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04-24-2010, 04:38 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Norwood, MA
Posts: 139
| Growling ... what does that mean? And biting I have a couple of questions. I just want to make sure I handle this right. Charlie (14 weeks) is great. Of course, he's teething and he's been nipping all of us here and there, mostly on the hands. Today, though, it went a bit beyond that. My 12 year old daughter, Maura, (who I really got Charlie for and who is EXCELLENT with him) was playing with him on the ground. The biting really escalated. He was just pouncing all over her and had scratch marks from his teeth up and down both arms. She said it was much harder than his usual biting/nipping (and she was crying, which is very unlike her.) I asked her why she just didn't get up, but she said he was all over her and it was hard. When she did get up, she very sternly told him "No bite." Then she came up to tell me, so she left him alone for a few minutes. I'm wondering if this is a sign of anything bad? The nipping in the past has been just that, nipping; not very painful and when you say, "No bite," and give him some toy to chew on, he'll usually listen. Later in the day he was lying in the hallway and I saw him chewing on something. I went to take it from him, but he really had a firm grip; so I sort of forced it a bit, and he gave me a real growl and tried to pull it back. I did get it from him; it was some sort of rope thing the kids had something on (not a toy.) I've been reading a lot about all sorts of different things. I've read about aggression and I'm hoping neither of these two incidents are signs of aggression. (I've also read that you don't usually see aggressive behavior until they're older.) Charlie has a really sweet disposition and is usually happy no matter what you're doing with him, whether it's playing, out for a walk, cuddling on your lap or just being in the same room with someone. I want to know what to look out for. I don't want a dog that's going to be a problem and that bites people or growls at them. I don't want the kids to be afraid of him (and I don't want to be either.) Do you think this is just normal puppy behavior or do you think I need to be concerned? I feel like a first-time parent that knows NOTHING!!!! Thanks in advance for any advice. Mary |
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04-24-2010, 04:54 PM | #2 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Land O' Lakes, FL
Posts: 735
| Because his nipping was tolerated in the past, he may feel it's acceptable and is trying to assert himself as Alpha in the pack. The minute he starts, games over. That's it. No bite. Ignore his little fuzzy butt. Time out. He'll figure it out. Nipping while playing is one thing; biting hard enough to leave marks is NOT acceptable. When mine were teething, we'd play tuggie with big flossies (those ropes with the knots on each end and lots of strings). The "floss" helped to dislodge the baby teeth. But teething and biting are different. Get a handle on it early ... he's just trying to be Boss Dog. |
04-24-2010, 05:04 PM | #3 |
Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas
Posts: 21,173
| I'm no pro in that department, but I'll try to toss out a few thoughts. First, when you play with them when they are around that age and the playing keeps on escalating more and more, they are going to play rougher and rougher. That's probably what happened with your daughter. In the end, she handled it correctly, but you don't want to play roughly with them. That can cause them to be more aggressive IMO. When he growled at you, it may have helped to turn him over on his back and held him there for a bit and said "no" very sternly. He's just going through a stage that most of them go through at that age. He's thinking he's the alpha. You're going to have to be mom and teach him that you're the alpha in the house. I wish Britster was here, because she, I think, could tell you how to teach him the "leave it" command. You can go to her page and leave a message asking her and she could probably tell you. Training him with that could also save his life someday if he ever got hold of something dangerous.
__________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel |
04-24-2010, 05:29 PM | #4 |
Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa
Posts: 12,552
| You need to teach him that rough play is not acceptable. Teach him in the same way his mother would, with a snapping noise and a pinch to the neck. They claim that playing tug of war encourages them to play rough, so not sure it is a good idea for a puppy that is already playing to rough. Establish who is in charge by making him sit and wait before he is allowed to eat. Put the food down and keep, guard over it until you tell him it is ok an you back away. Have your daughter do this also since he is her dog. |
04-24-2010, 06:04 PM | #5 |
Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas
Posts: 21,173
| I just thought of something else. I've always worked with them when they are puppies, so that I or anyone else could get right in their face with food or treats present or with their toys. I am brave!lol I've always done this because I didn't ever want them to bite. I would take their food and give it back. I would take their treats and give them back. Did the same thing with their toys. They always knew I wasn't taking it away for good and I would give it right back. I would get right up to their mouths and even kiss them on top of their noses when they would have treats or toys. I just kept working with them until they didn't feel threatened by my doing this.
__________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel |
04-24-2010, 06:30 PM | #6 | |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Quote:
I'm no pro in this department but I do agree with what everyone else said. I would NOT tolerate it. Nipping is one thing... but biting and growling is another. If he's already showing it at such a young age, it seems he wants to be the boss. You're gonna need to be firm with him and take the role as his leader. I currently dogsit (just started) an 8 week old Rottweiler. He has started this growly thing when you pick him up, where he sort of grunts/growls in an irritated way. I simply tap his nose (not HIT, but a hard tap) and tell him "no growl!" I praise him when I pick him up and he doesn't put up a fuss to let him know he's doing the right thing. So besides correcting the wrong behavior, you also have to let him know when he's doing something right. He's so young and just learning how to live in our world. "Leave It" can be a very useful command. I have just begun using clicker training, but you can also use a marker word such as "yes!" Start with laying down a favorite toy of his, and even if he doesn't touch it for only 3 seconds, click and/or say "yes, leave it!" and gradually increase your time that he leaves it. There's some great youtube tutorials on this, if you search username kikopup or zakgeorge21. When Jackson was a puppy (I got him at 9 weeks), I would constantly put my hands in his food bowl (while eating, and sometimes not... if your scent is on their food, it can give you another sense of 'ownership' if you will). I would purposely put my face near his while chewing bones, or take them away, and then give them right back. He's never ONCE growled, bit, nipped, anything at anybody while chewing bones, eating food, etc. With other dogs, he will 'protect' it but he's still never shown teeth or growled or anything, he kinda just whines if another dog approaches while he's chewing bone. He shares food bowls with my dads dog no problem, etc, but I started de-sensitizing him at a young age.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 04-24-2010 at 06:33 PM. | |
04-24-2010, 07:25 PM | #7 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Levering, MI, USA
Posts: 82
| I remember when Boo was around that age, he had some issues with biting and growling that had me worried. I thought this was the pre cujo stage. It was right around the time that he started teething. The important thing is to stay calm when he does it. Don't freak out and yell, don't get scared of him, and don't let him do it. Calmly get his attention (I snap my fingers, but any loud noise that you can make with some authority will work) and tell him no. You can't take time to think about it, you just have to do it, it has to be your immediate reaction. It shouldn't take long for him to understand that you aren't playing. In the meantime, enjoy your puppy. I'm sure you will get it under control. |
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