my dog will not stop biting me!?

Question

its either my feet when i walk, or my hands, how do i get him to sopt? and he alredy has toys.

hes a bichon frise and hes 6 months old

Answer 1

Hi there, I am a Veterinarian Technician and a Dog Obediance Instructor specializing in puppies. I hope I can help you!

First of all, congratulations on your new puppy! How exciting! Secondly, I do have two suggestions/strategies to help you stop your puppy from nipping! There are two different types of biting, agressive and play. It sounds as though the puppy is play biting. Please be aware if play biting is not stopped, it can lead to agressive/territorial biting even over something as silly as a sock they want to play with. I am also wondering if it is a quick bite or a clenched on bite, there are different ways to go about those.

Anyways, luckily for you, it is not too late!! The first strategy I would like you to try is something littermates would teach each other when they were very young pups still with mom: Each time your puppy bites you I want you to let out that loud, earpiercing, yelp that I know you have heard from other dogs. That is how other dogs communicate to each other that the behavior is not acceptable.

It is important that you DO NOT yell, hit, or bite your puppy back (trust me, I have seen EVERYTHING! It will create fear in your pup), instead let out a loud yelp. It might take a few times for your puppy to realize what your message is, but remember it is so so important to remain consistant! Don't yelp every other time she bites, yelp each and every time or you will leave your puppy confused as to why sometimes she can bite, and sometimes she can't.

If that doesn't work (it really should if done consistantly!) then you can try to associate a word with a behavior and a consequence. Think when you try to teach your puppy to sit. You associate a word ("Sit!") with a behavior (when they actually it) with a consequence (a cookie, praise, rubs, etc. remember... consequences are not always bad! they are just a result o a choosed behavior!). So apply the whole sit concept to the biting. Your word could be as simple as "Ouch!" (say it sternly, you can use a louder voice, but don't yell) when she bites (behavior) and the consequence (as SOON as your puppy releases from the bite reward them with a cookie, praise, rub, etc. Again, it might take a few tries (ok, maybe a week, so again, stay consistant.

If you feel like the cookies, praise, etc. are not working you could absolutely still use your word "Ouch!" and then immediately pick your puppy up (not in an angry way, just sternly) and put her into her crate for 1 minute. Go on doing your business as she is crated, ignore any barking, crying, eye contact. Then after the minute is up let her out and praise her! Each time you say "Ouch!" and place her in her crate she will associate the behavior (biting) with the consequence (crate).

Dogs are smart and want to please, she will catch on! Just remember to stay calm and assertive!

Answer 2

If your dog is a puppy, this is normal. Puppies go through a stage where they bite on everything, especially hands. They will do this, and as long as you are not harsh with them, they will eventually stop. You can offer a toy, take your hands away, or have the dog lay down for a tummy rub. If your dog is older, (maybe one year or more), then maybe the dog is looking for a little more attention. Try playing with the dog, throwing a ball or toy for it to fetch. Take it for walks, using the sit command along the way during the walk (pull up on the leash, and gently push down on the butt, while saying, "Sit".) Offer it bones to chew on. One thing that may help, is to attach a leash on the dog, even when it is in the house. If it begins to try to play with your feet, or playfully bite at them, then just gently take ahold of the leash, pull upward and say, "sit". Push the bottom end down, if necessary, but still being gentle. Each time the dog tries to chew on your feet, do this until it understands that you do not want chewing, but the sit command. When you have the dog sitting, praise it saying, "Good dog, sit." Then give the dog something else to do, like play with it or give it a bone or toy, or pet it. Sometimes dogs don't know how to ask for attention.

Answer 3

You need to redirect his behavior, when he starts to bite your feet or hands frimly say, eh eh, or no, then give him a toy or something he is allowed to bite.
Is he getting plenty of excercise? You could take him out and play some fetch with him and or take him for walks, a tired puppy is a good puppy, lol.
Just be patient, it can take a little time to break him of this habit but it can be done.

Also, don't hit your puppy with a newspaper or squirt him in the face with water, etc. You can ruin a dog with these types of methods, most especially if he is a puppy.
There is nothing more patheitc then to see a dog cower down or run everytime he or she sees a newspaper.

Answer 4

Is he a puppy? Because puppies tend to nip at their owners, or people in general, especially when they're teething. To stop that, you can either smack his little bottom very VERY gently and say "No," in a low, kind of growly voice, or you can try squirting him with water from a spray bottle, which dogs HATE. If he's an older dog and he's just now started doing this, he may need to be re-trained, so do the discipline methods I mentioned above, and if that doesn't work, take him to the vet to make sure he doesn't have a problem that's causing him to lash out.

Answer 5

Is your dog a puppy? My 1 year old Yellow Lab had the same problem. When I drove him home from the breeder, he sat in my lap and gnawed on my hand the entire way home. He loved to chew on me until he was about 10 months old. Now he playfully snaps but doesn't bite. However, if your dog is older, you should just give your vet a call and ask about it. Or everytime he bites you, spray him with some water from a spray bottle.

Answer 6

You need to stop this behavior immediately or it will get worse. What is worse? Biting a visitor and being taken to court.
As a responsible owner, it is your responsibility to train him now.
At any thine he attempts to bite you, you stop him by telling him "NO"! don't let him continue. If you have to remove his mouth from you hand- or whatever you need to do but stop the behavior. You also can use a hand gesture....placing your flat open hand in front of his nose. Not to strike him. But to be a physical reminder to "STOP". You also do not want to get too physical. If needed you can take hold of the scruff of his neck at the same time you are telling him "NO"! A choke collar is a good training "tool". Not to punish!! To train, only. Anytime he displays unwanted behavior immediately tell him "NO"! in a very firm voice. No need to yell. You don't want to teach him to only respond to yelling. You want him to respond to the word"NO". Use the hand technique and/ or the choke collar as adjuncts to the word"NO"! It works.
This will not be done in a day or even a few days. If he has been allowed to bite this may take a while but eventually,if you are consistent, he will respond whenever you tell him "NO"!
I have cats, and my cats know the word "NO"! They immediately stop whatever they are doing. They do not bite me or scratch furniture.
It works...good luck.

Answer 7

I hate how people are so easy to get rid of animals (I am not speaking about you)...
Squirt bottles work the best, if not - I would take him to the vet to find out if he has a behavioral problem or if he has a teeth problem.
If he is not biting hard, he could think that you are another dog and he is trying to play.

Answer 8

You can try this thing called Bitter Apple, you just spray it on whatever you don't want him to bite and he'll stop & I heard that if you let him play with other dogs, they tend to bite each other and they'll learn from the way the other dog reacts that biting hurts

Answer 9

If he is a puppy give him somthing 2 chew on like a golf ball. But if he is full grown show some desiplen your the boss let the dog know that

Answer 10

I agree with the squirt bottle of water. We have used that to train all of our dogs and cats as we were growing up. It always works, weather it's because they bark, or scratch at the door or nibble at your toes and feet. It's a very safe and effective way to train them.