I am no expert in puppy training. I doubt anyone is when they first get a puppy. At least I recognise that there is an issue which needs sorting out. It is absolute nonsense that my puppy needs to be rehomed. He has a bond with us and we have a bond with him. It would be too traumatic for all concerned. It would break my heart to see him go.It is unthinkable. He belongs here where he is loved. I can't believe anyone has suggested this to be honest. Show's how much commitment they think a person who is having problems should have. "oh my dog has problems, I think i'll rehome him and pass his problems onto someone else." words fail me.

Ta fade to grey. This is certainly true

We had never had a puppy before until 11 weeks ago. We got two pups a few days apart and we've managed just fine. I would never rehome by pups because of ANY problem, I would sort the problem out. If I had a problem I didn't know the answer to I'd ask for advice on here and implement that advice not dismiss it and ask again and again.

Members on here such as, but not limited to; Jackson, HandsOnPaws, Tashi and Sallyanne I would take their advice without hesitation, they KNOW exactly what they are talking about.

The fact that you have been given good solid advice and dismissed it completely is what worries me. If you are inexperienced and are struggling fine, but to blatently rubbish knowledgable peoples advice and then ask and ask again is rediculous. As well as the trivial errors you have already made, that is why I personally feel the pup would be better off elsewhere.

If anyone has had experience with terriers, they'll know that the softly softly approach doesn't always work. You have to be very firm with them and take no rubbish from them.

I have read the advice and certainly not dismissed it. If anyone would like to actually go back to the original question on this post, then they'll see that i am asking about WHY puppies snap at things other than human hands.

These forums I have been on are not my only source of advice. I have plenty of books and one of my family works with army dogs.

If anyone thinks I am just going to take this criticism then they are mistaken.

Ollie isn't going anywhere. He is part of our family. I think I've probably painted the wrong picture of how our little chap behaves. I'm lost for words as to how to get my point across now.

We're all strangers and I am asking strangers for advice when they don't know the first thing about me.

I SO regret ever coming here!

I have read this thread and I wished I had been a member of a forum 3 years ago.

This is all good sound advice, I had to search the internet for possible solutions. I panicked when I read about puppies biting/nipping and mouthing could mean it will become an aggressive dog.

My dog Duke turned on me twice as a puppy. He couldn't play without biting or nipping. I dreaded him waking up.

It took that long to get him out of it, I didn't think I was ever going to do it and started to resign myself to the fact that he was always going to mouth, cannot honestly remember how long.

The best solution was to isolate him only for a couple of minutes any longer and he forgot why he'd been isolated and the game started all over again.

Never had him to a behaviourist, he started to improve as formal training started. Like sit just before his teeth sank in.

Even today he will mouth if he get over excited but there are no teeth marks or blood anymore. Thinking about it I can't remember the last time he did mouth me or anyone.

What I am trying to say is that puppies explore with their mouths they get over zealous sometimes the older the puppy becomes the stronger his jaw. Yes they also feel their feet and growl, snap and bite. I used to offer Duke toys instead of my fingers or hand.

Sue

don't leave because of a few people, there are some wonderful people on here.

__________________

I won't leave. Not when there are people who are supportive of me on here

What exactly do you mean by firm?

It's not just terriers that can be like this - I have breeds that have tested me until I have reached my wits end - We used to grab hold of our American Bulldogs collar when she got over excited as a youngster and softly but firmly lead her to her basket/dog bed and close the safety gate behind us keeping her out of the front room until she calmed herself down a little, she could still see us, btw was just refused contact until she had calmed down - our DDB puppy had the very same treatment - if they moved we'd lead them back to their beds and say 'STAY' quite firmly but not shouting at them, they soon got fed up and quickly learned that over excitment meant having to spend some time away from us for half an hour. Plus they learnt they could go to their beds when they needed some time out from us & the kids too.

I have gone back to the first post you made.
Puppies snap at things for all sorts of reasons, when you stated he's jumping up for magazines on your footstool, this simpy implies to me he's exhibiting normal playful puppy behaviour, it's something he is certainly not doing to defy you.

OK. I'll tell you a story about one of my puppy buyers. It may or may not help you.

Very lovely woman rang me when one o four pups (previously all booked) becamse re-available. She had older teenage children, was at home all day, and now her youngest son was off to college, she felt she had time for another dog. They had previously had one dog, a GSD, from puppy to when she died at 17.

Lady came to visit and I loved her. She had bought all sorts of dog books already, had really looked into things, knew what questions to ask me etc etc. I took a deposit and she then started to visit me, Mum and pups 2-3 times per week, sometimes more, even when the pups were still too yooung for me to allow visitors in the room with them. I held the pup up to the window for her to see. She had pup booke din for training by the time she was 3 weeks old, so she could start as soon as clear of her second vacc. They were lovely, lovely people and I have to admit, I liked them most out of all my puppy buyers.

They took their pup at 8 weeks, rang me to let me know how she was, brought her to visit etc. Then at 4 months I got an email from them saying that pup was attacking them, and what should they do? I rang them immediately and after a chat said it sounded like play biting that had got out of hand to me. They insisted it was a 'frenzied attack' so I went to visit next day and see the behaviour for myself. It was play biting that was really out of hand, and sadly also reinforced as they had done all the wrong things to try an dget her to stop it, like shouting 'no' pushing her off, the husband even resorted to pinning her down once, which upset both owners immensly.

Anyway, I offered to take the pup back if they wanted me to, which they didn't, so I explained how to deal with it. They listened to the advice and tried their hardest, but the behaviour persisted. Then pup came to stay with me for a week, and although she attempted the behaviour a couple of times in the first day or so, then nothing. When she went home again, the behaviour didn't show itself for some time, then surfaced. However, they were able to deal with it and puppy is now 7 months old and the behaviour has pretty much stopped.

The reason I am telling you this is that an intelligent, sensible couple who were prepared to listen to the correct advice given (all the time whilst attending training classes aswell) still found it very, very hard to correct the problem. To the point the lady concerned was in tears, feeling she was ruining her puppy, and I wished they'd give her back to me at times. However, they have turned out to be the wonderful home I had imagined.

If it was hard for them, I wonder how hard you might find it, as you don't seem prepared to listen to the advice being given. You have a real problem with your pup. Those who are giving you advice do not have problems with their dogs/puppies, and that is for a reason, so why do you constantly shun the advice because it is not what you want to hear?

By firm, I mean show them who's boss. For example, I was told in the last forum that I shouldn't get hold of my dog by his collar to drag him out from under a hedge say, but to get a toy or treat to distact him. This never worked with him and I have since read that you have GOT to get them used to this, because it might have to be done in an emergency one day. It could save their life.

I hope you don't think that I mean firm as in physical reprimanding. It means that if I want to stroke my dog and they are growling or snapping, then I am NOT going to stop and let him get his own way. I'll do it on my terms, not his.