I have a labrador retriever that is 3 years old and i cant seem to get her to quit biting. what should i do?

Question

i also have a second lab that is her sister and she is sweet and laid back. i dont want to split them up.
but i will get rid of her if i have to

to answer jeni t yes since puppy stage.

she is more nipping than actual serious biting but it is enough to hurt

she is biting me not her sister. she obeys my husband. he doesnt have a problem with her. it is my kids i am worried about

Answer 1

dogs who nip
Dogs who nip are usually dogs who never learned appropriate play as puppies. Read the section on helping puppies learn appropriate play boundaries.

It is especially important with nippy dogs never to wrestle or play tug of war. Be sure that if there are any children in the home they know appropriate ways to play with dogs

dogs who aggressively bite
Dogs who bite owners are usually dogs with unclear roles within the family. In a pack, there is a top dog (alpha) and a "chain of command". If your adult dog bites you, maybe he thinks he is top dog and feels you are trying to usurp him. Simple ways to show him you are alpha are


Not allowing the dog on furniture
not petting the dog when he comes up and "asks" (demands) it
waiting to feed the dog until after you have eaten and cleaned up your own meal
never playing tug of war with anything.
Always put toys away in an inaccessible place when you are done playing with your dog
never letting your dog go through a door before you
long down stays. Command him into a "down" tell him to "stay" and insist he stay down for 20-40 minutes. If he gets up, calmly reposition him and return to your seat. (You can do this while you watch TV)
Dogs who Bite Strangers
Deal with a dog that bites strangers by allowing the dog to meet as many people as possible. Even as an adult this is important- even more so to a dog who can be aggressive. Dogs who bite strangers usually bite out of some sort of fear. Helping your dog gain confidence in all situations will reduce the chance that your dog will bite.

If your dog is likely to bite, keep him on a leash at all times. Before visitors come to your house, explain the situation and offer them treats or small pieces of dog food to offer your dog as they enter the home. This can be especially helpful for deliverymen and meter readers.

http://www.collargirl.com/not-to-bite.html

I would also recommend you take the dog to obedience classes for aggresive dogs.

Answer 2

I have always had Labradors as pet since I was a child and had no trouble with them if raised from a pup. Where problems of aggression and fighting/biting can occur is if you feed them together! If this is the case keep them separated during feeding times.

If the dog is biting any member of the family or visitors then the best thing is for her to be put down. You can try obedience school but for me this is very out of character for a lab and I don't think it will solve the problem!

If the biting you mean outside items this is a common problem with labs, try reprimanding her with what she has chewed and/or spraying chili and water solution on items she might chew. This can drive you crazy because they can eat anything! Anyhow goodluck because you are faced with a hard choice!

Due to the extra info you have given, you need to ask yourself is it with any aggression (if so maybe training will work), or it could be a bad habit of affection and nervous tension again training and support is the key.

Answer 3

A couple of things to try.

1. Spray him in the face with a spray bottle every time he nips you. Dogs hate that.

2. Get a coke can and throw in about 20 pennies or so. When the dog nips you, shake the can really hard (it will make a loud sound). Do it every time, he'll get confused, and back off.

3. Ignore him when he nips you. If you yell at him for doing it, he thinks your barking at him (which means PLAYTIME to a dog).

4. Grab him by the collar and pull up. He won't be able to breathe until he sits. When he sits, give him a "GOOD DOG" and a big hug. If he nips again, do it again. He'll eventually get the message, although labs sometimes are a little dim.

Answer 4

She somehow got the idea that she is your superior in the pack; she is nipping you to discipline you when you behave in ways she doesn't like, like telling her "Down", or getting between her & your husband or her & her sister. You have to reassert dominance over her. At three years old, this may not be easy.

You have to MAKE her obey you the first time you give a command. One way to do this is to keep her on leash all the time so you can discipline her with a forced sit (GENTLY pull up on the leash-DON'T yank while pushing down her hindquarters with your hand) whenever she does not obey you. You will have to give her many commands, more than you usually would, for this to work. If she is very dominant, you may need to work with a trainer and do outdoor leash work with her.

No treats, no loving, until she complies with you. This may be hard on the sweet dog (and you, feeling guilty for depriving said sweet dog). No on the furniture, YOU greet homecoming family members first when possible. Never feed her from the table.

It could turn into a lot of work, but you will have a good dog (or a pair of them!) at the end of it, and won't have to split them up.

Answer 5

Who or what is your lab biting? If it's chewing on things you can try putting some "bitter apple" on what he's chewing. If he is actually biting people or your other dog, you will need some serious training sessions with him/her and quick before the behavior escalates to a point where no one can handle him/her. Look around for a trainer willing to take on an aggressive animal. There are some out there. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Oh her SISTER! now let me ask have you had to take either for stiches? Cause dogs play fight, & have minor little quarrells (tiffs I call them) and it means nothing much. If either is SERIOUS they can cause major damage in seconds. Now i will mention there can be a tiny puncture by accedent in a play fight so that doen;t count by stiches I mean lots of skin tearing.

Answer 7

she is trying to decide who is head bitc- in your house and her sister isnt a threat you are though. she wants your man! show her you are head of the pack. put her in her place dont back down pin her shoulder to the ground and growl at her she will get the picture. you may have to do this from time to time but it does work. CLAIM YOUR POSITION AS HEAD OF YOUR FAMILY WOMAN! good luck :)

Answer 8

as strange as it sounds, next time she snaps or shows any sign she might bite, bite her back and do it hard. unless she is aggressive on a reg. basis, and your her master she wont bite back, & will probably think twice before biting again

Answer 9

i have a dog who is just like that and he is all way's bit ting i been telling my dad and he say he is going to get out of that stage when he get's older because he has all that energy and can't hold it in so i thought i should take it 2 my uncles because he is ''so called good with dogs'' so i went to go to my grand ma because he let her have one of his dogs.''well they no how 2 sit,lay go sleep but it stell pee's and i can't take that and stells is mean so i listen to my dad instead and it's working.bye girl

Answer 10

beat the hell out of her and get rid of her your kids should come first. i have a dog that used to growl and nip at kids and i couldn't break him so