I can only assume you meant corporal punishment. I certainly do believe in corporal punishment. It's all part of rearing a healthy, well balanced child. I pity those that don't. With that being said, if you want to give your kids a piece of candy when they run out in the street or bite someone at school, I suppose that's your right. It sure is sad, though. Kids like having boundaries. If you don't teach kids not to do the wrong things, they sure don't get enough praise for doing the right things. We don't have to be trained to do the wrong thing, it's natural. We have to be trained to do the right thing. That training comes with love and dicipline.

I dont have to spank mine. All I have to do is clap my hands and they stop what they are doing. Puppies just naturally chew. I cant see spanking them for it. And yes Mine outgrew doing it

I'm sorry, then. I understood that we were talking about a biting problem, not a chewing problem. I guess I was mistaken.

No, he wasn't abused, the breeder had just one child and we have for a few months now and he is great with kids, he loves them. When we got him he was and still is in great shape. Maybe the fact that he is part yorkie (shish tsu) is the problem and the fact that I am soft does not help.

Tyler just loves to chew on my fingers and the fact that they are chubby fingers makes it better for him and he just loves to chase them if I try to get them away from him. It could be funny at times

I think that is why my hubby does not get bitten as much, he puts this very deep voice and tells him to stop and he does, whether he is barking for no reason and if he is nipping him. Me on the other hand can not improve that deep voice yet. At times he will see that I am not happy and he will just stop, but he is a puppy so I know he will out grow it.

Ahhh well sorry, somewhere here there was a post reply that mentioned the breeder having 4 children.
I do not know anything about the dispostion, etc of shi tsu dogs so if I had known he is a mixed breed I would not comment. I well know the characteristics and dispositions of Yorkies only.

Being "soft" is not a bad thing...you can be strong and discipline the puppy without being abusive. Punish him by crating him when he is not behaving. Say a strong NO and pick him up and put him in the crate for a time.

Good luck to you... ;)

“The Bible says "He that spareth the rod hateth his son."


Another popular quote is “spare the rod spoil the child”. Some people think this means it’s ok to hit children. Actually a rod is an instrument used by a Sheppard along with a staff. It a stick or stick with a hook used to gently guide the wandering sheep back to the herd. Sheppard’s don’t hit their sheep! Remember the quote “thy rod and staff shall comfort thy”?
There’s a great deal of information out there today on learning and behavior. Studies have found that corporal punishment does not bring long-term good results. Don’t confuse discipline with hitting. That’s the argument most people make when they want to hit kids, “but he needs discipline.” Discipline simply means training and there are good ways and there are bad ways to train behavior. Hitting is for bullies.

Getting back to the problem at hand, I have used the technique mentioned by an earlier poster where you put the hand further in the mouth and say, “No” firmly. This is done when they are nibbling not biting. This has been more of a reaction on my part than something I read about. I’ve even done it with large dogs using my arm, afterwards I thought, “what was I doing?” However, they learn pretty fast. Another option if he is just nibbling and not biting is to say, “No” set him down and give him something more suitable for chewing on.

If they are biting this behavior should be stopped immediately. Using your middle finger and thumb give a slight thump to the nose while saying, “No.” Try it on you own nose first and you will see it’s not painful, merely annoying. Don’t use this for other bad behaviors though; it should be reserved only for biting. It has to be immediate too; he needs to connect the biting behavior to thump, and use it everytime he bites, not occasionally. You have to decide on your plan of action before he does it and don't be wishy washy about it. Firm but gentle.

A lot of people might be confused and think that thumping is like hitting. Hitting and spanking are intended to produce pain. The pain becomes associated with the person doing the hitting more so than the behavior. In other words the behavior may stop only when around that person and other noxious behaviors will take its place. A thump is not painful, merely annoying and closely related to the area (the mouth) that is doing undesirable behavior so it becomes associated with the behavior. For more information on this, research cue to consequence behavior.

Nancy, I never thought about the rod being used to guide rather then spank or hit! It makes alot of sense! Thanks for that. My kids are grown so this doesn't really aply to me but I have heard people say this before now I know what to say back!:)

Ok, you may not necessarily agree with the Bible, and that's of course fine. But let's not mince words here. The Bible is clear about what the rod should be used for. Now, this doesn't necessarily apply to animals, but there is no confusion about the rod in the Bible. Again, feel free to disagree, but please don't claim that the Bible's use of the rod is something that it's not. Here are plenty of examples:

2 Samuel 7:14
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 89:32
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Proverbs 10:13
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

Proverbs 13:24
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Proverbs 23:14
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the a$$, and a rod for the fool's back.

Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

No, the fact that the puppy is part Shih Tzu has nothing to do with him nipping. He is nipping because he is teething.
I have both a Yorkie and a Shih Tzu. As loving and affectionate as a Yorkie is, double that and that is the temperment of a Shih Tzu. They are the most lovable and affectionate breed of dog, I have ever had, and we have had quite a variety over the years.