Help PLEASE Puppy Attitude / Biting is he aggressive or “Normal!”

kitty33_2

We were told to keep the tone of our voice down and just repeat ow ow ow, as if your not bothered (if that makes sense) He soon got the message that it wasnt an exciting game or that it would attract any attention. I was surprised how quickly it worked.
I just wish i could stop him licking everything.

Raksha

sarabe wrote: »

Just tie some string or rope to your tug toy. I have yet to find a tug toy that is long enough for my hound and I'm in the trade.





If you have a long enough tug toy he won't bite you.

Yes, the toy should be big enough so there's room for both of you, but it takes some practise to manage the playtime so he NEVER touches you with his teeth. If he does, then the game stops (you can go a bit dramatic here and pretend to be hurt more than you are) for a few minutes go about your normal business, then offer to play with him again (so long as he's behaved himself and isn't throwing an attention seeking strop)

msflowerfairy

Do what i did, and fill an empty cola bottle with some dired chickpeas. Everytime he bites you or your mum, bang it on the floor so that it rattles lodly. The noise is a good distraction technique, and he will soon associate his biting with the loud noise.

Another thing i did was buy a large plastic box and fill it will old shoes, teddies, socks tied into a ball, along with "proper doggie toys"
My Puppy knew that this was where his toys belonged, and he had so many to choose from, he wasn't interested in other non doggie items.

When puppy is being a bit generous with his teeth, bring his toy box out, and again use it as a distraction technique, he will love sitting in the box, and trying to find his favorite toy, i taught my 2 Border Collies to put their toys back on command.

Distraction techniques are fab tools for doggies LOL!

Welshwoofs

I had this problem with my Mastiff when he was a little 'un (that state didn't last long!) and had to get it sorted quickly because even when a pup he could do some damage with his teeth.

I was told the methods you were told about by your trainer OP and none of them worked. What worked for me was whipping round and snarling at him really loudly so he could see my teeth. Sounds odd I know, but if a puppy gets too boistrous with mummy dog she'll snarl or even give a little nip to put them in their place. I did that a few times - he'd cower back and tuck his tail between his legs, then I'd pick up a tug toy, offer him that instead and praise him when he played with it. Never had a biting issue and in fact I can put my hand right in his mouth and he'll do nothing.

catlou

UPDATE........

Thanks for the other suggestions guys, devotee he does "kiss":o me on command but this doesn't really work to distract him when he is in a biting zone.

I have bought a couple of tug type toys (being an MSE'r! got one of them from poundland a really long thick rope type with a plastic handle which is excellent).

Anyway I have been playing tug with him with the new toys and he has been fine and has not bit me at all - which is great..............but............sorry to be thick!! How is this going to teach him anything if he doesn't bite me so I can correct him IYKNWIM?

He has also been still jumping up and biting - I didn't explain before but he is not "mouthing" he is biting me really hard when he does bite.

I haven't tried the snarling yet will have to have a practice in the mirror first!! :rotfl:

supermezzo

Do you have time to devote to a suggestion? I ask because it is a short sharp shock rather than long term project.
Put his lead on and stay in one room with him and let him wander round with it on. He'll play with it and chew it, try to free himself etc - ignore that, but when he jumps up, pull the lead before he bites you and then walk away from him saying nothing. What he will associate is his jumping and biting with the sudden return to terra firma of his paws. This will momentarily bewilder him, and then he'll realise that you've gone. It takes a full amount of concentrated time to do it (say 2 or 3 hours) rather than the constant rewarding of good behaviour, but it does work.
And to reassure people, I do not mean to 'yank' the dog or to harm him in anyway but I had to use this as a last resort with one of ours and within the space of the supervisor visit (she suggested and demonstrated it) the problem had stopped. If you're worried about causing a fear of the lead, one of the pieces of rope you have bought can be tied to the collar and used instead of the lead proper.
Like I say, a last resort but it does work but continue with the rewards for good behaviour.

sarabe

catlou wrote: »

UPDATE........

Thanks for the other suggestions guys, devotee he does "kiss":o me on command but this doesn't really work to distract him when he is in a biting zone.

I have bought a couple of tug type toys (being an MSE'r! got one of them from poundland a really long thick rope type with a plastic handle which is excellent).

Anyway I have been playing tug with him with the new toys and he has been fine and has not bit me at all - which is great..............but............sorry to be thick!! How is this going to teach him anything if he doesn't bite me so I can correct him IYKNWIM?

He has also been still jumping up and biting - I didn't explain before but he is not "mouthing" he is biting me really hard when he does bite.

I haven't tried the snarling yet will have to have a practice in the mirror first!! :rotfl:

You don't need to correct him for going wrong. You need to show him how to get it right.

By playing tug with him you are giving him an outlet for his desire to use his mouth. Dogs need to bite. You are teaching him how to, when, what and where.

The more opportunities you give him to do it correctly the less he'll get it wrong.

I wouldn't snarl at your dog. It is a very threatening thing to do to him. He may feel the need to defend himself.

When is he jumping up and biting you? Is it in any particular circumstance or just randomly?

supermezzo

Is he jumping at your mouth by any chance? Or aiming for that at least...

catlou

Thanks again for your replies.:T

I think I will have to persevere with playing tug as much as possible, although he does have other toys that he bites/chews a lot too.

He generally jumps up and/or bites when he can't have his own way sort of thing being trying to think of an example to give not sure if this is the best one but can't think of another one mind blank at the mo! - sometimes he will jump on the sofa (which he is not allowed to) so I give him the "off" command he either comes down and then jumps up snarling and biting me or won't come off it and runs from side to side on the sofa trying to bite me if I go towards him so I then give him a gentle shove off and he then will jump up and bite me too.

It's sounds stupid but it's like as if he does it worst when he knows I'm annoyed with him so in the past when I have tried to tell him off or just ignore his actions when he is biting that seems to be when he won't leave it and keeps at it biting me hard because I have tried to stop him/ignore him - if that makes sense?!?!

Supermezzo he doesn't seem to be going for my mouth!! :eek: I don't think I will try your other suggestion yet but I will definitely bear it in mind - thanks.

sarabe

catlou wrote: »

Thanks again for your replies.:T

I think I will have to persevere with playing tug as much as possible, although he does have other toys that he bites/chews a lot too.

He generally jumps up and/or bites when he can't have his own way sort of thing being trying to think of an example to give not sure if this is the best one but can't think of another one mind blank at the mo! - sometimes he will jump on the sofa (which he is not allowed to) so I give him the "off" command he either comes down and then jumps up snarling and biting me or won't come off it and runs from side to side on the sofa trying to bite me if I go towards him so I then give him a gentle shove off and he then will jump up and bite me too.

It's sounds stupid but it's like as if he does it worst when he knows I'm annoyed with him so in the past when I have tried to tell him off or just ignore his actions when he is biting that seems to be when he won't leave it and keeps at it biting me hard because I have tried to stop him/ignore him - if that makes sense?!?!

Supermezzo he doesn't seem to be going for my mouth!! :eek: I don't think I will try your other suggestion yet but I will definitely bear it in mind - thanks.

I think that what you have is a confused dog and perhaps a bit of frustration into the bargain.

You say he is not allowed on the sofa yet he still gets up there. He gets told off but he also gets a good game.

Every time your dog does something that you don't want him to do he learns not that you don't want him to do it but that it is a great way to get some attention.

Ideally you need to reinforce the behaviours that you do want and try not to allow the ones that you don't.

For example my dogs are only allowed on the sofas when the throws are on them so when the throws are not on them the lounge door is closed and the dogs do not have access. That way they can never go wrong - well not usually. If I was to leave the door open as I did the other day and one of them (the one with white hair of course!!) made himself comfortable rather than have a confrontation I just went to the kitchen and opened the treat jar and hey presto there he was behind me.

So whilst he is eating his treat I'm de-hairing the sofa with the door shut.

If I had to spend lots of time telling my dogs what they mustn't do then I'd have no time left for having fun with them and it would be chaos here.

Manage the environment and make it very, very easy for him to get it right and very, very difficult for him to go wrong.;)