13wk Old 3 nipping/potty/chewing
For starters I DO know that nipping and chewing are very normal, I just wanted to state that before I get to my 3 questions or little bit of bg info. I bought my 13wk old Chocolate English/American cross 1 week ago today. And like all labs he appears to be very intelligent and stubborn already. My wife has NEVER really had any pets in her life until she met me and until now a puppy. We have a 12yr old rescue Minpin/Corgi (for 9yrs now, she was 2yrs at adoption) and two rescue cats (2yrs and 10mths respectively).
On to Ashe, my lab. He is a little ball of 300 Gremlins lol. My last puppy was 34yrs ago and I did most of the training with him except potty because he was an outside dog (different times). He has been doing AWESOME for a puppy until this cold snap hit Iowa again. I put his leash on and he sits and I'll say "Come on Ashe, lets potty!" in a happy voice and he doesn't move. I pull on the leash and his neck stretches. I try and entice with a treat and looks at me like I'm an idiot. If I DO get him out he might pee a bit and drags me back in. And will hide and poop anywhere from 5 - 30 minutes later. Advice?
Nipping/"biting"/gnawing on hands and arms. Absolutely normal I know! Distraction is with a toy is NOT working, playing with his toys is not working and his kennel, well, I think I wasted $80 on it. I've tried all the advice and he wont go near it. He lived all his 12wks before us "open range" in a heated barn with his mom and litter mates. Treats, food bowl, wont even go near it. Try a treat and drops it to go back to the hand or arm.
Chewing on things the toy works for maybe 5 minutes and he goes right back to it. He is losing some baby teeth and I believe what he is chewing on feels much better than the Kong or rope toy. He is chewing only on the corners of plastic totes (which we MUST have where they are, not possible to move them right now). I found and washed a big soft ball last night and he likes it though it is just a temp distraction from his tote. lol.
We don't regret getting Ashe at all, not in the least, I am just amazed at just 13wks how active he is. I don't remember my Dominoe being like this. lol
Any advice is appreciated and I'm very honored to be among fellow lab lovers. My first favorite breed of dog, I've wanted another for so long!!