My puppy barks at me when I tell him off – what should I do?

Bestybest, if you treat a puppy this age like a criminal when they can’t possibly understand what your problem is, you’re destroying any chance of building trust with a human who must seem so strange and unfair to them. A puppy this age only wants to play; they take the noises you’re making as your way of joining in. We still don’t know what Manon3 means by 'mischief', and we don't know why she's scolding; all we know is that Manon’s behaviour is unsuitable for the age of her dog. With an older dog, it’s usually enough to stand tall and say 'No' very sharply, provided the dog understands what that 'No' refers to. A 'No' that isn't understood is just a waste of time. Symbolic 'takedown' methods are only justified when dealing with dangerous behaviour from an older dog (clear aggression towards an animal or a human, for example).

I saw "Boxer" so I just had to stop by! :-) Don't worry at all about the growling when he plays. My little monster, who turns two this February, makes a terrifying noise when he's playing, but it’s completely normal. He’s not growling at you; he’s growling at his toy, which he treats like prey. However, regarding the barking, I think that might be down to your body language. I don't think a ten-week-old puppy can truly be aggressive unless they've been badly mistreated, and even then, they'd usually show submission rather than signs of aggression. When you're telling him off, make sure you stand up straight, because if you're leaning over him, he'll think you're inviting him to play. You might also want to try using a firmer tone of voice. As you said, he’s going to be a big dog, so I can only recommend heading to a local dog training club. Most of the advice you’ve had so far is good, except for that bit about grabbing him by the scruff and pinning him down. Plus, as it's your first dog—and as I always say—you've got to train the owner before you can train the dog! :-)

Right, he's still just a little puppy, but that kind of behaviour can turn into a bit of a superiority complex over time. A little trick to put him back in his place if he carries on: grab him by the scruff of the neck and pin his neck (and head) to the floor until he starts whimpering (those little noises). The dog will feel like he’s been bested by the alpha—which is you—because dogs don’t have families, they have packs, and the leader is the alpha. My girl was exactly the same; I did that two or three times in a week and she soon packed that behaviour in! 🙅

I didn't say give him a proper shaking, I said just a little bit, as in hardly at all. I'm convinced that training should start about 1 to 2 weeks after the puppy arrives so they can settle in; waiting doesn't help matters. The longer you wait, the more bad habits they pick up. You can see it with children—we turn them into spoilt brats, we don't say no to them and let them get away with everything, and then when they’re teenagers we wonder what to do!!! Puppies are exactly the same. I'm against hitting them or shouting, but I’m all for a bit of discipline from the start. It prevents disasters and stops them ending up in a rescue centre.

Denise: 2 and a half months old! Do you honestly think it’s reasonable to punish a baby that age? Nothing, absolutely nothing they do justifies disciplining a 10-week-old puppy!!!! And you must never shake a puppy (nor a human baby: shaken baby syndrome means brain damage, and that applies to the infants of every species; it’s a very serious risk, not a minor one).

I only half-agree with the vet’s opinion. I’ve always disciplined my dogs—and they were quite large breeds—by scruffing them and giving them a little shake while saying "no" in a firm voice. It didn't traumatise them and they always listened to me. Doing it once or twice is usually enough, but as for putting a puppy on its back at ten weeks old... I’m not so sure! What concerns me, though, is the barking when he’s being told off. Why are you telling him off? What has he done? When you say "he bites me", I’m sceptical. He’s probably just nipping you the way a puppy does when playing; if he were biting like an adult dog, that would be very serious, but I’m sure that’s not the case. So, he does something naughty—which probably isn't a big deal—you punish him, he barks and nips at you... basically, he wants to play but doesn't know how to express it and you aren't reading his signals. I think that’s the main issue. Usually, when a puppy gets into mischief, it’s because they haven't had enough stimulation. Play with her, and when you decide it’s time to stop—after at least 20 minutes—you must be the one to end the game. Don’t let her growl or nip; say "stop" or "no". You absolutely have to be the one in charge, but remember she’s only ten weeks old, so be patient and don't be too rough with her.

What kind of mischief is he getting up to? Is what he’s doing really so bad that you need to tell him off like that? Instead of shouting, losing your temper, or punishing him by pinning him on his back... try to keep your cool. A dog mirrors their owner; if you stay calm and confident, he’ll follow your lead much more easily than if you're rough with him... if he shreds some paper, just take it off him and offer him a toy instead... you can even test him by putting the paper in front of him. He’ll go to grab it, and at that exact moment, say "no", take it away (without shouting or scruffing him) and reward him with a toy. With enough repetition (it might take a little while), he’ll eventually realise that paper on the floor isn’t for chewing, but his toy is ^^