Lunging/Growling/Nipping ... HELP NEEDED!

DaddyToPhoenis · 06-09-2008, 10:36 PM

I am new here ... joined because I am at wits end and need help!

I have a 9 month old puppy, adopted her when she was 6 months old. We have been able to train her out of alot of things but cannot get past her nipping at our pant legs/feet/ankles ... anything she can get her mouth on. I feel like we have tried every possible suggestion out there .... everything from freezing to crossing arms and turning around to locking her out of room the second it starts to saying ouch and the rewarding her when she stops ... nothing works.

In fact, it seems to be progressing, which scares me. She now gets in your face with the barking and growling, like she wants to bite us. And she is starting to bark at us when we try to take action. I am not sure what to do. We are at the point where we contemplate getting rid of her. We are planning on training at the end of the month but not sure they will be able to help with this. What I mean is that I do not think she will do this in front of someone else, she just does it to us.

I really need some help with this! I am trying to understand why she does it and what will stop her. I look forward to your responses.....

melgrj7 · 06-09-2008, 11:44 PM

Start doing Nothing In Life Is Free with her right away (there is a sticky at the top of this forum about it), and call a trainer. Keep a leash on her at all times, if you can't watch her, put her in a crate (sans leash). The leash will give you the ability to control her, if she goes to bite you, grab the leash and prevent her from getting to you. Start working more on basic commands, get her sit command to be really solid, and then when she goes in for a nip, tell her to sit, she can't run after you can nip you if she is sitting.

Get some training done and things will get much better. At 9 months she is a teenager and is going to be testing you, a lot. It will get better if you do some training (with a profession, whether in a group class or singly) and practice Nothing In Life Is Free.

DaddyToPhoenis · 06-09-2008, 11:47 PM

Thanks for that. Her sit is solid, she had that down right away. I am hoping that training really works this out. I think alot of our frustration is that we just feel so scared about it and she reads that. Training cannot come soon enough!

TooneyDogs · 06-09-2008, 11:51 PM

She barks/nips to get your attention and it's working for her. It doesn't matter to her if it's 'good' attention or 'bad'...it's still attention. You need to fix this from several angles and leading the list is exercise...she needs daily physical and mental stimulation. Training later this month will give you a bunch of basic exercises to work every day.
For the nipping...YOU leave the room...not her. Immediately leave...don't talk to her...don't even look at her. Wait 2 minutes...when you come back in the room watch closely......is she standing/sitting quietly? If she is, immediately praise (calmly). Don't do anything else like trying to pet or play. You're teaching her that if she behaves badly, she loses all attention...if she behaves calmly/nicely she earns your attention.

French Ring · 06-10-2008, 11:12 AM

What kind of dog is she? It sounds like she has some herding breeds in her. Maybe a border collie, Aussie, or something? I advise you to find something where you can teach her to use her mouth appropriately. Like teach her to herd other things. Maybe you can find a herding club somewhere in your hometown.

MyCharlie · 06-10-2008, 12:45 PM

Everyone here has given great advice. Charlie went through this recently, not with us but with other people (he was almost 8 months old at the time). This is a very common age (like melgrj said - the teenage years) to start showing behavioral issues. Keep working through it and things *should* get better!! I never thought we could "fix" Charlie but he is soooo much better already.

Have you thought about having a trainer come to your house to evaluate her? Sometimes it's better for them to see the behavior where it actually occurs so they are better able to advise you how to help her get better.
And like French Ring said, I was wondering if she is possibly a herding breed as well. If so, I agree with looking into things to tap into that part of her breed.

Good luck!

melgrj7 · 06-10-2008, 04:09 PM

I grew up with a BC mix, we had a lot of luck redirecting her herding behavior to a basket ball. When we kids started to run around and play, she would go nip and chase the basket ball instead of us.