Biting Hard Hi Everyone! I am having an interesting problem with Princess Sophie. When she is excited and playing and I grab her, she bites down on my finger or hand really hard! It's very quick as if it's just a snap reaction and she doesn't really mean to hurt me but she wants me to know that she does not want to be picked up and I ruined her play time. She hasn't broken the skin but I fear she could. When she does this, I immediately say "no bite" and "ouch" and look her straight in the eye and affirm "no bite" (she gets a double whammy). What I am concerned about is that she might do this to someone else (besides I want her to stop doing it to me) outside our home and I would have to have her put down. Now I am not anticipating anyone outside our house picking up my dog but stranger things have happened and I'm not sure how to correct this behavior. Will she grow out of this? Do I need to do something differently with the correction so she learns this is absolutely unacceptable behavior. I'm just not sure. Now don't be wise guys and just say that if she bites me when I do this, then don't do this. LOL There's got to be something I can do that is positive and will still get the point across to her. HELP! |
Maybe when you are done playing, get a treat and ask her to sit or another command to redirect her letting her know play time is over. Do a couple commands and walk away. If you need her to go somewhere else like her x-pen. Grab a squeaky toy and treat go to x-pen make the squeaky noise and call her. When she comes put treat inside x-pen and close door letting her know you stopped playtime. I think she is biting because she is trying to control you. Wanting to be in charge of playtime. These should help redirect her behavior letting her know you are in charge of playtime and you are done playtime is done. |
Ok, as you know, I know next to nothing about training, but putting together earlier comments about the socialization of the little ones by mom and the fact that you had to bring Princess Sophie home so young due the circumstances, is there another, older dog nearby that you trust with whom Sophie could have play dates that might help in teaching her bite inhibition? I understand this would all be contingent upon vaccinations, etc, and I don't even know if that would be an appropriate intervention, but it is just a thought. Of course, this would be in addition to the training you are doing at home. Just tossing out ideas, here...:rolleyes: |
When you say ouch say it in a much different voice. One that is stern and different then any other voice you use. She must learn it is not acceptable behavior. As you say she may bite someone else. Above poster had great advice as well. And the main thing is always be consistent. That's the key in training Good luck and keep us posted |
Hi and thanks for your comments. I really do appreciate them! Sometimes you are just too close to a situation to see the forrest for the trees. LOL Sophie has our mini-schnauzer, Hansel here at home and he's having a time with her biting too. They play together very well, both taking turns being on their tummies. So cute but Hansel does have to let her know that sometimes she just goes too far. I'm sure that helps. She has always nibbled on fingers and I just figured it was due to teething and lack of socialization. We can tell her "no bite", in a very firm tone of voice, without yelling, and she listeners. In fact, when she's playing and gets rough, she does stop biting right away when I say "ouch" or "no bite". I think it's more of a reaction to her play and being so very excited. I certainly don't want to make her docile as I think she's docile enough and this is really just a case of being excited and being a puppy. I will have to keep reinforcing that biting is not allowed. Other than that, I will also be more careful about grabbing her up from the floor when she's in high action mode. Right now, she's napping on my chest (seems to be her favorite place to nap) and I'm trying to figure out how to get back to sewing without disturbing her. LOL She is running my life these days but I think it's in a good way. LOL |
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