Puppy Nipping/Mouthing - Help and comments please
 

Gidget is 11.5 weeks old. The breeder was late in getting her first shots, so the earliest I can take her to puppy class is July 7th. I am enrolled for that class. I have never had a puppy before.

I am trying to get an idea of what is acceptable mouthing/nip behavior. Yesterday was very trying - worst day. Pupzilla emerged.

I know all puppies do the mouthng/nipping and that I am to divert her to an appropriate chew toy. This has worked great since I had her until yesterday.

The last two days, she isn't interested in the toy, but wants my hand, toe etc. She isn't reacting anymore to the loud "Ouch" or "No" I was taught to use. When she doesn't respond and keeps going, I put her in her large playpen and ignore her.

Yesterday she had some dooooooozy tantrums in the playpen after I did this. It reminded me of Super Nanny and the naughty spot. She flayled, whined, then took her giant bear out of her crate got on top of her crate and attempted to toss the bear over the edge. Then she shredded her newspapers pretending to dig and kept looking to see if I would react. I was taught to do nothing and ignore the tantrum.

She would finally get calm and be good. I would tell her to sit, she would sit. Then I would pick her up to let her out and the super charged nipping mouthing would start the moment I had contact - she would reject the toy.

A friend suggested I let her directly out on the floor, no chance to get my hands. I unzipped the side of the playpen to let her out. She darted around the corner to her other water dish and jumped in it (never has happened before). She soaked up the water like a wick and trashed the bathroom floor with water, she came around the corner which is how I saw her wet.

When I went into the bathroom to survey the damage, she went into my room. I forgot that I had left a pillow on the floor when I had stripped the bed earlier in the day. While I mopped the bathroom, she chewed open the the end of the pillow and the water was like glue to the feathers inside. She came into the bathroom with feathers all over her and feathers out of her mouth.

It was after midnight at this point, so I cleaned her up and put her in her night time crate next to my bed as I cleaned up the mess. She always sleeps in the night crate with no problem before yesterday. She barked for 5 minutes as I cleaned. I told her the firm "no bark" which usually works. It didn't . She got one squirt with the water mister, whined and then stopped.

She slept hard all night, did her potty this morning and has been much better so far today.

She gets lots of praise and play time. Am I doing the right stuff?

It definately sounds like you're doing the right stuff! My Tobi went through bouts of nipping/biting hysteria..but he's calmed down a bit. What I usually do is completely leave the room so that he can NOT see me at all. I'll leave him alone for 10 minutes and come back...if he acts up again, I'm gone for another 10 minutes...and that usually does the trick. I was also told never to use my hands as play toys...so don't wave them around their faces when you know they're overly excited.

Good luck to you and your fur baby! :D

Oh my. I couldn't help but chuckle just a bit as I picture her like a tasmanian devil - wet one minute, covered if feathers the next! What a little stinker.

Does she have a lot of chew toys? Have you tried bitter apple on your hands? Since the "ouch" and "no" aren't working, you might try the bang-spoon-on-metal-bowl method - when she bites or you want to stop a behaviour, you bang on the bowl - it can be quite startling and may stop her in her tracks.

I have the bitter apple, but haven't thought of putting it on my hands! Great idea.

My dog actually liked the bitter apple. Just be consistant & patience. There will be more days like this to come. Try not to leave the puppy unattended. I believe it took a good month of the ouch comments to get over the biting with logan. It also took a good 5 months to teach him that lunging at people's faces with your mouth open isn't nice, but he did get it eventually. Now that he's two, it seems all the consitancy is finally paying off. Now he'll even drop underwear right away if you say drop it. One day it will click & you'll have a wonderful dog....but the puppy stage is a little tough to get through. Another thing that Logan picked up pretty quick is the phrase play nice....or lick nice. Then they know the play isn't bad they just have to be nicer about it.

I did not take pics of the feathered one, however, she is now sleeping in her playpen on top of her crate after gutting her bear. The gray fragments on the top of the bear are feather remnants from last night.

Great pic! So ornery looking there LOL! It sounds like you are doing everything right. Your puppy sounds like mine some days. LOL I call this puppy toddlerhood. Just like little kids puppies seem to go through the "terrible twos" some days and just put you at wit's end. But don't worry, your puppy will get through this and calm down.

:aimeeyork Chelle

I love that pic! It's so cute how he sleeps on TOP of the crate!:D

Well misery loves company and I hafta tell ya I am so happy that we are not the only ones experiencing the krazy kukoo fangster!

We have Nina, who is now 14 weeks old today!
We love her so much and she has a real sparkplug personality.

BUT the teething phase is out of control.

She seems fine, then she gets 'posessed' and turns into a growling attack creature. We call her Nina the Ninja when she goes into this personality.

We have been trying clapping our hands, bitter apple, and redirecting. We are going to try the spray bottle. I guess I will try puttingher in the pen(itentiary) to calm down.

Our vet said if she gets our hand in her mouth, push in her lip so she is biting her own self. When I can manage it, it works, she releases your hand cuz she starts hurting her own.

During the day, we go outside when she starts to 'act up.' The change in venue seems to help snap her out of it.

I will keep watching this thread for ideas!!!

training a pup not to bite is easy...when they attempt to bite or nip at you put your index finger sideways in his/her mouth pressing back to the end of the jaw and say "no bite" in a very firm voice holding the index finger in place for just a sec or two...when he/she stops tell them what a good boy/girl they are and ask for kisses. Do this continuously every time they bite, "you will nip it in the bud" quickly with consistency....Cujo will calm with training consistency and lots of one on one playtime.

hope this helps

Have you tried walking her at a brisk pace for 15+ minutes? Also, Ms. Stillwell from "It's Me or the Dog" series has mentioned the nipping and biting behavior is done by puppies but if they're taken home earlier than 8 weeks they haven't been taught by their litter mates that it hurts. If it still continues to make a high pitched squeak that'll divert their attention. I watched her teach the small 4lb. yorkie the other day. He was so cute! And he got it!

I wish you well!:animal36

feminvstr,

I had my husband peek at this thread since we are experiencing this "fangster rap" at our house.

He wants me to ask you more about your suggested technique...
"Ask feminvstr if you should
put index finger accross her mouth and push back
or
pointing index finger into her mouth?"



My interpretation was that we enter our finger in through the side of yorkie mouth, then push back towards the jaw of yorkie/back of mouth to create a gag effect. Is that more like it?

good that you asked
ONLY side ways with the finger Never inside down the throat!
Sideways and press back toward the jaw (mouth wide open as your pusshing back) using "NO BITE" if they come back and think its a game do it again and hold longer they dont like this at all and it works!

alright, we are having the same issues. Identical to StewartsLucy. Riley was fine up until this week. Now, out of nowhere, he becomes possessed and bites our feet growling and barking then runs around the room and comes back for more. He won't listen to NO or any command while in this trance anymore. We resorted to picking him up (if we could catch him) and putting him in another room till he cries it out. Yesterday it got BAD, non stop. He is almost 5 months old, so we believe that the cause of this was the pain from his teeth growing in. I called the vet to make sure it wasn't something more serious and some advice.

The vet said, he is at the age of not only his teeth breaking through, but he is going through puberty. Which is understandable because sometimes he'll bite and try humping. She says that she is 98% sure this is a behavioral issue associated with the hormonal changes.

What to do: The vet says to do this: Sit on the floor with your legs together and straight ahead of you. Put the puppy on his back with his head at your knees. If he is having behavioral/dominance issues, he will look you in the eyes and bite at you. If he does this, you need to tell him "NO" in a deep stern voice until he stops. He may not listen and you will have to deal with the bite pain for probably 5-10 minutes until he gives up. As soon as he gives up, you praise the heck out of him. Repeat in another 2hrs.

She said she uses this technique and it works all the time. If it doesn't, you have more severe behavioral issues. You being over the puppy and the puppy laying on his back simulates how a dominate dog interacts with a submissive dog and this teaches your puppy that you are the boss!

I haven't tried this yet, but as soon as I get home today I will. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for these tips! I will try the finger in the mouth and putting her on her back in that position.

I am pretty sensitive about her behavior because the day before this started I took her to my vet and they said she had issues and needed professional help or would end up in a shelter. I posted about that story here and everyone said the vet was nuts and to get a new vet. For context, here is the link to the post.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ghlight=Gidget

I brought her home when she was 10 weeks, and she was the runt, there were also 4 adult yorkies in the house, and she RAN the show there. It was amazing.

Everyone else who has had contact with her - other family, friends etc say she is doing normal stuff.

yeah, find another vet. Luckily ours is really good and willing to help in any way. They love Riley and he doesn't snap on strangers or other dogs. He only does this inside with me and my wife. When we encounter other people, he is himself, very playful. He is even extremely submissive with others. He rolls over almost immediately once a stranger decides to give him attention. He even ran up to a miniature greyhound, they sniffed, then Riley rolled on his back. The greyhound's owner said he never seen that before and jokingly said "I don't know if he wants to play or if he's playing dead", lol.

Anyways, fact of the matter, this is an isolated issue that appeared overnight. It gets VERY frustrating for us and he really turns into a crazy dog. But it's obviously something that comes and goes (hormonal) because one minutes he's doing that, the next he's rolling over to be rubbed. And, he's his normal submissive self outside with others.

You'll be alright, last night I just about went nuts, but after talking to the vet and realizing that this is abnormal and it can be fixed, I feel much better and willing to take my time correcting this.

*isn't abnormal

QUESTION: "Ms. Stillwell from "It's Me or the Dog" series has mentioned the nipping and biting behavior is done by puppies but if they're taken home earlier than 8 weeks they haven't been taught by their litter mates that it hurts. If it still continues to make a high pitched squeak that'll divert their attention. I watched her teach the small 4lb. yorkie the other day. He was so cute! And he got it!"

I was wondering is that a tv show? On Animal Planet?

Maxwell is doing the same thing with the nipping hands. The feather description sounded very funny, but not for you at the time. I guess you'll laugh later. I think the walking idea is good to burn energy.

Okay - I tried this a few times today. After a 2-3 minutes of tantrums, growling and fighting, she would do the submissive thing. So . . . . . my question is . . . you said: the vet says this works all the time. If it doesn't work, there are more severe issues. What is the definition of it not working? How many times, days, etc?

it sounds like it worked for you! It was fairly easy for me to accomplish because mine is naturally a very submissive dog. He would nip and fight for a little bit, but eventually he would break eye contact and look away.

You know it works when the belly is exposed to you and he isn't looking into your eyes or biting at you. This may not solve the random tantrum issues though. It'll just make him more obedient. And hopefully more receptive to your "NO" and "YELP" commands.

I did it several times last night and will continue to do it so he will never question who's the boss. Last night was like night and day from the day prior. He threw a couple tantrums, but they didn't last long and he actually didn't bite as much. Instead he backed off and barked more. Plus, last night he slept the entire night with no whining, so I think his teeth were feeling a little better.

Good luck, and hopefully I'll make some more progress!

Oh, my does this bring back memories. I can remember thinking I made a mistake getting a puppy!! Maggie is now a year old and doesn't bite anymore. Every once in awhile she still has a tantrum though!! Sounds like your are doing everything right. Your little one will learn!! She is so cute sitting on her crate!

Nothing is working well when Nina gets possessed and into her pupzilla biting trance.

When we put her in our lap to do the wear them out thing, she just gets more possessed.

When I do the pushing the finger back in her mouth, she just sounds ferocious and thinks I am playing with her and will wiggle something fierce to get loose enough to bite more.

Oh well, we will keep trying. She is just a puppy and will grow out of it sooner or later. We love her even when she is pupzilla.

I'm so sorry, but I am LMAO at your description! I'm just imagining her eyes glowing red as the demon in her takes over.

You said that the Ouch and No isn't working anymore. Instead of this, yell "YIP" in a really loud and really high pitched voice when she bites too hard and jerk your hand away. Give her back your hand. She should lick it to say that she is sorry for biting so hard. If she doesn't and instead bites too hard again, do the "YIP" again and then jerk your hand away and walk away from her. You should see a real difference in a couple of days.

Also work on the dominance issue like another poster suggested. Flip her on her back and hold her there until she stops struggling. I usually keep them on their back until I can count to five without them struggling. Do it a couple of times a day.

Good luck! She may have a little demon in her but it sure is a cute one!

Honestrly after two days of battle she is a different beasty with me. She is now tame enough for me to do the high pitched yyip and she stops right away and licks the spot. She now follows me everywhere I go.


Just goes to show you, when you try and modify the behavior they do their dance faster and harder hoping to keep the status quo.

Thanks for all your help and input!

Pupzilla!
 

Sorry, I have been laughing my head off at this!!! What a trying time it is....my 17 week old yorkie Oscar is exactly the same. If I say "no bite" he lunges at me and growls, then he tries to get on my shoulders then finally tries to hump my hand or arm, he is making a play to be my boss. My ankles are also covered in bruises from where he lunges at my feet and legs from nowhere!!! How can this little 3 pounder take over so easily????? Anyway, what I do now is lay him on his back and hold him firmly but gently until he calms down (which happens quickly) then I let him go and that seems to sort things out for a while at least, I think this is what mums do with their pups to sort them out.........

Can anyone tell me how long this stage will last, my fingers are worn out and my legs are ruined!!!!

:lol tears:yelrotflm:eyetearss I am sooooooooo sorry, but after having read this whole thread, I am laughing so hard, things are coming out my nose!!! If no-one here mentioned weight, and I brought a total stranger to read this thread, I swear they would think y'all were talking about 120lb monsters!!

Just to think of these teeny-weeny pupzillas, and what they put us Mommies through, well, it's just hysterical. I too have survived what I call Demented Puppy Syndrome, with my little Mango, who my son has labelled, "Puppy on Crack"......

Well ladies, there is light at the end of the tunnel.... I have to tell you, but it sometimes still flickers, even at 8 months, the ripe old age Mango has almost attained. She's still full of mischief, reads the paper whenever she finds it, then shreds it into molecules, can never find a teddy bear that doesn't require disembowelment. But after completing her PetsMart puppy class, she does follow some commands (although I have a sneaky suspicion she graduated on the cuteness factor alone).

Just enjoy these puppy antics!! You'll see how you will miss them when your babies grow into sedate seniors, like my precious 12 year old Spanky. Trust me, whatever the cost to your sanity, you paid for with your little furballs, they are worth every "penny", just in entertainment value alone.:woof::clapsmile

great yorkie night
 

[QUOTE=Galatea;1198864]Gidget is 11.5 weeks old. The breeder was late in getting her first shots, so the earliest I can take her to puppy class is July 7th. I am enrolled for that class. I have never had a puppy before.

I am trying to get an idea of what is acceptable mouthing/nip behavior. Yesterday was very trying - worst day. Pupzilla emerged.

I know all puppies do the mouthng/nipping and that I am to divert her to an appropriate chew toy. This has worked great since I had her until yesterday.

The last two days, she isn't interested in the toy, but wants my hand, toe etc. She isn't reacting anymore to the loud "Ouch" or "No" I was taught to use. When she doesn't respond and keeps going, I put her in her large playpen and ignore her.

Yesterday she had some dooooooozy tantrums in the playpen after I did this. It reminded me of Super Nanny and the naughty spot. She flayled, whined, then took her giant bear out of her crate got on top of her crate and attempted to toss the bear over the edge. Then she shredded her newspapers pretending to dig and kept looking to see if I would react. I was taught to do nothing and ignore the tantrum.

She would finally get calm and be good. I would tell her to sit, she would sit. Then I would pick her up to let her out and the super charged nipping mouthing would start the moment I had contact - she would reject the toy.

A friend suggested I let her directly out on the floor, no chance to get my hands. I unzipped the side of the playpen to let her out. She darted around the corner to her other water dish and jumped in it (never has happened before). She soaked up the water like a wick and trashed the bathroom floor with water, she came around the corner which is how I saw her wet.

When I went into the bathroom to survey the damage, she went into my room. I forgot that I had left a pillow on the floor when I had stripped the bed earlier in the day. While I mopped the bathroom, she chewed open the the end of the pillow and the water was like glue to the feathers inside. She came into the bathroom with feathers all over her and feathers out of her mouth.

It was after midnight at this point, so I cleaned her up and put her in her night time crate next to my bed as I cleaned up the mess. She always sleeps in the night crate with no problem before yesterday. She barked for 5 minutes as I cleaned. I told her the firm "no bark" which usually works. It didn't . She got one squirt with the water mister, whined and then stopped.

She slept hard all night, did her potty this morning and has been much better so far today.

She gets lots of praise and play time. Am I doing the right stuff?[/QUOTE
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This cracked me up...............yorkie times..
WE had the same thing. I hate to say it but I go back and think how fun it really was. There just so cute. Its hard but I think you are a great mom and keep up the great work. The only thing That I could ask is is he hungury. At one time it seemed Tede just was on a spert where he wanted more food and would bite my hand.

Zoey is 17 weeks an seems to be finally getting betterabout biting. It was really bad at about 12-14 weeks. I couldnt even walk. She would be hanging from my sock. I got a small spray bottle and sprayed her in the face. I had heard this tip before and really didnt expect it to work. I only had to actually spray her twice. Then I could just pick up the bottle and she would stop biting my feet. Now she never bites our feet! The spray bottle was a miracle for us.

This works!
 

Thanks for this advise! I have tried this technique and it certainly works