Dog Forum: My puppy is being mean

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Topic: My puppy is being mean

Erin
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posted June 10, 2004 11:27 AM

Hi everyone
I hear that biting is common for young puppies but still my 9 week old puppies behavior is making me nervous. She is very sweet until she wants to play. Then she gets very aggressive. She bites and growls and there is no stopping her. I know you're supposed to do the fake whine thing but it doesnt stop her and I have do push her away (quite forcefully) to stop her. I really love this puppy and I hope this is normal puppy behavior because I definitely wouldnt want to give her up. <She's a lab/german shepard mix. [Frown]

Posts: 2 | Registered: Jun 2004

snook
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posted June 10, 2004 12:12 PM

she needs to learn NO!
love,
shannon

Posts: 6 | From: florida | Registered: Jun 2004

DaxAriel's toy
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posted June 10, 2004 12:26 PM

Don't whine - yelp! Human version OW!! very loud. Don't push her away as that is still playing. Simply stand up after saying OW and turn your back to her and ignore for a few minutes. If she still continues - firmly say NO and put in SIN BIN. This can be any area like a laundry room,her crate, etc. Leave her in for 15 min. of so to CALM DOWN and then try again.

This not aggression but normal affectionate play. She will play like this most of her life (german shepard in her) but needs to control her bite now. My husband grabs the bottom jaw area and holds it & says no. Works too.

Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004

sgour
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posted June 10, 2004 12:58 PM

I agree with Dog Lover. I have two dogs who enjoy rough play, but when they were younger they had to learn their limits. I also used the method of grabbing the bottom jaw and telling them "NO". It is a good way to let them know you mean business.

The more you push her away, the more she will continue. In her mind you are playing her game. If you ignore her or "give her a time out" she will eventually learn when she has gone to far.

You will need to teach her the limits now, as I am sure she will be quite a large dog, and aggressive play at her future size could be hard for some to handle I'm sure. But I wouldn't worry that you have an aggressive puppy, just a girl who loves to play!

[ June 10, 2004, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: sgour ]

Posts: 51 | From: South Bend, IN | Registered: May 2004

sambucca/whiskey
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posted June 10, 2004 05:16 PM

does she snarl role her lip up?

Posts: 246 | Registered: May 2004

ellierat
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posted June 10, 2004 05:41 PM

Hi Erin, it is completely normal, at 9 weeks she would just have left her littermates, her behaviour is all that she knows, you are going to have to teach her otherwise.
Teaching and training is one of the joys of owning a puppy, you have to make her become the dog of your dreams, it won't happen on it's own.
I have always recommended the SIN BIN. It is a safe area, small, away from the family, and lonely. You put the pup in there for 5 mins. everytime they do something you don't like.
Play nipping: A harsh NO, picked up gruffly (not hurtfully), plonked in SIN BIN, no contact or sight of family for 5 mins. then let her out, same behaviour, same punishment.
It works wonders, will take a few days, but wait and see the results.

--------------------
I love my labs.

Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004

lou3
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posted June 10, 2004 06:04 PM

i agree with everyone else - shake her by her scruff (not too hard - its how her mother would control her) say NO very firmly and "sin bin" til she calms down. You have to be totally consistent though.
Lou

Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003

Conanthe Brabarian
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posted June 11, 2004 06:58 AM

Hi Erin! I struggeled with this too, and I have a Bull Mastiff! Anyway, I say consistancy is key. I ignore Conan when he nipps. And of course he gets the big bad "NO" but I think he really responds when we ignore him. He only wants to be with us, and make us happy, same as your baby. It's funny, but I swear, just when you think they won't ever get it, they do, it's almost like it happens overnight. When you r puppy nipps, try holding his bottom jaw, in the front with your thumb and forefinger, firmly, and give him a few big bad "No's" They dont like it, but it will help! Good luck, keep us posted!

Posts: 61 | From: St. Louis | Registered: Apr 2004

the_gunny
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posted June 11, 2004 07:13 AM

i agree with everything except using her crate as punishment. I would enforce a down-stay as enforces your leadership. but the crate should be her safe haven not her SIN BIN. This will cause crating problems. Such as hating the crate. Stay away from rough housing and tug of war games as these are dominace challenge games. Erin it sounds like you have good working dog on your hands.

--------------------
gunny-keeper of the malinois

try to train them,only to find they trained you

Posts: 10 | From: so. cal | Registered: May 2004

ellierat
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posted June 11, 2004 02:59 PM

Gunny I never suggested to use a crate, I was actually thinking of a laundry area with the door closed.

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I love my labs.

Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004

DaxAriel's toy
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posted June 11, 2004 03:56 PM

To: The_gunny, it was I who suggest using the crate as a time out (SIN BIN) area. This works for me as my dog doesn't sleep in it. It was used for house training - now she has a whole room with a doggy door to outside. That's why it works for me - not saying that anyone else's situation is this same.

Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004

Erin
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posted June 12, 2004 03:50 PM

Thanks everyone. I will definitely try this. Also we just gave her her first bath. i was wondering is it ok to use a hair dryer to dry her on a low warm setting?

Posts: 2 | Registered: Jun 2004

ellierat
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posted June 12, 2004 03:59 PM

Perfectly ok Erin, just don't hold it too close, or it will frizz the fur.

--------------------
I love my labs.

Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004

MadnessBunny
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posted June 13, 2004 01:30 AM

First of all I agree with doglover.
But in addition to the SIN BIN, you should try to teach her certain hours that in which you play with her. Only you decide when you play with her, she dosen't. ussualy try to make the playing periods hours that are easy to identify by looking at the sun. that means: Early morning, Late Afternoon, and whichever hour you choose after the sun goes down completly. that might help solve this common problem.

Also, I would suggest taking it easy. its quite common for puppies to be crazy. just be cool with it and dont get too frustrated and annoyed with it, cause the dog senses your aggrivation and uses it for her own private sake. Yes, Yes, dogs can manipulate people too! [Smile]

[ June 13, 2004, 01:34 AM: Message edited by: MadnessBunny ]

Posts: 50 | From: Somewhere over the rainbow | Registered: Jun 2004

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