scary behavior

BoxMeIn21 · 05-11-2007, 10:34 AM

Ehh, not really - I would ditch "No" all together, we as humans are simply not consistent enough to use no for the same reason all the time. I really wouldn't use a command for "no bite" (which soon this will not be an issue, you have to remember this is a puppy phase) seriously, ignoring a dog eventually will be enough of a cue to stop. It's not an overnight fix, it takes some repetition. When puppy is biting your pants and your standing their trying to shake him free, repeating "no-bite, no-bite" you are actually rewarding him for this behavior by giving him your attention. When you completely ignore him, you are taking away the attention (his reward), when he finally realizes that this behavior is not getting him anywhere (and he may try 10 more times) then he'll stop - that's when you need to step in and show him what gets him praise and attention like biting on a stick or a toy instead.

suzukigirl · 05-11-2007, 12:59 PM

My dog was doing the same thing with the pants and I started spraying that bitter spray. He stopped after a few times of tasting that. Only every once in a while he will go for my pants. i just say "EH" and he drops what he is doing and sits there.

I tried the ouch thing but he doesnt seem to respond to it. Sometimes I say OUCH! and give a jerk like it hurt and he surprised me he will stop for a second and look at me werid. He looks so cute when he does that.

lisa · 05-11-2007, 05:50 PM

what a cute dog suzukigirl. what kind is he? he looks a little like mine.

Curbside Prophet · 05-11-2007, 06:24 PM

A couple of points that I think need to be emphasized... When you yelp "ouch", the "OUCH!" needs to be just startling enough to produce a reaction. This is what's difficult about adversives, not only do they need to be timely to be effective, but they need to be consistantly equal to the crime, every time, in order to be effective. So if the dog doesn't react to your yelps, guess what, ramp it up. Make it louder and complain more.

If you're in the home, yes, I would also suggest ostracism. If you can manage it on lead, I'd suggest that too, but I can understand how it may be difficult to fumble with the lead...I've done that many times myself. But I prefer a different method when on lead. You yelp as you normally would, but instead of ignoring the dog, immediately as the dog stops nipping reward him for stopping. That's a good boy, and give him a piece of kibble. All you're doing is playing an association game here...bite means I get yelled at, but backing off gets me praise. If you're timing is good with the correction and the praise, the nips should exponentially decrease along the walk.

Good luck!

Cheetah · 05-11-2007, 11:05 PM

I dunno if anyone has mentioned this, but the biting your puppy is doing is play-biting and completely normal for a puppy that age, even though it should be stopped sooner than later. >^^;< Just so you know that your puppy is not being mean or anything.

Amaya-Mazie-Marley · 05-12-2007, 12:22 AM

I also never use the word no. I used to say "no ma'am" as puppies for dummies suggested but I found it started not to work. If I say EHH in a firm loud voice it never fails to work. If they are messing with something they shouldn't I say "leave it". I just have diffrent things I say for whatever they happen to be doing wrong. Its too confusing to them when you say no every five minutes. Just like training. If you tell your dog sit, and she doesn't do it immideatly, wait a minute before you say it again. If you repeat it over and over it sounds to them like you are saying sitsitsitsit and its confusing. The only good way to find out what works and what doesn't work for your dog is trial and error, IMO.