How to stop our puppy biting? We've read all the books!!?

Question

We have a four month old alsation/ dalmation (?) cross puppy that we rescued off the streets at roughly 6weeks old. he was from a litter of 10 and first to venture out with his mum. He is very lively but he bites for attention, bites with aggression, bites when we say no or try to control him, bites when playing etc.... I hope this is normal and and not a character fault that will never change. we have tried all the techiniques: spraying with water, acting like scary monsters, restraining his movements about the house etc. plus firm commands of ´no` - even tried dog whispering techniques with baring of teeth and no noise, nothing seems to deflate his sense of dominant dog! Expecpt when he goes out on the lead and then he is afraid of all other dogs and is as good as gold! His biting is waring us down... Is he too young? Could his Pedrigree Chum be making him more aggressive? he seems worse after eating. Though he only obeys us when he is about to get his food.

Answer 1

Withdraw all of your attention whenever your dog bites - straight away!

Hopefully he'll learn to associate his biting with you ignoring him.

This article also has some good points http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/how-to-stop-a-puppy-from-biting.html

Answer 2

None of those techniques are good, and the Dog Whisperer says not to try his techniques for a reason. They are individually suited for particular dogs, and if done on the wrong dogs, can CREATE issues that weren't there in the first place.

First, 16 weeks is the "bite inhibition marker," meaning that if your pup hasn't learned bite inhibition by this age, it's very hard to teach and requires a professional trainer.

Second, the methods you mentioned are outdated. If you had any sort of expectations as to when your puppy would stop biting you, that could translate into frustration and aggression on your part and make it worse. For instance, if you expected your pup to stop biting you at 8 weeks, you might get frustrated and that would show in your reaction. Doing so would cause more "aggressive" (which is really just playing, or possibly throwing a doggy temper tantrum) behavior. A realistic expectation is that even when taught bite inhibition by other dogs, who know what they are doing, a pup won't learn it until atleast 10 weeks. When taught by humans, it's usually later than that, around 14-16 weeks.

I would suspect that the books you've read were either written in the 1970s or written by someone who hasn't updated their training style since then. It is widely recognized in the dog training community that these harsh methods don't work. They always make the dog worse, either for play or aggression. "Spraying with water, acting like scary monsters, restraining his movements about the house, etc., plus firm commands of 'no'..." All of these methods are ineffective and can cause fear, dominance, and aggression issues if used by an untrained person.

The proper way to teach bite inhibition takes a few weeks, and I will outline it here, but it only works if you are patient. It is also for dogs under 16 weeks; no matter what I or anyone else here says, you HAVE to take your dog to a professional trainer (and don't skimp, the cheap ones are cheap for a reason). After 16 weeks he really needs to be individually evaluated and assessed.

The proper way to teach bite inhibition is:
1. Play with the pup.
2. When he bites, scream "OW" and remove your hand from his mouth. (If he is biting too hard to do this, gently press his upper lips into his sharp canine teeth, this will cause his jaw to open.)
3. Say "No bite," very calmly, and WALK OUT OF THE ROOM.
4. Make sure that no one plays with the pup. Leave him all alone. (You obviously need to do these exercises in a safe room.)
5. After a couple of minutes, come back in and play again. The INSTANT he bites you, repeat. Your pup will soon learn that nipping=no more playing.

Remember, your pup is not biting out of "aggression" unless you have taught him to. He is more than likely biting out of play (because it's being reinforced...he gets talked to and wrestled with!) or because of a temper tantrum (he's a teenager now, it's to be expected).

Call a behavioralist, but I don't suspect that, if you do, this should be an issue you will have to worry about for much longer.

Good luck!

Answer 3

He's likely biting because he was separated from his mother too young. He never learned many of the etiquette issues that his mother and littermates would have taught him. Puppy kindergarten is ALWAYS a good idea for puppies, but I would ESPECIALLY recommend it in this case. If you've been reading books about training and nothing's working, he needs to get into obedience classes. Puppy kindergarten is just the first step here...by being with other puppies, he will get the vital socialization, training, and interaction he is lacking by being separated.

Answer 4

We had to use our acting skills and imitate a puppy in pain with a sharp yelp every time Puppy bites, followed by a period of ignoring him and looking at the ceiling. It works.

Another thing you need to do is make sure to work on that aggression with a trainer. This MIGHT be just puppy biting, but the rule of thumb is "Don't let him get away with anything you won't still find cute when he's 90 pounds."

Answer 5

This is a very common problem in puppies. It starts with natural behaviour of mouthing and then when the pup sees it can gain control quickly escalates into biting to control you. This will take time to control. YOu must show the dog you are best and easiest way is to show you are pack leader. 4 months is ideal to start this and believe me this really really works!!! When you pup starts biting you... yelp (loudly like another pup would if hurt) and turn away and walk out of the room close the door and leave for 5 mins (make sure pup is left on his own). Then return - play and if happens again repeat (exaggerate yelp and turn body away) and leave for a little longer on his own. Honestly this will work - 2 reasons
1) you are controlling the play (this would happen in a pack if one dog was playing too rough the other would yelp and leave)
2) By leaving the dog on its own (which is the worst punishment as pack animals) you are reinforcing its my house and if you don't work by my rules nice things stop and you are left on your own.

Aggression is a little different and the dog needs to know you are boss. These pointers should help
1) eat before the dog - control his food never leave it down
2) when you come into a room/ come home - ignore the dog for 5 minutes. Then when you are ready fuss. This is extremely powerful. If the dog is excited just turn your back. It will try to get your attention but turn away calmly and walk away/ close the door. Also works if dog too lively.
3) Always go through doors first. Never step over the dog - he will get the message - oh they go around me I'm boss.
4) don't let on furniture (unless really submisive)
5.) play when you want to. A dog that comes over to and demands attention is a bossy dog.
6.)Good lead work - if the dog walks ahead - again is top of the pack.

Read Jan Fennell the dog listener - she has worked for all the dog classes and problem dogs I have worked with.. but make sure the whole family sticks to the rules! Also go to dog classes - they are not expensive and it really helps to meet people with similar problems and discuss solutions.
Good luck! In my experience dalmations are a little more excitable as a breed and alsastions - quite stubborn but both are great breeds for pets - best wishes!

Answer 6

maybe you should take him to a proffesional trainer.

the one thing dog owners dont do is CONSISTENCY.

pick a method and STICK TO IT. the dog is not going to learn the first time !!

try this (and pls i am taking the effort of typing all this, so try it long enough to prove it works)

everytime your puppy bites you, make a short-sharp 'yelp' sound. this is the sound similar to what puppies would make if they got hurt or bitten. when puppies are seperated from their siblings are earlier than 9-10 weeks, they tend to bite more as they havent learnt from the experience of biting other pups and learning that biting hurts.

when he bites, "YELP" and hold on where he bit you and immediately STOP PLAYING WITH HIM. thats very important. if you keep laughing or playing, he will not understand. when he calms down, you can play again.

if you keep this consistent, i have no doubts that the dog will soon understand that if he bites you, it hurts and theres no more play if he bites. but pls pls do it for long enough.... keep teaching him....

acting like monsters etc will only agravate him as he thinks you are playing !!!

good luck and get some help from a trainer, you will not regret spending the money !

Answer 7

I had the same problem with my overlay active pitbull, whom I brought home when he was 4 weeks old. The best way I found to keep him from chewing things he's not suppposed to (ie your shoes, furniture, clothes and your hands) Is to supply him with lots of things that he CAN chew on. For example: if you see him chewing your shoe...take it away, say "no, not this (show him the shoe) chew this (give him the toy)" and when he chews on you, or your clothes, get him off, sit him down, make sure he looks you in the eyes and tell him "no" very firmly. My dog cody used to grab your pant leg and bite. I had to break him out of that habbit, because of the breed he is, anyone who wasn't used to his antics might misconstrue it as aggression when he was really just playing. You have to let him know you're the boss. Be firm, and corrective, not scary. You can also try a can filled with small pebbles or pennies, tape it and when ever you're too far to exchange his victim for a toy throw the can at him (not to hit him, just to scare him) when ever he has something you don't want him around. The sound will make him react and get his atention so you can tell him "no" Above all, remember he's a puppy, and all puppies have to be trained to our liking. Don't hit him, and don't give up on him. They need love and attention. and he'll grow out of his chewing face if you teach him what it's ok for him to chew on and what isn't. Good luck. I can tell you from experience that it works and that you'll have a happy house and happy puppy.

Answer 8

He is biting cos thats wot puppies do... i've got a boxer pup and he does exactly the same, he will be teething too, it knacks but it's wot they do..!
Make sure he has plenty of toys (not slippers as he will then think it's ok to bite all of your other shoes) and i'm sorry but you will just have to put up with it

Answer 9

When pups bite their mothers- the mother will put their mouth around the pups muzzle and squeeze down. Try putting your hand around his muzzle when he bites and squeezing slightly. The other option is whenever he bites- give him a firm "NO" and isolate him from your company (put him in another room) for a few moments- dog's love to be with you- so very soon he'll associate biting with being away from you. You need to be firm and consistant because he's going to grow into a big dog- a big dog that bites is not what you need.

Answer 10

I think it's probably normal, especially since he's still a puppy. Maybe he's teething? With my friend's dog I held the dogs face with both my hands, looked him straight in the eye, and yelled "no biting!" he just looked at me kinda shocked, like "okay, sorry..." and calmed down. Maybe that'll work for you? Try giving him more toys too, like bones he can chew on for hours and let his aggression out on that. It's best to get him out of his biting phase now, while he's still young, so he doesn't get so used to it when he's older.

Answer 11

My dogs bit when they were pups too. It is a natural thing for them. While with their litters mates they bite each other. You have to think like another puppy. If he biting too aggressively and it hurts, Yelp! Dogs don't speak English, so they don't understand "ow". A yelp they understand. I saw this on some TV show and it worked well with my dogs. Within a week my dogs would grab without much force when playing.