Nipping!

[Lets_Submerge]

I have a new puppy, [and like most puppies] she nips, I try to pet her and she nips, I try to give her food and she nips. I tried the first time by saying "ouch" in a stern voice and ignoring her for a few minutes, and she wouldn't let me ignore her, she'd continue biting at me for attention, then if I walk away she'll bite at my feet and legs. I'm getting kinda worried because yesturday she bit a friend and drew blood. I've also tried putting her in her crate for 3 minutes at a time but the second I let her out she bites, again.

I was warned against giving her her toy to bite on instead, because she may comprehend that as an award.

Please help!!

[britishbandit]

Actually, making a yelping sound is usually more effective than saying "ouch". And when she nips or bites something she isn't allowed to bite, you have to redirect her to something she is allowed to bite. Teach her what the appropriate things to chew on are. ;)

The thing is, puppies need to chew, but you should be determining what those things are.

Kongs filled with peanut butter and frozen are good, the treat balls, chews, and my personal fav for puppies, is wetting a kitchen towel, scrunching it up and freezing it. Makes a fun toy and a great teething aid. :)

[squirtsmom]

I am having the sa me t rouble with my great pyr, and will try th ose suggestions. she hasn't bitten anyone, but she teeths.

[Doberluv]

I was warned against giving her her toy to bite on instead, because she may comprehend that as an award.

No, it will show her what she is allowed to chew on and if you toss a treat to her while she's chewing on her toy, it will reinforce that behavior so that the toy will become a more rewarding thing for her to chew on.

Is she getting plenty of romping outdoors and some mental stimulation? ie: a few basic obedience skills taught?

Here's a good article on teaching bite inhibition: I highly recommend you read the whole thing.

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

[Lets_Submerge]

She's getting plenty of excersize, I walk her two times a day and I play with her several times a day, plus I have another dog for her to play with. And I take her out back to practice her basic commands before every meal.

I'll try your advice though.

[Herschel]

She's getting plenty of excersize, I walk her two times a day and I play with her several times a day, plus I have another dog for her to play with. And I take her out back to practice her basic commands before every meal.

I'll try your advice though.

Really, read the entire Shirley Chong article. Don't save it for later, print it out and put it on your counter top. Read it.

Doberluv always posts these incredible articles for training and for some reason, people often refuse to read them. I don't get it. :confused: Either way, thanks Dober. We all owe you!

[Lets_Submerge]

Really, read the entire Shirley Chong article. Don't save it for later, print it out and put it on your counter top. Read it.

Doberluv always posts these incredible articles for training and for some reason, people often refuse to read them. I don't get it. :confused: Either way, thanks Dober. We all owe you!

I already read the article after you posted it. I've read an article about bite inhibition in "Visually Trainging Your Dog" books, but their advice on teaching the puppy when their bite is too hard didn't work whatsoever. I rescued her from an abusive home so any positive attention and/or play time she gets too excited about, and sometimes it's painful, especially to my 10 year old min schnauser, lol.

But, I'll take the information from the article [which was may more detailed than the article in the book, props to the author.] and the tricks in here and use it, I'll post back in a couple of days with her progress. Thanks to all of you, I won't take the advice for granted!

-Hannah

[Doberluv]

Bless you Herschel. That was a nice thing to say. Actually, most things I post, I've learned from someone else too. And I have always been a compulsive reader. And many of the things, I've used myself with dogs and with a little tweak here and there and finding what motivator works best with which dog in which instance or context makes it effective. Plus, tiring out the dog, finding alternatives, distracting.

Sometimes when all else fails, removing the motivator (your ankles) is what it takes. A few minutes all by puppy's lonesome sometimes works too. Try again after just a minute or two and again.....if ignoring, walking away, ending all playtime and attention doesn't work...puppy is running after you and biting ankles, a short time out. But make it short. The more times you give the pup another chance and then she is removed from the fun and socialability, the quicker she'll make a connection and the more opportunities for her to succeed. If she comes out of isolation and happens to chew her own toy or not bite your ankles or the other dog or whatever, the more times you can reinforce her for that. Toss a tiny piece of fresh meat or cheese every time she is behaving how you like. Do it quickly before she messes up again. If she is not biting you for a whole two seconds, reward. Most people forget to reinforce what they DO like and concentrate only on what they don't. This is an up hill battle that way. She has to come to know what works and what doesn't.

Eventually, with consistancy, she'll find out what kind of play really pays off (treats, attention, calm affection) and which behavior makes it all go away. Puppies take time to grow up. It won't happen immediately.

What breed is she, btw? Some need more hard running than others. (just not too much repetative if she is a big boned dog)

Anyhow....she'll get there. Don't worry.

[Lets_Submerge]

She's a mix between border collie, shorthaired pointer, and black lab, maybe more but that's all I've seen.

And by the way, I'm already seeing a slight change in her biting, so thank you guys, so much!