r/corgi • u/CompetitiveLayer6995 • 19h ago
11 week old
Send help—my 11-week-old Corgi puppy has officially entered full land shark mode! 🦈🐾
He’s got "sit" and "down" locked down, but he's getting so much more stubborn and literally just wants to bite everything in sight. We’re doing puzzle toys to keep his brain busy, but it’s tough since he’s not fully cleared for walks yet until his final Parvo shots.
I’ve been strictly following the 1 hour up / 2 hours down schedule to keep him from turning into an overtired monster, but I honestly feel so guilty keeping him in his crate so much. While I’ve raised other breeds, this is my first Corgi puppy, and I'd love to make sure I'm setting him up right for training.
Is there anything to help the nipping? I've tried frozen carrots, frozen rags/towels, leaving the room, keeping him on a leash, saying a firm "NO!"
It does seem like he gets more vocal and nippy when I react with "No!"
How did you guys survive this land shark phase? Any tips or sanity-savers for a tired puppy mama would be so appreciated!
2
u/malicious_3CHO5 18h ago
Look up reverse time outs! They were the only thing that worked for over excited puppy nipping for our loaf, paired with a pillow or other such shield for our legs as we would exit his play pen.
We have a crate for him and we also had a play pen so we could keep him more contained but still allow him some room to roam.
Our boy is nearly two now and a very well adjusted young man. Hang in there!
Do I have scars still from his puppy teeth? Well, that is not important!
3
u/strawnkm 18h ago
Instead of a correction, try a loud “yelp” and then completely disengage with him for a period of time. By disengage I mean get up, walk away, turn around with your back to him and go still. No playing. Think about being neutral.
When he gives you a behavior you can agree with (ie sits, lays down, maybe plays independently with a toy) then give soft praise. No big excitement, high pitched voices, any behavior from you that might ramp him up again.
You should be using some of his out time to train basic skills or tricks to engage with you on a lower key level. There are different games you can play that help teach self control. Check YouTube for Susan Garrett’s It’s Yer Choice and Crate Games.
Check out this video from Susan Garrett on puppy bite inhibition
2
u/Helianthus2361 17h ago
Broccoli stems. Leather gloves and broccoli stems. Purple cabbage leaves. Carrots too.
Just breathe. If he gets rough, you use a disappointed voice and say “oh dear” get up and walk away
1
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u/Upbeat_Inflation_661 16h ago
My pup is 14 weeks old and until 12 weeks he was nipping my calves and tugging my pants. I tried the yelping, the redirection, the ‘no bite’ sprays. Nothing worked. Then one day I got so fed up that I grabbed him by his neck scruff and pinched. He yelped and let go. A couple days later we had one more lesson. And the nipping has stopped. I don’t like that it took a painful correction, but better a couple of painful seconds to learn a boundary than a menace of dog nipping me and others.
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u/TrickyCorgi316 11h ago
Hang in there! It’s tough - they’re cute, they’re stubborn, and they’re ferocious. It’s exhausting! But perseverance and patience - with your puppy AND yourself - pay off!
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u/raellabean 18h ago
I’m on my second puppy he’s 14 weeks and those sharp little teeth can be a lot sometimes! Redirection is what I tend to do. I have toys and chews scattered around my whole house so when he just wants to be a little shark I correct with giving him what he’s allowed to chew. As long as I play with it with him he’s content on the toy that’s being played with. I also give him paper bags, cardboard, boxes etc of just things he’s allowed to completely destroy. I just set the tone of I have to give it vs him finding it.