Puppy biting feet and ankles

[luvmypup]

Tucker is 11 wks old. He has recently started biting. I just finished reading Culture Clash, and am currently reading The Dog Listener. First I try to distract him with a toy, and if it persists, I yelp and try to walk away, but he just follows right along with me, biting my pant legs and feet the whole time. He usually does it while we're playing, or if I've told him "No". I've tried distracting him with toys, and he stops while I play, but the second I move, he starts biting my legs again. We are trying to crate train, so, I don't want to shove him in there as punishment, because he already has major anxiety about being in there. Not being able to walk freely is driving me nuts. Honestly I've also kicked him a couple times - completely by accident of course, but I'm afraid I might hurt him. Any advice on how to make him stop biting our feet and ankles?

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

It is the movement which attracts puppies to your ankles and feet. So walking creates a scenario in which the pup wants to chase the moving object (pants legs, feet, etc.).

When I went thru this with Maggie, I would stop dead still and just stand there ignoring her until she stopped. Then I would throw a toy into another area of the house and she'd, of course, go running after it. THEN I could walk where I wanted to go.

It is, luckily, just a puppy phase and will get better in time. Be patient. All puppies have to go thru this and your dog will get thru it (and you will too) just fine.

 

[Elaine&Si]

Samson my three month old bxer still does this, it does drive you nuts. Samson is going to puppy classes and the trainer has advised either ignoring him or if it gets to bad call time out and put him in a different room for fie minutes on his own.

 

[Jan]

Putting your puppy the crate when they are out of control does not have to be taken as punishment. It is all in how you go about it.

 

[luvmypup]

Thank you for your suggestions. Tucker is the first puppy my husband and I have owned, and sometimes it's just nice to hear that with patience, things will get better. I will definately try to distract him by throwing a toy away from me.