Biting!

[TIA DALMA]

You are NOT ALONE!!!! I have had Tia Dalma for a month now and she does a similar thing. I find she does it more when she is tired towards the end of the night. I know sometimes you feel, gee, doesn't she like me? I credit alot of it to the fact that she is teething. I give her plenty of things to chew on, especially the little rawhide sticks or "chips". (look like rawhide potato chips - get them at local grocery or pet shop) I liketo substitute my hand for a chew toy if that's what she is trying to tell me she wants - because my hand is not a chewing device.
There are even times when I hold her and she throws a tantrum. I let her know that tantrum will not get her what she wants so that behavior isn't working when she does it.
I also will put her down in her pen or crate and usually she will fall asleep shortly afterwards.

[TIGGERLILYPAD5]

i have the same problems with my girl sushi. no more it's worse when she barely wakes up from a nap or when i take her outside. she mostly stops for a while when i rub her belly or pin her down although she starts all over in about 3 minutes i just don't get it

[SirRudy]

Rudy is doing the same thing. If you yelp, tell him no bite, it is like he doesn't get it. Getting up and walking away just makes him nip at your heals and then it is like a game. I often find I can't get anything done because I'm afraid I'm going to hurt him when he is attached to my pant hem. I will keep trying and think that I am going to fill a soda can with pennies today and try shaking that to see what response I get.

[TishaMoon]

Originally Posted by SirRudy

Rudy is doing the same thing. If you yelp, tell him no bite, it is like he doesn't get it. Getting up and walking away just makes him nip at your heals and then it is like a game. I often find I can't get anything done because I'm afraid I'm going to hurt him when he is attached to my pant hem. I will keep trying and think that I am going to fill a soda can with pennies today and try shaking that to see what response I get.

This describes Bailey exactly, especially at first. At first she had no concept of what no means or why I was yelling it at her. The soda can helped her figure out no=bad, but she soon turned her attentions to soda can=bad.

[TIGGERLILYPAD5]

i have books on yorkies and it says that yelling at them doesnt work. you have to say it sternly but do not yell

[TishaMoon]

Originally Posted by TIGGERLILYPAD5

i have books on yorkies and it says that yelling at them doesnt work. you have to say it sternly but do not yell

Oh yes, I knew I shouldn't have used the word yell. I try not to yell. I admit I have sometimes when saying no firmly doesn't work, but I have heard that telling just makes them fear you.

[TIGGERLILYPAD5]

yes very true

[KJLive]

Originally Posted by SirRudy

Rudy is doing the same thing. If you yelp, tell him no bite, it is like he doesn't get it. Getting up and walking away just makes him nip at your heals and then it is like a game. I often find I can't get anything done because I'm afraid I'm going to hurt him when he is attached to my pant hem. I will keep trying and think that I am going to fill a soda can with pennies today and try shaking that to see what response I get.

LOL! Sophie does this too...nips at my pant legs or feet. I've learned to shuffle my feet across the floor and totally ignore her. Most times it works with a stern "no". However, for those who are potty training...I've also learned that this is one of the 3 ways that Sophie tells me she has to go out to go potty. Even if she barks to tell me she has to go out if I repond and get up and say "let's go potty", she'll bite at my feet/pant leg until we get to the door. Then she stays still while I put her leash on to go outside to pee. It's just a thought...but the biting is clearly there way of trying to get our attention. It's for us to figure if it's because they have to go potty or because they wanna play.

[mommy2bella]

Don't put her in time out in he crate. That is supposed to be a safe haven for crate trained dogs, not a punishment.

Bella did that when she was really little. When she would open her mouth to bite at me, I would put my thumb in her mouth and hold on tounge down for a second and say NO. Its very gentle and when you do this, it is a reflex and they cannot bite down with their top teeth b/c they cannot bring the bottom one to meet it. They don't like this and they they will decide not to bite your hands b/c they don't want that. I only had to do it 2 or 3 times and she stopped. She still LOVES to take treats and all from my hand, but I tell her "easy" when she gets too excited and she is good! Hope this helps!

[TIGGERLILYPAD5]

OH yeah that is very good advice i'll see how that works

[jc212]

Don't feel like a bad mommy! They are really just trying to play with you and are not doing it to be "mean". Chase was on a biting kick as a younger puppy and what we tried was leaving the room whenever the biting started. Turned our back to him and did not give him eye contact (which is a form of positive reinforcment). Since he loves being anywhere we were, he learned (took a long while) not to bite.

1. If your little one is food motivated, can you have her do a trick like sit/stay and reward her for it? That might snap her out of biting mode.
2. How about activities like fetch to divert her attention?
3. Bully sticks and flossies are good for chewers!
4. Also, maybe Baily needs some stimulation- have you tried any puzzle toys? There are great ones that dispense treats or the stuffed variety like Hide-A-Squirrel.

Good luck!

[Leigh22]

I'm sure someone has already mentioned this but- have you tried using a squirt gun? Ziggy was a terrible biter. I tried not playing on the floor with him, the bitter apple for my hands, the loud yelp, ignoring him, time outs, giving him toys to chew on instead of me and it didn't seen to work. Then one day I was holding him and he got angry that I wouldn't let him down to attack our cat, so he bit my nose. He had bitten me before, but this was deep enough that it scarred later. I know a lot of people don't like it, but it was the only thing that worked for me. And yeah, for the first couple of days she's probably going to stay wet, but stick with it. She's still young and its going to take her some time to figure out what you want from her.

[cindy evers]

I just started puppy classes with Lexi who is 14 weeks. I they told us last week that nipping and biting was very common and the best way to stop it is when she nips you "arf" loudly at her. I have tried this and it does work. You have to be consistent with it. I also tell her no just after the "arf" so she gets no.

Be sure when you "arf" it is loud and high. It has worked with Lexi who was nipping me constantly. Also, do not play with her or let anyone else play with her in a fashion that encourages her to nip. It's confusing and sends the wrong signals.

[Odi]

I have the same problems with my guy...as for the NYLABONES healthy edibles ...he does not like any of them except for the cheese flavored one which for some reason are hard to get...but try the cheese one (plain cheese) my guy loves it and it keeps him busy....

[JJinjersey]

My Bryan can be very mouthy some times..when he was in puppy classes the trainer suggested that I spray the bitter apple directly in his mouth, well I did it only once and now when he see the bottle he takes off running and I've sprayed it on my hands and it also keeps him at bay...try it!