My 4 mo old male lab pup is aggressive and still bites us. Help!?

Answer 1

Obedience training would help a lot - both for the pup and for you to learn how to best discipline him/her.
4 mos. is still just a little tyke, though, so the chewing/biting stage isn't over yet.

I would always pull my hands out of the puppy's reach and say sharply "No!" (but not yelling!) and then stop petting or playing with him. Be sure to tell him "good dog" when he is either kissing your hand instead of biting... or when he's playing with you without chomping on your hands.
Pretty soon they get the idea that nipping your hands will not get them any more attention!

Good luck to you and puppy!!

Answer 2

Labs are one of all the most hyper, playful,high strung dogs that will ever own you. They take time and patience--------lots of patience.You know when he's going to stop, drop and go, so head him off at the pass. Don't let him get to his back and start spraying, stop him and take him outside. Always give him praise for a job well done and be minimal on the corrections, labs are also very sensitive. Now as far as the biting on you and using you for a chew toy, do not allow it, a stern no then follow up with what you want him to chew will eventually work. Never ever hit the pup as a correction.

Answer 3

It is doubtful that a 4 month old is actually aggressive. Most likely he is a pup playing with you as he would play w/ other pups - that is how pups play, they nip each other, tackle each other, etc. You need to teach him that human skin is sensitive and it hurts when he nips. When he nips you, yelp in a high pitch, like a puppy would, put a hurt look on your face, and turn away from him for a few seconds. If you continue doing this, he will learn that nipping makes your attention go away. You can also give him a toy or bone to chew on to show him what is appropriate for to chew on. Join yahoo group ClickerSolutions for more info.

Answer 4

When the puppy bites at you, gently grab the scruff of the back of his neck, shake lightly and say "No Bite". This is the same method a mother dog uses to discipline her puppies and will get your puppies attention. Mom did this to your puppy and you are communicating with your puppy in a way HE understands. When your puppy releases the bite, praise the puppy for the good behavior. It's also a good idea to offer the puppy acceptable things to bite such as a toy. Your puppy needs to learn what is appropriate.

You have to be very consistent and never let the biting slide without addressing it or you will send mixed signals and confuse your puppy.

Your puppy sees you as a litter playmate and simply needs to be taught that biting you is not appropriate.

This method was suggested by both my vet and our puppy trainer. We have a Border Collie and nipping is an issue with this herding breed. We have been using these methods with really good results. Be patient, it takes time to teach your puppy and not all learn at the same pace, but if you are consistent, it will work.

Answer 5

This is most likely "play biting" and not aggression. Labs can go through this for quite some time, because they are retrievers, and therefore naturally "mouth" things.

Do not hit, scold, or yell when this happens. This could excite him into thinking it's a game, and it can get more intense.

When he bites you, or you see he is getting "crazy," pull all of your attention from him. Do not talk, touch, or even look at him.

Teach him to do a reliable "sit" command. Then you can teach him that biting gets no reaction, he'll get ignored, and if he sits politely he will get attention.

http://www.libertydogtraining.com

Answer 6

Sice the upuuy is olny 4 months old, obedience training would be good. Maybe the pup is still teething. I have a pup that is 6 months old and she likes to bite cuz she is still teething. Get him some bones or toys to chew on. My pup likes to chew on rhines you get at petsmart.

Answer 7

Spraying stuff on your hands ....uhhuh....well.....and how long do you keep up smelling repulsive and what about the neighbors or their kids??? Distract him?? for how many years?? Ignore him....what he is supposed to figure out that you are ignoring him because you are displeased with him and not because you are cleaning the house????? AS for "yelping",see below as to what that means to a dog.

I've gone out on lot of housecalls to stop the nipping chewing behavior of dogs nearly a year old because their owners did the 'distract them' or 'push them away' or 'just hold their mouth' shut nonsense. After doing all this futile and ineffective things, the dogs didn't quit (thought the people were playing with them) and the owners where pinched and black and blue.

It is NOT teething that makes him grab people and nip and chew - he is PLAYING

Puppies bite - that is how dogs and puppies play with each other. He thinks he is playing with you by mock fighting. Its a dog's favorite game - watch two good dog buddies ripping tearing rolling - and diving at each other and grabbing without puncturing. and chewing on each other.

You have to DO something about it.

Now what is really really neat is your puppy came pre-programmed to understand certain behavior as disapproval and approval. In dog language, behavior is communication.

In a group of dogs, if he nipped the leader and the leader was not amused, 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. Lot of theories out there about yelping in pain and pushing him away (duh...that is what the dog who LOST the mock fight does and the winner is the boss now) or all this other stuff - but your puppy didn't read those books!


Step One: Learn to use your voice. Mot people either let their voice slide up in register or they sound futile and weak. You want to deepen your voice and sound like a drill sergeant. The word NO is basic to doggy manners (and people too.). The deep sound mimics the rumble/growl of the top dog.

Step Two: Do what the leader would does physically (well, mimic it - biting him wouldn't be fun.)

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. Make him look at you and keep eye contact – make your face stern and frown as you get after him.,


Step Three: when you let him up, you relax your voice and face and say "okay, now be nice" and let him come back over and get petted. (That is the postive part.) The more he settles down and gets petted without nipping, the happier your voice gets.

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

Now when he comes over and snuggles and licks and doesn't nip, he always gets "What a sweetie", rub, pet, cuddle, and use a smile (they do watch your face – more than most people realize). And guess what? That is exactly how dogs express approval of each other!

By the way, many women in particular, but men do it too, have a real problem with voice control, When they get upset or frustrated, their voice go UP. The dog ignores them. In the pack, the boss dog or alpha uses deep tones (rumble in the chest, growl etc) to express displeasure and get compliance from the dogs lower in the pecking order. A dog making a high pitched sound (yapping, yelping - etc) is not only NOT going to get compliance with their wishes as they are percieved as ineffectual and the not-Alpha, not-the-boss but that it is giving an invitation to play.

Also, take him to some obedience classes no matter what his age if over 6 months. Poms adore obedience work and are brilliant at it, you get a nicer pet, they are more comfortable with the world and less fearful and inclined to bark at everything and they get the habit of obeying and you get some control..

Now you both need a GOOD obedience class - and that is NOT Petsmart or Petco.

GO here to find contacts in you area that can help you locate and obedience trainer who works with all beeds and who does AKC obedience compettions:

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf...

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf... (set on all breeds)


http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf...

Even it they are an hour or more away, they will know other people all over the state.

Answer 8

It's normal for that age, and labs are pretty rowdy pups. Just gotta discipline, and give lots of chew toys. Labs chew for a long time, sometimes forever.

Answer 9

This can be a early sign of aggression and can be corrected with proper training. Here is a program I recommend offering free information, testimonials, and a step-by-step advanced training program!

Thanks

Meatloaf (The Rat Terrier)

http://skycforme.sitstay.hop.clickbank.net/?type=aggression

Answer 10

When he bites you, squeeze his mouth closed and say NO! Squeeze hard enough so the puppy knows you mean business and you are not simply playing.