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Subject: Puppy biting...ouch!

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Crickett's Mom

Rattie

08/27/2007 8:09 PM
Hi, I'm not sure how to handle this...it's Crickett's bitting...she's just 2 months old and I know that's what puppies do; but about the only time she's not bitting is when she's asleep! She has the hind legs all bit up on Brandy (Whiskey is our alfa dog and doesn't allow Crickett to get to wild with her), but poor Brandy is so docile and gets the worst of their playing every time! I try to monitor their playing, but poor Brandy thinks she has done something wrong. I wish she'd put Crickett in her place! Crickett also bites at us when we try to play or hold her. She's a feisty little snip...that's for sure! She's getting the hang (somewhat) of house breaking and she's crate trained at night now and whenever she's put in there (when I have to leave the house for a couple of hours). I am constantly telling her "NO"...but it only stop her momentarily. She's a "bitting machine in motion"...my husband calls Brndy and Whiskey "Crickett's walking chew toys!" I know I can trust you to give me ideas on how to handle this situation.... P.S. I am trying to insert a pic of all three, Whiskey the black/gray and Brandy the brown one, with Crickett in the middle...but I don't remember how I did it the other day....so if there's no pic, that's why.

“How boring life would be without ‘our’ little distractions... Sammie, Snuggles, Whiskey, Brandy and Crickett”

Lucy's Colleen

Bratty Ratty

08/27/2007 8:34 PM
It is fairly normal. I would try to use some bitter apple spray to deter her from biting. Put it on anything that she is biting. Or try to replace what she is biting on with a chew toy. I am sure other's will have better advice.

Colleen Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/

NavyDvrWife

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

08/27/2007 8:45 PM
That is great advice. Sometimes just saying "NO" isn't enough. Make sure when you tell her "NO" that you do it firmly and put something in place of what she's biting, like a chew toy. The bitter spray didn't work too great for me with Batman - and he was a SERIOUS biting machine so I understand what you're going through. I had to make sure every part of my body was covered at night so he couldn't mistake body parts as chew toys!!! You just have to keep at it, remain firm and remain consistent. EVERY time puppy bites - puppy is told "NO" and gets something else to bite on. That's the best advice I can give. Good Luck - those puppy teeth sure are SHARP!

~ Errica, Batman, Blondie and Brock's Mommy Foster Mom to Trinity Ratbone Foster Parent & Happy Tails Crew Ratbone Rescues

bigbadfisher

Rattie

08/28/2007 9:40 AM
The one thing we did with Sheila (our rattie) was based on what mother dogs do with the pups. If the puppy gives you a nip once, you react with an obvious "OUCH!". Yes, even if it didn't hurt. The idea being that you want it to be something surprising and different and that the puppy is made to pause by. If the biting stops (in that instant) then mission accomplished. If however the puppy takes another bite or continues to be open mouth aggressive, then typically a mother dog would hold the puppy down and give them a stern growling. As a human, my wife and I had to perfect our "growls". We'd calmly place Sheila on her back, with our hand resting over her chest and ... express our displeasure (my wife had to learn to stop laughing when I would do my growl). Sheila very quickly got the message that placing her teeth on me (or my wife, or anyone else) resulted in a painful noise (the ouch!) or, if it continued, a "time-out" as the more dominant person expressed their dominance. Of note the bitter apple worked great to counter her chewing on doors, counters, and other objects that couldn't make the ouch noise.

wmars1776

Terrier Terror

08/28/2007 9:52 AM
You have gotten good advice so far. You just have to keep at it. Years ago, we had a Jack who did that whenever we got to playing. I could not break him of it. I read somewhere to firmly grab his muzzle shut and firmly say "no bite" then give him a chew toy. It worked! I don't know if anyone here will endorse this, but it did work for the Jack. Now, you may think I am crazy, but I was watching one of those dog training shows on Animal Planet (I think) and the trainer was telling the owner of a sort of aggressive dog that when the owner disciplined him, never to smile at the dog and show teeth. The trainer said that barring teeth is an intimidation posture to a dog (and some other animals) and the dog may react aggressively to it. In any event the trainer said to praise your dogs with higher pitched voice and big toothless smiles.

Bill - "Smokey's" Dad Cumberland, Rhode Island "To everything, there is a season" www.myspace.com/wmars1776

rattytatty

Newbie

08/28/2007 2:48 PM
You've gotten some good advice already.... As puppies start to teeth, they feel the need to sink their teeth into anything, including your fingers, arms, hair and toes. If your puppy shows the least sign of biting or closing down too hard playing, discourage this tendency immediately with a loud and firm "No!", then give him a chew toy. Don't pull your hand away or push the puppy, as this only encourages rougher play. The best way to break a puppy from nipping is to substitute play for his habit. When he comes toward you looking as if he might nip, reach out to pet and give him a toy. If he persists, take him by the collar, scold him, looking straight in the eyes for several seconds while you repeat the command ("NO BITE!"). Release him and tell him quietly that he is a good puppy. Reach out to touch him, and if he starts nipping at you again, repeat the correction. Another effective correction is to isolate the puppy - totally ignore him as soon as you say "No" or "No Bite". Fold your arms and don't even look at him. After a couple of minutes, give your puppy another chance to play with you. Repeat the isolation routine as often as necessary until he goes easy on his nipping.

buttonbutt

Newbie

08/28/2007 6:58 PM
I've done all the above suggestions and they're all great. Button was an intense puppy biter and firm "No's", offering toys instead, all the usual approaches just didn't work with Button. Discussed it with my vet who recommended water pistols placed by all the chairs. She said she used it with all her puppies. One squirt did the trick for both the biting and clawing at our feet/legs for attention. To this day, at 3 years of age, if I say "do I have to get the pistol?" she stops whatever negative behavior she's doing. Button doesn't ever put her teeth on people now.

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