Bichon (puppy growling and nipping)

hi my puppy of eleven wks really growels at me and starts nipping,l want to nip it in the bud before he gets worse any suggestions will be helpful.

If he nips you cry out ouch quite loud. With puppies you need to be firm as well as loving.

Have you signed your pup for some nice training classes? A good trainer, using kind methods, will be able to help you with all kinds of behaviour problems, not just to teach you to teach your puppy to sit etc.

yes ive tried to be firm,also trying to find a puppy training class in my area, romford

Have you tried predicting when it might happen and have a toy ready so you are not the target?

When does your pup growl at you and nip you?

There is a lovely trainer here in sawbridgeworth, I know it's a bit further away but she is excellent. I've just finished one of her puppy training classes and starting another one in September. I can give you her number if you like or look her up on the Internet. Dogability. Honestly she is brilliant and mad as a hatter

normaly when l tell him off,

normaly when l tell him off

Why do you need to tell him off?

Just my view but ... I don't think dogs really comprehend 'being told off' for doing stuff you don't want them to do.

They probably see all shouting and so on as 'getting attention' and some dogs hate being pointed at or having fingers wagged in their faces!

I employ different methods and stick to them religiously. Like, if they nip too much when sitting with you - stand up promptly fold your arms and look away. Ignore them. Do it over and over for every nip - has always worked for me.

If barking like a loony for nothing - put the dog out of the room (outside if possible) and let it back in as soon as they are quiet (even if that is within seconds) and do this every time - even if it's every few minutes. I've never known it to fail - they do get the message.

To be honest - I'd feel like more of a nutter than I already do if I was to be 'nagging and moaning' at a dog or giving it a lecture!