my dog bites

[paula carter]

Hi there
Our 10 months old Boxer still bites we don't know if he's playing wen think he is but are not sure He growls alot and rags on your clothes and he shows his teeth he starts of gentle but the bites get harder and harder I'm surer it is just a comfort thing and he's over excited but he's getting to big for this now he's to strong

 

[gmacleod]

He growls alot and rags on your clothes and he shows his teeth he starts of gentle but the bites get harder and harder

You need to stop him immediately he starts the growling and taking hold of your clothes. Don't wait for it to get "harder and harder". The dog isn't going to know where the game ends and he's gone too far - what he needs to know is that that sort of behaviour isn't acceptable at all.

I would suggest that you do a search of these forums on "biting" and "soft mouths". It doesn't seem to me that your dog has much of an idea of what behaviour you want and don't want from him. And that sort of thing has to be taught - the dog won't figure it out on his own.

I would also suggest that you invest in a copy of Jan Fenell's book "The Dog Listener". Between this one and your post on walking/pulling problems, it seems that you do have a lot of training (or lack of it) and leadership issues going on. That book really is a valuable resource, and contains a lot of information and case studies that could give you a lot of help here. Good luck

 

[emma'sdad]

i had this problem from emma

I had a problem with biting from Emma as well.

I found saying no bite to be effective. When she would bite I’d say no bite I a forceful voice. She would think it to be a game, and when I’d go to smack (lovingly I’d never hurt my furby ) her she’d try and bite my hands so I’d put them behind my back, this would teach her that biting wasn’t playing but the opposite, biting would remove the object of play.

Good luck, I agree with the other post, don’t let this go on it will only get worse
leray

 

[tanya&jazz]

Asia also did the chewing on cloths. She would get overexcited the more I tried to stop her. I finally resorted to a squirt gun. She hated to be squirt. That and time outs seemed to do the trick.

 

[sandy's mom]

I have had the same problem with Napoleon (10 months). I have also tried everything. We also have leadership problems. He wants to be the boss. He has even learned when I pick up the water bottle to stop, until I put it back down.

With his biting, nothing works except to walk away and totally ignore him.
I go into another room and when he enters I turn my back to him. Sometimes he will try to jump on my back but usually he just sits there and looks at me. When I wait a few minutes and turn around, his whole attitude has changed. I understand this is a very slow process so have lots of patience.

Good Luck!
Debbie