Chuffy
Posted : 1/29/2007 2:10:00 PM
This is normal puppy behaviour. Bull terriers have a high pain threshold and as such they can bite quite hard on their siblings and mother with no reaction. IME this makes them (generally speaking, there are exceptions) a bit retarded when it comes to bite inhibition when compared to other pups at the same stage of development. I've had a bull terrier so I know EXACTLY where you are coming from on this one, believe me I can empathize.
Firstly, make sure you always have an appropriate chew to hand to
pre-empt any mouthing if possible. At the start of any interaction, stick a chewie in his mouth! Keep his jaws busy in that while you hold the other end of it gently and praise him and pet him. This reinforces "this is a good thing to chew on" and it also makes the dog relaxed about you being around when he has chews and things, he gets used to it early and doesn't guard.
Second, when his teeth touch your skin, yelp OUCH and have that as a pre-arranged signal for EVERYONE in the room to get up and leave, shut the door leaving him behind. Wait 30 secs or so and go back in, ignore him completely for a few minutes and wait until he is visibly calm before attempting to interact to set him up for success. (PLUS, if he only gets attention for being calm, he will be calm more often and a calm dog is easier to work with.) Each time you leave the room, make it for a bit longer. Increase his wee-breaks and make sure anything forbidden is out of reach to minimise accidents during this time.
This is what we did and it worked but you HAVE to be consistent and more determined than a bull terrier!