Drawing Blood!
 

:mad: Still having biting problems while trying to bathe 4mth. old Macy. posted earlier about the bathing issue, thanks for the responses. She's still mean as hell and now has drawn blood on a few ocasions (most) when trying to take something from her that she should'nt have. HELP.

Gizmo hates baths too. However, he never draws blood, he simply just tries to get the heck out of the tub. Is there any specific treat that your little girl goes nuts over? Sometimes, when I bathe Giz, I'll have my husband be and his head and feed him treats while I wash him.

I mean she needs to know it's not okay to be attacking, especially for just a bath. Has she always been this way?

Is she a rescue? Or have you had her since a pup?

Being nosy about her background, may be a little easier to come up with a solution if I know.

Taryn,
Thanks for the reply, we've had Macy since she was 8wks, did'nt know about waiting till 12wks since all of my other puppies (diffrent breeds outside dogs not around Macy) were gotten at 8wks. Lets see we play tug-o-war with her and of course she growls and pulls. Is this something we should Stop?

If she's playing tug of war and it's the play growl. Then no, don't stop. Sounds like that's her play growl. I didn't know she was such a munchkin. The bath issues will probably be grown out of as long as you're consistent with bath time and reward her for good behavior and trying as hard as you can to ignore the bad behavior.

Don't get your hopes down, we got Giz young too and we've had some obstacles with training hi. mEven today we had a set back and he's almost 6 months old.

But I would definitely try using treat during bath time. Especially if they are the treats you use for training.

Good luck! :thumbup:

By the way if the growling during playing is mean. I would drop the toy and turn away from her. She won't like the lack of attention and will probably stop the growling, that is if it's aggressive growling.

I would practice taking the things away from her that she growl and snaps at you. Take for a few seconds and give back to this many times she knows she will get it back when she is good and waiting for it. This takes some time but I think it would help. Baths I always wash evrything but the face first. And when I do the face I be very careful cuz it's scary for them at first. Or just start by putting her feet in water and let her get use to it.
Good luck

Does she listen to you at all? (not trying to be a smart butt, sincere question) More like is she understanding 'No' and 'Good 'Girl'?

When she gets in that state it's like she knows nothing but kill me! She may understand no and good girl sometimes. Thanks.

I know this sounds weird, but try acting like her real Mom and growl at her. You may have to try a few different types of growls but there should be one that will stop her in her tracks.

When a dog is in a reactive state saying no or good or grr at her will do not one thing as they are not with you at all. Brain has shut down and all you can do is put them somewhere they will not hur tyou or others and let them calm down. Do not do what sets them off again in the manner you did it hte first time they got set off. Find a slower calmer treat loaded way to do it the next time.

JL

Hi Welcome to YT :)

You need to nip this in the bud NOW...let her know this behavior is unacceptable..What she is doing is showing dominance over you...She is telling you NO you can't take that from me and your not going too...She is only 4 mos old...and you need to teach her what is acceptable and what isn't...You can very easily stop this behavior now before it gets out of hand...if you don't, you are going to have a serious problem on your hands when she gets older.

What I would do is...during bath time if she goes to bite you...I would grab her by her chin hair...don't pull the hair...it doesn't hurt them, groomers hold them there while grooming so they will be still, look her in the eye and say NO in a firm voice, turn her head away from you and continue to bath her until you are done...than treat her...give her something that she really really likes..cheese, carrots, chicken...rewarding her after the bath...she will soon learn, thats its not that bad and she gets a reward.

Bitting you while trying to take something from her..is dominance...I would take a chew toy and play with her with it but don't let her have the toy...if she bits you while playing...say OUCH loud enough to get her attention put the toy up and walk away and/or put her in her crate or play yard what ever you are using to confine her in...stop all play...with consistent...she will learn..if I bit the, fun time ends...and bitting is unaceeptable.

Once you get to the point that you can play with a toy together without any bitting...start letting her have the toy for a few sec at a time and take it back from her...if she doesn't bit reward her...if she does...say ouch, stop all play...You have to let her know you are the pack leader not her...I would also take her and craddle her in your arms belly up...do not let her move or up until she stops resisting...than tell her she is a good girl and that you love her, get some lovings in before letting her up...no treat for this...love is the reward...this will help you gain pack leader status....Good luck!

I would start her on a pretty intense behavior modification/positive reinforcement training program to get her used to listening to you and learning to do what you say so that she learns to trust you. Once she trusts you, she won't be so scared that she has to try to bite you to get out of the bath experience and she will start to accept it as one other thing she's being taught how to do by you. You can read a lot about that training method here on YT in the library and online. When done properly, it can transform a regular, confused owner into a proper dog trainer and a little hellion into a well-behaved dog and it is all fun for both of you. It takes some patience and time and you being more persistent than she is but it is do-able.

Good luck.

I love the overall Nothing in Life for Free training program. It's a very gentle and polite way of reinforcing who is in charge. It worked wonders for my Westie. My Lucy is so submissive anway.

Nothing in Life is Free Gaining control of your dog humanely

Do you think it's painful for her. I wonder if the water feels like something she needs to get away from. They do make dog wipes maybe start all over and see what part she is hating so much. When you pick her up does she bite? And maybe use treats have her thinking about them instead of biting. (something she only gets at bath time and she really wants). She only get it if she behaves. It may take two people so one can wash and one can do the treats. Take baby steps. It's amazing how if you have something they really want they sometimes behave much better.

I have a cairn that is this way about toe nails. She has never drawn blood from biting but she will snap. My daughter thank goodness is really fast at it. But I understand the frustration. But the good treats help keep her mind on something else. Good luck

Thanks for the replys. She has now gotten worse. Now alot of times when we just attempt to pick her up she starts growling and biting. We'll try some more of the sugestions, the growling at her does'nt seem to be working very well as sometimes she has already bitten us before we can get out a GROWL. :confused:

Bump. any thoughts on my latest problem. But hey on a plus note we can get her to sit sometimes.