Biting - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Reinell · 10-15-2008, 10:17 AM

Hi everyone,

When naming my Yorkie I did some research and found that a large percent of the dogs named "Rocky" bite.

No exception here, my little Yorkie Rocky does bite. He is just over 5 months, and is teething, but it is getting to be a lot to handle. We say "no biting" when he bites until he stops - but this takes time. Rocky seems to think biting is a game and is fun (tail wagging the whole time he is biting). When we come home from work he jumps up on us and is soooo excited and sometimes bites our hands and pulls and this hurts when he lands on the ground after his jumps.

It is not only us that he bites in this playful manner - he bites everyone he meets and is so happy to see everyone.

I know he is a puppy, but should we start curbing this behaviour more aggressively? It has been suggested by some of my family members to put him in his crate when he bites non-stop (he does not sleep in the crate, he has free roam of the living room area). Would this be too drastic or could this work? We want him to stop biting and know it is serious not to listen to us, but he is generally a good little dog.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice!

xmasbaby75 · 10-15-2008, 11:41 AM

When he bites you, let out a little "yelp" like "Ow!" or something like that. That is how puppies communicate with each other. When one bites too hard, the other one yelps, and the first dog knows to back off or ease up. It may take awhile, but stay consistant, and do it every time, and eventually, he'll learn. You can also buy bitter apple and spray it on your hands. He'll learn that your hands taste bad, and it's no fun to bite them!

ARCHIE · 10-15-2008, 12:26 PM

If the above does not work try turning away from him when he jumps and
grabs you with his mouth. Ignoring him may be the answer. Most do it
for the reaction they get from their human moms and dads. Any reaction
to them is better than none.
Just turn away and walk away ignoring him. It may take several times
but he will get the picture. It's important to be consistant.
Good luck,

Reinell · 10-15-2008, 04:02 PM

Hi!

Thank you both for your advice, I will try out your techniques.

PeanutsMom48 · 10-17-2008, 04:14 PM

i have a 3 month old and i have just discovered using a squirt bottle while saying no loudly. it seems to be the only thing that works for peanut! my toes were beginning to hurt!

Reinell · 10-18-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeanutsMom48

i have a 3 month old and i have just discovered using a squirt bottle while saying no loudly. it seems to be the only thing that works for peanut! my toes were beginning to hurt!

Awww! I feel your pain. Thanks for the tip - we will have to try that as well. He's got to get the picture if we do all those things.

Maria85 · 10-27-2008, 01:33 PM

I know this might come across as awful advice, but it has worked wonders. When my humps bites me, I just bite him back, nothing awful... no need to make them cry or giving them a trauma. Yorkies are very smart and if you speak their own language (mothers will bite puppies to correct them), they will get it right away.

bildio · 10-27-2008, 02:08 PM

I use the bite correction on Gus. I use my finger tips as teeth, and apply a firm pressure to the back of his neck repeating "no biting". Typically, I roll him on his side, and keep pressure on his neck until he is calm. I try to imitate what I think a puppy's mother would do.

SergeantsMom · 10-28-2008, 07:33 AM

My Sergeant is a year old on Halloween. He has always play bitten and we tell him no. He started biting my daughter who I have to admit never put him down, so we corrected her but he is still a bit aggressive towards her.
I am the Alpha dog and he has never bitten me, until this Sunday. It started early in the day when he ran up to my sons friend and showed his teeth and growled. I talked to my trainer who recommended a muzzle when he shows aggression. We did this and then later I let him run about the house, where he eventually settled on my bed with me. I moved my foot and he went for it, I moved again and he attacked. When I went towards him to tell him NO, he bit me. I have a mark and a bruise on my breast where he got me.

this morning he got loose and ran to the street and started showing teeth and growling at a passer by...the woman was pretty scared.

I am not sure what to do and my family is very frustrated. Any Suggestions??????

Reinell · 10-28-2008, 08:59 AM

Thanks for the advice - we have tried really biting him in the fast and the finger pressure biting - we just have to be more consistent and do this more often.

SergeantsMom - sorry to hear about this biting. I do not have much advice but feel it sounds like a more serious problem with the growling and aggression. What I have seen on TV shows (such as Dog Whisperer) indicates that the behaviour should be stopped before it escalates into a growling-aggression state. Perhaps watch closely for clues that indicate he will be aggressive and correct at that stage. Good luck!!

SergeantsMom · 10-28-2008, 09:28 AM

Reinell:

Thank you for your kind words. I am hoping some other owners have had similar experiences and that there is something we can do. The last thing I want to do is to have to get rid of this puppy. My family would be devastated.

lovemyalfie · 10-29-2008, 09:35 PM

I yelped like a dog when Alfie bit me lol. He learned not to do that real quick! I sounded goofy, but it does work!

YorkieMother · 10-30-2008, 11:03 AM

When the teeth come off your hand that is when you notice and make lots of kind gentle that a guy for not biting me.

What you pay the most attention to you get.

When he bites get up and walk away.

JL

Reinell · 10-31-2008, 01:55 PM

Thanks! Great advice, we will try to give him lots of attention to him when he does not bite. I think it is getting better though ... he is losing more and more teeth so maybe that is helping too (he is losing his molars now).

Yorkie_25 · 10-31-2008, 06:47 PM

I am going through the same thing with Chloe...she has been here a week and has started this biting up and its really starting to get on my nerves. I hate to put her in her kennel, but its gettting to a point everytime I try to pet her or rub her head, she nips at me. Its getting really annoying...I think I will try the water bottle technique...I hope it works....

10-15-2008, 10:17 AM	#1
Reinell Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Sweden Posts: 203	Biting Hi everyone, When naming my Yorkie I did some research and found that a large percent of the dogs named "Rocky" bite. No exception here, my little Yorkie Rocky does bite. He is just over 5 months, and is teething, but it is getting to be a lot to handle. We say "no biting" when he bites until he stops - but this takes time. Rocky seems to think biting is a game and is fun (tail wagging the whole time he is biting). When we come home from work he jumps up on us and is soooo excited and sometimes bites our hands and pulls and this hurts when he lands on the ground after his jumps. It is not only us that he bites in this playful manner - he bites everyone he meets and is so happy to see everyone. I know he is a puppy, but should we start curbing this behaviour more aggressively? It has been suggested by some of my family members to put him in his crate when he bites non-stop (he does not sleep in the crate, he has free roam of the living room area). Would this be too drastic or could this work? We want him to stop biting and know it is serious not to listen to us, but he is generally a good little dog. Thanks in advance for any help and advice! __________________ Rocky , River & me Last edited by Reinell; 10-15-2008 at 10:19 AM.

10-15-2008, 11:41 AM	#2
xmasbaby75 YT Graphic Artist Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: RI Posts: 9,607 Blog Entries: 2	When he bites you, let out a little "yelp" like "Ow!" or something like that. That is how puppies communicate with each other. When one bites too hard, the other one yelps, and the first dog knows to back off or ease up. It may take awhile, but stay consistant, and do it every time, and eventually, he'll learn. You can also buy bitter apple and spray it on your hands. He'll learn that your hands taste bad, and it's no fun to bite them! __________________ Shadow Dancer (RIP) , Gellica, Li'l Sapphire, Phantom, & Brandi Blu (RIP)

10-15-2008, 04:02 PM	#4
Reinell Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Sweden Posts: 203	Hi! Thank you both for your advice, I will try out your techniques. __________________ Rocky , River & me

10-27-2008, 02:08 PM	#8
bildio Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Havre de Grace, MD Posts: 1,536	I use the bite correction on Gus. I use my finger tips as teeth, and apply a firm pressure to the back of his neck repeating "no biting". Typically, I roll him on his side, and keep pressure on his neck until he is calm. I try to imitate what I think a puppy's mother would do. __________________ *Niko (3 yrs) Gus (5 yrs)* *Squirt (17 yrs - RIP)*

10-28-2008, 07:33 AM	#9
SergeantsMom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Merrimack, NH, United States Posts: 6	Sergeant is biting people and just bit me My Sergeant is a year old on Halloween. He has always play bitten and we tell him no. He started biting my daughter who I have to admit never put him down, so we corrected her but he is still a bit aggressive towards her. I am the Alpha dog and he has never bitten me, until this Sunday. It started early in the day when he ran up to my sons friend and showed his teeth and growled. I talked to my trainer who recommended a muzzle when he shows aggression. We did this and then later I let him run about the house, where he eventually settled on my bed with me. I moved my foot and he went for it, I moved again and he attacked. When I went towards him to tell him NO, he bit me. I have a mark and a bruise on my breast where he got me. this morning he got loose and ran to the street and started showing teeth and growling at a passer by...the woman was pretty scared. I am not sure what to do and my family is very frustrated. Any Suggestions??????

10-15-2008, 12:26 PM	#3
ARCHIE No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 16,218	If the above does not work try turning away from him when he jumps and grabs you with his mouth. Ignoring him may be the answer. Most do it for the reaction they get from their human moms and dads. Any reaction to them is better than none. Just turn away and walk away ignoring him. It may take several times but he will get the picture. It's important to be consistant. Good luck,

10-17-2008, 04:14 PM	#5
PeanutsMom48 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Fort Lee, New Jersey Posts: 42	i have a 3 month old and i have just discovered using a squirt bottle while saying no loudly. it seems to be the only thing that works for peanut! my toes were beginning to hurt!

10-27-2008, 01:33 PM	#7
Maria85 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London Posts: 76	I know this might come across as awful advice, but it has worked wonders. When my humps bites me, I just bite him back, nothing awful... no need to make them cry or giving them a trauma. Yorkies are very smart and if you speak their own language (mothers will bite puppies to correct them), they will get it right away.

10-28-2008, 08:59 AM	#10
Reinell Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Sweden Posts: 203	Thanks for the advice - we have tried really biting him in the fast and the finger pressure biting - we just have to be more consistent and do this more often. SergeantsMom - sorry to hear about this biting. I do not have much advice but feel it sounds like a more serious problem with the growling and aggression. What I have seen on TV shows (such as Dog Whisperer) indicates that the behaviour should be stopped before it escalates into a growling-aggression state. Perhaps watch closely for clues that indicate he will be aggressive and correct at that stage. Good luck!! __________________ Rocky , River & me

10-28-2008, 09:28 AM	#11
SergeantsMom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Merrimack, NH, United States Posts: 6	Reinell: Thank you for your kind words. I am hoping some other owners have had similar experiences and that there is something we can do. The last thing I want to do is to have to get rid of this puppy. My family would be devastated.

10-29-2008, 09:35 PM	#12
lovemyalfie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 169	I yelped like a dog when Alfie bit me lol. He learned not to do that real quick! I sounded goofy, but it does work!

10-30-2008, 11:03 AM	#13
YorkieMother YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Posts: 1,324	When the teeth come off your hand that is when you notice and make lots of kind gentle that a guy for not biting me. What you pay the most attention to you get. When he bites get up and walk away. JL __________________ "The truth about an animal is far more beautiful than all the myths woven about it." Konrad Loranz

10-31-2008, 01:55 PM	#14
Reinell Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Sweden Posts: 203	Thanks! Great advice, we will try to give him lots of attention to him when he does not bite. I think it is getting better though ... he is losing more and more teeth so maybe that is helping too (he is losing his molars now). __________________ Rocky , River & me

10-31-2008, 06:47 PM	#15
Yorkie_25 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 106	I am going through the same thing with Chloe...she has been here a week and has started this biting up and its really starting to get on my nerves. I hate to put her in her kennel, but its gettting to a point everytime I try to pet her or rub her head, she nips at me. Its getting really annoying...I think I will try the water bottle technique...I hope it works....