biting pants

    • Gold Top Dog

    biting pants

    my dog gus is just about 4 months old. he is a border collie/beagle mix. he always nips at my pants when i walk. i them him "no bite" but it doesn't seem to phase him. is there anything else i can do? i want to get him to stop this before he grows up.
    • Gold Top Dog
    The best prevention for puppy nippiness is lots of exercise.  If his tongue is lolling on the linoleum, as a trainer friend of mine puts it, then he is not going to be spending a lot of time nibbling anything.
    You can also yelp as if you are hurt, then ignore him for a short period.  That's how he would gradually learn to inhibit his bite if he were playing with other pups.  It's no fun when your playmate goes away and will not play, so it pays not to nip his ears. [;)]
    The things you want to avoid are scolding ("no bite" doesn't tell your dog anything - he doesn't speak English, he speaks canine), and any physical punishment (makes some pups fearful and others aggressive).  If you are clicker training, it's relatively easy to C/T him for taking his mouth off of human skin.
    • Gold Top Dog
    i exercise him a lot....we got on about a 30-45 min walk at least once a day among other times we play outside and inside. i have tried to walk away technique but he just follows me and continues. as he has gotten older he has calmed down a bit, but he still does it.
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: thirdday82

    i exercise him a lot....we got on about a 30-45 min walk at least once a day among other times we play outside and inside. i have tried to walk away technique but he just follows me and continues. as he has gotten older he has calmed down a bit, but he still does it.


    Beagles are made to hound prey all day long and into the night.  Border collies are a working dog that's capable of running circles around a herd or sheep all day long.  Ask yourself: Is a 45 minute walk and a few minutes of playtime really enough exercise for a dog with these type of genes?

    My mistake, on the re-read I saw that he's only 4 months.  What he's doing sounds like herding behavior and trying to get you to play with him.  Puppies like to play for short but intense bursts.  Do as Spiritdogs said and you should be fine.  Never give your pup the time to "get bored."  He should be active anytime he's awake, whether it's chewing, eating, playing, exploring, doing his business, whatever, keep him active and then he'll sleep hard...until the next time.
    • Bronze
    I kind of see this a bit differently, and think it's a valid question from the OP, especially being as she's a first time owner.  I think 45 mins walk is plenty for a 4 month old pup.  You could maybe add a shorter walk later in the day.  And pretty much every pup is going to mouth/bite at some point, eg. during play before he gets too tired to do much of anything. 
     
    The biting issue was discussed in the other thread you mentioned it in, so I'll not repeat the same stuff here!
    • Puppy
    I have two female Chessies, and only one thinks butt nibbling is the way to get attention.

    The best way to discourage it, that we have found is yelping when she bites.  She mostly just gives a big nudge now.  It appears that the noise factor has worked to a degree.  At least I don't have bruises on my tuckus anymore!



    • Gold Top Dog
    The yelping worked for me, plus I would immediately turn my back to her, stop walking and ignore her for a while.   
    • Gold Top Dog
    I think 45 mins walk is plenty for a 4 month old pup.

     
    It probably is for a lot of pups, but if you are talking stockdog type Aussies, Border Collies and other working pups, not even close!
     
    What I usually tell people (since few people actually have the time to exercise these dogs enough unless they own sheep, LOL) is to find ways for your pup to play with other pups.  Day care, puppy classes, puppy play groups, etc. (not the dog park, unless you are a savvy owner, lest your little one get bullied).
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    my dog doesn't reply to ignoring. he just follows me and continues to bite. i also try the yelping and he just continues to bite even when i yelp or say ouch....he sometimes even does it harder.
    • Gold Top Dog
    he just follows me and continues to bite

     
    A lot of pups do this - I would simply go into the bathroom for a few moments, where he can't follow.  I know it seems like he isn't "getting" it, but ignoring him will eventually pay off.  Do substitute a hard rubber chew toy for your hands, and make sure you are not playing on the floor with him - he may see you as an equal, not a human.