By scruffing your puppy when it misbehaves, you are essentially imitating what its mother would have done. Scruffing should never be too firm or aggressive. Grab the dog's scruff, shake gently and say “no.” It's important that you have eye contact with your dog when doing this.
Since we humans don't have the natural instincts on how to correctly carry dogs by their scruff, we can end up easily causing pain or damage. Once a puppy is no longer a puppy, picking them up by their scruff is risky because they are much too heavy to have all that weight placed on their neck.
Now, she weighs more, and her ratio of skin:body mass is now much lower. Even at 8 weeks old, when you bring your puppy home, she will already be too large to be carried by the scruff of her neck.
Be consistent. Puppies crave consistency in their daily routine and in puppy training. Correct bad dog behavior immediately and firmly every time it happens with a firm voice, a loud noise like a hand clap, or through redirection, like offering them a chew toy when they exhibit biting behavior.
Methods such as alpha rolls and physical corrections (via the leash and a choke chain or by smacking the dog on the nose or by shaking their scruffs) were often recommended as a way for humans to establish dominance over their dogs.
Puppies begin learning from as soon as they are born, and a good breeder will have exposed the puppy to handling and socializing. Some training can begin immediately, like potty training, but for best results, you can start teaching the basics like "sit," "down," and "stay" from as young as seven to eight weeks of age.
The instant you feel your puppy's teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds.
Scruffing a dog is a type of physical punishment for unwanted behavior. It carries a high risk of hurting your dog, and it is not even the most effective way of changing the way they behave. It's quicker and more effective to reinforce alternative, desirable behaviour instead.
Whining – If you try to lift an adult dog by the scruff, or even a puppy, but do so improperly, they will start whining and yelping because this causes them pain and might even cause harm.
If your dog is humping a lot, pay close attention to make sure they're not doing it because they're stressed, but in general, allowing your puppy to hump a toy is not such a bad thing. Sometimes they just have the urge.
The safest way to pick up a puppy or kitten, Downing says, is the one most comfortable for them. “Slip one hand between the front legs from the front of the body, and slip the other hand between the rear legs from behind,” she recommends. “Then lift them as a unit with their spine relatively straight.”
Remember, this behavior is natural for your puppy, so they just need to gently learn when and where mouthing is appropriate. By crying out when your puppy bites or mouths at your hand, they should quickly realize that playing roughly by mouthing or biting you ends the game.
Use Your Movement to Your Advantage
If dogs are allowed to keep going forward, they learn that pulling is the way to get what they want, and they will keep doing it. Don't ever allow your pulling dog to continue on their merry way.
Instead, if your puppy is demand barking, give them a firm "No" and redirect them to another activity (like practicing a couple of commands or going to Place instead) and reward them when they follow through and listen. Try to reward your puppy with their favorite food or treat when they become quiet instead.
If your puppy's aggressive biting has come on suddenly and you're worried then we would always suggest talking to a professional. It may just be a part of normal puppy mouthing, but in case it isn't then you'll want someone suitably qualified and experienced to guide you through this tricky time.
Approximately 35% of owners and trainers voted 8-9 months as the toughest age citing new challenging behaviors associated with their puppy's now larger size such as pulling on the leash or counter-surfing.
Most dogs assume a neutral or submissive role toward people, but some dogs will challenge their owners for dominance. A dominant dog may stare, bark, growl, snap, or even bite when you give him a command or ask him to give up a toy, treat, or resting place.
Your dog should understand that their place is on the floor where they are not equal to you. For the same reason you are discouraged from getting on the floor with your dog to play in “their territory,” you should not bring your dog into your territory.
Whether or not dogs are more attracted to one gender can't be objectively answered because all dogs and people are different. But, dogs generally tend to be more attracted to a specific set of behaviors that are exhibited mostly by adult women. It's not that dogs are exclusively attracted to female adults.