How can I get my 7 week old mini schnauzer to stop biting?

Question

My new puppy gets extremly excited when he plays. He has started biting (well nipping hard). When we try to redirect him (hand over muzzle "no -bite") he gets more aggressive. He is also chewing clothes and attacking feet (which is normal). My concern is that the biting seems to be more agressive then just playfulness. Sometimes he runs and bites and aggressively tries to get at people on the couch. He doesn't like to get petted for very long either before he starts to nip. (we try to stroke him to calm him down).
My dog is kept in a crate (large wirecrate) which he tolerates well. he also has a travel crate that he hates. When he starts to bite we usually say "no" and then put him immediately in a time -out. Last night he nipped so hard that it left a mark on my arm. I immediately put him in the travel crate in another room.
Is he too young for a brief period with a muzzle? I don't want to be mean but i don't want to raise an aggressive dog either.... HELP

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I have been trying the "bait and switch" when he starts chewing on my clothes. He loves his chew rope. I can tell sometimes that he is playing because his tail is wagging. When he bites to hard and i have to correct him, then he gets aggressive. I have tried the eye contact and it seems to be working. I am also going to try the Kong with the peanut butter (is there a particular kind? chunky?) When he gets worked up he goes into the crate. He will yelp for a while but when i ignore him he stops. (and goes to sleep). he doesn't seem to have any problems with the crate itself as long as it is the big wire crate and not the travel crate. (which he hates). i don't know if i ma ready to "bite him back" but i am definately going to try the spray bottle. I had tried the no chew spray but he is so smart he sniffed until he found an area that i didn't spray! http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?i=326457 this is mylo!

Answer 1

All puppies do this, it could be he is teething also, get him PLENTY of chew toys and things to keep busy with, little bones etc. and when he does bite, tell him firmly "NO" and give him a toy and put it in his mouth so he knows that he should not be biting people and only his toys and bones.

Answer 2

Everything you describe is "puppy play". They all do it. Some just do it more often and harder. I have a Maltese and he is a brat! He will grab a hold on your pant leg and not let go. You can drag him all over the house and he drags along. He has bitten me hard enough to draw blood. When they are teething they are bad little animals. BUT they are animals.

I use the water spray bottle for my little guy. He gets it so much that now when I say, "where is my water bottle"? He stops what he is doing. It makes him crazy when I use it, but it works.
I make sure he has plenty of chew bones. I know it hurts them to teethe, I can tell. Just be patient with him.

I don't use a cage of any kind. My pup is four months old and he has never done anything in the house like chew stuff up. He's trained to go potty on the piddle pads. He has never bothered even shoes, but he can bite off your hand when you play with him...........But please don't muzzle him or hit him. Give him time and be patient, human babies bite when they teethe too..........

Answer 3

I've been a dog groomer for over 10 years and have owned over 50 dogs myself - and taken care of many, many more. Presently I have 9. Muzzle him and take him to an obedience class. If he is in the crate all day while you are at work - he may just be longing for attention and that is the only way he is getting any - whether or not is is good or bad. He is after all a baby. You can never start training puppies too early. Also, try a kong toy with the treats you put inside to occupy him if he is in the kennel for long periods of time.

Answer 4

Well, you can train your dog because your dog gets more aggressive to you.Or He's too young for a muzzle. He's really just being a puppy. They explore their surroundings with their mouths. Schnauzers are excitable dogs, and puppies are excitable. A schnauzer puppy is a high strung, nippy, barky little thing, but he'll outgrow it. The hand-over-snout "no bite" approach will work. Just give it time. He gets more bitey when you do it, because you are putting your hand, which is the target of his "attack" over his mouth, which is the thing he uses for attacking. He just doesn't understand yet that you are trying to make him stop. His head is about the size of a coffee cup. His brain takes up a fraction of the space in there. He can't learn everything at once. He'll get it.

Answer 5

He's too young for a muzzle. He's really just being a puppy. They explore their surroundings with their mouths. Schnauzers are excitable dogs, and puppies are excitable. A schnauzer puppy is a high strung, nippy, barky little thing, but he'll outgrow it. The hand-over-snout "no bite" approach will work. Just give it time. He gets more bitey when you do it, because you are putting your hand, which is the target of his "attack" over his mouth, which is the thing he uses for attacking. He just doesn't understand yet that you are trying to make him stop. His head is about the size of a coffee cup. His brain takes up a fraction of the space in there. He can't learn everything at once. He'll get it.

Answer 6

ok get comfortable this long. you bring a pup into your house this is his home you are his family or "pack" he is going to try and find his place. he's trying to dominate you with the biting and whining if you tolerate the first bite its too much, you need to remedy this now before he's older, now it's cute later it's painful and if he bites a child it's a problem you have to do is what is called submissive training. the way to do this is simple you grab the dog put your hands under his arms and put him face to face with you not close enough to reach you and you essentialy stare him down if he fights tell him no and DON'T PUT HIM DOWN! he should turn his head and face the other way next you put him on his back still holding him and stare him down when he stays still you can let him go & praise him if he fights you and you let go you defeat the purpose you have to dominate him if not he willl dominate you try this a couple of times and it should work from there training him should be a lot easier but still do it every now and than refresh his memory keep him in check also if you have kids make sure he's around them you dont have? FIND SOME!!!
this way he'll be socialized to kids and he wont bite one also take him to parks so he see's other people & dogs its socialization i have 2 bull mastiffs & i've trained them by this method & they are great let me know how it works for you

Answer 7

Don't worry. My dog was just like it. Give him a Listerine every time he bites (also very effective for behaviour and--duh, bad breath) and make sure he has plenty of chew toys. If he still bites, try putting bad-tasting flavors or smells on the things he likes to bite. Soon, he'll stop biting because of all the annoyances.

Answer 8

My dog was the same. Puppies are all very playful, and osmetimes they don't realize they're hurting you. Muzzles are very harsh, and I wouldn't suggest using them. What I did is I said "Bad dog" every time my puppy bit me, and I taught him that biting is bad. When a dog starts biting you unexpectedly, it may be because their energy is very high, and they need to let it out somehow. So when they start biting you, give them a chew toy and let them chew and bite that, instead of you!

Answer 9

maybe you should not but the dog in a crate cause the dog should run all the time and i think it is wrong to do that you should realy think about it! (please) The dog is a puppy they are going to bite it means he is playfull maybe you should not have the dog cause you dont like spending time with the dog! the puppy will grow out of the bitting stage but i have a 6 months old dog that still bites, all dog are aggressive when they play! if you cant handle it.

Answer 10

Hi. I have always had minis, they are great dogs but rahter playful. you are doing well with the crate. to get him to stop bitting, tap him "sternly" on the muzzle with a finger or two and say "NO" in as deep and throaty sound as you can. If he was with his mom, she would nip back and growl, so this action will make him think you are his mom and he will stop. it wont hurt him, it will just get his attention. BUT dont confine him to the crate for punishment, that will cause neg. association. and buy a chew toy for him to play wiht. never use your arms and hands to play with the dog