Husband had run in with new pup!

[Sher]

My husband got very upset tonight. While I was walking on the tredmill, I heard him playing with our new 5 month old "Morkie" that we have only had for about 12 days. Apparently he was on the floor with her and doing whatever men do with dogs they are playing with (probably 'hand wrestling') and he started to swear and then said the dog made him bleed. I guess her baby teeth got him somehow. I know she didn't bite him, as such, but most likely his hand got scraped against her teeth as he was pulling away or she was.I am not sure, as I didn't see it, but he was REALLY mad! Now he says he wants nothing to do with this **** dog, didn't want one in the first place, etc, etc.... I told him it was NOT the dog's fault, but his mistake, that he should not be playing with his hands with the dog, that she is only a puppy, that he should be mad at himself, not the dog....*sigh*.... he really upset me. I love this little dog already and I don't want him to hate her. I think he was just hurt and surprised by this. Is there anything else I should have/could have said to him to make him realize it wasn't the puppy's fault? Or am I just married to a jerk? :(

Lily
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/Sher43/Dsc01241.jpg

[Buddy'sParents]

Well that's certainly no reason to get mad at a puppy.. the pup doesn't know any better. Why did you get a dog if both of you weren't okay with it to begin with? I suggest doing some searched on bite inhibition and recommend reading How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With (http://www.amazon.com/How-Raise-Puppy-You-Live/dp/1577790766/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6243659-7372001?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182311703&sr=8-1). Feel free to browse and ask more questions as they arise. Good luck.

[Colin Pederson]

Hi Sher,
That's a shame about your husband - yes, puppy teeth are like needles, but that's definitely no reason to get angry at a puppy! You were right; it's not the puppy's fault, it's just one of those things.
If I were you, I'd invest in a variety of chews and toys that you and your husband can use when playing with your puppy. An accidental bite or scratch from time to time is to be expected until Morkie learns good bite inhibition (although at five months, I'd hope that she'd have a good idea of this to start off with).
Play biting is just part of growing up, and - as you may want to explain to your husband, if you haven't already done so - is how puppies learn how hard they can bite without causing any damage.
If I can give you a word of advice for future situations: if your pup starts to play bite, you need to distract her from your hands.
I find the best thing to do when playing or petting with my pups is to firstly, handle them in a calm no-nonsense manner (no flapping hands about and making a nice juicy target).
Secondly, distract your pup from your hands by giving her a good chew-toy that she can gnaw on while you're playing - most puppies automatically associate playing with chewing, so this really helps.
Thirdly, when she DOES play-bite again (as I'm sure she will!), say "NO!" in a sharp, strong tone. Tell your husband not to shout; if he says "NO!" and turns his back quickly on the pup whenever she nips him, Morkie will quickly learn that play-biting equals a cessation to the play.
Good luck with this!

[Sher]

My husband DID agree to getting a dog, but mostly for me. He is gone all day and goes to bed really early, so I am the one with "Lily" about 80% of the time. (btw.. she IS a "Morkie" (cross between a yorkie/maltese).. that is not her name...LOL).... I think he just said that because he was mad. I have to teach him these things about biting. I play gently with her and she plays gently with me. Whenever she playbites with me, she barely touches me. She mostly licks all the time. If I notice she is getting a little bit too exhuberant I get a toy and let her chomp on that. If she gets too rough then, we stop playing.

He called this morning from work and apologized. I think he was just taken aback. Looks like I have 2 beings to train here... Thanks for the replies.

[Renee750il]

He called this morning from work and apologized. I think he was just taken aback. Looks like I have 2 beings to train here... Thanks for the replies.


LOL! Lily will be the easy one ;)

[Cazian]

I have been bitten loads of times by Buddy, some very painful where his tooth has gone between the finger and nail. But in EVERY case it was MY fault.
I can now play roughly with him and now never get cut.
He knows when he gets too excited to go get a tug toy from his toy box.
Mind you he is now 5 months old and has lost most of his needle teeth.

[Sher]

Renee, *sigh*, I know you are right. Dogs are much easier to train than husbands!
Cazian... gee, Lily is 5 months old and she still has little needles. At least that is how they feel. The vet seemed a bit surprised (I think) that she didn't have all her teeth yet.

[Scooter]

Does your husband have any past history with dogs? Did he ever have them as a child? If not, he may not understand that this is just how puppies are! The pup will learn, and his sharp baby teeth will come out, so reassure your husband that things will get better and to be patient!! Dogs are such a joy so I hope he learns to love her. If not, I'd get rid of a husband before a dog! :D

[bubbatd]

Train him before you have kids !! Thanks BP for recommending " THE " book !!!

[squirtsmom]

He will get the hang of it. Good luck.

[Doberluv]

I advise against having your husband or anyone shouting "NO!" at your puppy. This is a baby, an infant. Harsh treatment will ruin a dog. This is normal behavior for a dog. I hope your husband is willing to learn about dog behavior. Dogs are animals and this is what they do. This is how they survive in nature...by learning how to grab, bite and tear flesh from prey. It is practiced by pups in the form of play. It is vital to their survival and it's instinct. It is up to humans to train dogs to behave in a way suitable to living with humans. I certainly hope your hubby has it in him to muster up some maturity and not take dog behavior as a personal insult to him.

I recommend you and your hubby read this link as well as get some books. The one mentioned is good. If you really want to understand more about dog behavior, I recommend Culture Clash, by Jean Donaldson, probably the most important dog book ever written.

Here's the link about teaching bite inhibition....very, very good and very important to do.....as opposed to punishing any nipping or mouthing altogether.

http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/bite.txt

[snowruby92]

I actually was very surprised how my new puppy's teeth were so sharp too. But that really isn't the puppy's fault. If it keeps on piercing skins, all you have to do is teach the little puppy with bitter sprays. It doesn't know anything. There is no reason to get mad about it.

[Blondie]

My father is like that, too. He used to get mad at the dog for scratching or biting him when he was a pup, but then he came to love Blondie so much it could be almost enjoyable now. Of course, Blo is 3 years old and doesn't do that anymore!! I tell Christie, when talking to her about Blondie not liking her: "Honey, you have to be VERY patient with men!" :p

[Doodlesmom]

Let me tell you about training husbands. We got a Cockerpoo puppy
(Doodle) 15 years ago and my husband did not like her at all. He was never mean to her, he just didn't want anything to do with her. After a few months when she started to calm down and mature a little she and my husband fell madly in love with each other. She would put her head on his chest and bat her eyelashes at him, and he would pet her and talk to her. Just give them time and the puppy will train him