Biting

    • Silver

    Biting

    Hi, I have a 5 month old American Bulldog, when i let him go for a run in the yard, he runs around like mad and jumps up and bites, he knows he basic commands but how do i get him to stop biting?? the more i get mad the more he thinks its a game and starts getting more hyper and tries to jump up at me when i let him run in the yard i still have the leash attached to him so after he does jump up at me to bite i grab his leash and say no and then he calms down a bit, how do i stop him from biting when i dont have his leash on him when i let him go for a run??? He is a great dog but he is getting to old to play bite???? I tried the yelping but it make him thinks it a game!! taking him to puppy classes this week, do they help with that??? I just didnt want to take him to puppy classes before cause i already taught him to sit, wait, down and still showing him other stuff myself, he learns really quickly, but cant control the biting he thinks its a game even when i get mad!! he is super friendly but when i let him go in the yard he goes nuts and runs around like mad and jumps up at me???? any suggestions!!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Sounds like your puppy needs more exercise than he is getting...do you take him for walks twice/day?  If he knows sit and down - then tell him down when he jumps at you or sit.  However, at 5 months his ability to control himself is limited.  I suggest you do not yell at him, but when hejumps at you, just turn and go quietly in the house - in other words "game over".  When our voices get loud and/or high pitched we excite the dogs even more.  And, given you havea bulldog, he will reach up and grab at you - it is in his genetic make-up.  You can also have him on a long rope in the yard - if he jumps up, yank him down quickly, say NO, sit!  Then give him a reward for sitting - in this way he will learn to go up to you, sit and get a nice treat for his trouble.
     
    You have a puppy that is a handful to work with - so be patient - get him into obedience school and do NOT under any circumstances play tug or wrestle with him - he needs to learn to keep his teeth and feet off of your person.
     
    Dianeg
    • Silver
    Thanks, I'll try that!! He does learn quickly, I've taught him to sit before he gets something and when i tell him to come he comes to me and sits automatically even when i feed him when we are in the house, the only problem i have is when i have him in the yard and he runs around like mad and runs toward me and jumps and either tries to bite my hand or feet!! I dont wrestle with him cause i know that is just letting him know that play biting is acceptable, the only time he tries to bite is when i let him run in the yard, but also when i take him for his walk he is fine but sometimes out of the blue he will jump up and bite at my arm as we are walking(happened a couple of times not all the time he will do this), i do have the patience for training him cause i know bulldogs are stubborn and i am firm yet gentle with his training, he wont do this to my husband he hasnt bit him at all, just me!  Yeah i shouldnt yell at him, cause i realize that the more I yell no to him the more it does excite him! he lives indoors with us and is fine when he is in the house but it's when i go outside is when he starts running around like mad and bites!! I tried telling him sit and down when he tries to jump up but he is running in full motion when he is running at me!! and you said to turn my back to him well the problem with that is he is running in circles around me trying to get me from behind!! I guess i should have him on a longer line like you suggested, i only have him on a regular leash when i let him run in the yard, ;Puppy classes are starting this weekend hopefully they could show me how to handle my puppy when he does this, and figure out what i'm doing wrong!!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Here's something you can try when you don't have his leash on.  If he comes at you, jumping and nipping, simply turn your back on him and go in the house for a minute or two.  Each time he does it, you disappear (make no eye contact and say nothing).  If he greets you nicely, or refrains from jumping, you can quietly say "good boy" or toss a ball or frisbee.  Whatever games you normally play with him.  He will quickly learn that if he's "rude", you are not going to play with him...and dogs do what works for them.