Nipping Aussie!

[Shanepac19]

I've had a 9 week old Aussie pup (Dawson Urlacher)for about 3 weeks now. She is doing really well and loves people. Although, at night, she is more apt to bark at people on the sidewalk. I take her for at least 3 walks a day (if it isn't raining-rain days indoors are crazy!). I work on a college capus, so I have plenty of dog-sitters, which results in her rarely being alone. I work evenings so this gives her people to play with when I'm at work.

I have three questions.

Dawson's biggest problem is her nipping at people. I know that puppies bite and want to chew on everything, but someitmes she'll bite me or my girlfriend harder than you would expect for playing. (1) How do I get this habit to stop? She has responded well to positive training, but I wouldn't know how to do counter-act this with positive training.

(2 )Do all Aussie's follow their owner around every where they go? (Example: There will be a few people ready to play with her since I live with 4 other people, but she would rather sit at my feet while I'm on the computer and chew on something than to play with the people.) I don't mind the company, but I want to make sure that this is a healthy habit for her. I read that they are extremely loyal, so I expected this somewhat, but not this much.

Dawson seems to have really intense dreams. She even woke up yelping one night. (3) Is this a puppy thing? I don't remember my past family dog doing this when she was older, but I was too young to rememeber her doing this as a puppy.

Thanks!!

Shane and Dawson Urlacher

[MTAussie]

"Dawson's biggest problem is her nipping at people. I know that puppies bite and want to chew on everything, but someitmes she'll bite me or my girlfriend harder than you would expect for playing. (1) How do I get this habit to stop? She has responded well to positive training, but I wouldn't know how to do counter-act this with positive training."

I would suggest do not let her bite your hands at all. When she does or bites to hard give her a rope toy or any favorite toy so she can chew on that instead and praise her a lot while she is chewing on her toy. Also, a method some people use is if she bites too hard yelp high pitched like a dog might do if bitten too hard so she realizes she is biting too hard. Also a good way to disipline without being physical is a spray bottle. It usually takes one squirt in the face with water and they stop whatever they are doing. My friend's puppy only has to see the water bottle to get him to stop jumping and biting.

"(2 )Do all Aussie's follow their owner around every where they go? (Example: There will be a few people ready to play with her since I live with 4 other people, but she would rather sit at my feet while I'm on the computer and chew on something than to play with the people.) I don't mind the company, but I want to make sure that this is a healthy habit for her. I read that they are extremely loyal, so I expected this somewhat, but not this much."

Yes many Aussies, including my own, follow their owner everywhere. Many would say they are a one person dog. It takes a lot of socialization to get them to be a little more friendly to strangers. Their herding instinct probably has a lot to do with that as well. If you find yourself tripping over her she just might be herding you!

"Dawson seems to have really intense dreams. She even woke up yelping one night. (3) Is this a puppy thing? I don't remember my past family dog doing this when she was older, but I was too young to rememeber her doing this as a puppy."

In my experience a lot of dogs have dreams where they might bark, whine, or move their legs like they are running. My Aussie puppy does it as well. Once she looked like she was getting a drink in her dream, that was halarious! So I think that is totally normal.

I would suggest checking out the AKC or ASCA websites. They will tell you a lot about the breed and just might explain a lot about your puppy's behavior's and how to respond. I hope I helped! :D

Chelsey