How can I train my 12 week female Yorkie to stop biting and not be so aggressive?

Question

My 12 week old female Yorkie has been persistantly aggressive with biting and attacking our Miniature Schnauzer as well as us. She acts like it is a form of play, but we do not encourage it at all. Her behavior has been rude. Help?

Answer 1

I don't know about your Miniature Schnauzer. But mine will fight with anything that shows aggression toughs him. I imagine when your Schnauzer has had enough. She will go back at her. Unfortunately that is what is needed, and the best to get her to stop. Yorke's are a very tough breed, don't let the size fool you.

Answer 2

It is a form of play and totally normal puppy behaviour,its not meant aggresively atall.Your other dog knows this is puppy play and will be very good at tolerating the behaviour.Every time she nips you say no loudly and firmly and let out a high pitched yelp sound as her littermates would have done this and it stops play imediantly,then ignore her for 5-10mins and let her calm down,repeat this every time and with in a few weeks she will soon learn that it hurts.There is no need to get in involved with the play between the pup and your older dog as your older dog will tell her when hes had enough just as the mother of a litter does.She will soon learn though,its all part of a puppys natural development and behaviour.Good luck.

Answer 3

PUPPY BITING / MOUTHING

It comes as a great surprise to many puppy owners that their little darling arrived with a full set of sharp pointed teeth that the average shark would be proud of! Worse, the puppy likes to flex them on you! This information is designed for puppies under the age of 18 weeks - which still have their puppy teeth. If you have a dog over this age that is mouthing or biting please call the breeder for advice.

Biting during play is essential and normal for all puppies, but you need to take action to reduce it in your home. Puppies have needle-sharp teeth for one reason only - so that when they bite, it hurts! This helps them to discover what is alive and what is not! This is normal and should not be treated as aggression. However, it is not acceptable for dogs to bite people and puppies need to be given education in how to moderate their biting.

• Puppy biting teaches a pup just how hard it can bite other living things. Clearly, it can exert a huge amount of pressure on a lifeless object such as a toy, without causing any kind of reaction, while trying the same behaviour on a litter mate - or on us – will most certainly result in a big response!

• How do litter mates respond if they are bitten too hard? Puppies play by biting each others’ ears, tail, legs and any other part that they can catch hold of! This is accepted quite happily - until the pressure becomes too hard. Then the ‘victim’ is likely to yelp and stop playing for a short while, leaving the pup that bit too hard to realize that there were consequences to his actions. We need to mimic this response when teaching our own puppies not to bite.

• The process of learning to moderate biting is known as learning ‘bite inhibition’.

It is vital that all puppies learn how to moderate their bites before they lose their

deciduous teeth at around 18 weeks’ of age.

Suggestions

Your puppy needs to know that biting hurts! This means that each and every time your puppy mouths your hands or clothes, you MUST:

• Yelp loudly or give a shout.

• Immediately turn away as if to nurse your wounds, and ignore your pup.

• Your puppy will probably look a little bewildered.

• Ignore your pup for about 20 seconds, then resume interacting.

• Repeat the “Ouch!” and turn away each and every time you feel his teeth.

• It is important to be consistent, that means everyone must do the same.

Biting will not stop immediately. Instead, it should become less and less hard over a period of about three to four weeks. At this point, your pup should realise that he cannot put any pressure on you at all, and then you can yelp even if he puts his mouth on you gently – finally teaching him that he cannot initiate biting.

IMPORTANT! Do not play rough and tumble games with your puppy, or play any game where the pup grabs your clothes, skin or hair. (Dad, listen!!!) This is giving your puppy permission to bite and will set back all your other efforts.

Help, we’re still having problems!

This process works well for the vast majority of puppies. However, there are exceptions: pups which are already well over 14 weeks’ old and puppies which have learned to bite for attention! If you find that yelping and turning away has had no effect, despite total consistency for a fortnight, or if your puppy seems to become more excited and snappy if you yelp, you may need a different strategy.

• Take all the fun out of the behaviour! This means no laughing, squealing or shouting if your puppy bites.

• As soon as your dog puts his mouth on you, even in play, say “Wrong” or “Quit it” in a normal voice, then immediately put him in the kitchen or behind a door or baby gate.

• This social isolation should only last about 3 minutes, then he can rejoin the family.

• However, if your puppy gets excited by being picked up, simply say “Wrong” then get up and leave the room yourself, shutting the door behind you. Children can do this very effectively.

• Be consistent! It will take many repetitions before your puppy understands that biting results in the loss of fun.


www.eurobichons.com

Answer 4

While it could be over zealous play it could also be a form of fear biting. Since I can't see the dog, I don't know which it is and it is handled very differently.

I would highly recommend going to Puppy Kindergarten class. Here is a link that explains what it is and what it can do for your puppy. I've recommended these for years to my puppy people and they've always told me that they were glad they went and they couldn't believe the difference in their 'baby'.

Here is what the average training class will help with:

Puppy Kindergarten
Objectives: Build a strong relationship with your new puppy based on trust and cooperation. Puppy classes are an indispensable foundation for the rest of your dog's life. All training is gentle and fun, and you will learn how to help your puppy blend into your family. Topics include:

~Lots of socialization and handling by people.
~Success in house training.
~Chew toy training
~Inappropriate mouthing and biting
~Socialization with other dogs
~New sights, sounds and experiences
~How to play with your puppy
~Handling exercises
~Basic training - be attentive, "sit", "down", "come", "stay", "leave it", "give", and walking on a leash.
~How to build a structure in your puppy's life to help him become a happy and well-adjusted adult.

For local classes, look under 'dog training' in the phone book or type 'dog training+ your city/state' into your favorite Internet search engine. You can also contact your local All Breed Kennel Club for recommendations.

Good Luck! :)

Answer 5

She's a pup. Pups bite. Your other dog will let her know when she's taken things too far. The best teacher for a youngen with biting tendencies towards other dogs is another dog. She will learn valuable social skills from your other dog.

If the biting persists (with people) as she ages, consider professional obedience.

Answer 6

when she bites it is a sign of aggression that she needs to overcome. Upon any biting incident point out to her that this is not acceptable by saying no to her and having her sit. When she sits well then reward her and praise her saying good girl, good puppy or good Lady ( use her name ) Soon she start to sit when you say no, sit and then reward her for doing so. You must train her to respond to sit, no and good girl which gets a treat if she does what you want. Hopefully with consistent rewards she will learn that biting gets no reward and sitting, stopping biting when no is said gets a reward. Little milk bones cut into pieces and rubbed with garlic will get her on your side quickly. Good luck.

Answer 7

most people react by swatting the puppy for biting, don't do that. dogs have an instinct to fight back, so that would only encourage her behavior. when she does it, simply use a firm voice that will let her know that you are disappointed in her actions. tell her "no, that's bad". then walk away and ignore her for about ten minutes. then try to interact again. if she does it again, you do the same thing. dogs learn by repetition, and they want to do what pleases you most. i recommend a book called "the dog listener"

Answer 8

I strongly suggest you watch the Dog Whisper on the National Geographic channel, he deals with aggressive dog's like that all the time. I really think you will find all the answers to your problems after watching just one of his shows.

Answer 9

being so young she has to be tough that its rude.. you play with her, and if she gets to ruff , look at her and tell her know.. if she keeps up.. tap her on nose with 1 finger and repeat no.. if it happens again, tell her MANNERS.. and put her in time out.. it sounds weird but it works with our rescues.. since we do not lock them up during the day.. I believe in socialisation...

there are allot of videos and stuff on the net with suggestions

Answer 10

everytime she bites just scold her till she gets a little older then thump her nose-she will stop i promise!!!!!! she will realize not to bite and be aggressive