Common Puppy Training Problems and How to Fix Them
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Aug. 21, 2024
Yesterday, I received a call from an owner whose American Dirus dog, Blitzen, is eight months old now.
They have had him for just under three weeks, so this beautiful teenage puppy is just now learning how to be a good dog in a human world.
His family is doing fantastic in helping with Blitzen’s transition, but they had a few questions regarding training so that he could be an even happier, more well-adjusted boy.
After the call, as I usually do, I wrote them a detailed plan for how to proceed with the next steps.
I know some of this information will be helpful to many of you, whether or not you own an American Dirus dog yet.
So, here is my reply to Blitzen’s family:
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Thanks for the call earlier today about Blitzen's progress. I am so glad he has really bonded with [you]. That's great. Now to work on a few tweaks so that he continues to progress in his homelife transition.
NIPPING/BITING
All puppies bite/nip. There are no exceptions. This is because it is part of the canine culture to play with their siblings in this manner. They can't use their hands, since they don't have them, so their mouth becomes their hands. Puppies and dogs tussle and play with their siblings and family members as a way to bond. It is part of the canine social structure.
With that said, dogs that live in a human world must learn that humans are not the same as dogs. Humans are fragile and can't be played with in the same way.
From what you described on the phone, though, Blitzen put his mouth around [your teenage son’s] arm today out of frustration, not to play. This is an absolute "no" for Blitzen and he must be corrected for his serious misunderstanding of which humans in the household do not have the proper authority over him.
Blitzen comes by nipping and using his mouth for things honestly. His mother, Opal (Lab/Shepherd cross) had a very soft mouth and LOVED to carry things all around... just like her Lab ancestry. Putting his mouth around something (like [your son’s] arm) is a first response coming from his ancestry.
That being said, Blitzen must learn what is appropriate and what is not appropriate to put his mouth on. Humans are a "no mouth" rule, so every human in the house must understand that rule and help Blitzen achieve success.
Here is an article I wrote on this common puppy problem and how to teach Blitzen the rule that humans are fragile and should not be an object to place his mouth upon.
https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-guardians/behavior-problems/bitingnipping/
That being said, I really like [your husband’s] idea of pushing his hand toward Blitzen's mouth, making the biting experience very uncomfortable. This is positive punishment. You are giving or adding something (positive) to Blitzen's experience that creates less of a desire to continue a certain behavior (punishment).
(FYI: Sending a child to his room when he does something naughty is a negative punishment because you are taking something desirable away - time with family - which creates less of a desire to continue the unwanted behavior.)
If you can instruct [your son] to step up and be a stronger, more confident leader in Blitzen's life by creating strong, clear boundaries and expecting Blitzen to rise to those clear behavior expectations, then [your son] will gain more authority and respect from Blitzen.
Cesar Milan has a great way of instructing us emotional humans how to step up and be that authority figure that dogs respect.
How to Become the Pack Leader
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTgxWI608u8
Getting Over Your Fear of Dogs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAdUq16Jxc8
The Pack Leader Experience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvNIecUSGvo
PULLING ON THE LEASH
I did a video on how to teach a dog leash pressure, which is THE way to help a dog learn to go against their instinctual canine instinct to push into pressure. When a dog fully understands and accepts that you are consistent with the leash pressure rule, a dog becomes "feather light" with leash pressure (meaning the slightest pressure on the leash can communicate to the dog to move itself in whatever way you wish).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AbvokII1_M
Leerburg also has some great information on how to train leash pressure to eliminate dog's pulling on the leash.
The Mechanics of Learning Leash Pressure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcBRz3-HOqs
Loose Leash Walking in Pet Dog Training
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZmb_vwBKeM
BARKING/WHINING WHEN ALONE
It sounds like Blitzen is a little bit anxious about being alone. Here at Dire Wolf Project headquarters, Blitzen was never alone without his pack, so this is something he is learning for the first time. Dogs are pack animals, so they prefer the comfort of their pack to help them feel secure. Therefore, it's important to help Blitzen understand that being alone is not anything to worry about. He can play by himself and content himself with different things when he is by himself because you will return. You haven't abandoned him simply because he can't see you.
Here is an article I wrote about home alone training to help you get more familiar with some of the ideas and training behind it.
Also, McCann Dog Training has a great series on crate training, which is another part of home alone training, since a crate is an environment where puppy must be alone and entertain himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBHJj5bqIkE&list=PL7BBgLulhern5Nb8E0alfaTgCLPKYVk3_
Also, just a reminder... Blitzen can remain in a crate for eight hours if you have to at this point in his life. A good rule of thumb is puppies should only be crated, and left alone, for however many hours are equal to their age in months, plus one (for example, a two months old can tolerate three hours, at most), and no dog or puppy should ever be in a crate for longer than 10 hours total, even with potty breaks.
Just work your schedule around so that the new daily routine of the kids going to school and mom/dad going to work is the new norm for Blitzen's day. Plan it out so that it becomes a routine for him. Give him time outside to play, time for quiet, time to be alone, time for training, time for eating, and potty time. Think about how those things can work around the family schedule and Blitzen will naturally adjust.
Home alone training will help a great deal for him, so add that into your training.
You can do it!
Thanks for letting me know how Blitzen is doing. It was great to talk with you on the phone today. Let me know if you have any other questions as you go along. Give Blitzen a scratch behind the ears from his Aunt Jennifer!
Happy school year starting for you!
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And because some of you now have new puppies at home, don’t forget the MANY puppy/dog training articles available to you as an official owner of an American Dirus dog from the Dire Wolf Project.
https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-guardians/
Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.