Puppy Training

My puppy Lily is now 6 months old. To say she has given me a run for my money is an UNDERSTATEMENT. That puppy is quite a handful!! Sometimes I wish I could go back to the first few weeks when she was sweet and innocent. Now, she is somewhat of a crazy maniac.

The place where I am taking her for puppy kindergarten (as they call it) is a place my friend Steph recommended. She used to groom my other dog before she moved to VA with her now husband. They do behavior classes and agility there. Oddly enough, it is called "Doggie U". There are only four puppies in it (there should be 5 but Harry the Corgi didn't come to the last class). The instructor, Kathy, is teaching us how to have the dog sit, down, stay (sit-stay, down-stay combos), leave it, come, walking on a leash, etc.

Lily seems to be grasping the concept of it. She'll be good in class and for awhile at home. Then, usually when I am at work she acts like a brat (according to my mother). She will bite at your feet when you're just wearing socks or shoes. The bitter apple spray to deter her away is not working. I try to distract her with a toy but I swear Lily has ADHD in dog form.

Last weekend my mom bought bone marrow bones when we were grocery shopping because everyone has been saying to give Lily a bone to help with the chewing (she also likes to bite my hands. Or she will bite the bottom of your pants). She had it in the backyard and my brother Brian thought she was eating acorns again (she has done it in the past). Lily turned around, jumped up on him and bit him. She didn't break his skin but ever since then, my mom has been on edge with the dog. I asked the trainer about this and she said since that would be considered a high value treat, you should only give it to her in the crate and when she is done, throw it out. To be able to get it to throw it out, you gotta distract them with something else. I told my mom this after class and she goes okay. Tonight (or Sunday night), she gave Lily a bone to chew on while I was at work (I have no idea what kind it was). I took her out before I was going to bed, and put her in the crate. Apparently after I went upstairs, she was barking so they let her out and my mom says that she attacked her & my brother Brian. I am just frustrated because I tell her WHAT the instructor TOLD me to do and she DID NOT DO IT.

What am I suppose to do with this behavior? I almost wish I had of started puppy classes EARLIER (like August) but who knows if this would have made a difference. All the dogs in Lily's class are around the same age as her. I am frustrated because Lily usually listens to me but when I am at school, she is in her crate (because no one is home during the day) and when I am at work, she is in either her crate or she is out (but confined to the family room, kitchen and the backyard. I take her for a long walk each day when I come home and I play ball or frisbee with her in the backyard to tire her out. This dog has toys up the wazoo.

Truth be told, I am afraid my mom is going to make me get rid of her. Honestly, I will cry if she does. I don't think it will happen because I am busting my butt to get her to stop all her bad behaviors. I think the issue with the bone is she is being food possessive/food aggressive. I am trying to hand feed her the kibble (to teach her not to bite the hand that feeds her). But I am slowly losing patience.

I am open to any suggestions you guys have. It is an issue that needs to be resolved now. I just may have to have a one-on-one consult at my house with the trainer for my mom to be calmer and understand how the dog needs to be trained.

And because what post isn't a post without a picture of Lily:

Adventures in dog training

My puppy, Lily, cracks me up at times. She is currently barking at a cardboard box because she doesn't like it....yet, she LOVES to chew on them. Sometimes, I think she just barks at random things.

We have had Lily for about almost a month now (got her June 26th). We got her from a breeder online that I found through puppyfind.com. She came from Missouri and I picked her up from Delta cargo. She is a beautiful cocker spaniel.

 Part of the agreement my mom and I had when we decided to get a puppy rather than a rescue dog (all the dogs we could find in rescues or shelters had either special needs or were too old....and we wanted a cocker spaniel) was that I would train her when I was home and not at work. BOY OH BOY is this a challenging task! We have the puppy pads in the house incase she has an accident and she is pretty good about going on them if no one gets her out. And we take her out every 15-20 minutes after eating. She is slowly getting there on being housetrained.

The main issue that I am having trouble with is her biting. You can be playing with her and she'll nip at your hands, ankles, she's even gotten my boob once or twice. Basically, anything she can get her puppy teeth on. I know it's all because she is a baby (she was only born 4.25) and she's teething but the nipping is driving me crazy! Everything I have read says that when she nips at you to keep putting a toy in her mouth so she gets the idea that she isn't suppose to nip. Or leave the room and come back within 15 seconds. I have tried yelling, making the sound when you step on them, and it just feels like NOTHING is working. 

Does anyone have any suggestions that would be helpful? I slowly but surely feel like I am losing my marbles!

And incase you didn't notice, I finally have my own professional blog design!! I am so happy with how it turned out. It was done by Stephanie from Stephanie G Designs. She is seriously such a pleasure to work with and was able to help me/answer all my questions! 

New puppy!

Things have been so busy with the end of the school year that it has been a few weeks since I last blogged. Classes ended on June 5th and then I had three days of finals. I helped grade a bunch of finals on Tuesday but now, it's just a bunch of sitting around until June 24th. In that time frame, I am going to be productive in looking for a job.

The best news is I am getting a new puppy!!! In March, I had to put my beloved Shadow, my black Cocker Spaniel, to sleep. She got sick really quickly so we put her down so she was no longer in misery or suffering. I am so heartbroken still (3 months later) but I want to get another dog. 

We were searching for weeks and weeks. My mom and I kept looking in the newspaper and I went to a few shelters. We wanted to rescue a dog as opposed to buying one but all the dogs (we specifically want a cocker spaniel) in the shelters were all either biters or couldn't be around kids. That was not going to fly.

My mom and I found a few through puppyfind.com. And I absolutely fell in love with one. This little lady will be joining our family on June 26th! She is being flown from Missouri and I pick her up in a crate at the airport. I am SO excited! I have no idea what to name her. Current contenders are Bailey, Bella, Lily, Sophie.