help! problem with biting

[newpup]

Norton has a problem of biting us when we are playing with him. It is just play biting sometimes it hurts. When he starts biting, I say NO and then give him a chew toy, but that has not stopped the biting. Sometimes when he bites I just thump him on the nose and say NO. But after that he runs away and acts like he is afraid. I dont want him to be afraid I just want him to stop biting! Any suggestions appreciated!!

Angie

[JoAnn]

Sounds as though you are on the right rack but here is a couple articles to reinforce your position.

www.joelwalton.com/PuppyBiting.html

www.dogbreedinfo.com/puppybiting.htm

I also have found my best friend to be a squirt bottle of water. One squirt and their attention is broken. Then I would give them a chew toy and remove myself from the puppy's space.

[sjberes]

I'm having the same problem with my little Emily. I don't have the solution but I have observed certain Emily behavour that leads me to believe the problem won't be easily solved . . . it's heredity.

The other day I was on the floor with Emily when she started that biting. I picked up my granddaughter's plush, stuffed reindeer that was about Emily's size, grasping it from behind, and animating it like a real animal. I met her thrusts a few times and she backed off three feet to bark. She circled left and right and I followed her movements with the reindeer. A stalemate.

Suddenly, without barking or growling Emily attacked! Meeting her thrust for thrust I found I could no longer push her back, she was in pure attack mode and nothing would back her off. She finally bit down on the reindeer's nose and ripped the stuffed animal from my hand, carried it off a couple of feet to finish 'the kill', then brought its limp body back to me like an offering!

At no time was she wild or fierce, just determined and single-minded. I believe that purpose is inbred and countering it will be a real problem.

What little success I have had is to place a chew toy in her mouth and place her out of reach and she will calm down after awhile.

Any ideas?

Steve

[Lexie]

Same story, different dog. I went to the Dr not long ago and he wanted to know about my kitten. I must have looked at him strange because he said you do have a kitten don't you? He was looking at my arms and the evidence of Lexie. I was telling my vet lady about it and she told me to make this sound in a high pitch as if to say the letter E. I wish you could hear me EEEEEEE. This is suposed to sound like what the momma and litter mates would sound like when a puppy gets too rough. I can make the sound, my husband can not. He sound like he is in pain. Anyway, it works. Lexie will stop biting and that gives you enough time to put a toy in her mounth. Try it!

[Dotti]

OMG Steve, even your story about Emily biting is hysterical...!

Haven't had that problem with any of mine so no help.... I always just refused to play and yelled NO! and they got it. I found playing tug of war does make them much more aggressive in play, but they do seem to grow out of it. the only time I got "bit" (by a basset anyway) was when I was carrying a dot dog in my hand and came too close to Sam, who swiped it and the top layer of my skin as well. All hell broke loose.... he really hates it when I am mad and yell at him! Now he just drools long pools of spew when he sees me walk past with a food item...


Dot

[sjberes]

I know that sometimes people think that my fiction is truth and vice versa, but I swear that the biting story above is the truth, whole truth, nuttin' but the truth.

It is exactly what happened and the most amazing thing about it was Emily's attitude. Normally when dogs attack, they do so viciously, with growls and bared teeth. Emily merely attacked with single-minded purpose (the only way to describe it), no growls, just did the job. I've noticed one of her traits is that single-mindedness, probably the reason she could get lost across the street.

The only way to stop her is stuff a chew toy in her mouth and isolate her for a few minutes and she will calm down.

Steve

[Dotti]

That is kind of scarey. I had an Irish Setter like that... just very bull headed. How old is Em?

[sjberes]

Emily was born on or about Feb 1st, 2004. As I have said elsewhere, her mother was poisoned when she was about 2 1/2 weeks old and Micah's Rescue fed her from there.

I read your story of the Rainbow Bridge (that was you, wasn't it?) and it gave me an idea for my version of it. I probably won't post it because 1) I don't want to step on your story and 2) it might be a little 'intense' for some.

I can't help it, ideas form, and I must put them down. Might go in the book, though.

Steve

[Dotti]

That's fine, Steve, as long as you didn't copy mine. Everyone has their own idea of it. Mine came to me in a weird way. I was trying to sleep and the whole thing came to me and I saw the dogs in my mind, the whole thing. The next day I just wrote it down and it just flowed.

The next month, my Mom died afte rbeing ill for only a couple weeks. I think it was a weird way to prepare me. I still can't read my own story (hence probably bad editing) without crying. It is so real to me. But sort of sad, plus, you feel bad selling this type of thing for any sort of profit, as people that buy it are in grief.

It is the weirdest thing.

Glad you like it though,
And Steve, I would hope you post a bit of it or send it to me!!! I won't post anymore for awhile, I promise, as I can see I am monopolizing the boards (bad sleep habits)

Dot

[sjberes]

How can one monopolize a whole board? Anyone may post and for a board to be lively everyone should, if they have a story, question or opinion. It's not like a group discussion in that no one can interrupt.

If no one posts, there is no board.

Steve

[Bassetpup]

Lily is the same was as Emily. Very singleminded and determined. The story you told could have been Lily! One thing I have learned is that when they bite in play, ANY attention given is bad. Basically, the very best thing that worked for us FAST was when she nipped or bit, to just silently get up and move to another room or in another area away from her and ignore her completely. No scolding, nothing. Just walk away and pretend she doesn't exist. It took about 2 days of this and Lily learned very quickly that if she put her teeth on you, you would leave her and she didn't want that so she stopped.

[sjberes]

Yes, excellent idea. We are sort of doing the same thing. It's good to know that it will work.

Steve

[juliette]

Well we just went through that too . Juliet nipped me real good while playing on the chin/cheek when we were playing. Whether right or not out of instinct of being a mom or something, I picked her up spanked her(not hard, I do not have the heart)put her down on her pillow bed and said bad dog. Every time she went to get up for e few minutes I scolded her and said no, lay down. A puppy time out I guess. Now any time she bites we "time out her"(no need to spank). To her it is a horrible fate. No bites this for a whille since we started that. Hope the advice helps?! We still try to reroute any chewing to a ball or bone too....Heather

[sjberes]

I see we're all basically on the same page. My wife goes the 'bad girl' routine and I just stop playing and ignore her. Emily is getting the message.

Emily is single-minded, a trait I can understand, but it is without guile, which is endearing.

My previous dogs have been Aussies and whatever their good traits (there are many) they do believe in 'getting even', something Emily apparently doesn't consider.

Unless you count the sad, soulful stare that says, 'hurt me and I still love you'.

Steve

[URMELI]

Urmeli does that too
I agree with dottie - we always yell no and give her no attention : No more playing
Seems to work I hope