I have a 16 week old male Labradoodle. His biting problems have gotten out of control, and I don't know what to do. He bites arms, fingers, toes...my arms are so scratched up and he draws blood often. Every time I try to discipline him, he thinks I'm playing with him. I've tried:
Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, has a book entitled "My Way" also a TV show on national Geographic channel. The man is phenomenal with dogs, and people too
Grabbing the nose & rolling him over are bad bad OLD ideas. His punishment shouldn't be physical, ever. When he starts to get physical say no & walk away. Lack of attention should be his punishment. After a few minutes of him not biting you, regardless if you've been close to him, treat him. You can also take a rewards obedience class.
Yep, I second the Dog Whisperer, you can also watch him on TLC. Sadly, I think this is a big reason NOT to make up "cute" dog breeds, there is just too much of chance of getting dogs that two different genes mixed, don't make a good fit.
Do not teach your dog that people are chew toys. Get him some real toys of his own. Give them to him when he has the need to chew or play.
Ceasar Milan is aces when it comes to teaching you how to deal with your dog.
My son used vinegar in a spray bottle for his excitable Rottweiler puppy.
When the pup got too playful he would nip and get out of control. My son, without saying a word, would spray the vinegar in the air near the pup, never in his face.
Dogs do not like the odor of vinegar. His pup would immediately stop. He kept this up until his pup realized that whenever he was playing too rough, he would smell the vinegar. He soon changed his behavior.
I don't remember how long this took but it did work for his pup. Good luck.
Puppies like to bite when they play - either with other dogs or with you.
I used Cesar's technique and my puppy no longer bites me (hasn't for months!), but bites my husband who won't use the technique. DH tries all the other techniques, but Buddy still thinks Dad's playing.
Here's the way I did it: Cesar says observe how dogs react when they are bitten during play with other dogs - they yelp, cower and whimper. Almost always the other dog(s) stops and starts to comfort them as if saying "I'm sorry, I didn't know it hurt."
I only did this twice with my puppy and his response was immediately licking and comforting me. After that, he no longer tries to bite at me when playing. He will "gum" my hand sometime, but no pressure at all. Mostly, he will lick me.
HOWEVER, you have to be convincing when you yelp, cower and whine. It's probably best to do it when no one is around - you could feel kinda' silly! Let me know if it works. CA
First off, A-DORABLE DOGGIE! I LOVE THIS BREED!
Secondly, yelping when bit DOES work...it may take several times and you DO have to make a big production but it does work.
My golden puppy was the same way and now she is so gently, she will gum me or play gently.
There is another view, which is to Be The Momma Dog. You observe a mother dog with puppies, and when one of them annoys her, she reacts with a roar and a nip that frightens the puppy and reminds the pup that Momma is the Alpha of the pack. Later in the dog's life as a pack member, the same harsh split-second put-down keeps the pecking order established. Not just engaging in playfighting with the dog, which perpetuates the biting, but such a loud and total response to the bite that he cowers and dashes away. Not at all to be confused with abuse that hurts the puppy and destroys the relationship, but a split-second reminder of the puppy's status as underling followed by a continuation of friendly loving bonding. In a difficult case, or in trying to reestablish your dominant status, you never let the pup be equal to you or higher to you. You sleep on the bed, he sleeps on the floor. If you're sitting on the couch, he's on the floor, and if he nips you, you stand up!, roar a sharp short NO!, opening and closing a newspaper loudly and then walk away.
This has always worked for me. buy a dog crate big enough for him, when he bites or does something you don't want him too, stand up and yell no, then put him in the crate. Let him stay in there for at least 30mins. If he bites grab his nose and give it a gentle squeeze and yell no, put him in the crate right. He will get the picture after a couple of times and will stop his bad habits and will understand that no means no.
Cute Dog though.
Get a pop can, and wash it inside. Fill with small pebbles or pennies and tape hole on top shut. When puppy is bad, say NO in a very strong voice and shake the can. For some reasons, dogs of any age do not like the sound that this makes. Also when mama dog is teaching her babies, if they get out of line with her, she will grab puppy by the scruff of the neck and shake, this will work also. We have a large dog, Angel (her story is here under dogs eating gorilla glue), she just turned 7 this year, and she still has a very stubborn streak. I will grab her by the scruff of her neck, then she knows I mean business. she weighs 140, so got to let her know I am boss ! :-) Hope this helps. Rose
Thanks everyone for your suggestions, it really is much appreciated.
I think I am going to try the whole yelping thing. He seems to be very scared of other dogs, so I'm curious to see how that'll work. Also, caging him for a few minutes when he bites seems to help, if I do it repeatedly. I also read about putting apple bitters on the places he bites, so it doesn't taste good to him, which I may try as well. I believe he truly needs puppy socialization/obedience classes, which I can now do since he's just finished all of his necessary shots.
He's got tons of toys, and walking away doesn't help because he just follows me, jumps and bites the back of my legs. He's definitely a challenge.
However, don't get me wrong, this dog has a great personality and I love him to pieces. I can't take him anywhere without getting compliments on him. I also noticed some blood on one of his toys today. He's losing his baby teeth, and I know it's only exacerbating the biting problem.
I'll keep at it.. Thanks again everyone!
Have you been through a puppy training class yet? It's a great way to teach your dog EVERYTHING. You will be able to work on the nipping and teach him the rules that you want him to follow for the rest of his life. Find somebody who used positive training methods. Your puppy shouldn't have to suffer physically during the process of training him.
Your dog is adorable. He's a puppy. Is he teething? Give him a soft chewy toy every time he starts biting. He'll soon understand the toy and only the toy is ok to chew on. Keep it available to him at all times and he'll soon learn to chew on it to comfort himself, like a good doggie.
Doggie obedience classes are of course a good idea. I also like the yelping victim technique. Years ago, my terrier bit me one time - when I picked up his chewy bone. I yelped, clutched my chest, and told him in a very wounded tone, "How could you do that to me? I love you and would never steal your bone. I do my best to take care of you," etc. etc. He watched my melodramatic, martyred performance with great interest and never bit me again. He was a very smart dog, a superb companion, and years later I still miss him.
Don't forget that your doggie needs lots of exercise every day. Running and fetching a ball burns off some of his energy and builds a positive relationship between you.
I also agree that punishment is a bad idea - like torture, it just creates fear on the dog's part and guilt on the owner's part, which ruins the wonderful companionship that is, after all, the whole point of having a dog.
We had a rotweiller puppy that loved to chew on people when she was teething. Teething can go on for a while, so we found that the best thing to do was to make a loud "OUCH" noise when she got a human body part in her mouth. She quickly learned that our skin was not meant to be chewed on. To this day (she is now 2) she will mouth us but no longer chew.
Get a rolled up newspaper and smack him on the nose whenever he bites. You have to be consistant with it and also show him that you are the boss, he is not. After a while all you should have to do is pick up the rolled up paper and that should be enough to stop him. Best of luck to you. He looks like a cute dog.
We got a Newfoundland. Our dog is very aggressive too and bruises up my hands but has not drawn any blood. He too thinks I'm playing. He now weighs 110 pounds and aggressively jumps my back. When you find the answer, please let me know. Thanks
You have to run him man! We have a labradoodle too and the secret it to exercise, exercise, exercise! Living in Alexandria is a tough place for a dog with so much energy but you have to run, run, run or put him up for adoption and get something like a pug or something. We exercise ours about 3 hours a day and he's very chill around the house. I can' t imagine if he didn't get this time out running around.
He is so cute! Yes, I know about the biting as babies. It sure is irritating, especially when it's a bigger puppy. I bought mine lots of chew sticks like raw hide that has the "bad odour" dogs love these and also bullwinkle sticks, which are very expensive but work wonders. Keeps them occupied for a while and helps the teeth. My toy poodle is teething right now and chews on toes and fingers but sure it's irritating but not as irritating as when my shepherd was teething. All I can say is he will get over this but drawing blood isn't a good thing because he may get a taste for blood. Give him the chew sticks to keep him away from the blood.
Melissa, I have a female labradoodle who is doing the exact same thing. Same age also. I've tried everything you have. Going to get help from a trainer next.
She is not teething, but is playing aggresively. If you find anything that helps, please pass it on! I'm tired of bleeding! Portia
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
We are fostering 2 Pitts, one male and one female, that are 6 weeks old. During play time together, they seem to be getting more aggressive with each other. Is this a trait that this bred has or is this normal behavior for puppies?
By Doug from Soquel, CA
Puppies will be puppies will be puppies. At six weeks of age, I can't imagine puppies of any breed are trying to be aggressive. As they grow and as you learn by watching and playing with them, you will notice the difference between play and aggression. At this young age, simply separate them for awhile if one or the other gets too feisty.
Since you have a male and a female, you are going to have to stay ahead of hormone issues as well. It matters none how well they've gotten along up to that point, as soon as she comes into heat, (or possibly earlier) he will be ready, willing, and able to do the deed and neither should be disciplined for aggressive behavior as it's instinct, not aggression, controlling the situation.
Pay attention to tail position: Generally speaking, a high happy tail is playing; a straight, level, rigid tail is on alert; and a tucked tail is total submission. If you could do some goggle or bing searching on "tail position of dogs" (or a related phrase) you can learn how to read your dog's intent by the movement of his or her tail.
I honestly think well of you and others that worry early on about trying to work with a puppy or puppies to prevent bad habits, but all these fur kids really do need time just to be "playful babies". Good luck and best wishes!
:-)
Very well said, KansasCindy.
In addition, I believe at this point, they're sorting out who will be the alpha (dominant) dog. It's very important that they consider you the alpha. Watch one or two episodes of 'The Dog Whisperer' to see what I mean.
Thanks Joanne, your post is exactly what I was aiming to communicate, but failed to point out, specifically. Thanks for summarizing my post! :-)
Ditto with KansasCindy and Joanne but to also answer your breed trait, yes, Pitty's are an aggresive breed of dog so please do learn the alpha training while they're still this young. Bless you for fostering!
Like all puppies they can get rough with each other. This is not necessary because they are pits. Pits are horribly starved and tortured and abused which makes them fight for their lives. Pits are very misunderstood. When they play to roughly talk sternly without shouting and get their attention on something else like a chew toy or petting them yourself. Even both of them at the same time so they see the calm. These dogs are very misunderstood. Bless you for helping them. We are their only voice.
Once the aggression starts, take him or her for a time out. For a walk, or sit next to him and talk softly and show calm. Do not let him continue these mannerisms. But also do not yell or hit. They are all just babies but very smart and if you don't control the aggression they will think it is ok by you.
Stop that play now. Only allow them to play without aggression. They are learning control over each other. You must be thier boss. Otherwise,you will have at least one agressive dog that feels he runs your household. Thier nature is something you can control but start now.
I have a 3 1/2 year old Jack Russell-male, an 8 month old male Jack Russell, a 10 month old male Pit Bull, and a female miniature Pomeranian, that's a year and 8 months old. They are all in the same house.
My female has recently gone into heat and the Pit Bull has attacked the older Jack Russell. But ever since I got the Bull, the Jack Russell has bullied the Pit Bull. He growls when they go to eat or leaves his treats in the floor daring him to take it.
I have since moved the Pit Bull out of the home. I have placed him in a dog lot at my mom's. I just need to know how to handle this situation, I love both of these males they're like my children.
My husband passed away August 13, 2009 he raised the Jack Russell with a firm hand. Since then the Jack Russell has became even more possessive of me. I need help. I love both dogs and I miss the Pit Bull, but I have become afraid of him.
By Tresa from Cherokee, NC
You are dealing with a case of k-9 jealousy! The older pet is trying to establish his Alpha dog role and won't tolerate (on his own terms)anyone getting in his way or getting close to you.He will protect you at all costs.You have to make sure each pet has their own space and separate feeding dishes. When he acts up you may try giving him a time out (just as you would a child).Put him in a create, until he calms down.It may take numerous times of doing so before he catches on- but he will finally make the connection bad behavior means time away from the group. Another thing you can try is getting the younger pets out and playing with them -while he watches and slowly incorporate him into your group. By doing so will show him that you are in command and that if he wants to join he will have to accept the others.
With a female in heat (three weeks) is a long time with several males in the house. As small as the female dog is, I'd be careful for her safety with all the males as they could hurt her. Get the male dogs neutered and the female spayed. Hormones change after this process and lessens the attack mode amongst the pack.
The dog who is aggressive should be served his feed bowl last according to the Dog Whisperer. Check out his website as there's a lot to be said about aggression in dogs and between them. Getting an in depth understanding about life among dog packs will help you to form better decisions.
I always go to leerburg.com for socializing puppy information and podcasts. They are free and very helpful. Good luck!
Blessings, Robyn
My 11 month old Labradoodle has been jumping up recently and biting my lower and upper arms and clothes. This is extremely painful and frustrating. He has been doing this for two months. I tried saying no in a firm voice and getting him to lie down as soon as he jumps, but the minute we get going he starts biting at the leash and my hands again.
I have also tried standing on his leash, holding his mouth, yelping, and ignoring him. None of these seem to work at all :( The only way I can deter him is to get him to sit then give him a toy so that he will be focused on something else, but I don't always have one on me.By Mary K.
It sounds like your puppy has a lot of energy. Is he getting enough exercise? That is where I would start. It really sounds like he is trying to get you to play with him. One thing that works when a dog jumps up on you is to tap lightly on his back feet with your foot (no shoes) They will usually get down immediately.
Have you recently added another canine to your home and the resident one is simply attracting your attention to him? And if he has not been castrated, now is the time. Good luck.
My husband and I have a Boxer puppy named Nena. She's three and a half months old and is very aggressive. We are currently living with my parents and my seven year old sister while our house is being completed.
Nena is an extremely sweet lovable dog. Everyone that sees her falls in love with her. She's not usually aggressive, but lately my seven year old sister has been playing with her very roughly making Nena aggressive with us. She bites everything and everyone in sight.
My parents have a nine year old Corgi and Nena just loves to bite her stubby tail and get on her back. We're very concerned about her behavior as I am eight months pregnant. We do not want her to be this aggressive with our soon to be JR. Please somebody help us! My husband is at his breaking point and wants to sell her:( I adore my little Nena and just want to train her to be a good dog. Please somebody help!
By manda
Boxer puppies! I raised them in the US for 30+ years and miss every single one of them:)
Your wee sister needs to STOP playing roughly with the puppy, and she needs to do it now.
But more importantly, you need to start training your Boxer baby. She is at the perfect age to be placed in either an obedience training class (with you and or your husband as the handler) or for you to do some serious 'Net searching for training her at home.
Boxers are the best family dogs ever but that endorsement comes with a few caveats. One is that Boxers do not fully mature until around aged three years. Even if you have her spayed at the recommended six months, she will still not fully mature until around three.
So she will continue to display puppy behaviours like chewing (oh boy can a Boxer chew! I've had them chew everything from an entire loveseat to the bricks I used to edge garden beds), play fighting, and 'selective hearing'.
Another caveat re Boxers is that they are an extremely energetic dog bred for working-this is a dog who needs a schedule that includes regular, lifelong exercise.
Contrary to popular opinion, however, the Boxer doesn't need a huge back garden to run around in, he/she simply needs you to be willing to play hard at the park, walk for 30 minutes twice a day at a good clip, and be willing and able to 'tussle' in the house with a stout rope for tug-of-war. I've had Boxers live long and happy lives in 2 bedroom apartment because their owners understood the breed's need for consistent exercise.
A good and consistent training programme will include lead training, socialisation with children and other vulnerable beings (other dogs, cats, birds, elderly adults, etc), and a regularly scheduled-twice daily exercise period.
Frisbie, tug-of-war, fetch, and similar activities will wear your Boxer pup out and satisfy her need for fun, vigourous exercise. Twice daily 30 minute walks around the neighbourhood will also help settle her down.
I raised two children to adulthood in company with at least three inside Boxers at a time and never had a single incident between the two groups of beings. But I never left the dogs and children alone together until both groups were of an age to understand the rules of family living, either.
In other words, NEVER leave your baby alone in the same room with your dog. NEVER. Follow that rule until your child is A-around eight, and B-is able to harness and clip a lead safely to the dog to put it under control.
The following are links to good sites that will help you raise a healthy, well adjusted, SAFE Boxer at the same time you have small children in the home:
video.about.com/
(Bookmark that site, the dog pages are invaluable, and the forum for that topic is active and VERY helpful)
www.dogbreedinfo.com/
www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/
Additionally, your local library is an outstanding, low-cost resource for books on how to raise and train a family Boxer.
A great place to find an obedience class is through your local Parks and Recreation department. Google your town's name+the words 'leisure services parks and recreation' to find the next available class. Low-cost and well worth your time and money, P&R obedience classes for your Boxer puppy will make a huge difference for your family.
Finally, a bit of advice-invest in a quality harness as Boxers are absolute Houdinis at being able to slip a standard collar. DO NOT use a choke collar as these can severely damage a Boxer's neck and throat.
Also purchase a Halti head collar to go with that harness:
www.companyofanimals.us/
I cannot say enough to endorse the Halti, it is the single most valuable piece of puppy and adult dog kit available today! After the feed and water bowl, the Halti combined with a top quality, well fitted harness is the most important thing in your Boxer's life-it is the safest way to walk and control the perpetual motion machine that is a Boxer.
Good luck, please update! If you decide you can't keep your puppy please use a reputable breed rescue group who will rehome your pup to a home ready and willing to give that dog a wonderful life.
I have 2, 8 month old, puppies who are sisters. We rescued them from a pound, but while I walk them they always show very aggressive behaviour towards other dogs we see. I tell them shush and try to carry on walking to show I am not concerned with the other dogs, but they are big and strong and find myself dragged about. I am trying halti leads which helps me control them, but not their aggression. It is always the same one that starts it. Please help.
By Tina
This is a page about working with an aggressive pit bull puppy. The most important thing in dealing with an aggressive puppy is to find a good trainer and be very consistent in your training. Socialization in a safe and controlled environment is often beneficial too. The earlier you address these concerns, the better!
