biting

[Mallowcup]

It seems as though we have a little biting issue. I know she is teething but I think it's getting out of hand and I don't want it to get worse. The issues at hand are:

1. Biting while playing but she clamps down and wont let go.
2. Attacking ankles and feet

She always does this while wagging her tail so I know she just thinks it's playtime. When I correct her she jumps towards me and bites whatever she can grab. When I correct her I tell her NO and I walk away from her. She follows me. I have crated her when it is really bad for a certain period of time. She usually calms down for a while but does start up again.

For saying she is just fourth months, when she clamps down on you, it really hurts. We are starting with a trainer next week in a group class.

Any suggestions

[sugar]

When my dog was getting mouthy ( a rescue, 2 yrs old) what I did was if we are playing and I felt teeth (even softly, any teeth is no good) I would yelp really loudly (think about the noise dogs make when in pain) and get up and walk away. Then wait 10 minutes. If the dog has calmed down then play again, if you feel teeth again, "Yelp!" (one loud, high pitched short noise) and once again walk away and ignore for 10 minutes. To most dogs being ignored is the worse thing ever and puppies learn quickly that teeth means playtime is over.

[Mallowcup]

thanks Sugar. Maybe I should just increase the time that she is being ignored..

[RealPitBull]

This is just a rough period to get through. Hang in there!

My suggestion - put her on leash, take her for a nice brisk walk and tire her out a bit. Then have play time, with lots of toys around that you can grab and substitute for skin or clothing. Don't use hands for toys, ever (it is common for people to play bitey-puppy with hands and wrestle, etc. I discourage that.)

Tie her to something stationary, on her regular leash and collar (or harness is even better), and when she gets too mouthy, simply walk away from her, bringing the toys with you. She will be tied up, so she won't be able to follow. Stay away for about a min. Then return as long as she is quiet. And resume play. Repeat ad nausuem.

(Cautionary note: don't leave her unattended when tied - make sure you can always have an eye on her.)

You can also teach Touch, which will teach her to engage with her nose rather than her mouth.

clickertraining.tv/product.html?item=FREE-03

[Mallowcup]

I will try the leash after work if (when : ) it happens tonight. She gets a four mile walk with me per day, two in the morning and two miles at night, yard time and house play and she still has plenty of energy to go! I have been substituting toys, bones,etc for my limbs for but she enjoys them both equally. I bought the clicker and she went after that. I know she is testing me right now. Persistence is definately key in training that's for sure!

[maryellen]

AT 4 months old 4 miles a day is WAY too much on her growing joints.. i would really limit her walks to less then a mile, as her joints are growing. you can do fun stuff to tire her out without that long of a walk every day.. she can now learn obedience like sit,down, heel, etc that will work her mind and keep her shark teeth off you, plus at this age she is starting to teethe and lose her baby teeth so she will be extra mouthy.. you can soak a dishtowel in water and freeze it to let her chew on it once its frozen to help with her new teeth coming in

[loverocksalot]

YELP! HELPS. big time