Defiant puppy

[newbiedobie]

Hi guys. I recently got a doberman puppy. he is 9 weeks old and already showing tremendous progress with training. However, he is starting to become defiant. When he does not get what we wants he will whine/cry. I've also been trying desperately to potty train him. We live in a high rise (moving out soon to a place much more dog friendly/accessible) and since he is so young sometimes he can not hold it. I've put down training pads and first he was getting the hang of it, then as of recently he started going wherever he wants. He already knows basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and down. He's very smart for a 9 week old puppy, maybe even a bit too smart for his own good. I know with dogs especially dobermans you need to show that you're in charge or the alpha. I want to nip this in the butt before he gets bigger/older. He is a great puppy and very loving with everyone he meets, if anyone has any tips it would much appreciated.

 

[Ravenbird]

Congrats on your new puppy!

Potty training takes a while, as you said, at this age he cannot hold it and doesn't know how to tell you he has to go. This means it's up to you to take him out frequently so you can praise him for doing the duty when you are outside. Take him out after eating, after a rambunctious play and immediately after waking up from any nap. In other words, pretty much in & out of that high rise all day long. At this age probably every 2 hours at night. Pee pads teach them that going indoors is OK. I'm not a fan of them. Never yell or discipline for potty accidents in the house.

Growing puppies go through stages and Dobermans especially will want to be defiant and want to do things their own way. At this age it will be constant re-directing to the right choice. For instance if he's biting you, re-direct to a tug toy. If he picks up a shoe, take it away and give him something that he's allowed to have. etc etc. I hope your move is coming up soon - a high rise apt. is do-able, but your work will be doubled up without having at least an outdoor patio area!

PS - we love puppy pictures!

 

[Ddski5]

Agree with all above ^^^^..

Living in a high rise will most definitely be tough. I don’t know if I would encourage pee pads but when there are no other options??…..if you can’t make it down 14 fights in time to pee then you just can’t. Best situation is to have the backyard readily available for when you see him squat, you swoop him up and immediately get him outside so he can correlate pee with being outside. I guess you want to try as much as you can to schedule his pee time but with such a small bladder in a puppy, you are going to have accidents.

He's very smart for a 9 week old puppy, maybe even a bit too smart for his own good. I know with dogs especially dobermans you need to show that you're in charge or the alpha. I want to nip this in the butt before he gets bigger/older.

Becareful of this….being the Alpha. Yes, you want to present yourself as the one in charge. The one he looks to for guidance, the one he seeks for love, understanding and support.

No disrespect but I really don’t think you are going to “nip anything in the bud” for a good while- not with a 9week old puppy. What you will need to do is to tolerate, to mold his actions, guide him through redirection and positive/negative reinforcement. Prob from 9weeks through teething(6-7months) to be honest. Once I learned this….to mold and guide him rather than try to break or change his actions, things REALLY got better with my daily training.

Above all….cherish and have fun with those puppy times. That innocent goofiness goes away really fast. He will be a beast at 7-8 months of age. I really miss the puppy…..

 

[Kswoodssue]

Our pup is 13 wks yesterday. We feed kibble 3 times a day, and occasional small puppy treats for training. We keep water available 24/7. I think this strict feeding schedule has helped us anticipate when to take her out. She goes out after every feeding, and again within an hour if she hasn’t pooped yet. She goes out before going into her crate and after she comes out. She goes out every time she wakes up, and before going to bed at night. (Once during the night about half the time.) We have had limited messes, but we are retired and she is with us most of the time. Sometimes when she needs to go out, she just gets naughty. Then there are those times like last night. I knew she had to go, but she decided to turn demon when I took her out. I brought her back in and she left me a smelly gift 5 min later, which was very unusual for her. Turns out, my husband told me she ate a rotten egg one of our hens had left by the barn before he could stop her. I imagine passing egg shells was enough to throw her off. All that said, the last couple weeks she has been really good about going to the door. As for your puppy whining for what he wants, isn’t it nice to know that he looks to you for all the good things? Good luck and btw, I like Resolve carpet cleaner!

 

[Ukesox]

Potty ”training” is just that…you teaching the pup what is required. The better you are at it, the quicker he’ll learn.
As has been said above, you need to be proactive & anticipate, & put him out regularly. When you put him out & he obliges (as well as praise) mark the event with a word or phrase…I’ve always used “quick” (“ good boy…quick”) for a pee, but it can be any word. If you can use the word as he’s doing his business & heaps of praise afterwards so much the better. Once he makes the association with your word he’ll know whats expected of him & if you’re consistent you’ll get to the stage where you can give the command “be quick”, & he will. For a dump you can use another word. What you mustn’t do is scald him when he toilets inside, just ignore & clean it up, because at that age he’s not in control, so you have to be.

 

[newbiedobie]

Agree with all above ^^^^..

Living in a high rise will most definitely be tough. I don’t know if I would encourage pee pads but when there are no other options??…..if you can’t make it down 14 fights in time to pee then you just can’t. Best situation is to have the backyard readily available for when you see him squat, you swoop him up and immediately get him outside so he can correlate pee with being outside. I guess you want to try as much as you can to schedule his pee time but with such a small bladder in a puppy, you are going to have accidents.


Becareful of this….being the Alpha. Yes, you want to present yourself as the one in charge. The one he looks to for guidance, the one he seeks for love, understanding and support.

No disrespect but I really don’t think you are going to “nip anything in the bud” for a good while- not with a 9week old puppy. What you will need to do is to tolerate, to mold his actions, guide him through redirection and positive/negative reinforcement. Prob from 9weeks through teething(6-7months) to be honest. Once I learned this….to mold and guide him rather than try to break or change his actions, things REALLY got better with my daily training.

Above all….cherish and have fun with those puppy times. That innocent goofiness goes away really fast. He will be a beast at 7-8 months of age. I really miss the puppy…..

Thank you for the tips.
When I am able to make it downstairs he knows what to do! Sometimes he'll make a mistake and go in the elevator but he is little enough that I'll usually carry him down if I know he really has to go and once were outside I'll set him down and be able to make it to the potty area. When I say nip in the butt, I mean being proactive. I know it takes time and perseverance. I take the time everyday to train such as go over basic commands and leash training.

 

[newbiedobie]

Congrats on your new puppy!

Potty training takes a while, as you said, at this age he cannot hold it and doesn't know how to tell you he has to go. This means it's up to you to take him out frequently so you can praise him for doing the duty when you are outside. Take him out after eating, after a rambunctious play and immediately after waking up from any nap. In other words, pretty much in & out of that high rise all day long. At this age probably every 2 hours at night. Pee pads teach them that going indoors is OK. I'm not a fan of them. Never yell or discipline for potty accidents in the house.

Growing puppies go through stages and Dobermans especially will want to be defiant and want to do things their own way. At this age it will be constant re-directing to the right choice. For instance if he's biting you, re-direct to a tug toy. If he picks up a shoe, take it away and give him something that he's allowed to have. etc etc. I hope your move is coming up soon - a high rise apt. is do-able, but your work will be doubled up without having at least an outdoor patio area!

PS - we love puppy pictures!

Thank you for your tips! I do have an outdoor patio but im waiting until he's a little bigger to go out! He's growing super fast. Definitely a lot of redirecting being done, he's like a toddler haha.

 

[jazzies mum]

Thank you for your tips! I do have an outdoor patio but im waiting until he's a little bigger to go out! He's growing super fast. Definitely a lot of redirecting being done, he's like a toddler haha.

He's a gorgeous baby! Yes, they are EXACTLY like a toddler, tantrums included!

 

[Ddski5]

Sometimes he'll make a mistake and go in the elevator but he is little enough that I'll usually carry him down if I know he really has to go and once were outside I'll set him down and be able to make it to the potty area.

Be understanding in the elevator and not angry….then outside, have a party jumping up and down when he goes outside.

I know it takes time and perseverance. I take the time everyday to train such as go over basic commands and leash training.

You do this and you will have your dream Doberman….it is absolutely true when say: what you put into him, you will get out.

Really sounds like you got it!
Keep in touch, I would really like to see your/his story unfold.

 

[Ravenbird]

Awesome pictures! You'll do great with him, keep us posted!

 

[Kaiser2016]

Thank you for your tips! I do have an outdoor patio but im waiting until he's a little bigger to go out! He's growing super fast. Definitely a lot of redirecting being done, he's like a toddler haha.

LOL, yes, he did wink for the camera! He's knows what he's doing