8 week old biting me-I feel helpless (long, sorry)

[FionaAD]

Fiona is an 8 week old puppy who is incredibly smart and sweet. She already knows many commands and not to go in certain rooms. We practice corrections with Fiona by snapping and using a "psst" noise to distract her and let her know to change her behavior. Most of the time, she responds immediately. However, when she continues in going where or doing something she is not supposed to do, we get up and "claim" the area or thing she is misusing by standing in her way and gently redirecting her to another area or another activity. This normally works, but she sometimes starts "attacking" me by jumping and biting at my feet or my hands. Because I continue to snap and make the "psst" noise during those moments, she seems to be getting used to it and it losing it effect as a deterrent. I have tried waiting for her to calm down and giving her treats when she is doing good, but she doesn't seem to calm down, it just escalates until she is biting me and running around me in circles. I don't know what else to do because I don't want to do anything that is harmful for her, and I don't want to put her in her crate so that she thinks that is punishment. I tried ignoring her, but then she goes where I was telling her not to and I feel that all the work to get her to stay out is undone. Please, any suggestions on how to deal with this?? I know she is just a young puppy, but I do not want to fail to correct behavior that is unhealthy for her and will become dangerous for us and others, and I don't want to lose my authority by wasting reactions on situations where it won't help. I really appreciate any response!

 

[simmons]

Since ignoring her isn't working, maybe give her a toy and lots of praise when she starts to bite. Try to remember that she is just a baby and it will take some time for her to properly learn. What about a small time-out? Maybe put her leash on and tie it to a knob.

Just stay persistent and be patient.

Good Luck

 

[pmari3]

I would suggest using gates to keep her out of areas that are "off limits". I use them to this day.

Also, the noise and snapping probably seems more like play to her than a correction. Distracting her with a toy as simmons suggests or completely ignoring her when she is getting really out of hand are your best options. If you don't feel comfortable walking away and don't wish to place her in her kennel, how about the bathroom for a couple of minutes, providing it is puppy proofed. The idea is for her to understand that when she is biting and jumping and being out of control, that you will not play with her and she will be left alone. It takes a long time for them to get it, but she will get it if you are consistent.

Good luck and stick with it!

 

[FionaAD]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies! I really appreciate some feedback. I am afraid to do the tie off with a leash right now becuaes she is still scared of the leash...we are working on that by giving lots of praise and treats when I put the collar on and stop the treats as soon as I take it off. The bathroom thing might work, though. I'll give it a go. Thanks again for the support!

 

[SILLY6PAK]

Mine would stop listening when over stimulated or in need of a nap. I bet if you put her in her crate she would be asleep in seconds,
My other thought is at 8 weeks you have not even gotten into the real mouthy stage. She is VERY young. Be consistant with your training and it WILL pay off. There will be days where you will wonder but if you stick with it a happy, well adjusted adult will emerge from the bowels of adolesence.

 

[Newtonian]

Our 10-month-old was really mouthy when he was younger, so we made sure we always had a good rawhide chew handy for him to have in his mouth when we were handling him!! This also had an additional positive effect as he is now in NO WAY protective of rawhides. In fact, he seems to PREFER a human to hold it for him when he chews....he's a bit lazy and this makes it easier, you know! What a goof!! Good luck with your little one....some of the mouthiness should also naturally wane after she is done teething....but all mouthing should still of course be discouraged.

 

[FionaAD]

Update

Thanks again for all of your suggestions and support. The bathroom time outs have really had a positive effect. I feel much more empowered and less frustrated when she challenges me... as a smart, independant little boxer pup should! That helps with my energy toward her when I am correcting her, which in turn makes her more calm and less likely to react with hieghtened aggression toward me. Because I have to take her inside after outside corrections, it seems she still is learning that time out is directly attached to her "attack" modes, but it is obvious she is learning.

 

[tesster]

I would also, as some others have suggested, use redirection in addition to time outs. When she's doing something you don't want her to do, give her an alternate behavior.

Redirection and praise for appropriate behavior, and ignoring her completely when she's misbehaving often work better than time outs for bad behavior. Unless you can get her in a time out within 3 seconds of her misbehaving, she won't connect the behavior with the punishment. It's just something to keep in mind.

Also, exercise with puppies is absolutely crucial to good behavior. It will be your closest ally over the next few years.

 

[gmacleod]

Have you tried just getting up and leaving the room? Redirection is a good technique, as is shrieking in pain when she bites too hard. But sometimes it's not enough, and it's better to 'punish' the dog by removing your presence. And if you don't think it's punishment for her for YOU to leave - think about what she's trying to achieve. It's for you to play with her. So removing yourself and leaving her isolated on her own is extremely effective punishment (plus, it gives you a few minutes respite).

Thing is, this is NOT about "authority". Not even close to it, so do try not to think that way. It's about a puppy learning what is appropriate play and (crucially) about the power of her jaws. That's an extremely important lesson for her to learn, and one you're in danger of overlooking if you turn it into a competition for who's the top dog She's only going to learn if she bites - your job is to let her know that it hurts and that nobody will play with her if she hurts. She, in turn, will then gradually learn to be more gentle and gain an understanding of how to control the pressure her jaws can apply. Nature doesn't give puppies those razor sharp little needles they call teeth for no reason - it's precisely so that it WILL hurt when they bite, and so they can learn control before they actually develop any power.

Here is an excellent article that describes the process of teaching bite inhibition - how, and why it's so incredibly important. It's very much worth a read: http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm