??best way to STOP the pantleg/boot BITING not even nipping

[TaZoR]

I guess im old school, because when a puppy is misbehaving that ladt thing i will do is offer a treat. I mean if i catch him peeing on my rug, i dont give him a treat when he stops. Its confusing. I would take your pup to an empty park or parking lot or yard and correct him accordingly. Like i said before a rolled up newspaper doesnt hurt him but catches his attention and scares him. You and your pup are in danger crossing streets so it isnt a matter of rewards and spraying your clothes is ludicrous.

[Jen&Bear]

Thanks for the link. I will try it.

[marshies]

Originally Posted by BlackthornGSD

I was thinking similarly.

I support the suggestions of trying to distract with a toy and stopping moving. However, at a certain point, when the puppy is determined and thoroughly enjoying biting me far more than he's interested in being distracted, I will say a firm "no" (or "knock it off" or "OUCH HEY YOU!") and reach down and firmly scruff the pup (this isn't pleasant but it's not particularly harsh, either) and remove him from my body parts with the other hand--and then offer the toy with some prey motions to draw the pup's attention to it. If the pup is distractable onto the toy, that's great and I'll play a little bit then let the pup have the toy to carry.

If the pup is not interested in the toy, I'll sometimes then carry the pup for a few minutes, letting him look at the world and maybe calm down a bit, then I'll put him down and proceed. Some pups--depending on the age--seem to need/crave the attention and others need the time as a sort of "reset button" so they can calm down. (Obviously this isn't an option with, say, a 5 month old, but then I've never had this problem unresolved at that age.)

If I was interested in building and keeping drive for bitework, I focus more on redirecting the pup to a toy. If bitework is not in the pup's future, I think it's only "fair" to be firm in explaining to the pup that you're not interested in being the chew toy. I've watched many momma dogs and "aunties" explain this--and they are very clear and very firm and very kind when the pup crosses the threshold.

When Amaretto was 4 months old, I tried the scruffing neck because, like you said, its mom would correct it like that. It just made her more ramped up and bitey. Robin has suggested a training collar, but my trainer hasn't shown me how to fit and use one properly yet.

Bitework is not in her future, so squashing it now is my strongest desire.

What has kind of worked for me, on some tries, is asking for other behaviors. But I don't know if she's GETTING that biting is bad.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by Jen&Bear

Sorry. I am new to this. He is 4.5 mos.

Well, that does make a difference. This definitely should have been resolved by now. Cassidy was mouthy longer than any of our other pups, but she was about Bear's age when we got her - she was already 20 weeks old and had no training and no manners, so although she was older we were starting from scratch.

Biting at my clothes is pretty normal for a new puppy and something that I'd expect. Not so much for one that I'd had for a few months though.