Hard bite Question (and a PM to Freestep about the goats, too)

RocketDog · 12-26-2011, 09:25 PM

Today Rocket and I were out on a walk and we stopped at a big field, owned by one of the water/power companies. He has been just dreamy lately, and I had him on a 6 ft leash, but since this is on a country road little used and the field is large, he was just dragging it. I was throwing snowballs for him and just playing in general.

We'd been out for quite some time already, and were having a good time when suddenly he leaped up and grabbed my arm. He really has stopped biting for the most part, just once in a while in scenarios like this. But this bite was strong. It actually made the nerve across the hard part of my forearm buzz. He then wanted to play tug with my arm. I just stopped the game for a bit and he sat down and waited for me, and everything was fine.

My concern is the bite inhibition. It was a HARD bite. Does this mean I have not taught him correct bite inhibition?

Also, Freestep, it was you, I think, that I had the slight thread hijack with about goats and the smell one day? I took some pictures today of them. Do you know what kind they are? Every one that was out today (not all of them) was an intact male. Whew whee...the smell!

*** Images removed due to size ***

TheVintageAngel · 12-26-2011, 09:30 PM

Looking forward to hearing from others on this. Jemma (4 months old) has a pretty hard bite at times too...I know to ingore and redirect..but wonder if there is something more than yelping and youching that can be done to soften that bite up.

RocketDog · 12-26-2011, 09:54 PM

Oops. Sorry about the pictures, I'll try to resize and repost.

RocketDog · 12-26-2011, 10:00 PM

Hope I did it right!

msvette2u · 12-26-2011, 11:47 PM

Pygmies or Nigerian dwarf goats it looks like.

As for the bite. Ruger has bitten us a few times, while "riled up" playing. He's almost quit now though.
He could have bitten you much harder, so I wouldn't worry too much about it right now

jetscarbie · 12-27-2011, 07:48 AM

I'm curious of the answer also.

My youngest loves to jump up and bite my arm. It's always the left arm. His is hard but not super hard but he likes to hang on.

WendyDsMom · 12-27-2011, 10:52 AM

I don't know if this will help if you are actively rough housing with your pup - but our trainer said to push the bitten limb INTO the dog throwing it off balance until it lets go.

We are also not encouraged to rough house with human body parts - only with toys "Humans are NOT Chew toys" to quote her. Working out for me - and my hands and feet.

Freestep · 12-27-2011, 10:54 AM

To be honest, I'm not certain what type of goats those are, but they look short--Pygmy or Nigerians maybe, or possibly one of the meat breeds? They have an awful lot of hair, so it's hard to see conformation, but they look pretty stout.

As to the biting... were you wearing a big poofy jacket or lots of layers? Maybe it looked like a sleeve?

I am sure it was nothing more than a playful bite, and to him it might have seemed that you wrapped your arm in a toy. He probably did use some inhibition as he surely could have bitten harder. Still, playful bites HURT! How old is he?

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 12-27-2011, 11:09 AM

I don't think they can tell with coats and gloves so much - that's the impression I get but am not sure.

I think dogs do a wonderful job of teaching other dogs bite inhibition. Finding a nice adult dog or other young dogs who can help with it is really helpful. I have my dogs working on a foster right now. Progress has been quick!

Puppy Biting | Dog Star Daily

RocketDog · 12-27-2011, 12:18 PM

LOL, I was wearing my down North Face jacket, which is an 800fp jacket. Come to think of it, he usually only does that when I'm wearing it....

He's just over 6 months. I think it's true, he probably wouldn't do it on a bare arm. FTR I never roughhouse that way with him, with my arms or hands, because he was such a landshark. I hope someday to play with him that way, but I'm waiting until the biting and nipping is a forgotten memory. He's pretty much stopped it, just a little one here and there, but I feel it's too early to start that. I was just throwing snow up for him to jump and snap at.

I guess I'm just thinking about if it were one of my kids, it would probably scare them a bit. All the Ian Dunbar and Shirley Chong stuff say to have them be super soft by his age.

Oh, and he does play with about 3 dogs who are well-adjusted, awesome adults, ranging from 2 years old to 9. He also had an impromptu play session in Petsmart of all places last week for about 20 mins with an 8 month old Great Dane. It was great but for once he finally looked like a puppy again next to that dog, ha ha!

12-26-2011, 09:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,268	Hard bite Question (and a PM to Freestep about the goats, too) Today Rocket and I were out on a walk and we stopped at a big field, owned by one of the water/power companies. He has been just dreamy lately, and I had him on a 6 ft leash, but since this is on a country road little used and the field is large, he was just dragging it. I was throwing snowballs for him and just playing in general. We'd been out for quite some time already, and were having a good time when suddenly he leaped up and grabbed my arm. He really has stopped biting for the most part, just once in a while in scenarios like this. But this bite was strong. It actually made the nerve across the hard part of my forearm buzz. He then wanted to play tug with my arm. I just stopped the game for a bit and he sat down and waited for me, and everything was fine. My concern is the bite inhibition. It was a HARD bite. Does this mean I have not taught him correct bite inhibition? Also, Freestep, it was you, I think, that I had the slight thread hijack with about goats and the smell one day? I took some pictures today of them. Do you know what kind they are? Every one that was out today (not all of them) was an intact male. Whew whee...the smell! * Images removed due to size * Last edited by Castlemaid; 12-26-2011 at 09:46 PM. Reason: Max picture size allowed: 800X600, see board rule #15

12-26-2011, 09:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheVintageAngel Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Waterville, OH Posts: 113	Looking forward to hearing from others on this. Jemma (4 months old) has a pretty hard bite at times too...I know to ingore and redirect..but wonder if there is something more than yelping and youching that can be done to soften that bite up. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jemma, WGSD 08/22/11 "Dogs are miracles with paws." www.thevintageangel.com

12-26-2011, 11:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,530	Pygmies or Nigerian dwarf goats it looks like. As for the bite. Ruger has bitten us a few times, while "riled up" playing. He's almost quit now though. He could have bitten you much harder, so I wouldn't worry too much about it right now __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

12-27-2011, 10:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
WendyDsMom Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 188	I don't know if this will help if you are actively rough housing with your pup - but our trainer said to push the bitten limb INTO the dog throwing it off balance until it lets go. We are also not encouraged to rough house with human body parts - only with toys "Humans are NOT Chew toys" to quote her. Working out for me - and my hands and feet. __________________ Rita & Wendy Darling (Wen D. Coyote, Genius) ************************************* Kayla Marie Still, always watching over us.

12-27-2011, 10:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
Freestep Knighted Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,092	To be honest, I'm not certain what type of goats those are, but they look short--Pygmy or Nigerians maybe, or possibly one of the meat breeds? They have an awful lot of hair, so it's hard to see conformation, but they look pretty stout. As to the biting... were you wearing a big poofy jacket or lots of layers? Maybe it looked like a sleeve? I am sure it was nothing more than a playful bite, and to him it might have seemed that you wrapped your arm in a toy. He probably did use some inhibition as he surely could have bitten harder. Still, playful bites HURT! How old is he? __________________ Luka von Sontausen, CD Vinca von Sontausen, CGC Freestep's Beluga Whale, BWD

12-26-2011, 09:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,268	Oops. Sorry about the pictures, I'll try to resize and repost.

12-26-2011, 10:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,268	Hope I did it right!

12-27-2011, 07:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
jetscarbie Master Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 746	I'm curious of the answer also. My youngest loves to jump up and bite my arm. It's always the left arm. His is hard but not super hard but he likes to hang on.

12-27-2011, 11:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,697	I don't think they can tell with coats and gloves so much - that's the impression I get but am not sure. I think dogs do a wonderful job of teaching other dogs bite inhibition. Finding a nice adult dog or other young dogs who can help with it is really helpful. I have my dogs working on a foster right now. Progress has been quick! Puppy Biting \| Dog Star Daily __________________ Help IMOM help Pets www.imom.org You can help Anna help IMOM help people help pets help people win...

12-27-2011, 12:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,268	LOL, I was wearing my down North Face jacket, which is an 800fp jacket. Come to think of it, he usually only does that when I'm wearing it.... He's just over 6 months. I think it's true, he probably wouldn't do it on a bare arm. FTR I never roughhouse that way with him, with my arms or hands, because he was such a landshark. I hope someday to play with him that way, but I'm waiting until the biting and nipping is a forgotten memory. He's pretty much stopped it, just a little one here and there, but I feel it's too early to start that. I was just throwing snow up for him to jump and snap at. I guess I'm just thinking about if it were one of my kids, it would probably scare them a bit. All the Ian Dunbar and Shirley Chong stuff say to have them be super soft by his age. Oh, and he does play with about 3 dogs who are well-adjusted, awesome adults, ranging from 2 years old to 9. He also had an impromptu play session in Petsmart of all places last week for about 20 mins with an 8 month old Great Dane. It was great but for once he finally looked like a puppy again next to that dog, ha ha! Last edited by RocketDog; 12-27-2011 at 12:23 PM.

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