puppies and biting?

Question

we have a 10week old aussie sheppard (we've had her almost 4 weeks now) and she loves to chew on people. i had a dog when i was younger that would play chew on you and if she actually started applying pressure we would just say "ow that hurts" and she would stop and "apologise" and i would like the new puppy to one day be like that. right now she loves to try to bite noses and lips and loves to gnaw on hands and arms, and in the past week has started chasing after us and grabbing the legs of our pants. when she starts biting, we say no and take our hands away, and if she bites hard we say ow and tell her she's not our friend and ignore her for a few minutes, but it doesnt seem to be working. i've even given her a tap on the nose once when she bit really hard, but that just seemed to make her want to bite more. any suggestions? i dont believe in hitting them, even with the newspaper. i've heard there is a way to roll their bottom lip in so they bite themselves, does it work?help!

oh! and she LOVES to pull my hair, which is almost to my waist, but i keep it up in a bun and when she's in bed with me i feel her pulling on my bun and if i have to take it down to fix it because she's pulled it out or my BF messes it up, she takes a flying leap and gets a mouthful! its quite painful, but my BF is getting a kick out of it.
some one mentioned crate training- is that as a punishment or just crate train in general? we havent started that yet, she only goes in the crate when she goes in the car

we did the "ow" thing with my first dog, and she learned right away that "ow" meant she was hurting us (including scratching) so we thought it was good to try with this dog. thankfully she seems really smart as she learned "sit" within 2 weeks and now sits at specific spots when we let her out, and learned to climb out of her play pen in 8 days. i know she's just a puppy and puppies nip, but i'm just worried that if she's biting now, whats it going to be like when she's actually teething

Answer 1

There are several things in action here. (1) Your dog was apparently weaned too soon (if you got it when it was 6 weeks old) and never learned pack manners from its mother. (2) The dog is an Aussie, a type of dog that is bred to herd other animals and uses nipping and chasing as a way to do that. (3) The saying "ow" bit isn't working... So, you need to re-program your dog to ignore its bad manners and its instincts and do what you tell it to do.

We use this technique at the shelter: When the dog tries to bite you, wrap your hand around its muzzle and shut its mouth. Apply alight but firm pressue and tell the dog in a calm, firm voice, "No bite." Then release its mouth. If it tries to bite you again, do the same thing. Shut its mouth with your hand, tell it "'no bite", and then release it. It's important for you to remain calm and firm during this exercise; doing so will show the pup that you are in control and it will come to respect that. (When dogs are puppies, the mother corrects them by putting her mouth over the muzzle and growling softly at them. When you put your hand around the pup's mouth and tell it "no bite", you're mimicking that behavior.)

Our puppies learn not to bite in one day using this technique.

We appreciate the fact that you don't want to use "adversives", like hitting. Hitting a dog doesn't teach it anything except to fear you.

Answer 2

A 9 week old dog has ZERO concept of what is appropriate behavior. NONE This is an infant with teeth. Her breed has nothing to do with this behavior. It's a puppy learning to be a puppy and playing the only way she knows how. Buy a good book about raising a pup. Read it. When she gets mouthy, tell her no and give her something appropriate to chew on - a nylabone or a kong. Praise her when she plays with her toys. Tell her no when she is biting anything else. She'll learn. It takes time. You have to train her. She's not going to figure it out by doing all that submissive Cesar Milan garbage. Consistency and patience will get her to behave herself. Keep your face away from her when she's running aroun and burning off that energy. Seriously, find a good book and read it. You'll learn more from a good how to raise a puppy book than what we can tell you in a few lines on YA.

Answer 3

First, he is not biting, he is playing. There is a difference. So, let's assume your dog is being mouthy and nippy. He is doing this because it is a fun game. This is how dogs play. But he doesn't know or care what you think about this game.

You are reinforcing this game everytime he initiates it, and you need to stop that. If he is playing with a toy with you, and he touches you with a tooth, (not even a real nip, but just touches you) pick up the toy, put it where he cannot reach it and walk away. Come back in a few minutes (2-3) give him back the toy and play again. He touches you with a tooth again, immediately repeat the same thing. Your dog wants to play with you and your play time is a reinforcer. Taking the toy and yourself away takes away the reinforcer. To get back what he wants he will learn that touching you with his teeth makes the fun stop immediately.

OK, now your going to say that he does this while you're wrestling, and there is no toy to take away. Well, actually YOU are the toy in this case. Walk out of the room and close the door. Come back and have fun again in 2-3 minutes. Repeat.

The trick with this is consistency and immediacy. But note: There is a phenomenon called "extinction burst" that will likely come into play. This means that the behavior may in fact get worse before it gets better. Be patient and consistent. If you ride it out the pup will learn that the fun is up if he loses control.

You might also add a marker for the negative behavior. At exactly the moment he touches you with his teeth give a loud sharp EH sort of sound. Short sharp sounds are nearly universally accepted by animal species as being the "no no" sound. Its also quicker and easier than saying no. By being short and sharp it often startles the dog into briefly stopping the annoying behavior.

When dealing with puppies, sometimes they launch into aggressive, boisterous play when they are very sleepy, much like a tired kid misbehaves in order to keep himself awake. If you suspect this is the case, put the puppy in his crate for a nap. I used to put my parent's boxer in what I called the "sleeper hold" when she got nippy. By cuddling her snugly with her legs dangling and her mouth pointed where she could not nip anything, she would begin to calm down and almost immediately go to sleep.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Right now your puppy is treating you like a litter mate. When she nips, growl at her, or make an "uh-uh" sound. You need for her to see you as a leader, a dog would never nip at their leader. I would also go to your grocery store, and buy some raw marrow bones from the meat section (or ask the butcher) This will satisfy the need to chew in a safe way. Never hit your dog in the face - not even a tap on the nose, as this encourages aggressive behaviour. If necessary, a quick tap under the chin will do the trick - make sure to growl first, follow with the tap a second later.

Answer 5

As you said yourself, tapping your dog just makes things worse, which indeed it will. NEVER tap/smack/hit your puppy! The best way,I have found, and I have used this method with all my four dogs,and its worked everytime, is simply growl! Next time your puppy bites,do exactly what her mother would do,growl !!The minute she nips/bites/even a soft chew/bite,turn around,push her away,stand tall,and growl in an angry firm manner. When you yell, or say ow! the puppy thinks,oh,now she will do as i want her to do,which reinforces her dominance. YOU HAVE to assert YOUR dominance by actions that a puppy would receive from her mother, should she bite/nip her!! Each time your puppy,bites/nips/pulls clothes,you MUST push her firmly away,(without hurting her of course) and do what her mother would do,in other words, act like a dog! Keep your pup away from your face,do not let her,AT ANY TIME bite your face or part of it!!
When your pup gets excited,which sounds like she does,use a calming technique. Place puppy in front of you,put your hands on her head,and very gently stroke her, down her ears,and under her chin,whilst doing so, speak very quietly in her ear,almost whispering. I usually say, "nice and calm,nice and calm",but you can say what you like!!You must be firm but gentle.Always be positive in your movements when handling your pup, reinforcing your position as the boss!!! Alway's be consistent! Good luck!!

Answer 6

i would get some bitter apple...spray it on any surface that ( including your arms/ hands) then when she goes to bite it won't taste good. The only thing is you must remember to wash your hands before eating!! this worked well with my Akita, she loved my shoes & bare toes! it took a few trys but now she thinks my toes & shoes taste awfull & leaves them alone. You are correct in not wanting to hit her, she is playing with you & doesen't understand it hurts. Crate training in not cruel. my sasha is 11 month old & still prefers to sleep & eat in her crate. put puppy in the crate when you can't constantly watch her. for the first 4 months i would have sasha out of her crate & have her onb a leash that was attached to my belt loop , that way she could tell me when she needed to go out & i could keep an eye on her. pet smart training classes would help too!!!!!!

Answer 7

I have 2 aussies myself and they are great dogs. When the dog bites you the very second that happens hold the dogs mouth shut and say in a very angry tone no bit then slowly release the dogs mouth. Repeat as needed till the dog learns the no bit command. Consistancy is very important and the aussie should not be allowed to bit any one.

Answer 8

Keep doing what you're doing - be very consistent in telling her "ow", tone of voice is very important, and don't interact with her at all when she bites. She's very young, you have to remember that, and she will learn, your puppy is not that unusual for a 10 week old.

Answer 9

This might sound silly, but it's along the same thoughts as what you do now (saying ow). I think it's called 'conditioned biting' where you teach your puppy not to bite you too hard. When your puppy starts to bite down hard, yelp like you think her mother would. (It does sound silly, but it works!) I had to do that to my schnauzer, and now when we play, he will put my hand in his mouth, but just graze his teeth on my skin. From my silly yelping, he has learned that the biting hurts me, and he won't do it!

Answer 10

A newspaper does work, i dont believe in hitting my dog but a gentle tap on the nose with it wont hurt it and the next time it does it get the newspaper out and it will associate the biting with the newspaper it worked for me, and shouting at them is a complete waist of time not that i am saying you shout at yours......Good luck anyway