My 9 month old puppy can be very mean. I think she is playing but sometimes it is scary, how do i stop this?

Question

She is a toy poodle mix, so she is pretty small 7-8 lbs. If I am trying to catch her,she runs from me and growls. Then when I am about to catch her she growls and barks but her tail is wagging and she is in play position (body low, tail in air). When I pick her up she tries to bite me especially if she has something in her mouth she thinks i will take away from her. So far she hasn't hurt me too bad she has only cut my finger twice, but I am tired of it. How do I make her stop this?

Answer 1

There are several ways you can do this.
You can use the force way: Showing who is boss
This way involves:
1:pushing on the dogs snout (the sign for domince between dogs.)
2: Growl No, in a loud voice
3: walk away and repeat if it happens again. (Or instead of walking away, continue.)
4: When she lets you pick her up, give her a treat
5: Say "Good dog" etc.

Also, watch your stance, what is your body language telling her?
Are you "playfully" picking her up? Are you hovering over her?
Are you at her level, on your knees, in the bowing position? All of these can contribute to her actions.
Try to keep your body language as calm as possible.
Speak clearly and calmly, kneel when you reach for her, and try not to hover over her.
She may also be teething.

this site provides another method of training.
http://www.collargirl.com/not-to-bite.html

Good luck

Answer 2

You need to switch the center of power! You are top dog. Unless there is something very wrong with her brain, your dog will respond well to good and consistant training. You will then have a dog that is a real pleasure to have around.

You should NOT be in a posttion of trying to catch her. A long training leash is useful in teaching her to obey. You'll find a lot of specific information on the web. You might consider crating.

When your dog in misbehaving in an active way (biting, growling, etc., you can do what mama dog did: a quick nip/pinch to the back of here neck along with a quiet firm "No" works best for me. Remember the dominant dog asserts himself rather peacably by placing and holding his paw over the neck of the submissive dog.

Set aside specific playtimes of your choosing and have a least one training session every day. Good luck!!

Answer 3

I have a pretty aggressive boston terrier. Before he was fixed he was worse. Initially I didn't know how to talk to him. When I wanted him to be quieter or nicer I spoke to him in a way I thought would calm him. The dog trainer told me that since he doesn't know what I'm saying, my soothing voice reinforced his behavior. It wasn't until I got stern with him, that he began to listen. My dog still growls a little when my children try to take something from him. He doesn't do that to me because he knows I am not playing with him. If you use a stern voice and you show her that you are the boss, she will respond. Give her treats when she is good. Say NO! and ignore her for a few minutes when she is bad. You could also try spraying her in her face with a spray bottle. She will hate it and it might stop her from creating patterns of bad behavior. Good Luck.

Answer 4

You're over-exciting your puppy and you really should stop this. DO NOT chase after a dog, this is a massive game to this and if they win the game they have just proven that you are not fast enough nor smart enough to be the Leader of the Pack,

I reccomend reading about how to become the Leader of the Pack with such books as 'Dog Listener' from Jan Fennell.

Nip this in the butt now before it gets serious.

Answer 5

I always think raising children and pets have some similarities ... give lots of positive reinforcement for good behavior :-)

Any time our new pup (he's just 11 wks, and less than 3 lbs) wants to bite our fingers while playing, or chews on something he shouldn't, I make sure to give him something that is ok to chew on and bite. If he bites me too hard when playing (normally when he is overstimulated), I stop playing and calm him down.

Answer 6

You Have to become " The Lead Dog" This can be pretty hard with you young ladies and your dogs. You have to let her know through body language that you are the lead dog, Act like a Man around your dog!! Be Macho! Or else watch the dog whisperer on cable!

Answer 7

particular, that's completely conceivable that the hot addition might want to be the more desirable domineering of both. The pecking order would not inevitably might want to do with age, yet with temperament and personality. (As they are both domestic dogs, though, who's conscious?) i does not leap to any conclusions on the instantaneous, though. See, it sounds to me like the domestic dog is basically being a domestic dog. At this age, the popular domestic dog should not be afraid to be bratty! Like small little ones, domestic dogs are obnoxious. they don't recognize any more desirable. they opt for to play hard, and they don't yet recognize canines manners (like respecting yet another canines's possessions). And that's quite organic for your older canines to be tolerating him because, lower back, he's only a domestic dog. domestic dogs frequently have a "domestic dog license" that lets them get away with their impolite antics until eventually they are about 4 months previous. that's at the same time as older canines frequently step in to discipline the domestic dog. don't be shocked in case your older canines looks to unexpectedly snap in some weeks. there will be growling, air-snapping and barking, yet basically watch heavily. If the canines does not damage the domestic dog and if the domestic dog would not seem traumatized later on, you'll recognize the older canines became basically coaching the domestic dog some manners.

Answer 8

Don't play with her when she does things you don't like. In fact, don't give her any attention in those cases. Say No and leave her alone. I am afraid you are spoiling by accepting and encouraging this behaviour, although you don't mean to. Ask a professional trainer for help, but a positive reinforcement techniques user. Violence will make things worse.

Answer 9

Maybe sit down instead of chasing her with a treat in your hand. Make her come to you and then praise her with the treat. If she is biting at you look her in the eyes and with a firm voice say "NO"
It worked with my Pomeranian. Good Luck.

Answer 10

next time u play with her and she growls at you stop and say "NO!" in a very strong voice and then walk away and ignore her for a while. keep this up and then maybe she will stop. good luck!