The bite happy pup...

[melonie]

Ok, I need advise bad!
Scarlet is a very bitey little monster.
She has learned how much fun it is to grab your sock/shoe/pant leg while you are wearing them.
Trying to pry her little jaws off is just a game of tug with her. I should trade something with her, but I don't always have something trade-able at hand.
I am teaching her to play with a ball outside to help wear her out. She enjoys it, but it isn't nearly as fun as grabbing my pant leg!
Ignoring it is a game to her as well. I attempted to trade a stick... she bypassed the stick and chomped down on my finger and tried to play tug with that.
I scolded her with a no bite, and walked away. She bounded after me, grabbing my pant leg.

A few days ago she bit me hard enough to break the skin and bruise me.
She was scolded and for the first time I crated her after being naughty.
I don't want her to associate the crate in a bad way so I haven't used it to time out. But I think from now on I will.

She is stubborn. She is full of crazy energy. She isn't' a smushy snuggle pup. She plays hard. She's a pig. I think she had to fight to get her food by the way she bolts her food, then sticks her face into the other dogs bowls and steals their food. I keep her crated now for feeding and wait until everyone is done. I am blessed that the boys are so tolerant of the runt.
She is silly, fun, and adorable.
I found out her "story" today.
A family from Texas was working in the area, their female got together with the neighbors male pit bull. The family is going back to Texas and didn't want to take the pups with them. She was the last one to go. It was supposedly an "accident" but these were the pups that were advertised as 'for sale'
*anyways*

I do want to say that Rhett has come out of his shell in a major way.
He is a lot more playful, and a lot less skittish.
Tonight outside he played zoomies and wrestled with Winston. Something he doesn't do normally outside. It is like he is experiencing a part of puppyhood he missed out on.
Scarlet follows him around and torments him endlessly.
Winston is not so much in love with her anymore.
He likes her don't get me wrong. He would just rather watch everyone else play most of the day.

[tjamison2001]

Why not try spraying the bottom of the pants with bitter spray? Just a thought......

[suziriot]

I think this is one for Mary or Maryellen!

[fureverywhere]

I'm sorry I don't know enough about puppies to advise you. Maybe even a few sessions with a trainers advice or maybe the vet has some ideas?
It's something you definitely gotta work on though. I remember a pitty baby at my old job who was almost hamster sized with an open nipping mouth. Cute at 8 pounds, not so cute at 50, Good Luck

[tjamison2001]

And I am laughing reading "She is stubborn. She is full of crazy energy. She isn't' a smushy snuggle pup. She plays hard. She's a pig. I think she had to fight to get her food by the way she bolts her food, then sticks her face into the other dogs bowls and steals their food."
That is the exact scene at my house... I have nicknamed her "Hoover". Anything on the floor that "might look like a food morsel" is free game. And I KNOW I'm feeding her enough. I am almost ready to start my professional soccor goalie job, cause I've had enough training blocking her from bog brothers bowl. It's a puppy thing... period. I sympathize with you!

[emilys]

what about feeding her by hand, rather than from her bowl? A few pieces of kibble at a time, and she has to sit nicely for them. If she tries to grab for them, put her back in her crate or put the bowl away. She'll figure it out in no time

[melonie]

I feed her 1 meal by hand with the clicked. she is pretty good about her teeth then

[loverocksalot]

She needs strict NILIF. Way back 6 years ago I was on a different forum where I met Maryellen. Rocky was a bitey face too. And could not take things from him that he wanted to keep or he would attempt to snap at me. If I had nothing to trade which worked wonders, I had to do the THATS MINE in a growly tone. No choice. But if he gave it then I had too reward big time using clicker was the best. I also used the yelping ouch which worked for him and still works today although just have to say ouch now. He actually learned real well from his bitey face that when he decides to play rough he barely touches with his teeth. He likes to play mouthy games but learned not to bite down. Even playing with my moms dog.
All I can recommend is scheduled crate time. Feed time nap time. No couch, No peoples beds. No toys out. Teach her to go to her spot to "relax".
Unfortunately at the time I knew no other way that to push him down to his side like an alpha roll to get him to stop. Lucky for me it worked and I did not get that reverse effect that they then bite you harder. So I dont know the better way to calm a puppy down. By the time I got to a better trainer Rocky was no longer biting hard. Still mouthing but tolerable.

[maryellen]

bitter apple spray on hands,pants, socks. hand feed her ALL meals and strict nilif when feeding.. start clicker training for obedience work, sit, down, come , heel, spin, paw, teach her tricks too,her mind needs to be stimulated hard. she probably didnt get enough bite inhibition with her littermates so you basically have a shark on 4 legs right now. place baskets around the house with stuffed toys in it, when she starts biting redirect with a handy toy... praise for all good behavior , drink vodka when you are stressed ...

[loverocksalot]

Oh yeah thanks Maryellen for reminder. Redirecting with toys and later nyla bones once he became stuffy destroyer. To this day he redirects himself to a nyla bone when he gets overly excited.

[maryellen]

i would also make a flirt pole for her and drag it on the ground for her to chase, that will help burn off some energy too, dont let her jump for it, but run for it is ok.. i would also leash her the entire time she is out, so that if you need to grab her you can without getting sharked...she sounds like a super smart pup who would do amazing learning obedience skills, even at this age... channel that energy into obedience work which will tire her mind out too, and if your yard is big enough make some agility equipment (no jumps) but get a tunnel, make a beam to walk up and down, a see saw, etc and start training her now with agility too

[melonie]

She is a smarty alright! She picks things up quick. Tonight she learned to do an 'up/beg' position.
She is going potty outside when you take her out, but back in the house 5 minutes later she piddles. *but* She has gone to the door twice tonight on her own. So we went out and did business.

If I can get some manpower, I have a fence to put up for the dogs. That will go a long way with keeping her from getting tangled in the bigger dogs leashes.
I hadn't thought of a flirt pole. I think all the dogs would enjoy it. I'll look into agility equipment. I know enough carpenter type ppl that someone should be able to help me out!

Normally my dogs get fed once a day. But for the puppies sake I've divided the meals in two.
The first one is early in the am before I leave for work. Don't really have time for a hand feeding... Have enough trouble getting to work on time already
I will use a kong though. That at least should slow her down and work her little mind a bit. The second feeding tonight I actually split in two and ended up having to hand feed all three dogs to eliminate any jealousy. (big babies anyways)

Tonight was a good night. She's great entertainment. The big dogs were busy with their knuckle bones, but she wanted to play. You should have seen her give them the what for. Was too funny!

As soon as I can get this mouthiness under control I likely won't feel so stressed!