Dog Play Biting Question?

Question

My dog is about 20 lbs (mix between a manchester terrier and a jack russell terrier). She is about a year old. I got her from the humane society, and have had her for almost two weeks now. She is just getting used to her name and a basic routine. She always play bites though.


When I tell her no, she doesn't listen and also thinks I'm playing.
When I spank her, she thinks I'm playing.
When I hold her snout, she thinks I'm playing.
She actually get more excited by these things sometimes.
How can I get the point across that I am serious
about this? Any ideas appreciated. Thanks.


Also, she is very scared of loud noises such as a vacuum or even a hair dryer, or even a rolling chair on the floor. Could I use this to my advantage?

She was in the shelter for being a stray, so really they could not tell us much about her besides what they had seen for the past 2 months.

Answer 1

A lot of these people's answers are bad ones.

Do not use scaring her as an advantage. She needs to be desensitized to noises slowly. You attach a positive to it, such as, when the vacuum is out, she gets treats.

For the biting, when she bites hard say "OWCH" and walk away, ignoring her. (When a puppy bites another puppy too hard, they yelp and stop playing.) When you come back in a minute, do not give eye contact or attention until she is good, than praise her. So she learns that when she bites, play time will be over. Try holding a toy or something for her to chew appropriately, like a rope bone. She should learn to bite a stuffed animal, you can throw it and play fetch.

Do not spank your dog. Squeezing the snout, inside the mouth, all that stuff does not work because they dog takes it as a challenge or a game. Bitter apple does not work, unless you want to put it on your hands everyday. Saying no all the time does not work either. You must use positive reinforcement, when she does NOT bite, or when she bites the toy instead of you, reward her.

Answer 2

Many dogs learn not to bite hard by playing with other dogs as pups. The next time she keeps doing this act as if she's hurt you, whelp and turn away or whatever you feel comfortable with. This may take a while for her to understand especially since this is a behavior she's had for a while.
If that doesn't help, then grab her by the back of the neck and move her off of your hand. If she goes to do it again, pick her up by the neck (you can also hold her under her bottom if you're a pansy like me and since she's a bit heavier) and tell her sternly not to do it anymore, looking her in the eyes. Then put her down and ignore her for a while so she knows that you're mad and not playing. If she does it while you're sitting on the bed or couch with her put her on the ground and do not let her sit with you. She should get the hint eventually and learn to play more gently.
Don't feel bad about punishing her as it's really for her own good.

Answer 3

Your dog isn't play-biting. That's dominateering behavior. I mean, I'm sure it is in a playful manner, but it's an offensive gesture by dogs towards humans. We typically don't view it like that, and just think they're playing, but they're actually saying "eff you buddy, this is my turf."

Never use a dog's inesecurities to your advantage. That's almost like teasing them. It'll only make your situation worse, even if it stops the biting. You don't really need to spank dogs, they take orders well if you give them properly. It's very difficult for many people to understand how to do that though, especially if they're used to naturally submissive dogs.

I would personally suggest not getting mad, but getting firm. If I use no expression other then an assertive tone with my dogs, they're very obedient... but the second I get irritated they go crazy. You just really need to handle it as if it wasn't even happening, but use a very firm energy in doing it. This is easier said then done, you'd probably have to see it done. Instead of spanking your dog, snap your dog out of the behavior by tapping them with a couple of fingers on their neck and then making them walk off. If that doesn't work, try the Dog Whisperer. LOL... I normally don't recommend those things, but I suppose he does know what he's doing.

Answer 4

I teach puppies not to bite by gently pushing my arm or hand into their mouth when they bite, until they try to push it out with their tounge. If they are persistent or hurt you give a stern No at the same time. But as soon as they push you out change to happy saying 'good'. After a few weeks they start to realise that biting is not a good thing to do. If it becomes a serious problem, you could stop playing immediately she bites, put her in the laundry, or somewhere boring, for time out for five minutes or so, if you do this consistently it won't take long for her to stop doing it. Make sure she has something she is allowed to chew on, a raw bone or a Kong, so her need to chew is being satisfied. Good luck with your new pet.

Answer 5

Well hitting your dog only increases aggression in play biting, and does absolutely nothing to stop it neither does just saying NO, holding her muzzle etc.

Why? because any attention is still attention regardless if it is negative or positive.. Dogs learn better from refusal to give them ANY attention for bad behaviour. Next time your dog bites, say NO! and when she continues biting say NO again, stand up turn your back and utterly ignore her for at least 5 minutes if not longer... I mean dont look at her, dont talk to her dont even acknowledge her presence at all. Once she has calmed down and has begun sulking because you are ignoring her, start playing again and once again if she bites you at all say NO, if she doesnt listen ignore her again because of it.. pretty soon she will get the point that biting you gains her NOTHING at all and she will start to listen and understand that no means no.

Answer 6

First things first, you don't want want your dog to be scared of you by using the things that he/she's afraid of. What you should do to get rid of his biting problem is when he starts tell him/her to lay down and stay and walk away for 10 minutes, then come back. If he/she's calm give him/her teats on praise him/her.

Answer 7

never let her put her mouth on you when it is time to play get a toy,never hold her nose. your hands are not toys and it hurts to have your nose squeezed, spanking is cruel too, and usually has negative effects, if she is a shelter dog you should be very patient with her you don't know what she has experienced, why was she at the shelter? use toys to play everytime its time to play and have a selection , she should have toys to play with , with you and toys that she plays with by herself. both breeds you mention are high strung active dogs they love to do trick and clown, try to be patient with her, she only wants to please and thank you for taking a shelter dog.

Answer 8

If she bites try ignoring her or make a high yipping noise like a hurt dog.

Answer 9

growl a no in a low voice and totally ignore the dog. when the behavior is good, reward the dog with attention.

repeat this and be firm and consistent.

Answer 10

You could rub Bitter Apple on your hands so when she bites it will taste bad. You could also throw a can full of pennies at her to startle her and make her stop acting up.