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Biting Posted here and main board Marley is not yet 4 months. He is extremely energetic and appears to be a happy But he wants to bite bite bite, which is understandable as he is a puppy. He rarely licks and just kisses. He does do that when I first come home from work and first thing in the morning. After that it is full energy and biting when playing. So the most disturbing part for me is that when we go to at night, I have Corkie there, my other one and I usually put him in his kennel with in a few minutes(it's right next to me on the floor) for biting Corkie(trying to get her to play). Well I try for a few minutes to direct his attention elsewhere and teach him not to attack her. When I tell him NO, he just turns around and bites me. I grab him and tell him NO. He is not afraid of my NO.. or anything. Then as I continue to tell him NO..lay him on his side like Cesar says... he tries to bite me the whole time. I can feel he is getting frustrated as he can't do what he wants and I'm holding him down. As soon as I think he is calm.....I let go and he just bites me again. I can do this over and over..and he does not give up. When holding him down he is reaching over and trying to bite me...so I get him right by the side of the neck, and try to keep my hand out of his reach, but again let him up and he just bites me again. I'm very very concerned. I've never had a yorkie or any dog respond in this way. Usually my girls...a harsh no was enough to break their heart. I'm so hoping that this is just a puppy stage? As I said before in another post, it has been years since I've had a puppy. I was so upset last night I could hardly sleep, wondering if this puppy has an issue or am I doing something wrong? I am a dominant person with my dogs, make no mistake. I baby them but also, if they are mis behaving, I correct it immediately. I just have never experienced this. I don't have thousands to get some sort of specialized behaviorist. Hoping that some of you out there have experienced this and what did you do...what was your outcome. I'm at a loss. I don't want to rehome him.... that would break my heart. I want to do what is needed, I just don't know what it is OR...praying this is something with continual training, he will grow out of. He does not appear to be mean.....just very dominant and wants what he wants... He is afraid of NOTHING. Cj |
Ok thanks for all the input. Much appreciated |
Biting Sounds like an exhuberant puppy to me. You are saying he is play biting which is pretty normal in my opinion. I would let them work it out and not interfere. When the older one gets fed up, I have a feeling he will be put in his place. I cannot believe that putting him on his side at his age is going to register, but hey...I could be wrong. It does not sound like he is doing anything but trying to play....that is what they do...I have one that is not quite two who still does it...he pulls on the other one's ears. They rip and run all day long. When someone gets fed up...they let him know and it stops. Just my two cents. Hope it is worth something. :p |
Thank you for responding Lady Jane, I really believe it is more than play biting as the ferocity is very different. I do keep Corkie..the older gal separated from him because her hurts her a lot and she only has a few teeth and when she goes to put him in his place, she is mainly gumming him..and he loves it. She never hurts him like an older dog would and put him in his place. I agree and have received the same advice that he is too young for the alpha..hold him on his side thing like Cesar shows. He is not getting that at all. The episodes I spoke of were..very fierce in his response and you could tell he was frustrated and mad that I would lay him down on his side and he just would get up and bite HARD and mean. I think it is also possible Im comparing him to my other three I've had over the years that were very docile and got their feelers bent very easy. He does not so I may have to be a bit tougher on him. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to this as last night I was near tears and barely slept. I don't want to fail him..or myself. I love him too much Again thanks for your advice. I have taken it to heart:-) |
I am so sorry....I felt awful reading that you were in tears. Poor Corky. I had no idea she was a senior. That definitely will not work. I have a foster here who came to me after being found living between the woods and an abandoned building. He was feral. Don't even ask me what I was thinking about. hah! But..I am happy to tell you that after he bit the heck out of me a few times and went after a few of my kids, he now lives happily with them. All I did, was put him in a crate every time he did something unacceptable. I did not particularly care for doing that since some find comfort in crates, but I had to separate him and, at first, I could not even pick him up without being bit. I would pick it up and corner him. I said *kennel up* every time and would only leave him in there for a couple of minutes. He got the idea in no time....and every time he did something unacceptable he would willingly go to the crate. We graduated to these *time outs* in bathrooms and, as I said, for only a couple of minutes. This took months and the months have stretched out to two years. I don't know if the little sweetie will ever find his forever home...maybe he has found it here....but, he is a happy playful little pupster now who gets along very well with my pups! I hope things tone down a bit for you. These guys are like children and some can be a handful. Sounds like you got one of them! Time and patience and I will bet you end up with a wonderful family member. I did not say this....make sure Marley is evaluated thoroughly by a vet....just to be sure it is not something medical. I have a feeling you probably have already done that. Good luck and keep us posted! |
Thanks Lady Jane :-) I like the adivice you have given about the time outs. I will try that. Yes I do have great hopes he will come around because when he is not being a brat...he is a doll baby.....LOL I have had him checked out throughouly by the vet but I am again taking him this next week as I want her to go over him again. How wonderful of you take in the pup found in the woods. What a lucky baby and I hope he has found his forever home :wub: Thanks again. PS. I did try grabbing him last night by the scruff of the neck and pinching him and shaking a bit. He backed off...and his biting has decreased!!! Can't tell you how thrilled I am. Something finally seemed to hit home with him! What a lovebug he can be when not biting! lol |
He sounds like a little darling...just needs to know his limits. Good luck with him! Keep us posted on him! |
This is 100% NORMAL puppy behavior. Laying him on his side may not be the answer. When he does this, act as if you are hurt, then ignore him. When he settles down, then on with business. He will outgrow it if you don't accept the behaviour. But again, I have to say, that this is normal puppy behavior. The only thing I did with my little girl when she was in this stage, I would yelp like I was hurt, then turn away from her, if she got her little razor blades on me, lol. Just be consistent and persistent and reward him when he behaves in an appropriate manor, and you will see the changes. :):) |
You know....that really IS true. If one of mine bites me accidentally while they are rough housing under my desk chair and I say ouch...they stop! They really do understand. |
Thanks for the responses. I have been trying the yelping and turning away.. maybe just not long enough, as it did not deter him one little bit. I'll keep on with it though. Thanks for these tips. I can't tell you how much better I feel with your support and a light at the end of the tunnel with him. I got a little too emotional over it all possibly..hehe thanks! |
I was about to post almost exactly what you said. Even to the age of my puppy. The lunging at me and nipping/mouthing has got to stop! Training two times a week doesn't seem to help. (And, he is at his very worst when I get home.) What do you think - litter mates separated at birth! |
Could be! wanna trade? hahahahahah |
Not particularly! What I do want is patience to deal with the situation. I have had dogs all my life - although not for 15 years. The last yorkie I had was 30 years ago. I have never - ever - never had this kind of a problem with a puppy. Never been nipped, never been lunged at! I am growing very weary of the entire situation. Your story sounds exactly like mine. I do think exercise makes the situation worse not better. I do go to socialization class once a week and training once a week. Nothing has helped. Bennett started out nice and polite and it is getting worse by the minute. I had my vet evaluate the situation and said all it will take is patience. But - I am not a pin cushion - and I am not a saint! I just want tips from anyone! |
Have you asked the trainer for advice? If so, what are you being told? |
Well like I said, I don't think it is recommended but I am now treating him as a mother dog would and grabbing the scruff of his neck..pinching and shaking till it hurts. NOw I'm not shaking him hard..but enough to get his attention but more pinching that scruff. He yelps a little, but I swear there is a HUGE change in his attitude and now when he wants to bite he is not biting nearly as hard .... and not nearly as much. I would of not recommended this..but dangit..like you..I was kind of at my wits end. I have much hope now..that we are going to be fine! It had been 14 years since I had a yorkie pup and I don't remember this before, but I think I had very submissive docile little girls. This boy is a firecracker......but I see a huge change. You might give it a try..because I too was so weary and getting very emotional about the whole thing.... |
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Treating him as his mother would is good. But is mother would not grab and shake him. She would snap at him and move away from him. His sibling would yelp and refuse to play with him. Laying them on their side as Ceasar is for aggression. This is not aggression it is rough play. My question is, why not let Corky deal with it? They have a way of dealing with each other, in a lauguage that the both understand? This is an issue when they are taken from their mother and littermates before they have learned proper dog etiquette. |
Well the reason I don't let Corkie deal with it is that she is nearly 14 years old and he has teeth like a land shark. He is hurting her and she can't play mama and put him in his place. She ends up running and then shaking she gets so upset. I've been told the cesar method of laying on his side while I prove my alpha status does not really work with a young one and I can testify to this. All that did was make him madder and more aggressive. I ended up resorting to the scruff pinch/shake.. in an attempt to get him to just be less aggressive and it has worked.. If Corkie could retalitate and make an impression on him... then I'd let them handle it. As it is..she does not deserve this terrorizing and I feel I must protect her until he mellows a bit..which he seems to be doing. A long walk today really mellowed him out..hahah he's an angel sleeping now:-) |
Agreed! I think we may have been separated at birth as well as our pups! I also lowered the boom this afternoon and there has been a very obvious decline in attitude out of my little fellow! I drove to a "boarding school" trainer to check it out in case I can't get past this. I'm not sure who was being asked about the trainer's advice - but it was also what I got from my vet - it is a puppy problem. But, as I said originally, I've never had a problem like this out of any of the several dogs I've owned - including the yorkies! Maybe I wasn't firm enough - and he is pretty darn cute!! But, I am going to stick to my guns and see what happends. The "scruffing" didn't work on Bennett - or pennies in a can - or anything traditional. But, when I introduced a spray bottle into the mix - I got his attention very quickly! I am also using a much firmer (not louder - firmer) voice. (I sorta sound like a 3 year old in my normal speaking voice!!) |
LOL well at least we may have found an answer to each of the pups we have. They are so darn cute. I look at Marley and my heart just melts... then he bites me..haha But it is much more controlled now...... he is doing much better. Corkie is even allowing him to get closer because he is licking her more ..instead of piercing her body parts:-) I forgot to mention in the previous post..that Corkie only has a couple teeth left..so she ends up gumming him when she is trying to straighten him out which only makes him go after her more. |
I have a cat - Crackerjack - as well as Bennett. There is the normal tussle between bow-wow and me-ow! But, when Bennett woke up this morning there was a sparkling, brand-new attitude! Do you think we just needed each other's stories to make us get tough! I agree completely with what you said about being strict with your other pets - so that wasn't the problem. Maybe it's like children. My older daughter was no trouble at all - in fact I wouldn't have known what parenthood was all about until my younger was born almost 7 years later! There is that same defiant look in Bennett's eyes as there was in my younger child's! Keep up the good work - and keep me posted. I promise I will be there for moral support if you need it! We can compare war stories! |
You got a deal. And your right, Marley is a whole new man! I did not realize how much control he had till now. He is amazingly sweet now..even with Corkie..he's kissing her more...... I put a stop to it..when he bites..immediately...but now she is tolerating him more because he's not allowed to hurt her at all Got a deal girl! Updates on progress! |
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I understand with her being elderly, I didn't know she was a senior dog. I agree, putting them on their side is for agressive dogs. This is NOT aggression, it is just rough play because he never learned from his mother how to play nice. so Yes you now need to do that. I have a 3 month old, and lately he has started to chew our hands, He does not chew hard, but it is annoying and I just don't want him to think it is OK. So last night I snapped at him, like his other would. using my hand to touch and making the "argh" snapping sound. He yelped once and stopped immediately. Then we went to my husbfand and started on him and my husband did the same thing. That was it, he went off to find a toy. So I know it does work. The pinch and shake, I'm not sure about, it needs to just be a quick snap to startle them. |
thanks for your response. Well it does not appear I have to really use that pinch/shake thing now. A sharp No and like you..a quick nip at the side of his neck with the No.. seems to be doing the trick now. He is a changed man I must say. He seems so much happier and less out of control once I established I was the big Kahuna. It may have been a bit aggressive of me..but I do have his attention and have established my words mean business so I don't regret the pinch/shake ( since he obviously was not harmed..hehe). But all is progressing more sanely now.... :-) Thanks for responding and helping! |
On Our Way to Good Parenting! I also took a tip from "It's Me or the Dog" - and used canned air. It gets Bennett's attention post haste! Not one bite so far today - a couple of attempts were stopped immediately - including a 2 mile walk without a squabble! Maybe we have ESP through our little dumplings - and they knew when we had enough!! |
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I think they did just need a little lesson in Kahunaism.......LOL Good luck with Bennet and keep me posted! JeanieK, you could be right in the difference of agression vs dominance, I just know it was painful and had to halt. It was a whole different episode than his normal rough and painful bites. He was frustrated and angry..or acted that way.... when he was being stopped or interfered with. So this is why I labeled it aggression because if he'd of been a Newfoundland..I'd of been dead..haha |
Will do. This afternoon - when I came home at lunch and then just awhile ago after work - we had a brand new dog on our hands! Mr. Bennett is now compliant! |
Biting puppy I have a 5 mo. old male Yorkie who behaves pretty much like yours. He is biting some less, but he is still biting and lunging. I think some puppies are just like this and need more dicipline than others. I am not really having much trouble with potty training, so guess I need to be thankful for that. I am going to try grabbging him by the scruff of his neck and pinching him as nothing else seems to work. He was an only child, so know that is part of the problem. I also acquired him when he was 8 weeks old. I think he was driving his mother nuts. |
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