Question:
My 83-year-old mother just bought a Yorkshire terrier that is about 10 or 12 weeks old and weighs 2-1/2 pounds. The dog, Petey, seems to be displaying typical puppy behavior, but we are afraid of a bad-puppy habit becoming a bad-dog problem.Petey is a "nipper." His baby teeth are very sharp, and he nips at our hands, feet or whatever. We tap his nose with a finger and sharply say "No biting," but he is so excited that he doesn't seem to get the message. My mom is unable to take him to "puppy kindergarten" because of her age and infirmities.Do you have any suggestions that we can implement at home? If the puppy becomes too much of a behavior problem, we are afraid mom will try to sell him. He's really cute and lively, but perhaps a puppy wasn't the best idea for a woman in my mom's condition. I want Petey to be a pleasure to my mom and those who come into contact with him.
N.S., Olney, Md Feb 04, 2007
Answer:
Poor Petey! He's a pup and a terrier, and biting playfully is his passion. So don't break his spirit by inhibiting his playful nips. Redirect them by training him to attack, kill, chew and tear (but not swallow) a variety of safe toys you can get from the pet store or make from a knotted sock or strips of old towel and garden hose. He's also teething, so chew toys are a must.Soon, he will become less orally fixated, and the good news is that at around 5 to 6 months old, all the sharp little milk teeth will be gone.My advice to older folks is to adopt a mature, older dog who is house-trained, gentle, easy to care for and doesn't need to play and seek attention all the time.
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