Dog Community

I am almost afraid to jinx it!

Posted : 6/5/2006 11:23:35 AM

Ok, this may be a kind of weird bite inhibition technique, but so far it is really seeming to work. Ben LOVES having his belly rubbed....sort of the pleasure equivalent of me eating a triple chocolate sundae.

Anyway, when I first started giving him belly rubs he would get pretty "snappy" with me...So I started having belly rub sessions and stopping as soon as his teeth touching my hand. He instantly licks my hand and rolls back over for more - and he hasn't tried to bite me ONCE today. Maybe not a permanent solution, but he does seem to be starting to grasp that when he bites, the good stuff stops. As soon as he licks my hand, I say good boy and start again.

Might not be 100% conventional, but I am getting to know him and it seems like this is something that is getting through to him. It's a start. [

]

Kate

willowchow

Posted : 6/5/2006 11:25:53 AM

No, it's great, he acts up, the fun stops, that's perfect. Keep up the good work! I know how trying training can be. [

]

labcrab

Posted : 6/5/2006 11:42:29 AM

That's an excellent technique and the only one that worked for my puppy! (teeth on skin = no more fun!) You can expand this technique to include more than just the belly rubs. For example - Slick loves to play tug of war. I intentionally played with him every day when he was a baby and still learning proper bite inhibition. He learned FAST with tug that whenever he got to "grabby" (either teeth on skin, or just careless grabbing) the game ended. You can teach this also by holding a toy/bone for them chew, etc. The idea is to be pro-active in teaching bite inhibition, rather than waiting until it is a problem.

Sounds like the belly rubbing is doing the trick!!

Amie

Posted : 6/5/2006 12:03:48 PM

Keep up the good work! (hehe) My baby gal knows not to bite. She could be playful and I would feel her teeth but she won't bite on me. She would move her mouth away and lick me afterwards. [&:]

Debbie R

Posted : 6/5/2006 1:33:07 PM

See what can be accomplished when we get to know our dogs, it's wonderful! Good boy Ben!Good Mommy Kate!

Benedict

Posted : 6/5/2006 6:06:52 PM

Cheers everyone

This was the first time that I really felt as though an element of our personal owner/dog dynamic made it's way into our training. Nothing I've read suggested this, I figured it out as a result of my growing bond with Ben - and yes, that makes me proud of myself, LOL.

On a larger scale, I truly believe that dogs will give clues to their owners about the way they wish to learn, and I think most dogs ARE eager to learn, it's just a matter of watching for the clues. I do not pretend for a second that I will get all of them, but since bite inhibition is very important I am glad I caught this one. He may slip and try to bite me again tomorrow, but I feel more confident in all aspects of my relationship with him knowing that I have a tool that actually works.

Labcrab - I will try expanding it, and may I just say that I hope my black Lab is half as handsome as yours when he grows up.

God, I can blather on, can't I? LOL

Kate