Any advice?

Question

I have a 6 month old white German shepherd dog named Lily who my husband and I bought from a wonderful breeder when she was 8 weeks old. Lily is doing so well in her obedience classes that she attends weekly, and she continues to impress my husband and I. She's now learned sit, down, stay, shake, touch, leave it (to some degree), and high-five. She has not, however, grown out of her horrible
biting problem that she's had ever since she was 8 weeks old. Lily has been well-socialized with dogs as well as other humans. We get complements on how gorgeous she is constantly, but the next thing out
of everyone's mouth is how she tends to bite like no other puppy or dog they've seen. I know she is a puppy, and everyone really does try to deal with it, but I can not stress enough how much of a problem
this is. I wish I could take a video of her and show you guys. We really need help. She shows no aggression, and she is a sweet dog, she just doesn't realize the pain she inflicts on us. If she isn't sleeping, she wants to bite. Petting her is a battle with her mouth... it's literally ALL she wants to do. She has tons of toys, some that she really likes, but the second the toy is out of her mouth she chews on arms and fingers and feet, and twice she's lunged right at my face, leaving me scabs on my nose. We've put a lot of effort into working on her problem, and we have five different dog books to use as references (Why Does my Dog Act this Way, How to be your dogs best friend, The Art of Raising a Puppy, Kathy Santo's Dog Sense, and For the Love of the Dog) . She doesn't respond AT ALL to ignoring her when she bites. She'll just try to continue to bite. When we try to leave the room, she just continues to bite us like crazy, not even caring that we're getting up to leave. We tried yelping and saying "No, no bite!" every time in the past, but in the last few months we've tried not to give her any feedback at all when she bites and we say "good girl, Lily!" as soon as she begins to bite the chew toy we offer instead of us, but two seconds later she's biting our hands again sooo hard and intensely. My husband and I are covered in scratches, and my thighs have a million bruises from her jumping on me and biting me so hard it leavesbruised-scratches through my clothes. The only time we’ve seen an improvement in her behavior other than when we are away from home or she is sleeping is when we’ve allowed her to play with other dogs for a good part of the day. She’ll be as sweet as can be then and have no intention of biting us. Unfortunately the only other pets my husband and I have are two cats who don’t respond well to Lily when she is playful.

We've been considering adopting another dog from a rescue organization or humane society. Do you think providing Lily with another dog to play with and bite will help her behavior at all? We are considering dogs around a year old or maybe a little older, with a calmer personality but that still like to play. Any suggestions on dog breeds that would work well with a German shepherd dog? I would
assume that smaller breeds such as a terrier would not be good to get, although two of Lily's regular playmates are a dauschaund and a Jack Russell terrier-beagle mix who she has no problems with, although they do let her know when they've had enough of her biting. Thoughts?

We love Lily so much, and we would appreciate any new ideas/questions/comments that you guys had.

To answer some of your questions:

* We got Lily from the Moore family of Moonlight's German shepherds. You can find more info about them online.

* We've taken Lily to the vet more times than I could count on my fingers, it seems. All they have to say is that she should grow out of it (they've been saying that since she was 8 weeks old) and to talk to a trainer about it if it's a real problem. Our trainer isn't the most experienced person with biting issues, and she hasn't been much of a help in this area.

* My husband and I, along with our friend who has been staying with us in our guest bedroom for the last month and will be for three more, are all home with Lily, although not always at the same time. She is never locked up in her crate (as we've been told this is not a place for punishment ever), and she even sleeps with my husband and I at night. This dog gets a lot of attention. We have a nice sized yard and we go to the dog park 4 days a week. We play with her constantly

* It isn't an aggressive bite at all, unless someone is playing with her roughly, which I do not like since she is experiencing a biting problem. She breaks the skin sometimes, but not out of anger. It's just her favorite type of play, and what she wants to do 24/7. She loves fetch, but throughout the entire game she bites us, and when we put her in a "sit", she runs to get the toy, then brings it back and bites us again hard. When she's tired the biting is softer, but anytime she is alert and especially during any type of play at all, it gets a lot worse.

* We of course try to push her away, but now her mouth is huge and she can put our hands in her mouth again much easier than we can push her away or close her mouth, and after wards when we've done this in the past she comes back for more playfully, which = more pain.

* There is no discrepancy about who she is biting. Lily will bite anyone who has their arm hanging off the couch, reaches down to pet her (although she doesn't do it to someone she literally has JUST met), and even my 8 year old brother while he is visiting and just trying to walk through the living room. Like I said before, it's not that she has anything against anyone or what they are doing. It's just her favorite thing to do.

Answer 1

this is pretty easy to fix on a German shepherd. The skin on the back of the neck that the mother uses when she moves the puppies, each time your dog bites you take that skin and lift up like the mother would do and say NO. THIS DOES NOT HURT the puppy but they will cry out. This problem will be fixed in no time if you do that. I have owned this breed my whole life and having small children I don't want the puppies to bite them, so that is what I was told to do by my vet and it has worked. They are wonderful dogs!
As far as what types of breed of dogs to get around Lily, honestly she'll do well with any of them. You can get a male or female for her at her age but just make sure the other dog has the temperment for her. I have several dogs both male and female and the youngest is 10 weeks old (GSD) and the oldest is 9. I can bring any other dog into the pack and it doesn't matter if it's male or female, no one fights ever. But I do have to test the one I bring in first, but the ones I already have just go with the flow of things.

Answer 2

Her mother would correct her when she nipped. Now you must play the role of her mother. Every time she bites, say "OW" disapprovingly. Also turn away and ignore her for a while if necessary.

I own an 10-month old pit bull; he knows exactly what "ow" means. I do have another dog, and therefore he does need a little less attention than if he were an only dog. But I still had to set boundaries. Your dog is treating you and your husband like you are other dogs in her pack basically because you are. If you do adopt another dog, do NOT get another female. Get a male, and neuter/spay one or both of the dogs.

I absolutely do not tolerate my dog jumping on me. It is one issue that is not negotiable. He has hard toenails and he weighs 65 lbs, and he is strong. I use two methods: If he jumps at me I either block him with a knee to the chest; or, if he jumps before I can bring my knee up, I give him a friendly scratch behind the ears while I step lightly on his back foot. The pressure on his back foot makes him get down, and it serves as negative reinforcement to discourage the behavior in the future. He doesn't associate the negative reinforcement with me because I am simultaneously petting him. He merely becomes conditioned not to jump.

If your dog has dominance issues, and it seems she does, she should not be sleeping with you. http://www.canismajor.com/dog/noresp.html

To Nancy: No, mother dogs do not teach their dogs not to bite by saying "ow". Guess what? They also don't say "sit", or click clickers, or turn the garden hose on a dog who barks excessively. We have to adapt the dogs' methods (or devise new ones). Dogs use punishment that fit the crime. They don't go ballistic over a nip. Why ream the dog out over a minor infraction -- unless you want a psycho dog. There is nothing wrong with starting small and using progressively harsher methods if needed. It is explained in the link.

Answer 3

When she bites, EVERY TIME, put her in a puppy "time out." Leave the room (if someone is still there to supervise her) or take her & very matter-of-factly ( no scolding) put her in her crate, or another safe room. Unless you get nasty about it (which I am not advising) she shouldn't begin to resent her crate over this. Leave her there for a few minutes to think about why she was just excluded from the pack. Of course, she's really likely to whine, cry, & bark. Be sure NOT to let her out while she is doing any of that... unless you want to encourage that behavior! Just wait for a brief pause in the noise, then walk back in quickly, praise her for being quiet & let her out to rejoin her "pack." All is forgiven, after all... she is just a baby! This will likely need to be repeated *time & time again* before it sinks in.
OR: try a shake can. Get an empty and clean soda can and place a couple of pennies in it. Swivel the tab, so the pennies stay in. When your pup starts to nip, give the verbal command and at the same time give the can a good shake or drop it next to puppy . This will help reinforce the verbal command. As soon as she stops, praise and give her a good toy to play with.
OR: You might enjoy the clicker method. It is explained very well here: http://www.clickertraining.com/node/168
The clicker is the most fun way to get your point across.

There is no really 'right' way to train individual dogs. You have it made, when you find the motivator for your dog. Dogs are as individual as kids, and, as you've learned, what works for one doesn't work for all..The important thing is to find what fits, and stay consistent with that method.

LAST, is she getting enough exercise? A tired puppy doesn't chew on much...

Answer 4

Is it a very serious bite? Sometimes dogs give what is called a "hit" That hit is basically a warning, they'll put a part of your body in their mouth, or bite lightly to tell you to not do something. Example: You're rubbing your dogs stomach, and she bites you. Not hard enough to HURT you, but enough for you to feel discomfort. This is a "hit"

What's one thing all the people who are bitten have in common?

As Dogs Mouth, which is a form of affection. To break my dog of this habit, whenever he would mouth. I'd firmly say "No." He usually stopped immediately, but for the rare time that he didn't, I gave him a light tap on the nose. He no longer mouths.

You have to show the dog what she is doing is wrong. One way is if she bites and does not stop after the first warning, Chain her up, or put her in a crate. To most dogs, being confined like so it a god-awful punishment, and she'll drop the biting soon.

Edit: After re-reading your question, I've got a question for you. How often do you play with your dog? Why not try playing with her a little longer. Or taking her on a bit of a longer walk. My dog, Ibanez sometimes bites me when he wants to go outside, or wants to play.

Answer 5

go to the leerburg site www.leerburg.com and look up teaching bite inhibition.
I would get a mini prong from their site and use that, Ed has videos on how to stop your pup from inappropriate biting/mouthing.
My pup is also very mouthy, but she is a working dog prospect/show dog prospect, so my way of teaching her is different than it would be for a family pet. BUT, I do have to teach her what is and is not appropriate to bite. She bit my leg the other day because I wasn't moving, she received a good correction for that, because that is totally unacceptable. I use a baby pinch, and flat collar, two leashes on her when she is being trained. This way I can determine what is the necessary correction/guidance for her.

adding another dog is a very bad idea.

Answer 6

uh, what would you do if it was a person, your friend maybe, hitting you in the head with a hammer? STOP IT! Unless you want a dead dog, stop it. She HAS learned from y'all that bitting is acceptable - otherwise she wouldn't do it because she would have learned from you that it is UNacceptable. Getting another dog for her to bite on would do nothing except get you another dog to not train properly. If I came up and whacked you in the face every time I saw you - you fed and housed and paid for medical care and befriended me and I still came up and did that every time I see you - would you just say 'no, no honey, now don't do that' or just 'ignore' me? Love your dog enough to stop this behavior - it is UNacceptable and she should KNOW that unquestionably. -- look at her playmates that let her know when they don't want her biting them.. .do that ASK or IGNORE her or do they make it understood, with no question about it, that it is not acceptable? You don't have kids, do you...

BTW, mother dogs don't teach their puppies not to bite them by saying 'ow' or ignoring them or picking them up by the scruff of the neck and saying 'no, no' ... Goodness people - no wonder we have a pandemic of biting dogs and there is BSL all over the world! geez!

Answer 7

dogs mouths are like our hands.Play with him with toys everyday. My 2 dogs love soft toys. Don't hit when biting. Get ideas from your training place or vets. Vets are so experienced its not funny. A visit to one would be ideal.

Answer 8

what breeder did you buy a white German Shepherd from?
don't get another dog and keep the cats away from her as well. check in to special classes that deal specifically with stopping this unwanted behavior

Answer 9

keep doing the thing with the toys
but when she bites push her away dont let her near you
put your hand over her muzzle and hold her mouth shut and say no in a low growl. contact a german shepherd trainer.
good luck

Answer 10

I breed a mouthy breed, APBT's, and I have good luck with the clicker method that Chetco mentioned. It never fails. I use that for other training, too.http://www.clickerlessons.com/
Its good for stubborn high energy dogs.