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Puppy Bite Control Techniques...

Posted : 8/29/2006 1:58:26 AM

Hey everyone. My puppy Beagle (8 weeks old) is having problems with fingers and hands.

He nips every so often and I correct him by saying "ah ah" or "no bite" or yelp, put a toy in his mouth, if he continues I stand up and walk away and if he gets hyper with the biting I will pin him and growl at him and then leave.

Thing is when friends come over he gets hyper all the time and their is no way to really settle him. I have made friends try all techniques listed ubove but he is just too wound up and sees it as a game (I think) and constantly nips. So he has to be crated to cool down.

In full hyper moments I have also tried a light swipe of my paw, pinching his lip with the hand he is biting, blowing on his nose and moving my hand to the back of his mouth holding his lower jaw all with no results.

Is there anything else I could try? As this is not really a concern when it is just us, but when friends are over they want to play with him too but cannot for this excess biting. [>:]

Also should I let him nibble my fingers if he is not biting hard? As I let him do this last night and when he bite too hard I yelped and he eases the pressure - it seemed more relaxing for him, but again this is something guests cannot really do?

miranadobe

Posted : 8/29/2006 2:22:10 AM

He's too young to distinguish nibbling on your fingers and biting them. Don't allow him to have your fingers (or anyone else) in his mouth. He's still an infant and hyperactivity is normal. Easier to try to channel his energy into something else - like a superfun toy to play with, than to try to correct it at this stage - and many folks will say harsh corrections should be totally avoided at this young age. Have you tried a squirt bottle when he jumps on people and tries to bite/nip?

Dom Muscat

Posted : 8/29/2006 3:03:06 AM

Ahhh yes the squirt bottle! Forgot about that one! I will try that another night when people are over, and cease all finger nibbling on myself.

glenmar

Posted : 8/29/2006 8:22:46 AM

I think this pup is too young for the spray bottle...JMHO. He's on sensory overload when company comes, so put him in his crate BEFORE they arrive.

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/29/2006 8:28:52 AM

Most of things you've been doing-- the swipes, the pinches, the pinning and growling, the holding the jaw-- are actually counter-productive. He thinks you're playing with him, and thus are rewarding him for biting. Continue with the yelp, withdrawl of attention, and toy subsitution. It won't happen overnight, but within the next few weeks he will first stop biting so hard, and then he will stop biting altogether. I would not try the squirt-bottle unless he is still biting hard at age 5 months. Babies don't learn much from negative reinforcement/punishment except to be scared of the person dealing it out.

Dom Muscat

Posted : 8/29/2006 9:16:50 AM

Ok no squirt bottle and continue what I am doing, thanks for the encouragement it helps me perserver. And excellent idea [link>http://forum.dog.com/asp/showProfile.asp?memid=6117]glenmar[/link] on crating before they come! Never thought of that one! [

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Haleigh l

Posted : 8/29/2006 9:59:12 AM

Whenever the puppies bite me, I help and scream 'OUCH!' really loudly and press my arm or hand into the back of their mouth. It surpirses them that they're gagging and let go of your hand. If they let go and continue I throw my hands in the air and say 'You blew it!' and walk away. I don't give positive or negative attention for about 15 minutes. If they don't start to bite again, I praise them and shower them in pets and treats for a few minutes.

I found that worked with my malinois, when we first got him. Hope that works

Haleigh

Dom Muscat

Posted : 8/29/2006 10:04:01 AM

Yeah putting my hand to the back of his mouth makes him release but then comes back with avengence, and gets worked up. And ignoring works sometimes in short bursts as he will then go off and do something he shouldn't so have to distract from that...