Advanced Biting Help Needed

[JMillward]

My 6.5-month-old male puppy, Pugsley, has been really, really mouthy since we brought him home at 9 weeks. Yipes, ouches, high-pitched noises never worked to inhibit the biting -- they would only get him more excited. Leaving the room never did the trick, either. My husband and I would leave him in the baby-gated kitchen for several minutes, but he'd resume biting as soon as we came back in, no matter how many times we repeated the exercise.

Fast-forward to today, and we have a puppy who probably has four or five, "freaking out/biting" episodes per week. They're usually triggered by my husband or I trying to go inside or outside without Pugs after he's done some activity and become excitable. They don't last too long, and if we can distract him before he launches into one, and get him to calm down, they can be avoided.

He was in obedience classes, which have finished now, he has been neutered, and I've read nearly every book, article and post available on the subject of biting. I know that we definitely have a "leader of the pack" issue, and my husband and I are both working hard to integrate the methods Jan Fennell recommends in The Dog Listener.

I guess my question is: Does this sound like a serious aggression problem in the making? Or just an exceptionally energetic male pup? I've had many boxers in my life, but all females, and I never had an issue with their biting. Pugs is the first pup I've had who doesn't "get the message" when people yelp.

Sorry this is so long. But my husband and I are really, really worried about the problem, and especially concerned that we're aggravating it without realizing. I am trying to get an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist in the meanwhile. Thanks for any advice!

 

[babs1225]

Hi I feel that I don't know enough about the subject to help you but I really hope that you guys work this out with Pugsley!! I wish you the best of luck!!

 

[brocky101]

This Sounds Familiar...

Hi, i have a 4 month old boxer male and he has the same problem.we've tried grabbing his jaws(made him more aggressive), blowing in his nose (made him more aggressive), lemon juice (which he just wanted more of, with lime juice2)squirting water in the face with the water bottle which helps for a second or two and then he wants to attack the waterbottle and drink the water! we've even lightly hit his backend with the news paper and saying NO in a serious tone. we've yelped and yipped but he just nods his head and looks at me like im crazy.

i dont know what else i can do? you could try some of the things i've tried if you havn't already.

GOOD LUCK!

Lauren&Brocky

 

[Jan]

At his age I wouldn't think that you could call it an aggressive problem yet. I would continue with the timeouts etc., though I would do them in his crate or maybe the bathroom. I think a more isolated area than the kitchen would work work better. If he tends to bite particular areas, like ankles or wrist, cover them with bitter apple, just make sure that you shake it up first as the bitters sink to the bottom.

Take Pugsley back to obedience class. One class is no way near enough for a boxer. He can't be biting you when he is doing a sit stay. I took Markus to class every week for 2 years.

Hitting him won't help as aggression begets aggression. A squirt of water in the face might help, but don't put lemon or lime juice in it as that could be very painful if they got it in the eyes. :( It's not a very positve way of training, buy could be used as a last resort.

When training it is much better to reward positive behavior and ignore the bad. It is very important that you don't respond to bad behavior at all, as even a negative response from you is better than none at all as far as the dog is concerned. The bad behavior will extinquish eventually. You just have to be patient.

Good luck!

 

[JMillward]

Thanks, Jan.

We did try the squirt bottle with water, and it had no effect at all. We've never used physical punishment to try and stop his biting; I'm completely uncomfortable with that, and I know it wouldn't work anyway. He gets more riled up the more agitated we appear to be.

I've been sticking hard to the amichien bonding methods -- ignoring him/the five-minute rule seem to be having an effect. And I'm definitely going to get him in another obedience class right away.

I appreciate everyone's help!

 

[brocky101]

sorry about..

Sorry about when i said lemon and lime juice, i dont squirt it in his face(that would be horrible!:(), we but a little in his mouth so he will not like the taste so that he will stop, but he likes the taste, so that didnt work.

-Lauren&Brocky

 

[sandy's mom]

I have the same problem with Napoleon (8 mths). He starts out playing, but eventually ends up growling and biting. I also have a 3 year old female.
She played rough as a pup, but nothing like this. Bitter apple worked great with her. He ignores it. Also, he is not a loving dog. He could care less if you love on him or not (except first thing in the morning or when he is really tired). So, time out doesn't work with him. My 3 year old always seems to want to interveine. She doesn't like it when he is in trouble.

We haven't had him neutered yet. Will this help??
I go to work daily with bruises on my forearms. We have just started puppy classes. The teacher said she will show me ways to control him.

I will let you know.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Try redirecting the dog when he bites to something more suitable for biting. Give him an "OUCH!" and then hand him an appropriate TOY or BONE or something he can test his jaws and teeth on.

Or, if he bites, end play immediately. Don't look at him or give him ANY attention whatsoever for biting behavior. Making a fuss and then taking him to the kitchen isn't a strong message and it takes too long, therefore that technique probably won't work (as you can already see). You need to behavior like any other dog in the litter when it comes to biting. When one of mine gets too rough and bites the other, a yelp and then the bitten dog walks away and gives the biter no attention at all.

Try and think like a dog. Observe how other dogs handle situations like this and try to replicate it as best as you can.

Good luck.

 

[MyGirlHeidi]

Try and think like a dog. Observe how other dogs handle situations like this and try to replicate it as best as you can.

Good luck.

That is so true. I watch our dog Heidi play with a very mouthy dauschund and when Heidi's had enough she will go get a toy and let the dauschund play tug while she holds it in her mouth. It stops Heidi from being bitten and redirects the dauschunds attention! What a good idea!

 

[sandy's mom]

Hi again,

Napoleon is not almost 10 months, he has been neutered and we have attended manners classes. He is still biting. I have tried everything.
Nothing seems to work with him. Correcting him by sitting, lying down, etc just seems to send him into a rage. His ears go back, tail goes up and he lunges at me. Time out doesn't work either. He could care less if you give him attention or not. I really think he was treated rough or hit by a woman before I got him. I don't see how anybody could strike him...but. He is not that way with my husband or son. They can correct him and he seems to listen.


I am at my wits end. What else can I do.

Thanks,
Debbie