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Originally Posted by matese  I would def.get him neutered, that will take away some of this aggression. Your husband can spoil him but he also has to show this dog that HE is still the Alpha. When he bites in a non playful way your hubby should tell him in a firm tone NO BITING and give him a toy to bite, or put him in time out, that seems to work for you. 6.5 I assume that's his age,if so,yes they neuter males around 8 months to a year old. He is still a puppy and training NO BITE is important. Puppies when playing do growl, it does sound like a non playful grown, but it's usually just playing. It seems he is testing your husband in how far he can go with this biting, your husband has to take control NOW. If the pup is on your husbands lap, or sitting on the sofa with him and he goes for the face, your husband should NOT hold him down by his neck, he should remove the dog off of him, and give him a toy that he can bite and kill. |
Excellent advice. Sounds like he's rather enjoying that he's found out a sure-fire way of getting your intense, personal attention and kinda enjoying his feeling of power over his hapless victims - being able to make the bitten jump, yelp, squirm and pay attention only to him, even if the results are a time out. No doubt neutering should help but if this has become a behavior he feels he benefits fits from in some way we cannot understand and the fact that you say he doesn't like training is worrisome as it can lessen his feeling of reward, so your little guy might require a bit of extra efforts in your counter-conditioning/re-training. Here is one way to handle extra-aggressive nipping, biting if you feel you might need it.
Being very firm and no-nonsense in your attitude once he nips/bites, I think if he were mine I'd let him know this stops now, with a firm 'uh oh, NO BITE!'(reserve the word 'No' for after he's knows better but still breaks the rules), glare into his eyes while pointing directly in his face and immediately stand up with a VERY unhappy face, still pointing/staring at him, walking into his space if he's jumped to the floor as I stood up and backing him out of position, showing him that he doesn't get to bite without consequences that instantly take away the fun of control. The moment he gives way and turns - that very instant, is when I'd redirect him by handing him a toy or chewie he can bite on and work out his intense feelings on and go on your way. Repeat as necessary until he gets your message that all this nipping/biting is unacceptable.
You want to teach him that the moment he bites, his fun/control ends and he's dumped summarily off your lap, off the couch or bed(guide him to the floor to keep him from falling if necessary) or otherwise instantly stopped, made to give way to your wishes but just as important, you're teaching him that the very instant he does submit to you, he gets instant gratification with a toy or chewie or something he enjoys chewing on or playing with.
Also, if he were my dog, I'd start him on simple, positive-reward obedience training so that over time you'll slowly condition him to always doing what you ask of him w/out hesitation. He'll learn that your genuine praise and his lovely rewards make obeying you a win-win every time and grow to love the work. You'll wind up with a happy, feisty, fun-loving but well-behaved team-member who loves his life with you, enjoy working with you to achieve his lessons and your heartfelt praise and a reward he highly values. What could be better!!! Using high-value real-food treats that a hungry dog wants is the easiest way to achieve fast, best results during the early weeks of the training. During those sessions, I'd try using warm, unseasoned boiled chicken or turkey hotdog bits I would wear in a thermal treatpack around my waist, if he doesn't like regular training treats, which can be packaged fake-flavor-infused, dry, hard bits and not all that rewarding.