Biting...

[ScarlettMW]

I'm just about at the end of my rope here and I'm hoping someone can help...

My Yorkie is 5 months old and will NOT stop biting. She bites everyone's hands and feet, my clothes, my sheets, towels...everything that she can jump up high enough to reach.

I've tried telling her "No" firmly, yelling "No," holding her mouth closed firmly while saying "No," yelping like I was hurt (that one was pretty embarrassing for the week or so I was trying it)...I even tried the "no-biting" spray they sell at Petco. Nothing works.

She's otherwise a very good dog...almost no barking, no growling, and no real housetraining issues, so this one thing is especially upsetting. It's getting to the point where my nephews are afraid of the "three-pound terror" and I know she thinks she's playing but it really does hurt. I'm concerned about bringing her around other dogs who might not appreciate the biting and may really hurt her in return. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[GAOMariposa]

I'm curious about how to stop this as well. So bump....

[jadecomputergal]

Yours is still a puppy, and you live in a huge city, so you could probably benefit from a puppy obedience class. They're few and far between here.

She's probably doing what's really considered "nipping." Puppies do that. I still have one that is a demon. There was one time a couple of weeks ago I picked her up and she promptly bit me on the nose. It drew blood and I had a bruise for three or four days. A few days ago, she bit me on the ear. That drew blood too.

What's worked best for me is what you'd call a time-out if it were a child. She hates to be away from the people and the other dogs. If she's doing minor nipping, I close her mouth and let her know that isn't acceptable behavior. If she's persisitent, I put her in a time out, which means segregating her from her people and our other dogs. Yes, you have to try to tune out the yelps and howls and all that. Jillian would have you think someone was killing her when she's in a time-out, but she knows the other dogs are with me and the DH and she isn't, and she'll usually come back and just do a few licks, but no nips. She pushes her limits all the time.

She's struggling for dominance right now, and the DH and I are working to convince her she's not going to get there

[YorkieMother]

That which you yell at, scold or punish you get more of as it is attention.
Dogs work for attention even negative so do the opposite. Get up walk away or ignore by looking away form the dog or remove your hands form the biting zone.

Give her what she is allowed to chew instead of you and put bite inhibition on her instead of no bite.
Try googling bite inhibition for great articles.

JL

[ScarlettMW]

Thanks to you both for the advice! I have been doing the "time out" thing for my own sanity, but I didn't think it would actually have any effect on Blake because I read somewhere that there is no "time out" in the wild, so puppies don't instinctually understand it. If it's worked for someone else, though, that's all the motivation I need to try!

And yes, I think she's nipping. But it's still something I'd like to encourage her to stop ASAP, as I'm afraid that one day she's going to nip a dog who bites back (I live in a complex where everyone has dogs, and we all stop to socialize).

Thanks again!

[YorkieMother]

Originally Posted by ScarlettMW

Thanks to you both for the advice! I have been doing the "time out" thing for my own sanity, but I didn't think it would actually have any effect on Blake because I read somewhere that there is no "time out" in the wild, so puppies don't instinctually understand it. If it's worked for someone else, though, that's all the motivation I need to try!

And yes, I think she's nipping. But it's still something I'd like to encourage her to stop ASAP, as I'm afraid that one day she's going to nip a dog who bites back (I live in a complex where everyone has dogs, and we all stop to socialize).

Thanks again!

Well when a dog lives in the wild that one thing and has got not a thing to do with them in your home. Your rules your house and be consistant.
They (dogs) have been dommestic for many years and are able and willing and have adjusted to our way of life better then we have to them.
They read our body language far and away better most of us ever will.

They are not wild at all and we need to look at them as family members not wild dogs.

JL

[ScarlettMW]

Originally Posted by YorkieMother

Well when a dog lives in the wild that one thing and has got not a thing to do with them in your home. Your rules your house and be consistant.
They (dogs) have been dommestic for many years and are able and willing and have adjusted to our way of life better then we have to them.
They read our body language far and away better most of us ever will.

They are not wild at all and we need to look at them as family members not wild dogs.

JL

I believe that the point the author of the book I was reading was trying to make was not that these dogs are still wild, but that their instincts don't allow them to comprehend something like "time out," which humans have devised. In any case, like I said, I'm open to trying anything at this point to get her to stop with the biting.

[YorkieMother]

Originally Posted by ScarlettMW

[F]I believe that the point the author of the book I was reading was trying to make was not that these dogs are still wild, but that their instincts don't allow them to comprehend something like "time out," which humans have devised. In any case, like I said, I'm open to trying anything at this point to get her to stop with the biting.[/FONT]

Yeah well they can and do understand time outs.
In positive training methods it used and works well all the time.
It part of a well thought out program based on Learning Theroy.
I look into Pam Dennison's work or Pat Millers as they both use time outs effectively.
Instincts are only behavior and behavior is alway able to be changed..
JL

[Angelstarr]

Cooper is 7 months and he is doing the same thing lately. And we have noticed the more you try to inhibit him from doing it he comes back with a vengence. Like he thinks we want to play or fight. I have been using time out... with minor very minor improvement. that is short lived. I have tried replacing my hands with toys. which doesn't seem to work all that well.

I have started to turn away and get up and get away from him, along with putting him in a time out.

I am at my witts end partially because my family does not support me and so there is no consistancy

I think that is the WHOLE KEY RIGHT THERE. When I have been able to devote a whole day to him and his behaviors I see progress but then I have a day when I have to be gone and we go back 4 steps.

THen all I hear is "Mom Your &$%# dog this and your #&^%@ dog that"

US Yorkie moms have to stick together.

[fadeddenim]

my puppy, kenji, will also not stop biting. he likes to bite my hands the most. i've tried bitter apple, time-outs, yelping, saying no and then ignoring him, but none of it is working! i feel so helpless. i honestly don't know what else to do. i wish i could just call cesar milan or something.

anyone?

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by fadeddenim

my puppy, kenji, will also not stop biting. he likes to bite my hands the most. i've tried bitter apple, time-outs, yelping, saying no and then ignoring him, but none of it is working! i feel so helpless. i honestly don't know what else to do. i wish i could just call cesar milan or something.

anyone?

When they are puppies they love to chew, and some of this biting is due to teething. When Joey was doing this, I just pushed my hand further in his mouth, and said, "No bite." You don't choke them, but you assertively push you hand further in their mouth when biting and say, "No bite". It works really well. Always give them an appropriate substitute.

[fadeddenim]

thanks nancy, i'm going to try that right now. hahaha. i hope it works for me!

[TED E BEAR]

Originally Posted by fadeddenim

my puppy, kenji, will also not stop biting. he likes to bite my hands the most. i've tried bitter apple, time-outs, yelping, saying no and then ignoring him, but none of it is working! i feel so helpless. i honestly don't know what else to do. i wish i could just call cesar milan or something.

anyone?

same here...the bitter apple doesn't even seem to effect my boy. lol i'm going to try nancy's advice as well.

[angelmtg1]

Am having the same problem. Spoke to my trainer and he told me to purchase bitter apple (pet smart.) I sprayed my plant that the attempted to bite and sprayed my hand. He immediately pulled away. Hope this helps.

[Angelstarr]

I would have to bathe in bitter apple. He nips at my shorts and my ankles, feet toes, hands,, etc.

If I give him a bully stic or something like that he is fine for a while but then he fights with the other dog.?????