Ok...biting/chewing getting worse??? Not improving? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

marilena4488 · 03-20-2010, 03:13 AM

Ok so I don't know if this question has been posted before but I have to ask...

Like I've posted in another thread, my female Yorkie who is now 8 wks old has a problem with chewing and biting. I've been trying to say "no" to her and she isn't even pausing in her biting my ankles and fingers routine anymore! I spoke to the breeder I got her from, with whom I stay in contact because she is a really nice lady and cares about the pup and her future, and she said that I have to try really hard to stop this behavior now because when she becomes an adult she will bite ankles/fingers/furniture routinely!

Is this true? Why isn't "no" working? I know she's still very young but it's a bit scary now...I don't know, I'm really worried! It's like she gets carried away and just tries to get a my feet/crocs...even if I take them away or move she still tries to get them! And my fingers! When I try to pet her back she just tries to nip my fingers...I'm guessing it's playful, there's rarely any growling, but it's still obsessive in a way! I can tell!

Please please please help! Just now i tried putting her in the bathroom for 2 minutes as a "time-out" and she cried a bit while in there. When she came out she was ok, at least with fingers and ankles and slippers....as for the furniture I don't know!

I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself, I just really really DON'T want her to be a biter when she grows up.......

Thank you...

marilena4488 · 03-20-2010, 03:16 AM

Am I doing the "time-out" right? I'm sort of lost/disappointed...

xxmxaxrxyxx · 03-20-2010, 03:24 AM

the breeder should have kept her until 12 weeks of age at least...this is the period where the mother would teach them about biting....about what is acceptable and what is not...and yes this must be stop now or it would continue and may get worse...sorry i can't offer any help since I myself have not had to go through this...but i believe we have quite a few members that has been through this or is facing this exact problem now...hopefully they will chime in and offer some good advice...good luck!

marilena4488 · 03-20-2010, 03:32 AM

Thank you very much! I've heard the theory about being taken too young from her mommy but there's really nothing I can do about that right now! I have to look forward and see how I can improve the situation! The breeder never mentioned anything about the pup being to young to be taken from her mother, just that she can give it away from 7 wks and up, not earlier because it's not healthy...

xxmxaxrxyxx · 03-20-2010, 03:39 AM

i believe some are trying that no bite command when she is biting where she should and replacing it with a chew toy or something that is ok for her to bite on....also some are trying the no bite command and turning away.

also some will say no bite...pick him/her up and take to crate for a 1-2 minute timeout...and if she/he is quiet then bring back out to play...repeat if needed and everyone that is affected should be doing the exact same thing so that the puppy no that it is not acceptable and will associate the behavior with the time out...

yorkies love to be around people...and the time out thing will somehow click in their head that biting or whatever may lead them to not being with their people...good luck

BellaDonna · 03-20-2010, 04:25 AM

When she bites make a very loud squeak or yelp and immediately turn away from her if she is on your lap make the noise and immediately put her down. Also redirect by saying no when she bites you but give her a toy and when she chews that praise her.

marilena4488 · 03-20-2010, 04:36 AM

I've tried the "yelp" way, but she doesn't seem to react apart from getting startled by the noise and trying to get to a finger or ankle again...As for the turning away, the problem is she doesn't mind, she will chew on my ankles if I have my back towards her or my toes on my front

She's very stubborn (I think all Yorkies are though!)...right now I'm trying the time-out method...1-2 minutes is ok? If she cries I have to wait till she stops before I take her out right? (I feel so sorry for her at the same time...)

This pup is going to drive me crazy!

Twinkie2Cute · 03-20-2010, 06:33 AM

First, do not let the pup drive you Crazy! Your puppy is still a baby. You have to have patience and make time for consistent training. This will not go away overnight. If your puppy is biting at the ankles, you have to sternly say "No", do not move until your puppy understands that they are not allowed to bite. If it continues, you continue with the training. This takes time. They are very smart dogs and after a period of time this will pass. I had the same problem with Twinkie and she no longer feels the need to bite at my ankles.

marilena4488 · 03-20-2010, 07:00 AM

I'm hoping she'll grow out of it too...because right now I say "no" and she just keeps at it! That's why I'm doing the time-out way now...I am patient, it's just that I'm scared she'll be a biter when she grows up...

JeanieK · 03-20-2010, 07:15 AM

Timeouts do not work for dogs. In order for a time out to work, you have to be able to explain to the child/dog what they did wrong and have them understand. That is not going to happen with dog.

Since he was taken from his mother before he was properly socialized, you have to act as his mother.

Never walk away from the puppy when he is chewing on you, that just puts him in control and teaches him that if he wants you to move he should bite you.

Dogs live in the moment, Corrections have to be instantanious or they will not work. If he bites you and youm pick him up to put him in timeout, he relates the being picked up to the biting, and the being put in timeout to having been picked up.

You need to correct him as his mother would with a dog's snapping sound and a pinch to his neck. Not a hard pinch. Just a sudden pinch. If he does not stop, it needs to get harder and the snapping sound needs to get louder and more serious sounding. if he is persistent than 2 or three snaps and pinches in a row. If still persistent then pin him down. keep doing it until he stops.

Picture the way a mother dog would do it and do the same. You are not hurting him, you are just letting him know that this behavior is not allowed.

marilena4488 · 03-20-2010, 12:42 PM

I don't know...I'm just scared that she's so small I'll hurt her...

Well, as an update, after placing her at a time-out this morning she hasn't chewed/bitten my slippers or ankles except for once and she stopped immediately after the second "no"...I dunno....maybe time-outs will work for her?

She seems calmer though...not scared, just calm! I hope it laaaasts!!!

xxmxaxrxyxx · 03-20-2010, 02:11 PM

well time out works for some dogs while not others...i believe there is a thread a foster mom uses the time out and it has worked for her rescue boy....he just to bite in an aggressive way (probably from what he has been through) so she would have to use the crate to corner him and put him in time out...and from what i have read he has made a huge turn around!

marilena4488 · 03-21-2010, 12:00 AM

Yes I read that thread too! My Yorkie's chewing/biting thing happens mostly when she has a lot of energy, because it is playful (but a bit obsessive). For example, when she wakes up in the morning or after she eats...

The time-out seems to calm her down though...it's still very early to tell (i've only done it twice, once yesterday and once today) if it will really work for her...

dands · 03-21-2010, 12:11 AM

Bitter apple works great on furniture

Thomas J · 03-21-2010, 02:46 AM

My Thomas is a year old..and he still chews and bites! He will chew anything he can find..but now only bites and nips when he gets excited. Like when he knows he is going for a ride..or when someone comed to the door. He even junps on our other dog and bites during these times!
Wish I could give you some good answers..but obviously I have never known what to do!

03-20-2010, 03:13 AM	#1
marilena4488 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greece Posts: 62	Ok...biting/chewing getting worse??? Not improving? Ok so I don't know if this question has been posted before but I have to ask... Like I've posted in another thread, my female Yorkie who is now 8 wks old has a problem with chewing and biting. I've been trying to say "no" to her and she isn't even pausing in her biting my ankles and fingers routine anymore! I spoke to the breeder I got her from, with whom I stay in contact because she is a really nice lady and cares about the pup and her future, and she said that I have to try really hard to stop this behavior now because when she becomes an adult she will bite ankles/fingers/furniture routinely! Is this true? Why isn't "no" working? I know she's still very young but it's a bit scary now...I don't know, I'm really worried! It's like she gets carried away and just tries to get a my feet/crocs...even if I take them away or move she still tries to get them! And my fingers! When I try to pet her back she just tries to nip my fingers...I'm guessing it's playful, there's rarely any growling, but it's still obsessive in a way! I can tell! Please please please help! Just now i tried putting her in the bathroom for 2 minutes as a "time-out" and she cried a bit while in there. When she came out she was ok, at least with fingers and ankles and slippers....as for the furniture I don't know! I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself, I just really really DON'T want her to be a biter when she grows up....... Thank you...

03-20-2010, 03:24 AM	#3
xxmxaxrxyxx Missing Yoshi Everyday! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 15,110 Blog Entries: 3	the breeder should have kept her until 12 weeks of age at least...this is the period where the mother would teach them about biting....about what is acceptable and what is not...and yes this must be stop now or it would continue and may get worse...sorry i can't offer any help since I myself have not had to go through this...but i believe we have quite a few members that has been through this or is facing this exact problem now...hopefully they will chime in and offer some good advice...good luck! __________________ Yoshi Mei Ling Ting Ting Ting Ki Sun Hye Yukio Kioshi

03-20-2010, 03:39 AM	#5
xxmxaxrxyxx Missing Yoshi Everyday! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 15,110 Blog Entries: 3	i believe some are trying that no bite command when she is biting where she should and replacing it with a chew toy or something that is ok for her to bite on....also some are trying the no bite command and turning away. also some will say no bite...pick him/her up and take to crate for a 1-2 minute timeout...and if she/he is quiet then bring back out to play...repeat if needed and everyone that is affected should be doing the exact same thing so that the puppy no that it is not acceptable and will associate the behavior with the time out... yorkies love to be around people...and the time out thing will somehow click in their head that biting or whatever may lead them to not being with their people...good luck __________________ Yoshi Mei Ling Ting Ting Ting Ki Sun Hye Yukio Kioshi

03-20-2010, 04:25 AM	#6
BellaDonna YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 594	When she bites make a very loud squeak or yelp and immediately turn away from her if she is on your lap make the noise and immediately put her down. Also redirect by saying no when she bites you but give her a toy and when she chews that praise her. __________________ Donna *Mom to 6 Chihuahuas 1 Yorkie* *and 5 Cats!* Ok...maybe I am a little twisted!

03-20-2010, 02:11 PM	#12
xxmxaxrxyxx Missing Yoshi Everyday! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 15,110 Blog Entries: 3	well time out works for some dogs while not others...i believe there is a thread a foster mom uses the time out and it has worked for her rescue boy....he just to bite in an aggressive way (probably from what he has been through) so she would have to use the crate to corner him and put him in time out...and from what i have read he has made a huge turn around! __________________ Yoshi Mei Ling Ting Ting Ting Ki Sun Hye Yukio Kioshi

03-20-2010, 03:16 AM	#2
marilena4488 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greece Posts: 62	Am I doing the "time-out" right? I'm sort of lost/disappointed...

03-20-2010, 03:32 AM	#4
marilena4488 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greece Posts: 62	Thank you very much! I've heard the theory about being taken too young from her mommy but there's really nothing I can do about that right now! I have to look forward and see how I can improve the situation! The breeder never mentioned anything about the pup being to young to be taken from her mother, just that she can give it away from 7 wks and up, not earlier because it's not healthy...

03-20-2010, 04:36 AM	#7
marilena4488 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greece Posts: 62	I've tried the "yelp" way, but she doesn't seem to react apart from getting startled by the noise and trying to get to a finger or ankle again...As for the turning away, the problem is she doesn't mind, she will chew on my ankles if I have my back towards her or my toes on my front She's very stubborn (I think all Yorkies are though!)...right now I'm trying the time-out method...1-2 minutes is ok? If she cries I have to wait till she stops before I take her out right? (I feel so sorry for her at the same time...) This pup is going to drive me crazy!

03-20-2010, 06:33 AM	#8
Twinkie2Cute BANNED FOR NOT SENDING A GE GIFT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: beavercreek,ohio USA Posts: 685	First, do not let the pup drive you Crazy! Your puppy is still a baby. You have to have patience and make time for consistent training. This will not go away overnight. If your puppy is biting at the ankles, you have to sternly say "No", do not move until your puppy understands that they are not allowed to bite. If it continues, you continue with the training. This takes time. They are very smart dogs and after a period of time this will pass. I had the same problem with Twinkie and she no longer feels the need to bite at my ankles.

03-20-2010, 07:00 AM	#9
marilena4488 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greece Posts: 62	I'm hoping she'll grow out of it too...because right now I say "no" and she just keeps at it! That's why I'm doing the time-out way now...I am patient, it's just that I'm scared she'll be a biter when she grows up...

03-20-2010, 07:15 AM	#10
JeanieK Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa Posts: 12,552	Timeouts do not work for dogs. In order for a time out to work, you have to be able to explain to the child/dog what they did wrong and have them understand. That is not going to happen with dog. Since he was taken from his mother before he was properly socialized, you have to act as his mother. Never walk away from the puppy when he is chewing on you, that just puts him in control and teaches him that if he wants you to move he should bite you. Dogs live in the moment, Corrections have to be instantanious or they will not work. If he bites you and youm pick him up to put him in timeout, he relates the being picked up to the biting, and the being put in timeout to having been picked up. You need to correct him as his mother would with a dog's snapping sound and a pinch to his neck. Not a hard pinch. Just a sudden pinch. If he does not stop, it needs to get harder and the snapping sound needs to get louder and more serious sounding. if he is persistent than 2 or three snaps and pinches in a row. If still persistent then pin him down. keep doing it until he stops. Picture the way a mother dog would do it and do the same. You are not hurting him, you are just letting him know that this behavior is not allowed.

03-20-2010, 12:42 PM	#11
marilena4488 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greece Posts: 62	I don't know...I'm just scared that she's so small I'll hurt her... Well, as an update, after placing her at a time-out this morning she hasn't chewed/bitten my slippers or ankles except for once and she stopped immediately after the second "no"...I dunno....maybe time-outs will work for her? She seems calmer though...not scared, just calm! I hope it laaaasts!!!

03-21-2010, 12:00 AM	#13
marilena4488 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greece Posts: 62	Yes I read that thread too! My Yorkie's chewing/biting thing happens mostly when she has a lot of energy, because it is playful (but a bit obsessive). For example, when she wakes up in the morning or after she eats... The time-out seems to calm her down though...it's still very early to tell (i've only done it twice, once yesterday and once today) if it will really work for her...

03-21-2010, 12:11 AM	#14
dands Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Temecula Posts: 181	Bitter apple works great on furniture

03-21-2010, 02:46 AM	#15
Thomas J Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Goldsboro, NC Posts: 203	My Thomas is a year old..and he still chews and bites! He will chew anything he can find..but now only bites and nips when he gets excited. Like when he knows he is going for a ride..or when someone comed to the door. He even junps on our other dog and bites during these times! Wish I could give you some good answers..but obviously I have never known what to do!