New Puppy Problems

Get Shaping Success by Susan Garrett. Teach him to VALUE what you ask of him, and that doing what you ask EARNS cookies. This book will also teach you to build toy drive in him. Yes, some of the book deals with agility, but it is a good book with lots of help.
I doubt he's dumb. He, for whatever reason, does not value what he is being asked. Clearly he can learn though if he will sit for a treat.
Keep getting him out and socializing him.
I would reward any positive behavior he shows toward you to build his interest in being affectionate. Get yourself a clicker and some treats. Teach him what it means.. click treat, click treat, so he learns good things come when you click.
It is harder sometimes to start with an older puppy. Things aren't always done early on with them the same way we'd do them if we had them from the get go.
Is it possible to get a hanging shoe rack? Keep your shoes up high where he can't get them.
 
Thanks for the encouragement guys. He's also quite terrified of cars but he's slowly getting better, he doesn't vomit in the car anymore at least. I want to get him into some classes but my parents aren't willing to put down the money, believing they can "fix him themselves," but all they do is cradle him like a baby and feed him table scraps (apparently they think fat dogs are cuter :no:) Also, does any one have any good mental stimulation techniques for shelties? He doesn't really like his kong but I've put treats in boxes and he's figuring out ways to get it out. I don't like to buy toys because he loses interest in them quickly compared to the box games I've given him, some homemade, safe, easily changeable games would be nice.
 
My dogs have to work for their food - and they love it! It also means it takes longer for them to eat a meal and they are stimulated as well.


They have treat bottles (just water bottles with holes cut in them they can push around to get the kibble out). I would recommend something like this to do while you are eating - then he is occupied and less likely to beg for table scraps.

I also hide their breakfast around the house so they can search for it. I call it the puppy treasure hunt and its their fave game. They used to carry on no end when I left the house (esp for work), now they cant wait for me to leave so they can get a treasure hunt.

I also play a game where I get out 3 cups and put a piece of kibble under a cup and they have to work out which cup the kibble is under. Something else we do is I hide a small piece of dried lamb or liver (something smelly) and they have to go look for it - similar to the treasure hunt, but there is less food to look for so they realy have to use their nose. Someone here recommended this to me - its a good winter game.
 
Thank you! I really like the waterbottle idea. One last thing that bothers me.

Every time we try to pet, hold or play with him, he gets very excited and nips and bites everything while wagging his tail. We tried yelping and then ignoring him but he doesn't really seem to care, he just continues to do it at our feet. It's strange because he wasn't removed from the litter early, he was removed rather late (5 months) It's gotten to a point that I'm scared to play with him in case he really decides to bite. How do I get him to stop?
 
Its not unusual for a sheltie to revert to nipping behaviour when they are excited - its instinctive behaviour. Try redirecting his mouth onto something else. With Deska I can't move fast without him wanting to nip - so I always have something on hand to redirect his mouth, like a stick when we are walking or a squeaky toy when we are home. Nowadays he looks for the stick or toy himself to redirect his mouth. Also, as mentioned in another post, your pups teeth are still settling in so he will be a bit mouthy anyway, that will settle.

Thats great he is getting that excited playing with you, he has obviously settled in well.
 
Redirecting to a toy is a good way to stop the playbiting. I also like the "time-out" method, where the instant the puppy bites, you just get up and walk away. Basically, stop playing, and move away from the puppy (get out of the playpen or go to a different room, without talking to it or making eye contact. Stay away from the pup for about a minute or 2, then return and resume play with the puppy. If it bites again, off you go! The puppy will quickly learn that if it wants to continue playing with you or having your attention, it should not use it's teeth on you!

Frozen toys also help soothe teething pups. A wet twisted rag left in the freezer makes a good chew toy. The cold numbs the gums and eases any discomfort.

Toilet paper rolls make a good alternative to boxes. Just fold the sides in.

Wanted to add, you can also make something similar to this Nina Ottosson "toy". It's basically several pieces of cloth or felt in different sizes stacked one on top of the other (with the largest piece below and the smallest piece on top like a pyramid), and joined together by some stitching right in the middle. You can hide pieces of treats amongst the flaps for your pup to find. (See http://www.nina-ottosson.com/DogTreatTrapper1.htm)
 
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