We adopted a 13 week old puppy, half Fila Mastiff/Half St. Bernard. She is adorable and sweet most of the time. But she can become very agressive with us, biting and ripping at our clothes skin . . . what can we do? Is this her way of playing? Or ??? We tried getting her interest into her toys at times like these, or saying a FIRM NO! Nothing seems to work . . . any suggestions?
2006-10-29 10:19:18 · 14 answers · asked by beautyofthesea 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Puppies bite, like kittens scratch. The trick is, don't make it a game. You have to firmly (notice I didn't say loudly) firmly cry like a puppy when the puppy bites you and turn away from the dog. Immediately cease any play and leave the room. Do not look at the puppy, do not interact with the puppy for a few minutes. Then come back and induce the puppy to play again and see if she will bite again, if she does, even a little, repeat the same. This is how the Mommy's and other pups train each other that they are playing too hard. They cry, they stop playing with them and stop looking at them and stop interacting with them. Then the puppy gets the idea and starts to learn how to interact on an acceptable basis. You may have to do this several times, but AS SOON AS THE puppy puts her teeth on you or anyone else, you must be consistant and repetitive. Do not hit the dog, try not to pull your hand back (thats a game), and do not yell, just a firm cry or yelp like a puppy would make if say, you stepped on their paw, that kind of sound, immediately stop playing turn your face from them and get up and leave the room. Just for a few minutes, not hours, like 2 or 3 minutes and repeat. You can get some great dog training DVD's at the local library (get a couple of different ones and find what you can use) and start working on training early and consistantly, so you have a nice, well adjusted, sociable animal that will be a joy to be around and have around! Good luck with your new puppy.
2006-10-29 10:32:36 · answer #1 · answered by Tippy's Mom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Biting and ripping isn't "play". You need to take a leadership role and get this dog under control now before it gets any larger.
To stop a dog from nipping/biting, we use the following technique: Wrap the fingers of your hand around the dog's muzzle, close the mouth, and say "no bite" in a calm and firm voice. ((Make it a firm squeeze, but don't squeeze so hard you hurt the dog.)) Release the dog's mouth, and if it tries to nip again, repeat the process of closing its mouth and telling it "no bite". When you put your hand around the dog's muzzle, you're mimicking what the mother dog would do to the pup if it was misbehaving. ((A mama dog will open its mouth and put its mouth over and around the pup's muzzle, then give it a growl, when it's being naughty.))
Be consistent. Most dogs catch on after only a few tries.
Never tollerate behavior from a pup that you would not tollerate from an adult dog.
2006-10-29 10:29:42 · answer #2 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi - I also have a Fila puppy he is about 6om's old and I'm a vet tech. You need to go to puppy class. That will teach you how to show that you are the leader of the pack. Do things like have the puppy sit and wait until you ask him to come in to the house, sit and wait until you say it is ok to eat. What worked best for unruly behaviour is water in a squirt bottle- squirt her as soon as she does what ever and at the same time say NO BITE if that does not work add 1% vinegar. This breed can be aggressive but, Earlie training is essential. Also, Spay young....
2006-10-29 10:38:07 · answer #3 · answered by mal 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this is her way of playing just as she would play fight with her brother and sisters. This is where they start learning their place in the hierarchy. It's sorted out by who fights best.
You are right to want to sort this out now though, before she gets bigger and capable of doing more damage.
At the moment she will not know her place in the 'pack' She sees you as her pack family.
She needs to learn that you are boss of the pack. When she gets too rough, you need to pull her off, a firm no as you have already been doing but then all play stops. You ignore her by leaving the room and doing something else.
Only do this though for a few minutes and don't get mad with her.
When you go back to her act as though nothing has happened.
This goes hand in hand with 'sit' training and 'down' and 'come'. always offer her a favourite treat each time she gets it right.
She will soon see that you say what goes and if she does the right thing YOU give the food.
I would also recommend obedience classes. All dogs can benefit from these, it's also good for socialising her.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-29 10:33:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As it is, I don't think you have a true aggression problem as most puppies will mouth and bite. Pups begin to learn bite inhibition from their mother and their littermates and they continue to learn by seeing what they can get away with their new owners. When she mouths you, say "Ow!" in a firm voice. Some dogs this works with, and others it just gets more worked up. For more exciteable dogs, simply get up and stand with your back to the puppy, completely ignoring her for a moment. Then, calmy turn back and offer her a toy. If she bites the toy instead of you, praise! Eventually she will learn that biting you = play time stopping, and she will begin to control herself during play.
In addition, try taking her to a puppy class. She will get socialization with other puppies and the trainer will be able to help you with any behavior problems that come up.
2006-10-29 10:42:19 · answer #5 · answered by lickitysplit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is most likely play behavior. However, it needs to be nipped in the bud now, before she becomes larger and can do serious damage, even without meaning to.
When she gets into "wild play" and starts mouthing you, tell her "No Bite," and then totally ignore her until she calms down. This may mean turning your back on her and leaving the room.
Get a flavored nylabone and offer it in place of your arm, hand, clothes.
Try this. If it doesn't work, there are other methods, but it does take time.
http://www.libertydogtraining.com
2006-10-29 11:15:06 · answer #6 · answered by libertydogtraining 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like she has some dominance issues already. I would suggest that you seek the advice of a professional trainer. I would only trust the advice of a professional trainer and not take advice on dog training from a layman. When it comes to training dogs that have issues, professional training can correct the problems where as improper training can lead to worse problems. It's not too late for your puppy to learn, you just need to make sure that what she learns is corrective to the problems that she is having.
Best wishes,
Animal Control Officer J. Smith
2006-10-29 10:23:59 · answer #7 · answered by boxerpitk9 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Get her the help of a good dog trainer. A puppy class could do a world of good, training her, as well as teaching you how to do the same. It can be frustrating to deal with behavioral problems, because we want to correct them, but if you do the wrong thing, you could be actually rewarding the behavior you are trying to discourage.
I think the animal control officer said it best. Get a trainer to help you with your dog.
2006-10-29 10:41:24 · answer #8 · answered by clovicat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since the dog is only few months it is probably going to be like that for few months maybe till she's 1 or 2 but if she constently does that when she gets older get her a professional trainer.
2006-10-29 11:03:34 · answer #9 · answered by sarah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't let this behavior continue. sometimes when dogs do this its because they want something (attention, a walk, food , etc.).
try these ideas im not sure which will work:
- have someone else drop an object away from you to distract the dog
- look into the dogs eyes and firmly put your hand on her head
- tell the dog to sit (if shes learned it)
- say "no bite!" and if she stops biting give her a treat and praise
2006-10-29 10:23:13 · answer #10 · answered by Michelle 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋