Biting problem I have tried several suggestions as my 1-1/2 year old fur baby is biting my 6 year old fur baby whenever I let them out in the backyard. He bites him right in the face. It only happens when I left them outside and they are both males, both neutered. Help!!:confused: |
Until you find out how to deal with them, either let them out separately or muzzle your little biter for the safety and psychological well-being of your other little dog. Are they both trying to be alpha? |
Is he biting to be mean or to play? Blazer (my Yorkie) often bites Buddy (my GSP.) He isn't being mean or fighting, he is trying to play. He'll bite the backs of Buddy's legs, his face, and he'll chew on Buddy's ears. It's weird but it isn't really a "problem." If Buddy isn't in the mood for it he'll let Blazer know it and it'll be done. If he is biting to fight or be mean, however, I'd be wary to let them out together any more until I figure out WHY he's being naughty. |
Terriers are a bit prone to fighting, especially same-sex terriers. Usually it is one terrier disciplining the other terrier, which is either anxious or one trying to usurp the alpha dog's place in the hierarchy of the little pack. They also fight over resources of food, toys, or anything a dog considers to be his until one becomes submissive and allows the alpha to take what he wants. If that never happens, keeping them apart during these times or muzzling the biter might be all you can do unless you are quite good at reshaping dog behavior. If you are, then work on your alpha to retrain him not to attack. This can get you bitten in that you have to be there when a fight occurs and approach the biter to put your hand in a claw fashion over the back of his neck and pinch in a bit and say "No!" in a very low, stern, almost growling tone. Then use your body to back him off of the other dog and walk him away and to another area or they will restart the fight. You could start one of the free methods of Nothing In Life Is Free programs on the biter to show him that he isn't truly alpha of the pack- you are and you are the only disciplinarian in the pack. If the problem keeps up, I would probably hire a very experienced dog hierarchy to give you some pointers as to how to help avoid and tamp these things down and encourage your two to become compatible pack members. If both dogs seriously are alpha-natured terriers though and you are not a very strong leader with them, you may never get a satisfactory solution except to separate them when outside or muzzle the one. |
One thing that can work to teach your biter to be less reactive to your other dog is to work with each of them separately to train them in basic obedience until each is very good at sitting, lying down, staying, coming, stopping, quieting after barking, etc. Put them both beside each other in down stays and treat, praise one as the other stays put. You might have to have one dog in a wire crate to start to achieve this. But the idea is that you train your biter to eventually learn to sit, lie and stay still while your other dog gets attention, gets up and walks around and gets treats from you. If you do this gradually and in slow sessions, it could work to train your biter to the other dog having the right to be active, playful, eat and move about at all times. When it is working indoors, move the training outside where the trouble usually begins. Keep your biter in the down stay as you run about and so forth with the other dog. This is teaching your biter that the other dog has his rights to frolic and do things outdoors, encroach on potty and urination sites, and that you are endorsing it. Treat and praise your biter profusely for each time that he restrains himself and his impulse to arise and get involved or discipline or correct. Teach your biter the "Leave it!" and when you see him alerting to the other dog with perked forward ears, intense gazing, extremely up-cocked or slowly wagging tail, fixated stalking toward him, possibly one foot raised as a bird-dog does, say "Leave it!" and reward him for breaking off his alert. And separate the two more and keep showing your dog a fist closed around your ever-present treat, getting him to focus on that. Throw a stick for him to chase or a ball. Get him actively doing something other than thinking of the other dog. Again, this likely won't work all that well unless you are a quite strong dog leader and excellent trainer if both are alpha males and each insisting on leading the pack and even then with certain little dogs of the same sex, you still have to always be vigilant when they are together. |
I really appreciate all the helpful responses to my "biting situation". Love Yorkie Talk :) |
Jeanie always has the best info and tips on behavior issues. Definitely see if practicing them will help! :) And, like she said in her first reply...if it is only happening at that one time, then remove that one time from the equation. They need to go out separately until the issue is figured out and resolved. |
You know, when we had two schnauzers, this would happen. Hansel, the bigger of the two, would muscle his way ahead of her (she was older) and just snarl and bite at her viscously. We got so we had to let them out one at a time and she always went first cause she was here first. Hansel has always been very laid back but when going outside it's a whole different story. We have already decided that when we take both of them outside, he goes out first and she gets carried out separately. We do this because we saw Hansel try to do the same thing to Sophie that he used to do to Gretel. I thought it had to do with dominance somehow. |
Lucy will do ankle bitey with Cozy when she wants to play. The 2 of them sound like they are fighting- Growling and such at each other as well as flipping each other. Lucy is the most submissive of my yorkies so she is definitely not trying to muscle out Cozy. |
Quote:
Right now at just over 6 months, he's getting away with a lot of pesky activities. Knows his "Puppy Power" is still in effect. Sneakers has already started "managing" him with an occasional firm nip on the neck, and I think Becca is going to follow suit very soon. It may have helped if you had maintained/supported the Resident Dog a little better, when the second came along ? Your influence in establishing that "Alpha" position, can really help them decide who's who. And, you still may be able to help there. |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:51 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use