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Topic: Help! 7 week old puppy is biting everything!
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skandel
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posted July 04, 2004 11:28 AM
We picked up our Boston Terrier 2 days ago from a breeder. He's been doing a great job of getting housebroken, EXCEPT, sometimes when he plays with my husband or I, he bites us. He bit my husbands cheek and my breast yesterday (yes, he's a male). When that happens we tell him no and put him in the kitchen, close the pet gate and wait for 10 seconds to resume contact. Is that the right thing to do? What else should we be doing? He has plenty of chew toys and nylabone that he loves.
Posts: 5 | From: NJ | Registered: Jun 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted July 04, 2004 01:02 PM
You could extend the time a bit more - 10 seconds isn't a long time even for a puppy.
My dog had the same problem - not knowing the difference that faces are special. I ended up teaching her to give kisses. This made her slow down and showed what I considered appropriate touching of my face.
I use the command often when I want her to "get a hold of herself". My dog is an 85lb rotti so teaching her this took some guts as my face was on the line. She picked it up pretty quick.
However I think the the time out you're doing will work fine.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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koni
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posted July 04, 2004 01:38 PM
I have this problem too, but my puppy is almost 4 months old and he mainly bites toes/feet and sometimes hands. We tried tmie outs before, but that didnt seem to work much. Any ideas?
I know I need to take him to an obedience class, but it is not convienient right now.
Posts: 22 | From: Ca | Registered: Jun 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted July 04, 2004 01:45 PM
When time out fails - it is time to play mommy. Grab dog by collar and shake them from side to side a couple times while saying NO.
The front paws should move a little but the back paws should stay firmly on ground. Then leave them to sit & think about it of a minute or two. Then go back. Offer them your hand to nip at... if they lick or ignore - tell them GOOD DOG. Make big fuss & give hug. When they are playing nice be sure to tell them what a good dog - give alternatives to showing you affection. When walking put leash on them so they can't nip at your pants. Use leash to do the shake & re-enforce with low & long NO (Do you know what I mean by low & long?)
Never use your hands as a toy - ie tapping paws, etc. Be sure that they know the word GENTLE. This is useful if they are taking treats from your hand & you value your fingers.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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ellierat
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posted July 04, 2004 04:37 PM
You can also approach them with a closed fist, they often will not try to nip, it is your fingers they like to play with, when you are close enough, then pat. If they turn their head to nip again, just close your fist again.
Time out needs to be at least 10 mins.
You must do time out for every nip, of any kind, this could be consectuively over a few hours, don't worry, keep at it, when you put in time out as Doglover says, don't be nice about it, you are trying to make a point, YELL, NO!! pick puppy up gruffly (not to hurt) just to shock a bit, plonk in time out area.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Elite
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posted July 04, 2004 05:26 PM
I have the same problem with my puppy...she's 7 months old and STILL doing it. She's never chewed on anything but people, and it's HORRIBLE. I can barely even touch my own puppy! And I have anger management problems, so it's even worse. Our problem here is I kind of didn't teach her that I am alpha, so now she thinks I'm just her playmate and she can play with me just like with other dogs, and it HURTS. Even time out and anything I try won't work...if I so much try to touch her she nibbles on me. My mom never, ever get's bitten, because she's not the dog's playmate (she's actually Molly's owner...I almost always feel Mols more loved than we are). If I try tograb her collar, or punish her, I can't get to anything cause she won't let my hands go anywhere without getting nibbled. She's in training clases and everything, and doesn't do this to anyone else, except 2 year olds (but she's even stopping with them). It's absoloutly horrible ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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~*Elite*~
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'"
--Dave Barry
Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted July 04, 2004 05:54 PM
Go to the pet store and get apple bitter - put it all over your hands right before you go to touch the dog. This stuff is awlful.
If she likes it (there's weirdo dogs that do) go for chili powder and/or cayanne pepper. Find something so offensive to her that she has to debate if it's worth it to nip you. Continue with firm NO's whenever she does it and say NO like it you mean it. DEEP LOW GROWL NO OH OH OH. Not louder but lower. Think of it as saying NO as a threat.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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Elite
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posted July 04, 2004 10:54 PM
I'll try that, thanks!
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~*Elite*~
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'"
--Dave Barry
Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004
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koni
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posted July 05, 2004 08:08 AM
I have tried bitter end(a natural version of bitter apple - o it wont stain surfaces) but my puppy ended up licking the spots i sprayed. I also tried cayenne peper but he licked that all up to. Any other suggestions?
Posts: 22 | From: Ca | Registered: Jun 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted July 05, 2004 11:40 AM
So your dog’s retarded- JUST KIDDING. It looks like training & time will be the only thing that will work then. It might take several months before they are fully able to control themselves.
“ Biting feet/toes” – prevention is the best cure. Buy & wear slippers. I’m sure if you keep at it he will eventually learn but at 4 months the temptation is TOO great.
Hands – never use your hands as a toy. If he/she tries to nip – grasp firmly around the muzzle (ALWAYS from the top down) – apply a little pressure & say NO like a threat. Do not laugh – giggle or make any happy sounds. Say BAD DOG and put in sin bin for at least 15 minutes. Take him out and give chew toy. If they chew the toy vs you – Say GOOD DOG and pet. Make sure you have lots of “acceptable” chew items. Carry one with you. It’s better to show him the right alternatives vs says NO NO NO NO NO all the time. I used a stuff bear ($2.) and when ever she wanted my hand – I simply substitute the toy and say good dog.
When she attacked my pants – I used the leash to hold her away from me while I told her bad dog. When I walk her I want her to look at my hands or face not my legs. I do this by having treats or a toy that she wants. This will be helpful in heel training too.
Always make sure they have a collar on. Use if to control dog (the mommy shake) or simply to pull him away.
Have a spray bottle with water ready and blast him in the face as another option for punishment. You will have to experiment and find out what he really doesn’t like (obviously he’s not opposed to bad taste). You could try vinegar, lemon/lime juice, perfume, things that he might not like the taste of, but in the end training will always be a better option (in case you forgot the Channell BOW WOW)
Teach her/him that if your hand is in their mouth – giving food – cleaning teeth and it’s ok as long as they don’t bite (I use GENTLE & still have all my fingers) They must accept this as you’ll want to remove objects – check teeth etc.
Be creative!! You know your dog best. Just be a book or another owner’s technique worked for them – doesn’t mean your pup will react the same.
And give it time – at 4 months they will make mistakes but if it is working there should be less incidents every week.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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H2-One
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posted July 06, 2004 04:19 AM
My trainer told me that if my Lab (now 6) was to start nipping to scream like a little girl.
When dogs are rough housing for fun, and one of them hurts the other by accident, they yelp in that high pitched noise. You pretty near have to do the same. Yes my manly man hubby did it.
The other thing I did was grab hold of his snout..look him straight in the eyes (never looking away) and say firmly NO!! When he/she looks away...shake his snout gently and repeat the word..NO!!
This not only worked for my lab..but my new 7mth old cocker as well.
I also purposely put my hand in their mouths..so they get use to you playing with the insides of their mouths. (brushing teeth, giving meds.)If they start getting nippy while your doing that..I say "be nice". Never been bit by either one of them.
Best of luck to you!
H21
Posts: 8 | Registered: May 2004
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koni
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posted July 08, 2004 08:46 PM
The "yelp" noise never worked for me. Neither does shaking him a little. Even when I pull him back with his collar, to get him to stop biting my shoes, afterwards he will get worst and start biting/attacking both of my shoes.
Holding his mouth shut worked a few times, but its hard. gosh this gets frusterating, and I know it is going to take a long time. Other than that, my puppy is really good. He learns new tricks/commands fast, too bad he hasnt learned no to bite fast enough.
Posts: 22 | From: Ca | Registered: Jun 2004
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ellierat
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posted July 08, 2004 10:43 PM
Koni, get a newspaper, roll it tight, cover with tape, when he comes near your feet, YELL NO!!! give the newspaper a good wack on the table or any hard surface, turn away from your dog, tell him to GO AWAY, really grumpily, nasty like. Don't look at him, walk away, saying NO, NAUGHTY BOY.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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