Biting OUCH!

dobe8 · 11-26-2007, 07:01 PM

My pup is 6 months old now and she won't stop biting. If she has her correction collar on, I will correct her but it takes alot. She keeps biting and its only getting harder. She is now breaking skin! Ouch it hurts. Spanking won't help. If she doesn't have the collar on, there is no way to get her to stop! She bites my ankles all the way down the stairs too. SO annoying. I have tried grabbing her nose and saying no, I have tried almost everything and she is not making a permanent change. She is like a sharp, her mouth is always open.

I guess I could bite back...

Any tips?

robinb · 11-26-2007, 07:21 PM

It's hard to tell for sure from the picture but it looks like the collar is not fitted up in the correct position. If you go to www.leerburg.com they have an illustration on how to fit the prong collar. The prong fitted correctly will give you more control. First make sure she's getting enough exercise, lots of interactive play in the yard. In the house until you get her under control either crate her or keep her on the leash when she's in those moods. Never leave them unattended with a prong collar on. Make sure she has allowable toys to put in her mouth. I would also get her in a Obedience class asap. Along with plenty of exercise she should have some obedience work every day. Sits, downs, etc

Tors_Keeper · 11-26-2007, 11:17 PM

Try ignoring her when she bites you while playing. The moment her mouth goes around your hand, hide them and turn away from her. At least when she's playing.

Now a faster way of correcting her when she bites anything (like you said your ankles), get a spray bottle, fill with it water and a bit of vinegar, and spray her when she starts biting. My friend has had GREAT success with this. I haven't used vinegar on Tor, water works fine with him.

Just make sure you dilute the vinegar (my friend sprayed himself in the mouth first, to test it)

**bagsjr** · 11-27-2007, 12:32 AM

Make sure she has tons of chew toys. They gotta teeth.

Andrea · 11-27-2007, 12:43 AM

What do you expect? She is only 6 months and you use a prong collar....I would also react like her!!! The first point for a good behavior should be relationship between you and your dog!!!! And that means work, work, work with love and consequence!

11-27-2007, 04:34 AM

what i do with leroy when he bites is i yell OUCH! and act like it hurts and he kinda looks at me like im crazy, but its been working for him

Rooney · 11-27-2007, 09:27 AM

One of the first words our little 7 mo. rescue guy learned was "OFF!" and "No BITE". They get the hang of what you mean eventually. Try a Kong, it works wonders.

ocelot0411 · 11-27-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrea

What do you expect? She is only 6 months and you use a prong collar....I would also react like her!!! The first point for a good behavior should be relationship between you and your dog!!!! And that means work, work, work with love and consequence!

I have got to agree with Angela here, what on earth have you got that thing on any dog for, let alone a puppy. Don't spank her, grab her nose, push her etc. Don't get physical with her at all. All you end up with is two kids in a school yard scenario, one pushes, the other pushes back, it just escalates.

When she bites (I know it hurts as mine still does very occasionally at just over seven months old) yelp, squeal, scream, whatever. Its got to be loud enough and alarming enough for her to stop dead and go 'good lord what was that!'. Then walk away from her and let her cool off. Do this consistently every time and she will get the message.

She is biting at you because she thinks its a game, when you get physical with her you are simply reinforcing that its a game. When you make the loud noise and then walk away for her you will teach her that a) it hurts!!! and b) it will not get her any attention or a game, it will get her left on her lonesome thinking about her behaviour.

Hip_Shot_Hanna · 11-27-2007, 10:23 AM

The tips above are all excellent. Puppies learn to inhibit their biting when littermates yelp and stop playing. Try a loud, high pitched "ouch" and then turn and completely ignore her. Even looking at her is attention, and rewarding for her. If she happens to just sit down and watch you, then reward her by praise and a pat. As soon as she goes to bite again, repeat the above process.

I'm especially concerned about her biting your ankles as you are going down stairs - that's a real potential danger for you, as you could easily get knocked down the stairs and be injured. It's possible that your dog would be injured as well.

**ddsalazar** · 11-27-2007, 11:39 AM

Our boy would do that too, bring me to tears. It was all about the relationship between the two of us. I would get frightened when he would bite and would react by running away (WRONG) and closing doors behind me. It got to be a big game for Jack. I finally started taking him out to play and this brought about a big change in him. I also would use a water squirt bottle when he bit, yelled loudly OUCH and reinforced NO. It was a process, but for them they seem to get a charge when we react. Obedience classes are wonderful as I was able to teach Jack EASY as he tended to have a hard mouth. Patience and expert training by a professional if you feel at wits end, but don't hit. All this does is escalate the situation and you don't want that.