Help... Gibbson is biting my kids faces!!!

[drewchowen]

I'm getting a litttle concerned about Gibson. He has begun to bite my kids faces. Okay, Let me explain my situation. We have a 10 month old female that we got when my kids were 10, 7 , 5 and 18 months. She has been abbsolutely wonderful with them. When she was younger she would cause tears alot because she would chase the kids and bite their ankles and bite them while she was teething or playing a little too rough but she hasn't been like that since she was like 4months old. I expected this and dealt with it by telling the kids not to run and just general supervision. She is perfect now

I explained that to tell you that I know the difference between playing and real biting. Gibson is biting!! He drew blood on both my 5 yr old and 2 yr today on their faces and head. I think it is a dominance thing as he tends to has way more dominant tendences that Atta did and does. He will be just sitting there (not wound up or even playing) and bite and snarl at their face!!
My five yr old was asking him to sit this morning when he bit her head. I was in the next room making breakfast and heard him.
Then later he were all at the table doing school work( I homeschool) and my 2 yr old was walikngg around the table next to us and he just reached up and bit her. She has two blood scratches on her cheek.
I picked Gibson up and very firmly said NO!! and put him in his crate. ( I tried not to act angry as I did this but I needed to keep him away so I could deal with my sceaming little girl)
I know you my be wondering if it may be that my kids may be little monsters and be provoking him but I assure you that my children are very well behaved and have been taught to how to be respectful to animals. They are very good with both of our boxers.
It is not just the younger two either. He bit my two older boys too. Always on the face unprovoked.
It is unrealistic to think that I will be in the same room with the kids and Gibson at all times although I am a lot because our house is small. I want to find the root of why he is doing this and work on that instead of just managing it and keeping them a part.
Gibson is only 12 wks. old. I was going to wait until about 14 wks for obedience training but should I go now???
Thanks for listening and any advise you have would be greatly appreciated.
Lori

 

[Debbie Magon]

Your puppy is biting and he is only 12 weeks old?
I am quite certain this has nothing to do with aggression which is GOOD and everything to do with lack of "Bite Control" and domination.
Bite control is a very important part of a pups developement and is learnt in the whelping box with his litter mates.
Gibson is also looking upon the children as litter mates and because they are not dealing with him like an adult would he is becoming sassier by the day, thinking he will be bigger and better than they.
This is NOT good and needs to be nipped in the bud very quickly.

Most pups do get to learn at least some bite control unless they are a single birth or are removed from the litter too soon.
How old was your pup when you purchased him?
Under 6 or 7 weeks can make a huge difference to his behaviour.

I feel that you will need to constantly supervise him around the children until you can get him into a good training centre.
Make sure if he is out with the children that they know the rules. The wee tot will obviously not be able to do this so you will have to be very vigilant.

Ask all the children to speak firmly and strongly to Gibson.
If he jumps up they must be quick to push him down and say NO!
Teach them the angry "Dad" voice. This works well on any pup. They dont like being told off in a deeper sounding voice.
Perhaps its all relative to a grown male dog growling at them?
Also teach the children to stand upright, while talking to the dog. never bend over his head as this tends to shorten the child and make the dog think he has a chance at domination.

Also teach the kids he is NOT allowed to play mouth games on any part of their body, clothes, at all.
Another good trick is to spin away from him the minute he tries to jump. Practise the "whirl" with the older children and see how fast they can react. Make it fun but tell them No laughing! It will just excite Gibson more.
If he does manage to latch onto a piece of clothing or skin tell them to squeal , just one loud high pitched squeal.
This should make Gibson let go immediately. After an episode like this he should be taken to his crate for a break, at least 15 minutes or more.
I would also have time out for Gibson where he is crated while you attend the childrens lessons.
Offer the children rewards for correct handling of the puppy, just like Gibson should be rewarded for staying down for 5 mins when told to.
Rewards are always a good incentive for humans and animals alike

The sooner you get Gibson to a good training school the sooner he will grow out of this phase and be a lovely boxer boy.

 

[Draymia]

Debbie gave wonderful advice. You do need to get this stopped now. He is not being mean or aggressive, but it will get worse if not dealt with. He is being a typical puppy playing with his "littermates" and testing the water. He needs to learn that he is the low man on the totem pole in your house and needs to learn his manners.

 

[ILoveMyBrutu]

We are having the same problems w/ Brutus. He's really latching on....to all of us though. Not just my girls. He gets really excited when he plays, and he growls, barks, jumps and chomps down.

Originally posted by Debbie Magon
Another good trick is to spin away from him the minute he tries to jump. Practise the "whirl" with the older children and see how fast they can react. Make it fun but tell them No laughing! It will just excite Gibson more.
If he does manage to latch onto a piece of clothing or skin tell them to squeal , just one loud high pitched squeal.
QUOTE]

We've tried this and he just acts like he doesn't hear us. I was wanting to train him myself, but I'm thinking doggy obedience school might be better. I really don't want this to make my girls afraid of dogs.

 

[niteworm]

I got sabastian when he was 4 weeks old,( he was being pushed out during feeding time) when he was a little older he started being dominant over my daughter who was 2 or 3 at the time. She was scared of him and sabastian would "tree" her as we call it. She would jump and hide on the back of the couch crying because his little teeth hurt. I finally had to make her be the dominant one. She learned to tell him no as strongly as she could and I taught her how to make him sit. Also I showed my kids that if they get him a toy when he does these things it will distract him from them and to tell him he is a good boy when he chews on the toy and not them! It worked real quik like! There best buds now!appicon Anyway good luck, I'm sure something will work for ya! If ya can afford the training go for it.

 

[Jacksmom]

biting-take control NOW!

Jack never bite anyone or anything when he was sm.but at 9mo. my son and him where best of friends. one day my son (5)went up behind him to give him a huge and Jack bite him on the lip--it split wide open and 5 stiches later-------my son is 7 now but he he knows what to do and not todo he has a 1/2 inch scare from it.all I can say is that be sturn with your boxer(the younger the better)and always look out for your children!

P.S. Jack and my son are best buds now and both have respect for each other.

Jacksmom

 

[warmellie]

everyone gave wonderful advice.

is it possible for you to begin using baby gates in order to separate your children and him when you can't be in the room with them?


they are a giant pain sometimes as my shins can attest(from falling not so gracefully over ours) but, it is very nice to have in those times when you just can't be in the same room with everyone.

 

[gasach]

UNBELIEVABLE, I cannot believe what you are all saying,and accepting. Boxer Dogs biting and acting aggressively towards young children, what the hell is going on. <edited by moderator>.... oh! I don't know.....just so sad and incredible.

I have lived with Boxers for 40 years and have mixed with Boxer people all that time.

Never have I heard such stories about Boxer aggression towards people especially youngsters.

Canine behaviour is conditioned by breeding and socialisation, or 'nature and nurture' as it is commonly referred to.

The problem is YOU, you don't know what you are buying and you don't know how to relate to the wonderful creature that is the BOXER DOG.

In my country all hell would break loose if just one case of a Boxer biting a child occurred. Because they are so wonderful, this never happens, they are renowned as being so reliable with children.

You Break my Heart
gasach

 

[Vela]

Umm....oookay. Thanks for the helpful reply. I happen to like my "Godforsaken place".

Debbie is right on target with her advice. Hope you found a good trainer to help you. How are thigns going???

 

[Tink]

gasach, if you have owned any dog, you can (and maybe should) admit that all pups go through phases. How people deal with each phase is important. This forum is where people come for help, among other things. I commend the thread starter for wanting to look for help, to educate himself, and make all of the lives of his family better. Too often dogs are cast out because owners don't attempt to get help and I do know that it is not just in America where this happens.
Maybe you are one of the rare few who have always known dogs and maybe read their minds? The rest of us need to learn.
On another note, you are correct, many times people don't know what they are buying. I assume you refer to good breeding. Many times people open their homes and hearts to rescue. They have NO info about the background. I am sure that it is not only this God forsaken place where people obtain pets without the omniscience that you, by implication have.
As for your obvious issues with America (or Americans?), as also backed by a previous thread in which you voiced this.... baby, that's YOUR bagage to own and carry! But one thing remains true here, we all love our Boxers and we all look to learn, to amuse and be the best Boxer owners we can be.