[Closed] How to stop a puppy biting? (incl photo)

I'd give her a belt round the chops, stare and say NO.

This may not be the correct technique.

This thread is going to run and run.... there must be better websites than STW for asking this question though?

I don't own a dog so this is not really first hand advice but my parents have used a water mister as a training device. Have a water mister to hand; when she bites you spray her with a little mist??

I am afraid I have to agree with Brant, though she is so cute I would probably cry afterwards

Whenever she starts to chew you - shove a teething ring in her mouth.

If she starts chewing drawer knobs, whip them down with antisceptic.

You may also want to run away - that dog has got the devil in it's eyes!! 😈

Looks like a Kelpie to me.

We always used to give our lab a tap across the top of the snout when they did something wrong. I recall my parents telling me that it wasn't painful and that the sound was irritating to them. It did make quite a hollow knocking sound but god knows if there was any truth in it. They were probably just placating me.

I cant offer any proper advice on this, sometimes our Westie ambushes us on our drive, hangs onto the bottom of jeans etc growling like mad. I find it funny (even though he ripped some suit trousers once) and still do 4yrs on...

From memory- as soon as he bites even gently ('mouths') abruptly pull your hand out and turn your back on him. Keep your back on him even when he tries to walk round you.

Second- he does look like a Kelpie!

there must be better websites than STW for asking this question though?

Doesn't that apply to any question that has ever been asked on STW?

If she's biting you, you need to asert your dominance. This is usually done by forcing them down, belly exposed, and holding them in this submissive state until they relax. Repeat until they know their place in the pack, she's not being cute she's finding out where the boundaries are.

Yup just administer a sharp whack just hard enough for it to hurt momentarily - its mother would nip it for the same reason

Thanks for mentioning the Kelpie! You are so right! We met the dad and he is pure breed Vizsla but only saw a photo of her mum and the mum looks proabably 85% like a Kelpie. They had no idea of her heritage since she was abandoned as small puppy before they adopted her.

So far the biting is the only problem with her, in all other ways she is perfect! I'll try some of the methods mentioned and see if it helps.

[i]Yup just administer a sharp whack just hard enough for it to hurt momentarily - its mother would nip it for the same reason[/i]

[b]You'll instill violence in a very impressionable dog at an early age[/b]. Same goes for the Lab. It will respect adults/humans but I doubt they would have the same respect for babies/toddlers/other dogs as they will learn to see dominance & hierachy linked with violence/aggression.

I wonder if Caeser Milan hits his dogs?

In the wild they would learn their bite inhibition from their siblings - play time involves biting, if one goes to far the other will yelp and play will momentarily stop. No-one wants play to stop so they soon learn what is too much so the game keeps on going.

You are the play mate now, if she goes too far then yelp and stop playing/ignore her/turn away for a few seconds then turn round and start again. It'll take a few days for her to work it out but she will.

All puppies go through this stage. when our Elmo was young my hands and arms made me look like I was into self harm in a big way and my wife was wearing 2 pairs of trousers for a couple of weeks she was convinced we'd got some kind of devil dog. He's good as gold now.

She's a nice looking dog!!

cute pup. dunno how much help it will be, because we worked on ours from the word go, and every time the teeth came out the play stopped. this has done the trick for us.
maybe try it like that, and if he won't leave you alone ( as having another go has probably worked for him in the past ) try leaving the room and closing the door behind you, and leave him alone for a few minutes. when you come back in, don't make a fuss of him for a minute or two. just ignore him.
basically you need to make the connection that teeth = no more fun, and you need to be consistent - so everyone who is involved with the dog needs to respond exactly the same way. no exceptions!

I would say a quick sharp hit on the top of the nose with your knuckle. Dogs hate it and our dog doesn't nip any more.

[IMG] [/IMG]

good luck

dogs chew to ease anxiety and to relax, so make sure there are plenty of toys for your dog to chew. you need to teach the dog "off" and reward it with treats for not chewing you . if the dog bites you , you should tell it off but never hit it. if it keeps biting you should nip the dog with your hand to simulate a bite to let it know who is boss.

we recently took on a 6 month old rescue dog that is very nervy and tried to bite and chew whenever it was anxious, but with a few one on one obedience classes with a local dog trainer he has improved amazingly.money well spent

Get yourself enrolled at puppy training lessons.

[i]Get yourself enrolled at puppy training lessons.[/i]

Agree. Don't hit your dog (especially if you have or are considering children in the future).

Don't hit the dog there is no reason and you run the risk of her becoming violent.

It is worth turning her over on her back every now and then and holding her there for a few seconds - this will be enough to show her you are the boss - dominent dogs will often stand over other dogs and hold them there. Also show you are pack leader by feeding after you and making sure you control the toys and win the majority of tug games.

Read the Perfect Puppy book it is very good and short to read.

Agree with what everyone has said about ignoring the dog, yelping yourself and going to puppy classes. In addition this is a phase that puppies will grow out of as long as you are consistent with the thiongs above (this applies to all training by the way - consistency is the most important thing. No exceptions for being cute!)

Hitting can work, BUT you then have to teach and supervise your children with this method. Instilling violence in young humans is probably worse than hitting the dog. Lessons and a course of Cesar Milan is preferable.
Lovely dog, hopefully she won't have the epilepsy genes that Viszla dogs are susceptible to.

You are the play mate now, if she goes too far then yelp and stop playing/ignore her/turn away for a few seconds then turn round and start again. It'll take a few days for her to work it out but she will.

You'll feel daft doing it, but it worked a treat with our Ali who got a bit 'mouthy' when he was excited. Do your best impression of a dog yelping, pull your hand away, and turn away from the dog. She'll soon realise play ends if she goes too far.

Nice looking pup.

Got a Spanish Water Dog two years ago and the lady who we got her off was a dog trainer and she swore by the 'click and treat' method and I've definitely had good success with it (plenty of web sites if you're interested) .......but never used it for nipping as the treat was used to praise, something you dont want to do with nipping/biting.

What we were told to do was that if she ever nipped too hard just act like another dog would (no, dont bite back although it might work!!?)and let out a large yelp demonstrating that the nip hurt, turn your head without turning your back on your dog and fold your arms (turning head and folding arms also works a treat to prevent jumping up at you). Its all about getting in to the dogs mind apparently........she was a bit of a mad woman we got our dog off but her life was dedicated to dogs and she knew what she was talking about!! Everything she told us to do has worked, admitedly not always first time but always after a bit of perseverance.

Remember.......yelp loudly as if in pain, fold your arms and turn your head as if you are ignoring your dog. Sounds crazy but it really works!!

[i]Don't hit the dog there is no reason and you run the risk of her becoming violent.

It is worth turning her over on her back every now and then and holding her there for a few seconds - this will be enough to show her you are the boss - dominent dogs will often stand over other dogs and hold them there. Also show you are pack leader by feeding after you and making sure you control the toys and win the majority of tug games.[/i]

Spot on.

every time it bites you, just bite it harder. It will learn

Last post- little toddler hits you, you hit it back harder. What do you think will be reinforced/happen later?

Little toddler hits you, you react by holding firmly/turn your back/educate etc. What do you think will happen later?

Yelp as if in pain, fold arms and turn head to look away from dog...... ..........might take a couple of times and you feel an idiot doing it but it really does work.

Last post- little toddler hits you, you hit it back harder. What do you think will be reinforced/happen later?

It's a toddler, not a dog. Dogs are different.

Dogs are different.

But can just as easily be trained without thumping them.

This question has been asked before, and there was some pretty damn good advice...

Don't hit the dog, as said, it could turn violent later on. You could scream (don't shout/verbally abuse the puppy), as if it hurt you, all the puppy/dog wants to do you is please you. There's some other good advice here too, dominancy, click n treat, etc..

As said above, enlist in puppy training, the earlier the better.

Whatever you do, do not ignore it, it will get worse.. Or she may stop doing it to you, then start on a toddler, which could result in your dog being put to sleep.

brant - Member

Last post- little toddler hits you, you hit it back harder. What do you think will be reinforced/happen later?

It's a toddler, not a dog. Dogs are different.

Depends if the toddler wielding a machete I suppose. 🙂

It'll last till shes around twenty weeks old.
Get to some puppy training classes asap and don't listen to most of the muppets on here.
Gorgeous dog btw

[i]Depends if the toddler wielding a machete I suppose[/i]

Hmmmm different conudrum. I see a film needs to be made along the lines of Crouching kittens hidden squeaky toys.

havent had a dog for years but have been to the park with my mates pup recently and she was at the biting stage. i found that letting her bite my hand and then gripping her bottom jaw so she couldn't move or do anything made her stop wanting to bite. she'd still come in for the bite but would be scared of the hand because she knew i was stronger than her. not sure on the implications this might have though.

nice dog you got there.

discipline through pain association.

Once your puppy realises its hurting you it'll stop it.

So writhe around on the floor screaming and shouting and making a big deal of it..this will distress the mutt and it'll in time make it stop.

Also the fact that you're acting a prat will take your mind off the pain.
Make you out to be fun loving fun + puppy = lots of ladies.

Failing that ask on a proper Mutt site, i'd not even ask on here for bike advise let alone animal training.

Crikey Moses! I never realised there were so many dog hitters out there...

SiB

Yelp as if in pain, fold arms and turn head to look away from dog...... ..........might take a couple of times and you feel an idiot doing it but it really does work.

Hitting a puppy for doing what comes naturally...sheesh... 🙄
Get a fish if you're that retarded!!

Thanks for all the advice. I wouldn't like to hit her anyway so I'll do the yelping thing a bit more. It does seem to work when it's only me around so I suppose the next step is to practise more consistency with other people around. Also I now tell everyone new she meets when and how to greet her so that they don't teach her the wrong things. I'm sure it will pay off although I probably do come across as a bossy rude person to the new people I meet. You don't have much time to tell them as they all just walk up to her straight away because she is so cute!

I've already shown her my bike (cycling around her letting her follow me and calling "sit" and make sure she sits. Very hard to figure out a perfect strategy for this since I don't want her following other mountain bikers when she is older thinking they might give her treats! At the same time I don't want her scared when she sees people on bikes.

I wonder if Caeser Milan hits his dogs?

Actually yes, I have seen two episodes now where he has hit nipping/biting dogs, though he rapidly followed it up with pinning them to the ground. His comment was that its not often necessary but some dogs do not respond to just being turned over when they're feeling bitey. I've never had dogs but I like Mr Milans methods. Some of the advice above, IMO, is dangerous - not so much the giving it a tap on the snout as the ignoring it and turning your back when it's nippy - thats instantly reducing you (and other humans) to lower in the pack.

Ive not seen those episodes, pinning down- yes. Walking a dog backwards into a corner and towering over them to 'dominate' yes. Not the hitting bit though. Ive owned dogs all my life however Ive never really had to hit one. I do have an issue with our dogs recent aggression due to an incident with a Staff. Im not going to leave it or attempt to beat it out of him- Hes booked in for dog re-training.

I've never had dogs

Some of the advice above, IMO, is dangerous

Considering all the posts from people on here who [i]have[/i] owned dogs, who generally agree it's the most effective reaction, I'd have to conclude you have no idea what you are talking about.

coffeeking,
don't agree with you about ignoring the dog would reduce you in status relative to the dog. It's easy to see how older dogs use this to assert their dominance to younger dogs by just ignoring them. And it works the same way in humans!! If you are ignored you immediately feel less important than you did before you got ignored.

Surprised me when I saw them too, they were fairly large dogs. His comments echo'd someone above pointing out that it mimicks the nip they'd get from a pack leader if they went too far.

coffeeking - so you've never had dogs - but you're advising on puppy training 🙄 You don't need to 'dominate' a pet dog - just look at it's eyes, it already knows who's boss (the one with the tin opener)...

I'd recommend getting [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=perfect+puppy&x=0&y=0 ]'The perfect puppy'[/url] and doing a puppy socialisation and training class.

don't agree with you about ignoring the dog would reduce you in status relative to the dog. It's easy to see how older dogs use this to assert their dominance to younger dogs by just ignoring them. And it works the same way in humans!! If you are ignored you immediately feel less important than you did before you got ignored.

That depends if the dog is being violent or just doing it for attention, if it is just doing it for attention then sure ignoring it *may* work (certainly didnt with my other halfs dog) but if they are being violent (biting/asserting themselves on you) then you cannot back away.

None of these methods work with ferrets BTW, I've tried them - they're smarter than that, if you ignore them they'll bite harder until you stop ignoring them and play 🙂

you can get from pet shops a can of air (pet corrector) that makes a loud hiss (you do not spray it at the dog), the woman who ran the puppy training class i went to thoroughly recommended this in order to break the dog's behaviour - or you can try a water pistol and you squirt the dogs face.

http://www.doggiesolutions.co.uk/pet-corrector-3222-0.html

we had a similar prob with our jack russell, we did not have to go down the spray route but a few months of pulling her off, grabbing her by the scruff and a stern 'i don't want a biting dog' (remember its the sound and intonation) did the trick.

i would also thoroughly recommend that you ask around and see if there is a local puppy training class. it is well worth attending if you can find a good one, training a dog is more about training the owner.

I keep meaning to get a water pistol. Our dog sits by the gate waiting for a passing dog so he can unleash yappy hell on the passing dog/walker- pogo-sticking up the sides of the wall/running the length then letting out a high-pitch screech when he realises the dog has 'escaped' him. A quick blast each time should stop this 🙂

coffeeking - so you've never had dogs - but you're advising on puppy training

I said *I* have never had dogs, not that my immediate family has never had dogs, or that I have no experience with dogs. Plus I wasn't giving advice, I was merely commenting on other peoples methods and suggesting it seems contrary to the generally accepted methods.

I never once suggested this dog needed hitting or that I had a better solution, I was merely discussing the advice given - I'm sorry, did I forget and walk into somewhere where discussion is not allowed? If we all refrained from making comments about things we didn't have direct personal experience/knowledge of this forum would be pretty much empty 😉

I have just had the same problem with my German Shorthaired pointer pup. She was 7 week old when I got her. It was fun a first but she seems to have stupidly strong jaws and teeth compaed to other pups I have played with or owned. I resorted to a swift light tap on the end of the nose every time she bit hard enough to feel her teeth biting my feet or hands. I also do a loud ouch at her face which she does not like atthe same time as tonking he nose. After about a month i has carmed down to lever of which I find acceptable.

Its a fine line as you dont want to take all a puppys fun away, but on the otherr hand if its becoming an issue then it needs sorting. I still let he bite me lightly when I play with her as she does love to play rough and be wrestled about.

Rolled up newspaper across the nose.
Not hard, just simple tap.

Failing that you could always...

[img] [/img]

[img] http://www.mccabesports.com/graphics/Bat pics/VXWAdult Baseball Bat.jpg[/img]

He'll never bite you (or anyone) again

hora, thats really quite unpleasant!

Buy a cat, let him bite that.

Hitting a puppy will not solve your problem.

You feel like a complete knob when you do it, but letting out a very loud high pitched yelp (like a puppy) every time it chews to hard on you will sort your problem out.

Also just getting up and moving away will teach the dog that if it chews you "play time" stops, so it'll learn not to chew on you if it wants to keep playing.

Dogs are very simple creatures, loosing your temper or being violent towards them will not solve behavioral problems, being completely consistent with them will.

Buy a cat, let him bite that.

I know a few dog&cat families, never seen one where the dog was the boss lol.

I know a few dog&cat families, never seen one where the dog was the boss lol.

All right. Buy a cat, let him [u]try[/u] and bite that, then see him learn VERY quickly

[img] [/img]

followed by a slap!

get rid of it and upgrade it for a higher level being?

[img] [/img]
though bear in mind you wont own it, it owns you.

Sandwich and a couple of the others had the correct advice about yelping in pain, then pushing the dog down onto the floor belly up to assert dominance for a few seconds, and stopping any further play for a few minutes.

Hitting the dog or swatting with a newspaper, even if there is no pain, can lead to the dog becoming nervous or headshy and ducking/turning away from your hand whenever it thinks its going to be told off, which isn't ideal when all you wanted to do was give some affection.

Do not hit the dog with your hand always use a rolled up newspaper or similar otherwise the dog will associate you lifting your hand as an impending admonishment,and cower, this will make you look like cruel owner any time you try to pat it.

[i]All right. Buy a cat, let him try and bite that, then see him learn VERY quickly [/i]

I [u][b]wish[/b][/u]. My dog is suicidal.

Be kind, there's no need to hurt a puppy. It's still a baby and teething, and biting is part of play for a dog.

I used to wear a welding glove which the puppies associated with play, and they were allowed to nip at that, but not at a bare hand. This was for Wolfhounds and Great Danes. When they got bigger, if they bit or nipped my hand I would push it further down their throat and say "No!" - they really don't like that and stop.

Teach it the meaning of "No!". Rolling on to back as mentioned earlier and hold down for a few seconds is also something they understand.

Dogs are social animals, they don't want to hurt their pack members, but they have to have their place in the pack reinforced.

from a purely psychological point of view that covers all the steps, informs of the 'crime' and asserts dominance I'd put my money on the Yelp-turn away and assertion of dominance as being the best combo.

And it so does work exactly the same way for kids....