Biting & Aggression Problems

Thanks.
[&:] If you guys remember though,.. that's why I started this post.
I looked out for help -- to solve his problem. Chico was biting and had minor aggression problems the day he came to my home. He never got let out. The lady who had him before me locked him and the other dog in the same crate most of the day, and at night. She didn't have a fenced in yard, so they couldn't go outside to play. Of course he's going to be a brat ..he's peed off! He's doing a lot better I have to say, with people who did actually want to help by posting good advice and tips. The NILIF is working pretty well. I've also realized he doesn't chew on things (my socks, pant legs, his toy box, ect) to be bad.. but to sooth his teething. I've gotten him tons of things (a kong, rope, chilly bone ..) but he doesn't like any of them. He's not as bad of a dog as some of you are making it seem. He is a brat, yes, but he's my brat and I'm taking steps to get the situation under control. He's never bitten anyone or any dog other than when at play and he ADORES people. When we go to Petco - he literally stalks people, I have to worry about someone dognapping him because he's so friendly. It's just with Pedro sometimes ..he's a bit aggressive, or with me when it's time to go to bed and he wants to go biting and wrestling around with Pedro. I put him down off the bed and he will growl at me and bite me, but not hard ..so I'll put him out of the room.
 
Also Chuffy - you reccomended praising him when he does good behavior.. do you have any good treats in mind? The only puppy treats I know about are 'bones' and those would take an awful long time for him to chew even when broken up. I was thinking 'Train-Me Training Reward' ..but I'm not sure if they are safe for puppies?
[linkhttp://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?familyid=10167]http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?familyid=10167[/link]
They are pretty small (about fingernail size) and soft. Pedro loves them!
 
 

Use roast beef, or tiny pieces of cheese (the real stuff, not the "cheese food" slices.)

Or hot dog sausage cut up into small pieces.  Or pieces of kibble if he is fed complete dry food.  Or you could make some liver cake, but save that for super good behaviour only because too much liver can be harmful.  (I usually reserve stuff that high value for recall or house training.)
 
Have you tried freezing bones or soaking and freezing rope toys or knotted dishcloths?  Soaking them in broth before freezing them makes them even more attractive.  What are you putting in his kong?  If he's a "beginner" with interactive toys it might be better to put kibble in it and not pack it too tightly so taht it is fairly easy to empty, just till he gets the idea.  Or, if he just finds the kong boring there's loads of scrummy stuff you can put in there to liven it up.... and if you freeze it it will be harder to empty AND soothing for his gums.

Just to add, although it may be a bit OT... I also see a lot of small dogs with "small dog syndrome" - the ones that are "babied" and have issues with resource guarding or bossing their humans around. BUT I don't think it's what the humans DO that is wrong (holding/carrying the dog, letting it sleep on the furniture etc.) but more what they DON'T do with regards to training, enforcing simple rules etc. that causes the problems. I know LOADS of people with small dogs who are wonderful little critters and sur ethey get picked up and are allowed on the sofa.

THANK YOU CHUFFY. I had to take a break from this stuff because this particular post was making me pretty upset. Generalizations about small dogs + jumping on a poster who's looking for help = not cool.

Redlegos, what I use for treats for my picky little dog is a cheap cut of beef, pan-cooked and then chopped into tiny pieces. You can even cook it in the microwave. If you feed too much cheese your dog might get diarrhea (found that one out the hard way). "People food" is cheaper than store-bought treats and healthier, anyways! Try little pieces of your leftover dinner - maybe some pieces of carrots, some unseasoned chicken, even plain white rice is sometimes appealing.

Thanks so much! [] I've also seen they have those jerky strips and little chunks of sausage (they look kind of like what you get when you get that little platter of food with the cheese, meat, ect) but they are in the dog food section. I've never really looked at them so I'm not sure how 'good' they are. (both taste and nutrition wise..)
I'll try cut up little hot dogs and try the beef. I guess I could even try baked pieces of chicken breast ..and just cut it in little pieces? They love chicken.
With the kong, I haven't tried freezing it or anything but that's a really good idea. He seems to like his chilly bone right after I get it out of the freezer.. but then about 3 seconds later, he's done with it, so maybe I will try the chicken broth. The only thing I put in his Kong was the Stuff'n for the Puppy because I wasn't sure if the others were safe for puppies to eat. I saw one thing that said for 'all kongs' but I just wasn't sure. So I can freeze it after I put the stuff in it? And I've tried the washcloth, but not with the chicken broth on it so thanks for all the ideas, lol!  []

Sioux's Favorite Liver Treats:
1 to 1 1/2 pounds of chicken livers with juices (or, you can use a 16 oz. can of pink salmon)
1 cup organic wheat flour
1 cup organic corn meal
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 large egg
Liquefy the liver in a blender, then mix with other ingredients.  Spread batter out flat on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 415 degrees for 15 minutes.  Cut with a pizza cutter into tiny pieces while still warm.  These freeze really well, dogs love 'em, and they are cheaper than the kind you buy at the store.
Your kitchen will only stink for a little while. []

Our dogs much prefer soft cheese or peanut butter to the kong stuffer stuff you buy in shops.

ORIGINAL: Chuffy

Our dogs much prefer soft cheese or peanut butter to the kong stuffer stuff you buy in shops.

If your dog is mouthy, use the squeeze peanut butter or cheese. []  They lap it off instead of nipping at your fingers, so they aren't practicing bad behavior as you try to reward them for the good.
I would not use hot dogs, or sausage as a treat for dogs - those items have been known to cause pancreatitis in some dogs.  Plus, they are preserved with BHA and nitrites.
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And, even though the liver treats above are great, you should only feed liver 2-3 times per week if that.  Substitute the salmon or get tiny soft premium treats.  The stuff at the supermarket stinks - junk food for pups.

I would not use hot dogs, or sausage as a treat for dogs - those items have been known to cause pancreatitis in some dogs. Plus, they are preserved with BHA and nitrites.

 
Yikes!
 
Would stress - tiny pieces!  And these days, only very rarely!  Ditto liver.

Thanks for the recipe. We will try that one! I'm thinking of getting that pet recipe book at Petco. []