My 12 wk puppy plays to rough..

[mlesperance89]

When we play with my little guy he bites really hard, not sure if he really knows how hard he's biting. He'll bite our arms, our sides or back when he's on the couch with us or if we walking he'll go for the toes or ankles. When I tell him to stop when he bites to hard he just starts barking at me and continue to follow me and bite me. I know he should of learned this from his mother and litter mates but what can I do to teach him to not bite so hard.. Also the weird thing Is when I put his shirt on him (which just started to fit him) he's clam and doesn't bite at all.. any advice would be appreciated.

[Maximo]

The calming influence of the shirt is not surprising. There is some science behind it that was the inspiration for the Thundershirt, which helps many dogs who suffer anxiety and fear of things like storms, fireworks, or traveling.

First, maintain calm and control around your pup. If you get excited or anxious, he will feed off of that and become more bitey.

When he bites, use keywords and phrases, "No bite." Say it firmly, but not angrily. Fold your arms over your chest so that he can't access your hands to bite. Try replacing your hands with a toy for him to grab.

If he doesn't respond appropriately to these measures, get up and walk away. Ignore him. This will help teach him that he won't get attention when he does this --- and puppies crave attention.

Establish a daily schedule/routine of activities. This has a calming effect. Start obedience and trick training. Focus his attention on positive things. Training sessions should be brief -- just a few minutes a few times a day.

Read up on teaching bite inhibition: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...nhibition.html

Puppies can be a handful, but with patience and consistent effort, things will fall into place.

[ironmike86]

Stop playing and ignore this behavior. Don't look at him till he stops barking. Then praise him. Takes time. But if you acknowlege bad behavior it will be reinforced. Only acknowledge good behavior. They will use both to get your attention.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by ironmike86

Stop playing and ignore this behavior. Don't look at him till he stops barking. Then praise him. Takes time. But if you acknowlege bad behavior it will be reinforced. Only acknowledge good behavior. They will use both to get your attention.

I forgot the part about praising good behavior. Excellent point.

[1Ieisha]

Those baby teeth are indeed quite sharp, but it sounds like he doesn't really know the meaning of the words 'stop' or 'no'. Sometimes when we're training our furbabies simply 'telling' them a command isn't enough. Sometimes we have to show them. Whenever you're playing with him and he gets too rough. You give him a stern 'no' or 'stop' and put him in a little time out away from you guys. Not for a long amount of time just for five minutes or so. And just be persitent with him and he'll catch on to when he's being too rough.

As for the clothes, my bichon did the same thing when she was a puppy. Every time I put her on clothes she would refuse to do anything. She wouldn't even eat. I just think it was because she didn't like wearing them. Some dogs love wearing clothes, some don't. Not saying that yours doesn't like wearing clothes, just saying that maybe it'll take a little bit of time for him to feel comfortable in them. Just be persistent in putting them on him, and he'll get used to it.

Good luck!!

[chachi]

There isnt any harm in keeping putting a tshirt on him if it calms him down. He will outgrow this

[mlesperance89]

Thanks everyone for the advice.. I have tired to walk away from him and that's when he'll follow me and go for the toes or ankle and if I'm wearing slippers which I always have on so he won't get my toes he'll attack my slippers.. I got him a lot of chew toys and even gave him a pair of my old slippers to chew on but he still plays rough.. I'm not sure if hes just copying my two sons behaviour because they play rough with each other (not with him though) or its just he's way of playing. But I'll read the article that was listed and try the other things you have listed. But thank you again for the advice.

[mlesperance89]

With his shirt, when I first bought it and put it on him he would take it off but now it doesn't seem to bother him much. It was just surprising to us to see how he would instantly change with it on. He only wears it for a few hours if that a day so I can gradually get him use to it.

[Lilymo]

Sounds like he needs to be taught what is acceptable play and what's to. When my girls were small I made a loung sound like ahah as soon as they bit and distracted them withnamtoy theynwerenaloud to bite if they did it again I repeated it and put them down away from me. no eye contact. They usually grow out of this but do need direction.

[Teresa Ford]

Nip the Nip

Sounds like your puppy just gets over excited. Puppies nip each other and play rough. Depending on his age and stage of development here are a few things that may help.

1. After You say a dramatic high pitched Oucheeeeeeeeeeeeeee ! Immediately put him on the floor or turn your back or walk away and ignore for about 5 seconds. He needs to learn 'Never put teeth on people, because they will stop playing.
If love bites are not corrected it can lead to real bites that break skin.
2. If he nips while playing say 'Enough" and give him a toy instead of your hand and say 'Good TOY' when he bites the toy. Your cue word does not have to be Enough, You can use what ever feels right for you, like NO, or STOP IT. What ever cue word you use, say the same cue every time. Everyone in your family should use the same Cue words. (I do not like to say No Bite because, then you have to teach a new cue word for barking, rough play, fighting with other pets etc..) Enough is easy to use , and it always means Stop what you are doing right now !
Please do not play tug of war type of games with your puppy. This is too exciting for them, they get in that rip up the prey trance and you may get nipped.

[SophieKatesMom]

Welcome to the puppy stage, it brings back fond memories of a Yorkie attacking my slippers and grabbing my pant legs while I was putting them on.

Teresa gave you very good advice along with the poster who suggested ignoring and removing the puppy from the situation (where they can bite). I did this with Sophie Kate and it did not take her long to realize this was not acceptable behavior.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by mlesperance89

...I have tired to walk away from him and that's when he'll follow me and go for the toes or ankle and if I'm wearing slippers which I always have on so he won't get my toes he'll attack my slippers..

You made me think of when Max was a pup, he would "attack" and nip my feet first thing in the morning because he was so excited that the day was starting. I ended this behavior by putting him back in his xpen until he settled down. After a couple of weeks, he learned not to nip my feet if he wanted to really get the day started rather than sit in his xpen.

My only caution with this suggestion is not to make an xpen or crate a punishment. Those are safe places. I always said casually "uh uh uh, no biting" when I put him back in the pen -- which was next to my bed and close to my bathroom so he could watch me brush my teeth while he settled down.

[Lovemylilboy]

My little Baxters hair is so fine and thin I can see his skin. Skin looks healthy. Any sugestions on how to get his hair to fill in better.

[connie3dogs]

My little Suki is 12 weeks on Sunday . She was a singleton pup born to my 3 year old girl Lou Lou. I have also 2 other large irish setters in the house. So far she has been so good. she does not bite ankles/toes and only mouths our hands. I think her mum is teaching her well . This is the first time I have had a pup from birth and not been bitten to distraction like my previous dogs when they were pups....Wonder if it will last....


Shirl