Biting

[GretaJack]

I have been working on Tanner's biting for the last three weeks and I have made no improvement. He bites for a couple of reasons. The first is when he is in a needy mood. If he wants attention and I am not giving him enough he takes my hand in his mouth. This usually happens if I am petting Greta or Jack. Now, he does not bite hard by any means. But I do not accept this behavior. It also happened when I was trying to trim his nails. He didn't want me holding onto his feet so he once again put his mouth around what fingers he could. He gets a loud and angry "no bite", as I put my hands around his muzzle.

Now Tanner is a very mouthy dog, because he IS a lab. He always has something in his mouth whether it is a tennis ball or a bone. He has even fallen asleep with a ball in his mouth. The first thing he does in the morning is finds a ball and will carry it around.

Now with Tanner being two, he is well past biting for fun. He does know better. I have tried to redirect his focus on to something else, but that does not help being that what he really wants is attention from me, not to play. And he will continue to do this. He does it once, he gets disciplined, but then will come back and do it again and again not learning that I do not accept this behavior. But in a way he is winning, he is still getting attention from me, even if it is negative.

Any suggestions?

[Dax]

Since Tanner has separation issues, you might want to use it to your advantage. Set up a sin bin or sin room and banish him from you right away for at least 15 min. He should figure it out very quickly.

[weimlover0816]

Does he really know it's wrong, GretaJack? Because he wasn't properly cared for, was he properly trained?? I would start as if he were a puppy, telling "No", redirecting, etc. (all the things you are doing). Also, (thanks to dobermom) I have found the spray bottle with water to be my new best friend. Tell "NO" and then a quick spritz to the face, and he'll get the hint.

Or, when he starts being mouthy, instead of giving him something to play with, ignore him for a few seconds, then tell him "sit" and then lavish him with attention. He will soon realize that he gets the attention for sitting and not for biting.

Good Luck!!

[yoda's mom]

I might also try something just before a time that you know he's going to attempt this behaviour... 'wash' your hand in something like Bitter Apple Just remember not to put your hand in your own mouth

[happy]

Quincy was rescued at the age of either 1 or 1 1/2. He had no training and I don't think he was ever taught not to bite. For the first couple of months we had him, I had to carry the Bitter Apple with me everywhere. We had to take it one step further and give him a small squirt, but he was NOT biting gently, he would break the skin. He still tries to get away with it occasionally, we just show him the Bitter Apple now and he stops and lays down.

[dobermom]

Weim, I'm glad the spray bottle is working for you. We can share its friendship!

GretaJack, Meka is very mouthy and nippy also. I have been just stopping all activity when she starts, and telling her NO. Problem is far from solved, but I think its getting a bit better. It may be time to try the spray bottle.

[lou3]

the bitter apple sounds good to me.

[Trace]

I would give a stern No and turn your back on him.


You have a tough job ahead of you - but I am sure that all your hard work (and love) will pay off.

[Lessica Jake]

Bailey gets a muzzle put on when she starts getting mouthy/snippy. 5 minutes with that thing does wonders. She rarely tries it anymore. We tried the sin bin thing for a long time, worked for the moment, but I don't think she actually figured out the connection.
Now, I hold her mouth closed until I get the muzzle out and then straight on. (There are advantages to having a very small house.)

[baileytheboxer]

where do u find this bitter apple you talk of.