puppy dragging,and biting

Question:
 I have tryed so many things and different forms but I'm still looking for help... First off I have had "Chopper" a 3 month old beagle mix for about 6 weeks. He is normally a pretty good puppy, but I have a few problems... 1. He draggs himself around a lot, yes he still runs and jumps and plays, but he does this dragging thing too. He kind of looks like his back legs are broken when he does it, but I'm sure that they are not. I took a stool sample to the vet and it's not worms. Any Ideas? 2. He will NOT stop biting, and it is driving my husband and I crazy. I have tryed to cross my arms and walk away, lots of things, but it's not getting any better. If I do try to walk away he will jump on my legs as I walk and scratch me. Any Ideas on how to stop this? 3. I have him house broken on going pee outside, but he WILL not poop outside. I have tryed to take his poop outside and then take him to that area when we go out, but it doesn't work. What am I doing wrong? I stay at home with him all day as of right now, so I am up for anything. Thanks so much in advance for any IDEAS!!!! Staying Hopefull, Heather
Answer:
 First, I want you to seriously get him checked out medically. The leg dragging at times could be the sign of something really serious and MUSt be checked out thoroughly by a vet. Nippping and biting is normal puppy stuff that they need to be trained out of however, it can also be in reaction to being sore or having a lower tolerance for various reasons. Get him to the vet and get a full physical done. Yu have to rule out why he is doing this and there may very well be a medical reason. I have known dogs to drag to scratch serious itches, because of joint or bone damage, neurological issues, parasites (internal and external) etc. Second for the nipping, once medical is ruled out, it is priobably then just general puppy stuff that he needs to be taught is not acceptable. However, depending on how you do this can actually make the issues WORSE! Yelling, scruffing, alpha rolls, etc have all been shown to be very detrimental to dog development. Yes they can learn from them but they learn to avoid this reaction from us and never really learn. Also these techniques were based on erroneous research on a SMALL sampling of wolves and then extrapolated to canine behavior. Domestiv canines are behaviorally far differnet from adult wolves. Better research by Dr. Ian Dunbar and colleagues has totally thrown the old ways out and foind them to be very risky. However, sadly, the old ways made it into training and raising culture fast and became "gospel" and it is hard to change old ways regardless of how inaacurate they really are. I want you to go read this on teaching bite inhibition. I was taught in the old school of dog training back in the early 1980s. But I have done years of research and totally changed my methods 100%. I use Dr Dunbar's methods in my classes now when teaching puppies and dogs not to bite. He finally wrote it up in the Whole Dog Journal and this is from it: http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BiteInhibition.php Again, make sure there is no medical reason regarding the nipping. Also, read this - it goes into biting, ways that playing improperly with pups can TEACH biting, etc. http://www.westwinddogtraining.com/learningdogsafety/ http://www.safekidssafedogs.com/Why_Dogs_Bite/why_dogs_bite.html As for the pottying in the house - you have have to change tactics with training. Along with a solid schedule, puppy needs to be with you and not roaming the house unsupervised. Use baby gates or if you are walking about, umbilical cord the puppy to you with a leash. This way, puppy is never out of your sight. The best redirection (correction) is the one that happens the instant the behavior of pottying inside happens. If puppy is wandering the house and gets to realize there are times he can potty inside, he will continue to do so. Also, a correction after the fact is a correction that is lost. If you are going to be in a position where you cannot watch him (napping, going out) crate him. And NEVER leave the leash on puppy when he is crated or when he is not tied to you. A dragging leash can get tangled and puppy could get hurt. Should Puppy have an accident in the house, you must catch him in the act for discipline to be effective - why in the above paragraph the use of gates and a leash was brought up. If puppy has pottied five minutes ago on your best rug and you just see it, the correction is totally lost. Puppies and dogs forget faster and will interpret the discipline not being done because he pottied in the house but for something different. Clean up the spot well and with something that will neutralize the odor. Use one of the commercially made products or white vinegar and water. When puppy learns that certain body langaue from him brings the desires effect from you and he starts coming to you when on lead or in the room with you, give him freedom of TWO ROOMS. Puppies have to learn how to signal us that they have to go out. It is not a born behavior. When he goes out, take him ON LEAD and give five minutes. Give him a command that indicates (and that he will eventually associate) with the action you want from him. If he goes, leash comes off and he gets to play. If not, leash stays on, you go inside and life is very boring. He will associate the desired action with a great response - attention and fun. The leash and baby gates in the house will help ensure he cannot potty inappropriately without you being able to catch him in the act to stop him. Also, if there is a medical reason for the leg dragging, it could be affecting other things as well. Again, the vet needs to be called. Also, get your hands on Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson - www.amazon.com - great book and the puppy books and series on dogs by Ian Dunbar. These are two authors I highly recommend to my students.
Answer:
 Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! You have no idea how much all the info has meant to me, and Chopper. I am going to make him an app. for the Vet tomorrow, but because we are a military family that is stationed over seas, I know that he will not be able to be seen until next week, but I will try for the earliest day possible! He has been in to have his shot, and I have told the vet tech about it, but they really didn't seem to have any idea, they though at first it might be worms, or fleas, but we have tryed that and had his stools tested and he is fine. He did have Giardia, which was treated with meds, but with the last stool check it was clear. I will get him in to the vet so they can try to find out whats going on. As for the potty in the house, it seems to be getting better. He follows me around all the time, so I don't really keep him on a leash, because I know that he is going to be right there, but you are right its that minute that I turn my back that he does something. I will keep a closer eye on him and try to stop the problem. As for the biting I am going to first see if the vet says that anything is wrong but I will also read up on the links that you have sent me. Again, Thank you so very much, you have been VERY VERY helpfull!!!! Heather and Chopper ;D