New puppy has high herding drive

[juliefurry]

Ok, Maverick has such a strong herding drive (well atleast I think it is) I don't know what to do. He's constantly biting the other dog's ankles and he will do that to just about anyone me, my husband, my stepkids, strangers. Although he hasn't done it to Emily yet. Is this herding or aggression? If it is herding what can I do about it. I don't want to try and stop him from doing something that comes natural to him but I want him to find a more appropriate thing to herd than people (because it really hurts ). Can I give him tennis balls or something to use as a herding device or just live with the fact that he is a herding dog and is going to bite my ankles forever. Could this possibly just be a puppy thing?

 

[skyhigh]

My dogs a herding dog but has never touched our ankles. Try putting bitter apple spray on your ankles. See if that helps. Others will come shortly

 

[juliefurry]

he'll bite our ankles and get more aggressive if we don't go the way he wants us to (usually he's trying to get us outside) and the dogs he will "herd" into one corner of the kitchen or bedroom or wherever they are. He will bite their ankles as well. Is he just being a puppy, or is he practicing herding instincts? I would like to get him something more appropriate to herd (I wanted chickens or ducks but my husband said "NO MORE ANIMALS!"). It's funny I said no more animals when Maverick walked through the door and guess what...HE'S STILL HERE!

 

[Renee750il]

ROFL! Oh, you have my most profound sympathy. You have a bona fide herding demon there. He will learn who it's not appropriate to herd as he grows up. In the meantime, NILIF training would be a good way to reinforce that you're the boss and you don't herd the boss. Get the kids in on it too (although having Maverick herd the kids might be useful sometimes, lol).

Don't use tennis balls to give him something to herd; get those big play balls that he'll never be able to get his mouth over. If they're bigger than he is that's even better, because anything he'd really want to herd will be bigger than he is.

As he grows up, the other dogs will quit being so indulgent of him and will most likely slow that down. Just instill in all of them now that serious fighting is NOT an option and they'll be able to work things out. You'll need to reinforce each dog's place though. Feed your boss dog first, the next in line second and so on and don't ever vary from that, not with feeding time, not with treats, not with the last bite from your plate.

 

[juliefurry]

I tell him all the time "no" when he starts doing that. If he keeps doing it I will leave the room and come back a couple minutes later and if he does it I say "no" and if he continues I will leave the room. He will stop doing it by the third time I say "no" and leave the room. The dogs on the other hand will growl and bark at him and he'll usually get it after a few tries. I don't mind him herding just needs more appropriate things to herd. I'll try getting the really big balls, I've seen them at the pet store I get my dog's Eagle Pack at.

 

[German_ShepherdLover]

Don't repeat it like this (NO! NO! NO! NO!) if you are! you are teaching him to ignore "NO!" just say it once if he keeps doing it putn the leash on him and say "No!" say that again after 5 secends Intill he stops doing it "Praise him" so he starts to know that biting is a bad thing and also don't get in a really angry voice cause sopme dogs will try to protect them selfs by biting.