growling and biting ankles....help!!
 

Hi there, we're new here & need some help...Otis, my almost 4 month old little man, is a little terror!!!

He LOVES to play chase, and has taken to chasing my girls(ages 4 & 2) and growling and attacking their ankles. I've been acting as a body guard to my girls when we're all outside together, reprimanding him with a "No Bite!" and trying to re-direct his attention to a toy. If he is still persistent, he ends up in his corral, isolated. :( It is SOOO exasperating... Also, lately if he's really riled up, he's taken to jumping around, landing in a play stance and growling/biting at ME!!! When this happens, he gets more reprimands, "No Bark!" and gets a time out gated in the laundry area.

I need advice on two things:

1- I realize that attacking the girls' ankles is COMPLETELY unacceptable, but I need some more advice on how to curb this behavior.

2- Also, in regards to the growling/barking play stance with me, I'm having a having a hard time determining how much is acceptable play, or if it's aggression.

Otis is our first small dog, we've owned a Golden Retriever and a Lab. So the training has come as bit of a challenge in comparison to our others. My husband has never been on board with getting a small dog(although he has softened up to him) So the training and care of Otis is on me. I really need to get a handle on this behavior and prevent it from escalating...

Thank you so much for any advice you can offer.

Nicole & Otis

With his age I just think it is puppy biting rather than agression. The ankle biting however can be a problem if they continue into adult hood. I can understand why you are concerned about it. When he does it would flip him over on his back and say no bite. You are doing the right thing and redirecting him with a toy when he play bites. He may not understand time outs yet. Mine didnt untill they were older

Hi, I am new here to. With first Yorkie. We also have a lab and golden . My Winstin is also much different than the big dogs. He will be 3 months the 10th of this month and he loves to bark and bite my feet. I also redirect and tell him no. That sometimes makes him sassy. For the most part he is very sweet and loves to cuddle. I think he is just playing when he does that. He should out grow it if nothing else, Right???
Jen

I have had problems with exactly the same things! Cocoa is 9 months old and continues to bite ankles, jump and bite at clothing, bite my hands when I'm petting him and chasing around my little sister as if he's attacking her. I'm sure its just all play but, his little teeth hurt! If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it as well....good luck!

Well, I'm glad to see that we're not the only ones going through this! Now hopefully someone will reassure us that it's just a phase!!! ;)

Seriously though...still looking for some advice on how to curb this behavior!
Thanks!!

YIP like a hurt dog, then turn around and walk away.......he will grow out of most of this......teething and puppy stuff !!! DONT GIVE UP !!! and try not to get exasperated and angry when it happens - its NORMAL !!!

Same with Maggie
 

My 4 month old Maggie does the exact same thing !!! She will do it half way through a walk. She starts growling and biting my ankles. She also bites and tugs at the bottom of my pants when I am getting dressed. I think she relates it to me leaving her. I am hoping it is just a puppy phase. I tell he a firm NO when she shows this behaviour. It doesnt seem to bother her at all ! :(

lexi used to try and bite my feet or my sock as i walked.. i think its just
a puppy thing... she grew out of it thank god.... she used to bite my hair too.

I have an 8 month old little girl who does the same thing..this is the reason why I joined this site so I am happy to see its normal. I've tried bitter apple but she doesnt mind the taste anymoreIm wondering, for those who have an older yorkie, when did this behavior stop?
!

My pup used to be horrible about the ankle biting. We've worked past it using an OFF! command that one of my friends who owns several big, rambunctious dogs suggested teaching.

Keep a lead on her while she is in the house for a while. When she bites an ankle, take up the lead and give a short little tug on it-- not enough to stress her or harm her (remember, these dogs have delicate tracheas, so don't correct in such a way that you're applying pressure to the front of her throat!), but enough to let her know it is a correction. I'm not even sure I can describe how light of a touch works to get the idea across-- it is a lot less than you'd think, and I think it is actually the jingling of the tags that startles her more than the lead itself. When she lets go of the ankle, tell her OFF! and then give her a treat or praise her. Eventually just the OFF without the lead correction should be enough to get her to let go of the ankle.

I'm really not sure how well that would work on teeny-tiny yorkies considering how delicate they are, but my girl is pretty big and sturdy, and it worked really well. She got past needing the lead correction in about two days, and now will OFF pretty reliably even when she is really riled up and wanting to eat my sock with my foot still inside. What's especially nice is that you can apply OFF to other things, like if the dog is jumping on somebody who comes to the door, or trying to do inappropriate things with somebody's leg... it's handy! :D

Ankle and Cuff Biting
 

Hi again,
Our 9.5 month old little girl "Roufianna" has been doing the same thing plus shoe lace attacks LOL. A strong "No" and "Bad Girl" will stop her for 5 seconds. I'm thinking of carrying a rolled up newspaper and giving her a little wack to reinforce the verbal stuff. It can't hurt her because I only use 3 or 4 sheets so its more like a drum then a weapon. I will not hit her to hurt her and not use my hands as I don't want her to be fearful of me. I used this technique when I realized she would wee wee on the floor to get attention. Then poo a few minutes after a verbal reprimand. I lifted her up telling her bad girl and made a lot of noise with the paper banging her butt a few times. Believe it or not she never did it again. They are small dogs but dogs none the less. My Vet said I should make her aware when she is wrong. I trained my two German Shepards this way albeit with more sheets of paper LOL.
In addition, if it continues she will eventually trip me and I will break something or maybe fall on her. Input appreciated.

Have you considered puppy classes. It might help.

Have you had success with them? If so let me know.

Thank you for the ideas. I have in fact use the word "Off" from day one...it works a bit, but not completely. We started a puppy class through our city last night. The trainer uses Clicker Training. It invovles positive reinforcement rather than punishment for the bad behavior. It's a very simple concept, but it makes sense, and I am hopeful that it will work!
Positive reinforcement is always successful with children, so why not with puppies!!:)

If anyone is interested, this is the site that our trainer references...
http://clickertraining.com/15tips

I'll keep everyone posted as to our success!
Nicole

Tx for that. I am having trouble grasping the concept of "positive reinforcement" for such a negative trait. Do you feel telling her good girl and praising her when she is not bitting my feet will somehow make her think that bitting my feet is a bad idea? With children, even 2 yr. olds there is a common language and a verbal explanation of whats acceptable can be conveyed. With animals I think its harder to get the point across. Please don't misunderstand my relationship with this little girl. I love her to pieces and take her everywhere. I am just trying to improve our relationship even more. I don't reprimand her out of anger nor am I defending my position. Small dogs are new to the bride and I. Please let me know how this is addressed in "class".
Stephen