Dog Health Questions: Dog training questions?

We have an 11 month old weimaraner who we are attempting to un-crate train in order to give her a little more free reign while we are at work during the day. She is usually good, but once every few times we leave her out of her crate for an extended period of time, she starts to rip up blankets/her bed. She has always ripped up blankets in her crate, so I think that is why she thinks it is ok. She is reprimaned by putting her face in the remnants when we get home & telling her it is bad. Any other ideas to teach her that it is not ok?
We also have a problem with her playfully latching onto women's arms when they come into our home....myself included. I could use some suggestions for that too.
:) She really is a good dog...just a weimaraner through & though!

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When you punish her after the fact (not while she is doing it) I think it might confuse her and she may not understand why she is getting in trouble. When we leave our dogs out of the crate, we doggy proof the room so there is nothing there they can destroy. We make sure to leave them lots of toys and only give them access to one room (we use kiddie gates to keep them in). Hope this helps.

Oh, and about her chewing on blankets, I would be careful b/c I have heard stories of pieces of stuff like that getting stuck in the dog and causing all types of digestion problems for the poor pups.

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• I don't no what to say about the playing thing but to make her stop riping blankets don't put blankets in her create insted put chew toys. The chew toys would act like a blanket but insted it will be alot tougher and wont break as easy.Over time she will loose in trest in blankets and have more intrest in chew toys. hope it helps ;@)


• You've got a puppy of an extremely active, high-energy breed. Sounds like she's not getting anywhere near enough exercise. Weims need a lot more than a walk or 2 a day to keep them from getting frustrated, hence destructive.
  
  Puppy training 101 will tell you that you NEVER punish a dog for anything you don't catch them in the act of doing. Never!!! The only thing you're teaching her is that she can't trust you - she has no idea what the punishment is for.
  
  It sounds like, besides a ton more exercise, mental as well as physical, you need to keep her crated for her own safety.
  
  As for biting anyone's arms, that should have been stopped long before she finished teething. Teach her what "no!!" means. Teach her "off". If she's in a sit stay, she can't bite anyone. This dog needs some obedience training.
  
  I think she can be a good dog, but she needs someone to teach her how to be!


• Possibly she's bored or she has separation anxiety. I would look into obedience classes if you're not already involved in one. They would be able to help you communicate what you want or need her to do. Just sets a good foundation.
  
  If you know you're going to be gone for an extended period of time, I would make sure to crate her. You possibly could try hiding treats around the house when you step out for a short period of time to help keep her occupied. I think I'd also try removing blankets from her crate. It probably confuses her being it's ok to chew on her blanket, so she feels all blankets are fair game.
  
  As far as the mouthing. If she goes to mouth your arm, I would pull away saying "ouch!" and ignore her until she stops. When she does approach without trying to mouth you, then give her some attention as a reward. Repeat this until she gets the idea.
  
  When first coming through the door, if she's overly excited, try talking calmly to her instead of the happy high pitched tone we tend to take with our pets. Pets are amazing mirrors to us. If we are excited, they are too.
  
  I would consult with your vet or trainer for more details and ideas being they can get and give more feedback.
  
  Hope everything works out for you.


• Let me get this straight....
  
  you come home, hours after she's ripped up blankets, then shove her face in the blankets and tell her they are bad.... I think she's figured out they are bad... and is helping you to rip them up...
  
  Dogs do not remember things over time... what you're teaching her is that when you come home you're going to be angry and shove her face in the evil blankets. Put the blankets up... or catch her in the act multiple times so you can scold her AS she does the deed. Remember that HER concept of a comfie bed may not include intact blankets... in fact most dogs will rip up bedding to sleep on.
  
  As far as the latching on to people's arms... be proactive.. you know she's going to do it, stop it and give her SOMETHING ELSE TO DO before she does it so you can praise her for being appropriate.. toss a ball for her to fetch, tell her to set, tell her to go lie down in her spot... whatever.