Puppy Biting...What should I do?

[align=left]Hi, I just joined the forums. I am a "Puppy Nanny" and Dog Trainer. You have gotten a lot of good advice. Just remember that you will need to be consistant and persistant. It was rightly said that getting a puppy as young as yours makes it harder to teach bite inhibition. Mudpuppy's quote about band aids is priceless! I always joke that you can always tell the new puppy owners. They are the ones with all the puncture marks on their hands and arms.

When Herc. gets too rowdy, and just won't quit, you may want to try what I call the Calming Necklace. I face the puppy away from me on my lap or if he's too big, sit on the ground and put him between your knees. Place your hands around his neck, you thumbs touching near his shoulderblades and your fingers spread out across his chest. He should be sitting or lyning down, but if he tries to roll over on his back, gently pick him up and re-position him. You want to use light downward pressure and just hold tight enough that he can't escape. DO NOT CHOKE THE PUPPY
With your hands here, he can't bite you. Just hold gently and tell him softly to settle. As soon as he relaxes, begin to gently and slowly massage his shoulders and chest. Let him go when he is calm.

Once you let him go, he may go right back to biting, just repeat the calming exercise. Soon, he will learn to calm down more quickly. You can also give him a chew toy once he calms down.

I find this works well with almost all puppies.

Good luck, sounds like he was very lucky to find you.

I agree with adogwisperer on this one!  Water squirt is as a negative reinforcement works!!! and works well...  
  walking away or yelping is putting you on the same level as your dog (littermates)  the mother would sort the problem as the guider..  Dogs need rules and learning, We are the guides!  not the dogs... 
 
  Some dogs are very persitent with their bitting and it hurts!  this is needs to be nipped in the bud....   The water squirt backs up the word you use, such as No bite! ah ah!  etc, your are teaching the dog no is no! 
 
 
Pups grow fast and teeth also grow! if the dog isn't out of this stage of bitting! there can be serious results...
 
 
Water squirting is not harmfull to the pup! it only teaches him what he can't do...   and like you said Minnmonkey the relationship with you and the dog got better, it nips the problem in the bud...   not months of yelping and walking away out of your own room....  
 
 

Man, I've gotta meet one of these squirtgun-toting mama dogs! Sounds cool. I wonder if they wear holsters.

your misinterperating the meaning of what the method actually does!
 
 
I am not saying the mother dog would do it!  we as humans are sorting the problem of biting as it occurs, by negative reinforcment...  ie squirt water....

What if you went to a new job and went to go make a photocopy the only way you have ever been taught, and instead of showing you how to do it the new way, your new boss squirted you in the face with water?

Would you know how to photocopy the New Way?

Would you like or trust your boss?

Would you have any respect for him?

The method should be done with out the dog seeing where the water comes from! say your command and squirt! (doesn't have to be in the face) back of the neck will do..
 
 
Stops the dog in his tracks, and then the owner steps in and treats the dog for obeying the comand of no bite!   so the dog has repect for the owner for guiding him the right way...
 
So no i wouldn't go near the photo copy machine if it give me a shock to the system, every time i went to use it, (same as the dog won't bite again)  job done....

You're not answering the question, Lance.

Would you respect your boss? Like him?

And what if you have to use the photocopier as part of your job?
(just as a dog has to use his mouth to play with other dogs, explore the world, eat dinner, etc.?)

Of course  i would respect him!  The difference is, i would not want my dog to bite my hands, so i would say a command, if he didn't listen, he would have a squirt from a unknow scource.
      If he listen to me, he would get a treat (which would you choose in the future?) 
  If i was a dog i would listen and respect my owner as a guider (he keeps me safe) and i know i can't bite hands, thats a no no!!!
 
  It wouldn't happen with food, or play fighting with other dogs, only human hands...  dogs are smart and learn what is accectable and what isn't...
 
 

ORIGINAL: fisher6000

What if you went to a new job and went to go make a photocopy the only way you have ever been taught, and instead of showing you how to do it the new way, your new boss squirted you in the face with water?

Actully we have done this at work, not with squirt guns, but with snowballs, but it is all in fun []

On a serious note, I have been ignoring his biting, and Hercules has been getting much better.  Since last Thursday (today is Monday), he has only bitten me once and that was partially my fault.  He has put his teeth on me several times, but I just say no, and he backs off and finds a toy to play with.