most gentle loveable breeds, all that nipping biting and mouthing is normal puppy behaviour. A bit like a baby, they put everything in their mouths!..It doesn't mean that you have a dog that will spend its life being aggressive, it's play behaviour, and to be expected at this point. As everyone else has said, make it known that you don't find the nipping acceptable. the best thing to do is ignore her and walk away. The bit about hanging on made me smile too..I well remember those days, having a boxer pup hanging off your trouser legs and walking away at the same time is not easy, but if you make a fuss you endorse the behaviour. Ignore it, walk away, and her little jaws will give up before you do!
As for the potty training, it's just a matter of perseverance, it Will work in the end. No dog likes being near its own mess, but again, like a baby, you have to be patient, and show her how. Puppy training pads are a good idea. if she has a wee on one, take that wet pad nearer to the place you want her to go..Have a special word for when she goes, and make a big fuss, and even a little treat ready for when she does it where you want. Move the pad outside, and she'll soon get the hang of it..Loads of praise, and patience is the answer.
I know you will be on here in six months time saying what a wonderful well behaved Boxer Heidi is..It just takes time..Believe me all of us on here have been through the same thing!..Sending you lots of love, and hugs, and believe us when we say it will all be fine in the end. Enjoy...puppy days are the best and over way too soon Xx