At Wits end with biting!!

[GomersGirl5]

Nothing is working!!! Maggie is 10 weeks and does good with most everything... EXCEPT biting! I can't tell you how many puncture wounds I have on my hands and arms. She doesn't seem to bite my husband as much but ME?! Man O Man! She does love how I taste, evidently! I have tried the "Ow" in a high pitched voice and while it does stop her right then, about 4 seconds later she's doing it again. I have tried "NO!" in a stern voice... while it works for my husband, not so much for me. I have tried ignoring her and walking out of the room... She only follows me by handing onto my shoes or shoestrings.... Oh and!! Sometimes when I yelp out a loud "Ow" she just yelps back at me.... Cute, I agree, but I'm beginning to wish I didn't have her. It's extremely frustrating! Can ANYONE give me some different advice beyond this website and what I've already read in the 3 Boxer books I have??

thanks!
Stephanie in Georgia

 

[Net45582]

Have you tried using a soft toy in place of your skin? Keep one handy and whenever the biting starts encourage your pup to chew the toy instead.

 

[KonaKoffe]

Just keep doing what you are doing. As soon as she starts to bite or grab your leg redirect her to a chew toy. Keep one in your pocket. It just takes time AND PATIENCE.

 

[gmacleod]

The advice you've had already is good advice. But nothing works in five minutes. It takes several weeks for a puppy to understand bite inhibition. It's frustrating, for sure - but she's only 10 weeks old. You're hoping for a miracle if you expect her to learn that quickly.

One further tip though: if you have to get up and leave the room because ignoring her isn't working, shut the door so she can't follow you

 

[GomersGirl5]

Oh yes...

Have you tried using a soft toy in place of your skin? Keep one handy and whenever the biting starts encourage your pup to chew the toy instead.

I have tried a soft toy, I have tried rope chews, I have tried plastic squeaky chews/toys.... I'm telling you; I have tried EVERYTHING I can think of....

 

[Net45582]

LOL......she's still very young. It will take lots of time and patience..be consistant and persistant. Hang in there.....do you have another dog?Its easier on the human if the pups learn about bite inhibition from other dogs.

 

[GomersGirl5]

Not expecting a miracle....

The advice you've had already is good advice. But nothing works in five minutes. It takes several weeks for a puppy to understand bite inhibition. It's frustrating, for sure - but she's only 10 weeks old. You're hoping for a miracle if you expect her to learn that quickly.

One further tip though: if you have to get up and leave the room because ignoring her isn't working, shut the door so she can't follow you

In NO WAY am I expecting a miracle. I haven't been around puppies very much but I do know that it takes time for them to learn things.... I just think by now we should see at least SOME improvement. We can only shut certain doors in our apartment so I usually confine her to the bathroom when she gets too overbearing. I leave her for 5mins or until she stops whining. Then I let her out and try playing again, if that's what she wants to do.

 

[GomersGirl5]

Hanging is all I can do!

LOL......she's still very young. It will take lots of time and patience..be consistant and persistant. Hang in there.....do you have another dog?Its easier on the human if the pups learn about bite inhibition from other dogs.

Ugh! I WISH we had another dog for her to learn from!! No, Maggie is our only baby; dog or otherwise. My husband did mention over the weekend about us getting a cat when we move.... GIVE ME STRENGTH! hahaha!

We are moving to Florida the end of June.... if all goes as planned.

Again, thanks for the tips! I'll just continue to have little crying fits occasionally and deal with it.

 

[Net45582]

...if all else fails,try a rubbing a bit of bitter apple on your hands or where ever she is prone to bite.

 

[Roxy Lucille]

paitence is a virtue...

I know that you probably don't want to hear this... but it takes paitence and persistance. Roxy is still biting at 19 weeks, however, she has great bite inhibition and once we say "no bite", she starts to lick. It does take some time though. We still keep a soft toy/chew toy with us at all time so once we does respond to "no bite", we give her the toy instead and most of the time she is content with that. It just takes time. 10 weeks is still so young for her to understand "no bite" Also, she is probably starting to teethe. Once Roxy lost her set of small uppers/lowers, she has done so much better w/"no bite" She still has her canines, which hurt terribly now, but at this point she has learned "no bite" Just give her sometime and be paitent. It is totally normal behavior. They all do it. Be calm also when you reprimand her. It won't get her wound up if you are calm about it. DH and I have noticed that if we are calm and relaxed, her behavior has really improved. She will now just cuddle w/us on the couch because we have been calm when we are home. She does have the occasionally "race" around the living room under the couch and bench, but she is just letting some puppy energy out or letting us know that she has to potty.. Thats another thing... Roxy bites/barks at us now when she has to go potty... Maybe think about that too. Their bladders are so tiny so she may be having to potty too... Just a though... Hope this helps... Keep your chin up. It will get better. Just keep with it.