How can I stop my 9 mos. Pom from chewing on my hands? He does it every chance he gets.?

Question

He has also just started digging at cushions and pillows & shredding them. HELP!!!!

Answer 1

Spraying stuff on your hands ....uhhuh....well.....and how long do you keep up smelling repulsive? 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?????

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.



Grabbing him when he starts in on the cushions, holding him down and making him look you in the eye and roaring NO BAD- NO TOUCH usually works.


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 2

The next time your pom puppy bites you scream, "OW!" in high-pitched voice. Exaggerate a little. Then refuse to play with him or pay attention to him for a few minutes. If he doesn't get the message, give him a little scruff shake and scold him in a low-toned, threatening voice. You can exaggerate a little on that, too! Sound meaner than you really are. If he still won't stop or seems to get wilder with every correction, flip him over on his back, scold him in that same low, scary voice (growling) and gently but firmly, hold him in that position until he stops struggling.


When he starts shredding pillows, loudly yell "no" and reprimand him, you need to be in charge, not the dog. The sooner the dog knows you are the alpha, the easier your life will be.

Answer 3

Sounds like your pup needs some toys. When he starts to chew your hands, firmly tell him NO then give him something he can chew on of some sort, like a hoof or rawhide or toy. Keep the pillows and cushions out of his reach when you're not home or can't watch, but when home or in the room, put them in their regular places. Watch him, and when he goes after them, tell him NO and give him something appropriate to play with. Leave lots of toys like hooves and pig's ears and stuffed toys or other toys around that are for him and he'll play with those.

Answer 4

put a treat in your hand and close your fist. let him try and get the treat and every time he uses his teath, take it away. When he nuzzles your hand without using his teeth, give him the treat and say, "Gentle". Do this a few times and he'll get the message.

For the cushions & pillows, spray them with bitter apple (you can get it at any Pet store) it doesn't stain and tastes really bad to him. If he doesn't stop, when you see him tearing something up spray it in his mouth.

Answer 5

Puppies naturally learn not to bite by playing with their litter mates. When they bite one of the other pups the pup yelps and he realizes that it HURTS! So when he bites you, yelp really loud and ignore him. He will learn that it hurts. As for chewing other things make sure you offer chew toys, you can buy a dog repellent to spray on items you don't want him to chew. Another handy thing is to teach him the word "off". Where "off" means don't touch, don't lick, don't sniff. You can easily teach him this by taking a treat in your palm, lower it to his level and say "off" firmly. Don't let him touch it. Then say "take it" and let him have it. Reapeat until he learns. Then you should be able to drop a treat on the floor and say "off" and he will not touch it. It has come in very handy with my dog.

Answer 6

Put tobasco and dishwasher soap on your hands. Make sure you wash them when your done. If that doesn't work hit your dog on the nose and say NO! Maybe you need a dog trainer cause pomerians can be lame.

Answer 7

Meatloaf's recommendation for dog's with this behavior problem.

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

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

Good Luck!

Meatloaf (The Rat Terrier)

Answer 8

Get your dog more toys to play with. Also, theirs this spray called bitter apple which should cut down on the dog chew on things you don't want him to. My dogs love boxes. Also, get an old cloth, wet it , freeze. give it to your dog to play with. They love this treat. Good luck !

Answer 9

Put something bad tasting (that is not harmful) on your hands. They sell stuff meant to stop dogs from chewing. Maybe then he won't do it anymore if it tastes bad to him.

Answer 10

Give him chewies & toys & a ball.When he chews on other stuff,,roll up a newspaper & smack your hand & say NO.Never hit the dog because that will break his trust in you & break his spirit.Dog proof your home.Good Luck. ;O)