Puppy Biting

[Derf]

My new little Chesapeake puppy is always trying to bite everything and everyone, especially my kids. I know it's just how puppies are, but how do I train her to stop? I've heard of using an empty can with marbles inside to shake and make loud noises, I've heard of shaking keys, but does that stuff really work.


Derf

[Dax]

What that does it break their attention and get it back on you so you can give them the correction. There are lots of things that work: time outs in sin bins, mommy scruff shakes, grabbing the lower jaw firmly & holding. The rule of thumb is to find something you can do consistently, humanely and appropriate to the dogs action to make the training stick. Some breeds have a need to touch you with thier mouths - but should not be biting.

How old is the puppy - when they are very young the scruff shake (like a mommy dog would do) works well - as they get older withholding time with you is usually enough. Try one thing at a time - give 2+ weeks to see if it makes a difference.

It's also time to puppy proof your kids (check out this site for more info http://www.doggonesafe.com )
- no running screaming etc around the pup that will only excite the chase instinct which will result in more nipping & biting.
- keep hands and arms close to the body and pet dog on his back not head
- play tug of war with clothing like socks, pants, etc. make sure it's never acceptable so it won't matter if this time there's a foot in it or not.
- have kids feed one meal a day, make dog sit for it before they put it down (this helps establish their dominance)
- teach you children common commands like sit, down, off, etc and work with both the kiddies and dog(s) to make sure the dog obeys them.

Hope I've given you some helpful tips - good luck and take heart because it will take some time.

[Moo]

Wait, is it mouthing, or actually biting?

If he's mouthing, he should always been given the same toy to mouth instead. Too many toys is confusing, start with just one or two.

If mine ever nipped, I would yell "OUCH!", lean over him and hold his muzzle tight for a moment then stand up and walk away. He's now an expert at being regretful.

Actual biting is usually a dominance issue. Depending on the dog, I would lean over and growl at him, send him to a room, shake my chains and throw them on the ground near him.

[Meisti]

I'd say that most dogs will "bite" as part of their puppy play - and that involves anything that comes in handy (literally). Since it is part of growing up for a dog (or any predator) to learn to bite, I taught my dog to never use any force when closing his mouth anywhere near my hand. I would actually make sure that my hand got close to his mouth or even inside and whenever he close his mouth I would give him a firm "NO!" After a while we could play wildly with ropes or any pulltoy but as soon as my skin touched his mouth he would excert zero force. The trick was to be consistent and never let my guard down until he understood that skin was a taboo. Even in the roughest play, he would not (and still will not) close his mouth onto my skin - not even accidentally!!!

[JennyG3479]

I was really worried because of the aggression factor in my dog. She seemed to grow out of it. I did the holding her mouth everytime she when to "mouth" My boyfriend on the other hand thought it was cute and we could tell She didn't do it to me but she would do it to him but she's calmed down Sooo much in the past month. She 5 months now.

[AlphaMale]

Am I wrong because my puppy like to get my hand inside his mouth and I can see that he is carefull not to hurt, but he slightly apply pressure which I do not mind. Is it going to develop into bad habit? I think it is just playing and it does not bother me.

[Moo]

Alpha, if I were you, I would correct the behavior... Mouthing people in general isn't really 'good manners' so to speak. I allow licks when I ask for them, and that's all. If he tries to mouth you (mine used to suck on my socks), withdraw and give him a toy. Same if he tries to chew on an inappropriate object. Simple enough, but I'm not sure if Derf is dealing with mouthing, nipping or aggressive biting.

[BabyElephant]

I agree with Moo - you should correct the behaviour. Poppy used to mouth and nip but I used to correct her straight away - something my other half never did. I kept telling him to correct her but he said "she's only playing, she's only a puppy". She stopped doing it to me but carried on with him until one day he wasn't watching while she was sitting on his knee and she nipped at his throat - it didn't draw blood but really hurt him. It wasn't her fault because he'd allowed her to do it so she thought it was acceptable behaviour with him. Since that incident he started correcting her and she doesn't do it anymore.

[erdog3]

Good advise BabyElephant and an experience well learned by your partner.
While a dog thinks it's acceptable to do it under some circumstances, chances are THEY WILL!! Sometimes they will do it not to you, but to a stranger, a child.
This leads to all sorts of problems. Also confusing the dog.
Whatever you don't want them to do, you teach them as a puppy. Do not allow things to go because others thinks oh, that's cute, or he's only playing.
Everyone has to be consistant. Playing mouthing games and tug'o'war games is asking for trouble.

[BabyElephant]

That's the thing, I told him that we both had to be consistent, but he wouldn't listen, he knew best, he'd had dogs, she's only a puppy... well it served him <swear word> right when it happened. That was my concern as well, she might do it to a male stranger thinking he would tolerate it the same as her "daddy". Well, my partner listens to me now though, and we are both signing from the same hymn sheet - if you know what I mean.

As Ellierat said you need to be consistent and everybody in your family needs to be consistent. That way your puppy will know what is right and what is wrong.