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Another question concerning Roxy

Posted : 3/7/2006 10:34:10 AM

Roxy seems to be quite agressive and I'm wondering if this is just puppy play or if we have an issues which needs to be addressed.

She is constantly taking her toys, pant legs, Harley's tail and putting them in her mouth and shaking them really hard while growling.

She is also chewing excessively on feet/hands. When she bites I emit a high pitch "ouch" and she backs off but comes back again full force. When I try to put her on her pee pads she wiggles and growles and until she can grab a hand or arm to bite.

Should I be worried about her agression?

willowchow

Posted : 3/7/2006 10:49:09 AM

I really can't answer but just wanted to say that Willow will also put toys in her mouth and shake them really hard. It's like a prey that they are now "killing" by shaking. I would say that part is just play, but probably a little too rough with the growling. When Willow starts getting to that point, we stop the game. But, your dog is just a puppy so hopefully Anne will see this or someone who knows.

labcrab

Posted : 3/7/2006 10:52:52 AM

How old is Roxy? This sounds like completely normal puppy play to me. Slick did all of the above until he was taught that the game would end immediately if he bit. Next time her teeth touch your skin, tell her "game over" and immediately get up and walk away - ignore her completely (no eye contact, no voice) for a few minutes. She'll get the picture very quickly.

romeoharley

Posted : 3/7/2006 11:45:42 AM

labcrab- Roxy is 10 weeks old. I'll try telling her "game over" when she bites next time.

Thanks for the tips.

Lexi

Posted : 3/7/2006 11:46:25 AM

I have a 3.5 month old pup and he is just now learning what is acceptable and what is not in the way of teeth on skin. The "OUCH" and stopping didn't work for us. It just heightened his desire to play and bite more, so instead I would say "no" (he's very familiar with that word - lol) and would immediately give him a toy to chew and praise him for that.

The grabbing and shaking a toy until it's "dead" is just normal play.

Lisa Riley

Posted : 3/7/2006 1:55:50 PM

Sarah, I have had puppies also do this, I was told by breeders to grab the lower jaw with your thumb on her tongue and the rest of your hand under her mouth and give a slight squeeze, they don't like it if you hold on for a few seconds and will quit biting eventually as long as your consistent with your cues.

glenmar

Posted : 3/7/2006 2:17:02 PM

NO, holding a pups mouth in the way described is NOT a good idea.

Pups bite because that is how they played with their littermates. Correct "eehh, ehh, or no bite", redirect (give something acceptable to chew on) and praise for chewing on IT and not you.

Grabbing and holding the mouth seems to them like a new, and not fun way to play. By doing this you only encourage this to continue and get worse.