Hello,
New member here, and new dog owner.
I've had dogs before but it's been years.
I adopted a Boston Terrier four days ago. She is very sweet but she has gotten to nipping. I've read a couple books and online and I've been saying "ouch" whenever she touches my skin and placing her on the floor (I've just realized that I haven't been looking her in the eye when I said "ouch" though :( ). I just don't know how long her "time out" should be. As soon as I put her down she takes to jumping on the couch, and if I try to walk away she nips at shoes and pants. What I have been doing is basically going into another room and closing the door for 5 mins or so until she calms down, and then I go out and resume play. However I feel myself getting frustrated with her...and sometimes when I do look her in the eyes she jumps and tried to nip at my face, which I really do not like. I know I am probably doing something wrong. I obviously know these things take time, and maybe I am jumping the gun here, but I really just want to know if I'm doing the right things. BTW She was 8 weeks old on Sunday.
She's still just a baby and would have learned better if she were still with her mama, however, you have to be her mama now :-) Dogs don't really understand "time out". I also don't recommend looking a dog in the eyes. She's probably seeing it as play right now. When the puppy gets nippy you put her down and firmly say "NO". I have even used a slight tap on the nose to get my point across. Then walk away. If she starts biting at shoes and pants you stop, turn around, and another firm "NO". You keep doing that until she stops. She's still very young and everything is just "fun" to her. She's also a Boston Terrier and terriers are little "terrors" and just love to nip and jump. Be sure when you play with her that you don't get her too excited and then expect her just to stop, all of a sudden. After you're done playing, pet her and try to settle her down so she knows playtime is over. You can also give her a toy to turn her attention to that instead of you as a play thing. Good luck and enjoy your Boston. They're very smart so teach her well.
Thanks for the advice. Looking her in the eyes actually seems to work. She fights a little at first and then you can tell when she becomes submissive...her little ears go back and then she is at least a little calmer. The trainer at Pet Smart actually told us it is ok to do this, and to blow in her face. Part of the problem is the age she is. I wish I would have done more research, I would have let her stay with her litter mates more...problem is (and I didn't know this until the day I picked her up) the breeder sold the mother because this is her last litter, so I don't know HOW long she was without her mother. So I guess I would have been the mama anyway :). I know now too that I've made it worse by playing tug of war and wrestling with her the first two nights I had her :( . Last night I actually tried yiping like a dog when she nips and that seems like it might acutally be a method that works...when I did it her ears automatically went back and then I set her down and walked away until she had calmed down. Once I picked her up I did it again and same thing. I'm trying to teach her well but it's been a while since I've had a puppy and she gets so excited sometimes!