Biting...about to pull my hair out...

Shuga Town HEMI · 04-02-2008, 05:06 PM

My Dobe with be 4 months old next week and the biting is getting out of control. I think I've tried every method described on this board and nothing has worked. The closet thing to working was the thumb on the back of the tounge, but that just pisses him off and makes him scared of my thumb. It's short term and lasts maybe a minute. He tries to bite other stuff after that.

I've heard a lot of people say its just teething, but he was doing this when I got him at 8 weeks old and I don't think they even start teething at that young. It's extremely bad guys and gals, the only time you can even touch him without him biting you is when he is asleep.

I'm really hoping that at 6 months old he quits this, but at the rate he is going, I highly doubt that he's just going to up and stop.

I mean I don't know, this is my first Dobe, I'm just wanting some input from some people that have already gone through this...everyday I spend with my Dobe I'm wanting kids less and less...I love him, but ever since I got him my stress level has probably doubled...

link80reid · 04-02-2008, 05:17 PM

That is rediculous, sounds like you need to get in control of your dog, and fast, it will only get worse. I hate to suggest getting physical with him, but I can assure you, if my boy nipped at me his ass would be rolled over on the ground with my hand on his neck so quick it would make your head spin. It is absolutely unacceptable for your dog to do that, and he needs to know it. This is not normal, he should not be doing that. You need to stop it immediately. Next time he nips at you, grab him by his scruff and take him down. Hold him there by his neck until he relaxes. Since its obvious you've never done that, he probably will try to wiggle out of it, hold him there and don't let him up until he has calmed down, no matter how much of a fuss h puts up. He needs to know his place. Repeat this every single time he tries to nip you, until he gets the idea. Imagine the reaction he would get if he did that to the leader of his pack in the wild. He would get violently bit and taken down hard. You don't need to "take him down hard" but with the route you are going now, you will have a completely out of control liability if he matures with that same habit.

It's time for you to turn over a new leaf. Show him that biting will result in a SERIOUS reaction from you, EVERY TIME. You are only hurting him by NOT taking aggressive action.

**LuvMyDobes** · 04-02-2008, 05:19 PM

Do you say "ouch or no" in a really stern tone when he bites? Here is a website that covers what you are asking about How To Stop Your Puppy From Biting | eHow.com

Shuga Town HEMI · 04-02-2008, 05:26 PM

I've said "no", "stop biting", "thats enough", "quit it'....everything in every tone of voice from soft whisper, to stern, to yelling. He won't listen. He kind of listens when he is doing other stuff he's not supposed to be doing, but when it comes to biting, he doesn't listen at ALL.

He has all kinds of freaking toys and he won't play with none of them. Ropes, kongs, bones, squeaky toys...nothing. He would rather bite us than play with his toys.

It's almost impossible to not say "ouch" or something of that sort, because everyone in my house has multiple teeth marks in their arms and other body parts. He has even brought blood a couple of times.

He plays with out cats and our other dog, and I figured that would give him a idea of how hard to bite, like people say they do when they are with their litter mates, but he tears them up. I'm afraid he's going to kill our little midget cat one of these days and he won't leave our other dog alone. It can't even get any sleep or anything, he just goes outside all the time and trys to sneak in the cat door when the Dobe is asleep. And he is part Jack Russell/Chiuhauha...I thought that was a hyper dog until I got my Dobe.

GunnersMum · 04-02-2008, 05:53 PM

I had a similar situation with gunner recently. I don't jog or run <grin> with him but when we were working over some jumps this past weekend I was and he was all excited and thought it would be cool to try and grab my jacket sleeve when I pointed to the jumps. Well I can tell you it was NOT cool at all. <grr> I hauled off and yanked his collar (flat one) hard to let him know that that is unacceptable. He didn't know what was going on and yelped and yowled like the sky was falling and the world was coming to an end. Then we worked the jumps again and not once did he look to my coat as the ultimate chew toy. I have to agree with Link80 on this one and suggest that he get a quick hard dose of alpha not impressed.

I don't know what games you play with him but if you wrestle or *play rough* that has to stop.

**voodoolizard** · 04-02-2008, 05:56 PM

Totally agree with link80 reid !!
grab him andgrab him hard by the scruff and DO NOT LET GO.. down him flat out on the floor and hold him.. it might take a while but keep it up !!

Also take all of his toys away.. put some dog food in the kong and freeze it.. give that to him the cold will help if it has anything to do with teeth, then the next day take that away and give him another toy.. they get bored if all the toys are avaliable all the time, rotate them and he will be moe interested.. stuff and freeze different things in the kong, and you might also like to try knuckle bones .
and be firm.. l know we all love our dobe but at the end of the day he is a dog !! dont let him rule you..
good luck keep us updated.. be strong !!

Shuga Town HEMI · 04-02-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by link80reid

That is rediculous, sounds like you need to get in control of your dog, and fast, it will only get worse. I hate to suggest getting physical with him, but I can assure you, if my boy nipped at me his ass would be rolled over on the ground with my hand on his neck so quick it would make your head spin. It is absolutely unacceptable for your dog to do that, and he needs to know it. This is not normal, he should not be doing that. You need to stop it immediately. Next time he nips at you, grab him by his scruff and take him down. Hold him there by his neck until he relaxes. Since its obvious you've never done that, he probably will try to wiggle out of it, hold him there and don't let him up until he has calmed down, no matter how much of a fuss h puts up. He needs to know his place. Repeat this every single time he tries to nip you, until he gets the idea. Imagine the reaction he would get if he did that to the leader of his pack in the wild. He would get violently bit and taken down hard. You don't need to "take him down hard" but with the route you are going now, you will have a completely out of control liability if he matures with that same habit.

It's time for you to turn over a new leaf. Show him that biting will result in a SERIOUS reaction from you, EVERY TIME. You are only hurting him by NOT taking aggressive action.

I've tried pushing him, picking him up and holding him(starting to get heavy though), hugging him really tight in a bear hug like move, holding his head/mouth/neck so he can't bite me(he still finds a way), I've tried a lot, but not by the scruff of the neck and holding him there.

I'm going to try this next time he does it. I agree that I can't stand seeing someone beat their dog or kick it, but with my little dog I had to spank him(just one little smack, not a beating like I heard my neighbor do once to his lab that lasted probably 30 minutes...I almost went over there and...i'm not going to get into that) a few times for him to learn.

I told everyone not to do that do this dog, since I read doing things like that can cause them to be more violent and more aggressive. I've also read that it makes them fear you, but not in a good way. Like they will get scared when people raise their hands and stuff like that.

I'm going to try your technique and hopefully it will work. Other than having a bowl full of food at all times of the day(which i'm trying to feed him in meals now, its just a habit from always having cats) and letting him sleep with us, I can't really think of what I could be doing wrong.

I'm starting to believe that I might have bought him from a "farmer" for the low price I got him at and considering what I've read that most reputable breeders do(contracts to neuter, bag of dog food, keep in contact with owner), the person I bought mine from did none of those. I think they were just looking for a way to make a little bit of money. Surely they weren't breeding them to "better" the breed.

GunnersMum · 04-02-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shuga Town HEMI

letting him sleep with us, I can't really think of what I could be doing wrong.

Your boy has no idea where his place in the pack is. As far as he's concerned, right now everyone is equal and he's being the bully of the litter.

You need to stop all privelidges (sp?) - no on the bed or on the furniture, no more free feeding. You need to be the boss. You say when he eats (always after the humans have eaten) and when he sleeps and what games he plays and when he goes outside. Those are alpha rules.

**rusty** · 04-02-2008, 06:06 PM

We have kids so biting was our #1 concern when we brought puppy home. He knew from day 1 that it was not going to be tolerated and we haven't had an issue at all. He is 4.5 months now.
You need to be very clear with him as he sounds out of control if you can't even pet him. For us we firmly grabbed the snout and held it shut saying 'no bite' loud and clear. In your case you may need to be more firm, grabbing the scruf like the mother dog would do in a correction until he yelps and telling him 'no bite' loud and firm. He'll get the idea pretty quick. You really need to show him who's boss immediatly.

**voodoolizard** · 04-02-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shuga Town HEMI

I've tried pushing him, picking him up and holding him(starting to get heavy though), hugging him really tight in a bear hug like move, holding his head/mouth/neck so he can't bite me(he still finds a way), I've tried a lot, but not by the scruff of the neck and holding him there.
.

Well if you have been pushing , picking up and bear hugging he thinks your playing...
the one thing you need to be with training is consistane !!
like when you said you have said no, ouch and others ??
it will only confuse him
from this moment on choses one word !! NO
and grab the scruff.. this is because the mother dog grabs the scruff of a puppy to tell it off,, thats why this works.
also make sure anyone else who looks after the dog knows the new rules !!
dont worry about where he came from for now just work on getting him to be the wonderfulll dobe we all know he can become !!

good luck