what to do when a puppy bites? and my other question wasnt really answered....?

Question

my puppy is 8 weeks old and we just brought him home,(2 days ago)is it too early to discipline him not to bite, he mostly does it when he plays which i know is regular puppy behavior. if so how should i do it?,currently im just telling him no sternly and it works most of the time, but sometimes it dosnt, is that enough? i herd about taping there noes when they do something wrong, but im worried it will cause aggression in him or he'll become scared of me, and i dont want that, also my puppy was born into a litter of 11 hes use to having others to sleep with, so should i sleep beside him outside the crate while hes inside so he has company? or let him rough it out alone during the night until he gets use to being alone? or should i put him in his crate in my room to sleep, ill sleep on my bed and him in the crate, what seems the best idea to do? when he grows up we're probably gonna leave sleeping in the crate optional, but he wont be allowed on the bed, just for the fact of dominance

Answer 1

Lots of good ideas here. I'm no expert but I'm 45 and have had dogs all my life. Some working dogs (ducks, rabbits, ect), some just family pets. Read the vet tech blog. Also the idea of pushing the dogs snout down is one I have used with success. You did not mention the breed of dog. This can make a big difference, some breeds will easily grow out of this and others will need a firm hand to break them of this before they get too old. It's always important to understand the traits of the breed before you choose one. Some are great if they have room to run, some smaller ones are better suited for apartment living. You get the idea. The most important thing to remember is that dogs are not smart enough to think like us so we have to think like them. If you watch a few documenteries on canine species and observe their social structure, you can understand what they relate to and develop a training strategy based on their instincts. It's possible, and quite ok to to be firm without being mean.

Answer 2

Hi....about the biting- I am just a dog lover who has had experience with many dogs. When they bite, they are usually playing, but they have very sharp baby teeth. When they bite, I just take my hand and keeping it flat, lay it across the top of puppy's muzzle, (snout), and gently push down, and say no firmly. They will probably do it again, but just repeat the action until they realize that you don't want that. Also, when you say no, and remove your hand, redirect them to a chew toy, and they will learn to chew it, not your hand. Dogs are generally intelligent, and will learn behaviors quickly, if you are consistant. As far as where the dog sleeps, he will be lonesome a few nights alone in his kennel, but, unless he is already housetrained, if you don't kennel him, you'll be busy cleaning the next morning. I would put the kennel in a "regular" spot, where you'll be most likely to have it for use in the future. Some train their dogs to sleep in kennels every night. My house dog sleeps on a pillow on the floor by my bed, after being all tucked in under his blankie. Where your dog sleeps is just a matter of your preference.

Answer 3

Shoot, I have 8 dogs and most of them sleep on my bed. But I am still the alpha dog and they know it. Puppies do bite when they play. That's a puppy. Just don't let him get rough. My dogs still bite at me when playing but when I tell them to back off cause they are too rough, they do. Put your puppy in his crate in your room. That way you can hear him if he cries.

Answer 4

As far as the biting goes this is normal behaviour for a puppy and they usually grow out of it. As for the sleeping arrangements, try putting something with your smell on it in the crate and a wind up clock that ticks loudly this will help them to think they are hearing another heartbeat.
Congrats on you new furbaby and best of luck

Answer 5

when he bits take two fingers slap top of mouth above the nose and be stern and say no....nothing else..He will get the point..and no you should not sleep beside his crate..He will never get used to it...At first he will drive you crazy but then later he won't care to go to it. I would sleep with a towel or small blanket and the next night put it in his crate.that away he will smell you scent on it. and he will like that.
I had a dog in crate and she loved it...When we had company she went there by herself...A lot of people don't like crate and thinks it is mean but it isn't it keeps them safe and you a sound of mind while you are gone. Good luck

Answer 6

Hi there, I am a Veterinarian Technician and 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 (not even a tap/slap on the nose or mouth!!), 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!

OK... so now aboyt the sleeping issues... NO do not sleep next to her in her crate. Not only is that a really bad habit to start, but your pup will be just fine in his crate. I put my pups crates in my bedroom, so they can see me. But I must warn you... you have to ignore the barking/crying and sad puppy eyes when he is begging to come out. Do not give in!!! The crying will probably last for a solid week straight... but it will subside... I promise!!! As long as you ignore him. I know it sounds awful, but he needs to learn night time is quiet time and he needs to sleep. If you even let him out one time when he cries he will carry on even more the next time in hopes you will let him out again. I always took water away from my puppies at 8:00pm, so I knew they did not have to urinate during the night. An ice cube or two is just fine!!!

My dogs still sometimes sleep in their crates or sometimes they chose to sleep on the floor. Your dog will do just the same, as long as you make the crate a positive experience. I frequetly find one of my dogs chewing a bone or napping in a crate around the house.

Good luck!!! Congratulations!!

Answer 7

There is a book titled "AFTER YOU GET YOUR PUPPY" by Dr. Ian Dunbar. He is the pioneer of puppy training, and this is the best book you'll ever buy! It goes over EVERYTHING you need to know to raise and train a well behaved puppy! Get one asap! It's the only book we sell at our vet practice--no profit! :)

http://www.siriuspup.com/about_founder.html

Answer 8

didn't you discuss all this with the person you got him from?

Really, these are things one has to have clear in their mind before they get a puppy!

Buy some books.

People ask this stuff like 15 times a day!