7wk old boxer having feet issues

[watsonsteve]

He likes human feet! He gets into this "mode" where he attacks your bare feet, ankles and your hand when you try to pry him off! He is only 7 weeks old. I call this psycho mode.

Please help me understand this is normal and how to cope with this behavior so I can raise him NOT TO DO THIS!

Baby Watson is a sweet-heart, but baby Watson gets into this PSYCHO KILLER MODE. What would Cezar say?

 

[EAO76]

100% totally normal puppy behavior. He is just playing, although inappropriate play, its just play . Just do your best to keep still (pulling away or moving your feet will excite him more/ encourage the behavior) and then redirect him with a toy. It takes awhile but they learn.

 

[Sansal]

Completely normal

Don't worry it's normal puppy behavior and can be easily redirected by you. I found the following article helpful:

Puppy Nipping and Rough Play : The Humane Society of the United States


You could also do a search on BW there are many threads with this topic. For example:
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/behavioral-issues/150451-biting-starting-worry-me.html

 

[watsonsteve]

Thanks allot for the advice, I thought my puppy was a daemon dog or something. I will not move my feet or hands when he nips.

Here is a questions for thought??? Will providing a toy redirect his aggression and not teach him to nip humans? Should I say no and stop playing altogether?

 

[larrygs]

We are in the same camp as BadAxe and have much fun rough housing. Early on we really worked on "bite inhibition" and don't promote fighting with feet. However, our play was quite measured until Layla got the bite inhibition worked out. There is much guidance on BW about bite inhibition.

I am not comfortable with the idea of providing a toy when they bite. I know the idea is to redirect, however seems like a toy is a positive reward for biting. Plus they don't learn how to guage the strength of their bite.

BTW, 7 weeks is young for a pup. Not sure when you got him, however much of the learning about biting begins when they are in a litter. I am sure it will work out, just may be a little more difficult.

 

[johann]

We too rough house with our boxer Johann. He loves to wrestle and play rough.

However, he knows that the game ends immediately if his teeth touch our skin (even by mistake). He'll wrestle/punch/roll around and have a great time.....but no mouthing or teeth allowed. We started this with him as a puppy.

For bite inhibition, we had the best luck with the removal technique- he bites....you get up and leave the room (don't let him follow). After a minute or two, go back and try playing again. If he attacks, get up and leave. Eventually he'll figure out that biting= no more play time. We did the saying "ouch" when he would bite as well....but found leaving to be the most effective. it works well if you're in a room with a baby gate that you can step over and he can't follow.

Good luck with your puppy. :D

 

[EAO76]

Thanks allot for the advice, I thought my puppy was a daemon dog or something. I will not move my feet or hands when he nips.

Here is a questions for thought??? Will providing a toy redirect his aggression and not teach him to nip humans? Should I say no and stop playing altogether?

This isn’t aggression its play. He is a baby and just wants to have fun. Redirecting him with a toy is teaching him appropriate play. He needs to understand both what not to and what to do. He cannot understand what you want from him unless you show/ teach him.

Now at some point it you may notice a behavior chain. ie he attacks your feet & you get a toy. He may start to think that attacking your feet is a way to initiate play. This can be avoided by teaching him to sit before starting the play.

Also I would wait until he has a better understanding of bite inhibition before you do any type of wrestling. If you want him to stop going after your hands & feet then don’t give mixed signals by wrestling.

But honestly I wouldn’t over react or over think it. All puppies go through these stages and very few dogs carry this behavior into adulthood. He will get it. Just be consistent in whatever method you choose.

 

[jbbtlr]

Welcome to puppy play!!! Their little teeth can be really sharp especially on the feet. But just redirect his play and say OUCH really loud. He just needs to learn what bite inhibitation is. Takes some time but they will learn.

We rough house with both our Boxers and do the same thing BadAxe does. If they get too rough with their mouths they are told OUCH and the playing stops for a few. Then WE will be the ones to initate play again. Just know that after they do learn it, if you are going to rough house, there might be times that they get you by accident. Koda is older now, but before when we would play and he would accidently get us, and we would say OUCH, he would come up and give kisses as to say oohhhhhhh I am sooooo sorry! It was great!!!

Good luck!

 

[rayofsun]

My pup, Sadie (10wks), does the same thing. She bites my hands, hair, feet, you name it! I've chalked it up to being a puppy, and while she doesn't respond to the "oww" as I would like, she stops biting me if I say her name. She'll learn that it's not acceptable behavior in time.