New puppy girl!

[Isla'sMudder]

Hello all,
This seems like a great place to share information. I got my puppy about a week ago from the SPCA. They said she was 6-weeks when she came to the shelter (according to the people who brought the litter in). Her mum was a 50lb lab and her dad unknown. She's very small. She's now apparently 8-weeks old and weighs about 6.5lb. I am crate training her and trying to absorb as much info as I can and employ patience that I know will pay off. I must say she's very smart. She knows her name and how to sit on the word and a hand signal. I fully credit her for that!

I was walking her on a leash and recently read that I shouldn't be exercising her too much. She has so much energy sometimes. It almost looks, as she's getting older that she might have some terrier in her. She's only had two accidents in the house in 10 days and is a great little pup, except!!! When playing, she bites me and growls. She grabs my clothing and growls and rips and gets worse when I tell her not to. I say "Stop it" and redirect her if I can. I know puppies do this, but is the scary growl normal? I'm just trying to learn as much that I can so I can help her grow into a great doggie! She's a big cuddler and loves giving kisses (when not biting me)!

[Longblades]

Welcome. Love your sign in name. My DH sometimes recites a little poem about "me mudder who made me pee when I could not" and it seems very appropriate for someone potty training a puppy. http://www.mamarocks.com/me_mudder.htm

How are you pronouncing Isla? As in island?

Yes, the growling is normal. If she is half Lab be prepared for a mouthy pup, after all, Labs were bred to use their mouths in retrieving. Guess who has a Lab?

Be extra prepared because she left the litter far too soon. The weeks between 6 and 8 are when bite inhibition is learned from the siblings and your wee girl has been deprived of that.

Try to direct her to a toy BEFORE she gets a hold on your pants. Much more effective and at this point she has no idea what STOP IT means. From the way you worded this she probably thinks it means what she is doing because it sounds like you are saying it while she is doing it. That's how you are going to teach her potty words, by saying them as she performs, and the same applies to other actions.

A rule of thumb for puppy exercise is 5 minutes per month of age of forced exercise on a hard surface allowed twice a day. Forced is anything on leash, straight line and/or compelled to keep up with you. Forced is thought to stress young joints. Play off leash is unlimited because then puppy can change speed and direction and quit when she feels like it.

Plus you want to be careful where you take her before vaccinations are complete. Ask your Vet about this. Parvo is the biggest concern, though not the only one.

I bet she is one little cutie-pie. I know we all want to see pictures. Take lots, they grow so quickly.

[Isla'sMudder]

Yes, I pronounce it "Isla", like "Island". Mouthy eh? I wonder how long that will last. She has lots of toys and I'm trying the redirecting. She's not pure lab, so I'm not sure what else she has in her cute little genes! I'm going to try to attach a picture!

[Isla'sMudder]

She's 8 weeks here in these two. The first picture above, she was 7 weeks. I'd love to know what she's mixed with. Her tail curls a bit when she walks or plays. She stands with one paw up when curious. I am a picture taking maniac!

[Isla'sMudder]

Okay, here she is at 8 weeks.

[Isla'sMudder]

She doesn't have big paws either. Not sure if that always is an indicator though.