Originally posted by dazzlingmeohmy@Sep 14 2004, 10:35 PM
My new puppies are brother and sister. For the most part they love and cuddle with each other. But the last couple of days they have been fighting non-stop! Not playing fighting, but mean, ears back and teeth showing fighting.
I am getting kind of worried. What is the best way to teach them to play, not fight?
And one more question .... they are only 7 weeks old but they are beginning to run very quickly. Is it too early to get them a little harness/collar and a leash?
I would love it if anyone has any advice!
Thanks! -Amelia
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Hi Amelia,
My puppy Abby is 8 weeks old on Tuesday. She has been going through a stage where she is biting at feet and hands and I've been using two ways to combat it over the last 4 days approx. When she bites hands, I hold her mouth shut and say "NO BITE". With feet, I have been saying "NO" once, then accompanying the second "NO" with a squirt from a water spray bottle.... maybe you could adapt this to stop them fighting? Say "NO FIGHT" and when they don't stop spray them with the water and repeat "NO FIGHT", the other option is to tell them 'NO FIGHT' and then take them for 10 mins timeout in their crates. I have been using these tactics and they have been successful so far!
I also have Abby on a harness and leash when training or going out in public (even though she doesn't walk the pavements just yet!
)- as far as I am concerned, the earlier they get used to it the better. Abby really hates collars - I had no success with one... but doesn't mind the harness though - but make sure you get one that goes around their legs and not around their neck. I put it on her just on its own without a leash and let her run about for a while to get used to it. Eventually I attached the leash and again let her run free (with supervision), then picked it up and held it loosely so it wasn't pulling at all, and followed her around. Then I started to teach "come" using the lead to help her along where needed. She still doesn't fully understand.... she stops sometimes and needs a little encouragement to keep going, but she's getting the hang of it!
With a few "come on Abby"'s she will walk with me around the yard... once she's got that, I'll work on "Heel" LOL
Anyway, hope this helps - let us know how you go!
Regards,
Sunshine