My stubborn puppy bites and won't poop on the pee pad. What can I do?

I'm sorry to hear that you're having these problems with Ebby! Puppies this age can definitely be frustrating at times. We actually have a great article on the PetCoach website that discusses housetraining in detail - you can read it here: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining/0 This should get you on the right track with teaching her to potty outside. If you still have questions about this after reading the article, feel free to post again - we would be happy to try and help :) Biting and mouthing are very normal behaviors for a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. This will resolve on its own as she gets older, but there are a few things you can do in the meantime to help. Make sure that Ebby has a variety of different toys to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. You should also provide lots of different things for her to chew on, such as bully sticks, large rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. If you are playing with Ebby and she bites you, just redirect her to one of her toys and use that to play with her instead. If she bites your hands when you pet her, calmly stop petting and ignore her until she calms down again. This will get better as she grows up, as long as you are patient and consistent.

For puppies, I recommend feeding three times daily. Make sure you are feeding enough food as well. The food you are using should tell you how much to feed him. The biting is behavioral and is a common behavior in puppies. I would recommend using a small spray bottle and every time he bites you, spritz him in the face to deter him from biting. Using puppy pads, with patience and persistence, he will learn to go to the bathroom outside. Gradually move the puppy pad closer and closer to the door that leads to the outside until eventually, the puppy pad is outside for him to use. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

[Housetraining](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining/) a puppy can be frustrating, but with a little patience and consistency, it can be accomplished. Puppies will typically need to use the bathroom about 10-15 minutes after eating/drinking, waking up or playing. You can use these times to reinforce [training](https://www.petcoach.co/article/housetraining) by bringing the puppy to your designated potty area (such as outside or a puppy pad) and giving them a chance to go. It may take up to 10-20 minutes before your puppy settles enough to actually go. Expect accidents and [mistakes](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-housetraining-mistakes). Be sure to praise and treat if the puppy goes in the right spot. If you catch puppy going in a spot other than the recommended area, do not punish him or her, simply pick the puppy up and move them to the right spot, then praise and reward profusely once they finish there.

Thanks for using PetCoach! A couple ideas: try something like FreshPatch which essentially sends you a patch of real grass in a cardboard container. Or, try crate training since most pups will not pee in their “house”. Here is a good link for crate training. http://www.aahneenah.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/crate-training-your-puppy.pdf As far as the aggression, you’ll need to get that under control as soon as possible. Any form of aggression toward humans should be met with a firm “no” and stopping all play/walking. Practice just walking by and touching his back end frequently so that it’s normal and no big deal. Neutering often helps with aggression so keep that in mind. Finally, some dog require more intensive care so talk with your vet about anti anxiety medication or professional training.

Snowball certainly sounds bored and like she has plenty of energy to burn! She is clearly trying to play by pulling her pad out and running off with it. I suggest getting rid of the pads entirely and making sure she is house-trained completely. Keeping a specific schedule for her feeding and walks really helps with this, and reward her when she goes outside. She is old enough now at 7 months that she shouldn't be having any accidents in the house or in her crate if you are taking her for walks frequently enough. Check out this great veterinary dog behavior and training website if you need more help with house training or getting all that extra energy out of her: www.dogstardaily.com. This is a fantastic resource for training, puppy behavior, and socialization. Good luck!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not an uncommom issue. I recommend that you try the training pad spray that you put on the pad. This would help your pup identify the right place to do her business. You can get this at your local pet store. Given that she learned how to let you guys know when she wants to go outside, she is for sure very smart so I'm sure she will learn this as well. Try to keep the blankets off the flour at least for now while she learns. Remember to praise and reward her when you notice the desired behavior. Good luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lala. You certainly do not need to feel bad. You didn't do anything wrong with her. She is just a young puppy and I suspect that she is feeling more comfortable in your home now. She is starting to display normal puppy behavior such as play biting. Potty pads are notoriously difficult to use as the pups love to shred them up as they get older. It would worthwhile to start her in a basic obedience class. In the meantime, if she nips, tell her "no" and redirect her to something positive such as a toy for her to chew on. She will likely grow up to be a great addition to your home, she, like all pups, will just need some training. Good luck!