i need help to discipline my blue heeler..?

Question

ok, so my parents have a blue heeler, hes not even a year old, the problem is that now that my brothers and i are grown up were not at home as often, so the pup gets limited play time and has to be tied up sometimes because when when he does get play, hes very rough and boy does he love to bite, its playful biting but it gets tiresome and it hurts, especially for my parents, so i need help to get him to stop biting thats all, because i know hes a pup and hes full of energy, hes worse than that pink bunny with the battery, anyways, i need help from anyone with experience, because ive already heard from my parents that hes going to be taken away because my parents arent as young as they used to be to be taking care of another child, a wild child like this one, so please any info will help

Answer 1

Well one he needs exercise, but you know that and I am sure your parents do the best they can. It would be good if they could find an off-leash park or if they can teach him to fetch in the backyard.

Start by just saying "No" when he bites and IMMEDIATELY offering a toy. Praise him when he chews his toys. If that doesn't work try stage two:

When he bites really, really make a big deal of it, say "Ouch" pull your hand away and curl around it, then completely ignore him. After you ignore him for a minute or two give him a toy that he can chew.

You can also "give him a job" give him a toy that he has to keep in his mouth the whole time he is playing. When he holds it praise him, when he drops first just give it back. Once he gets the idea you can say "NO" every time he drops it. If he is doing his "job" then he can't bite.

Remember a lot of dogs go through a disobedient time around a year (depending on the size of the dog, the bigger the dog the slower they seem to mature). They are teenagers, trying to figure out where they fit in the pack. Rebelling. It will probably pass.


If you need more help you can e-mail me.

Answer 2

First of all Blue Heelers are a herding dog and they need a job to do. Second of all you and your brother need to take responsibility for your own dog and stop having your elderly parents try to take care of him. Because it's obvious they either don't want to or can't. A puppy that is play bitting is not a hard thing to fix. The pup just needs to be tought that this is not exceptable. Every time he does this you need to grab him and without hurting him grab him by the side scruff of his neck and force him to the ground. This is what would accure in a pack when a dominant alpha has had enough of another pack members play bitting. This play bitting is more than just play in the pups mind. He is testing the waters to establish dominants. If the pup is doing this to your folks as well they also need to do this to him when he nips or bites at them. If they don't he will continue to do this to them even if he stops doing it to you. The reason is that even though you may establish your dominance over him he will still try to establish himself within the pack. Which consist of not only you and your brother but your parents as well. Since it is your parents that are around the dog more it is very important that they astablish themselves as pack leaders. You guys also need to give him as much activity as possible. When doing the scruff push he will more than likely resist and try to get back to his feet. Do not let him. You must wait until he has submitted to you. You will know when he does because he will go limp and maybe possibly submissive pee. A few seconds after he submits let him get to his feet and give him calm praise(Good boy) and calmly pet him.You will have to be consistant with this exercise. It will take more than once. Just remember to gently praise him when ever he submits and you let him to his feet. This is what we call possitive re-enforcement. This technique does work. And remember dogs like him need a job to do i.e Obiediance classes, Frisbee, Ball, It not only gives the dog physical activity but also gives him mental stimulation and makes him calmer. As long as it's done on a daily. It only takes a 30 min a couple times a day not hours. Good luck.

Answer 3

The best thing to do is #1, come up with another solution instead of tying the dog up. Dogs that are tied up tend to become more stressed & aggressive.

#2, get the dog some good obedience training. Check out your local parks district, humane society and ask at pet shops. You can usually find classes as cheap as $50 for 6-8 weeks.

Good luck! And consider it might be better for the dog to be in a home where people have time for him instead of someplace where he has to be tied outside all the time. It might be in everyone's best interest to re-home the dog before he really hurts someone and faces being put down. Heelers are a working breed and most working breeds need some sort of work or they will cause trouble.

Answer 4

Blue Heelers which are also known as cattle dogs need lots and lots of exercise. He should be taken some place were he can run and play. Because of the biting you should look into getting him chew sticks, or something for him to chew on. They also love attention so if he is left outside all the time ; he will crave attention. I don't think this is the best dog for anyone who is not active or doesn't have time to take it where it can run. I think if you plan on keeping this dog that you need to FIND A PARK OR SOMEPLACE WHERE IT WILL HAVE ROOM TO RUN AND PLAY.

Answer 5

The dog is BORED and needs to be exercised, at least 1 hour of walking. I mean think about it, would you want to be confined to a house all day then be tied up every once in awhile? With exercise it will calm him down, also is the dog fixed? That's another way to calm him. But just remember he is a puppy and they do like to play. I have GENTLY held my dogs muzzle closed after a biting incident and said NO or EASY in a stern voice, but not yelling. This will take time and patience. But it will be well worth it in the long run. Good Luck KG

Answer 6

This breed is nippy to start wth - that is the herding drive that lets them move cattle.

Puppies bite - that is how dogs and puppies play with each other. He has never been taught otherwise with respect to humans.

You have to DO something about it.

When he nips at you, roar NO in a deep voice, grab him by the collar or back of the neck, push him down and hold him on the ground and as you are doing that and snap your fingers on the end of his nose or slap his nose with your fingers. WHile you pin him down and get his nose, lean over him and keep saying BAD BAD BAD - do NOT let your voice slide up, make it deep.

In a group of dogs, if he nipped the leader, they would knock him over, grab the skin on his neck or the side of his face and pinch it without breaking the skin, and growl.

So do what they would do. That is something a dog understands instinctively - born preprogrammed to get that message. Lot of theories out there about yelping in pain (thats what the dog who loses the play-fight does, so he just won and is top dog over you) and pushing him away or (really dumb) spraying him with water or distracting him (uhhuh - so how does he figure out that nipping is NOT acceptable since he just got away with it?) - but your puppy didn't read those books!

Get after him about EVERY SINGLE TIME - you must be 100% consistent.



If he is tied and left, you should think about finding him another home. This breed goes out of their minds if not given tons and tons of exercise.

Contact the breed rescue. They can help. The correct name for his breed is Australian Cattle Dog. It is a national organization.

http://acdca.org/

Breed Rescue: Australian Cattle Dog Club of America
Amy Berry, [phone], California
[e-mail]

Contact his breeder. A responsible serious breeder who cares about the dogs they produce would have put in a written contract that if you can't keep the dog, it must come back to them.

Answer 7

Do not use violence of any kind when training a dog. This came from my vet when I had this problem. Gently hold the dogs mouth closed, get close to him and say "No bit" in a firm way. Only praise when he dosn't mouth you when you let go. Do not cause pain. This shows you are in control.

This pup needs exercise, you will continue to have problems if it can't work off energy. You are asking a healthy energetic animal to turn it off. It can't, it needs exercise. You must, even if you need to hire a dog walker to take the dog out, get this dog to have regular exercise.

Go to obedience class as well. I ended up with a wonderful dog when I learned from pros.

Answer 8

heelers are one of my favortie breeds, they are super smart. but you have to consider these dogs are bred to work, for hours! everyday! he is bored out of his mind!!which causes behavoiral problems. what would you do if you were tied up all day the only thing to do is stare at the grass? you would go crazy. these dogs work on farms chasing and herding cows everyday. he needs exercise to release the built up energy not discipline, his behavioral problems are not his fault they are the owners fault. he needs to walk, play frisbee or fetch everyday, which will probably be good for you too! it also wouldnt hurt to enroll him in a training program, your vet can recomend one, petsmart also has one.if you cant give him the attention he needs consider finding him another home while he is still young, most people wont adopt an old dog. if you do find him a home please please dont go to the spca or humane society, they kill 85 percent of the animals that go there, give him to a rescue group that has a NO KILL policy. petfinder.com can help.please ignore the moron who posted above me, sometimes you might need to discipline but i believe these issues are your/your parents fault

Answer 9

regarding the newspaper suggestion. i had a boyfriend once who had a blue heeler disciplined in this way. i got out of the car at his place with the rolled up saturday paper and the dog attacked me. seems it wasnt going to have some new chick trying to establish dominance over it.

Answer 10

i think its still in its teething age .........my pup will stop biting me when i give it a rawhide bone ........but what you really need to do is play with it more so it's less hyper during the day ( it also could just be partial teething and "love bites" ) what might also help id you somehow create a run for it ( i thnk your dog will like it better)