Puppy BITING!!! Teaching Bite Inhibition

[JoMichelle]

I was just reading through this thread and other websites, desperately searching for a way to stop our puppy hanging onto our clothes when we're walking around, jumping up to nip, air snapping at us. Nothing has worked so far, the penny jar has gotten old, water spray is fun, yelping is fun.

Now I know what the problem is, she wants to play with us! Not by herself. Poor thing. I guess I should leave the housework until she is tired and wants to sleep - not during her crazy hour! Stupid human

[Beverly]

First teach "leave it" and "take it" using a treat. Once he knows "leave it," substitute you shoe, boot, etc., and immediately click/treat when he desists. If you're not using operant conditioning with the clicker, check it out. It's working like a charm with our 9-wk old pup. The yelp helps initially, but if he's biting your fingers, try the "leave it," click/treat, then pull out the tug toy and play, or give him an ice cube, or a frozen carrot. Good luck!

[AmberGS1Exit]

The biting is a huge issue in all German Shepherds as they grow up. It’s not avoidable and must be corrected. Make it known that it hurts and I don’t mean by hitting, simply by a loud sound. They have sharp ears so correct your own level of calm voice and alarm voice and maintain it as that through on out. Rather than bashing/yelling at your puppy replace it with a toy to bite and continue to play with it and let her/him know this is the correct thing to chew/bite. Do not let them bite your own personal belongings still correctable as they get older. Just remember if you wait as they become an adult, it’s a newer game. This will push them to favor or despise you.

[Kev]

Originally Posted by Beverly

First teach "leave it" and "take it" using a treat. Once he knows "leave it," substitute you shoe, boot, etc., and immediately click/treat when he desists. If you're not using operant conditioning with the clicker, check it out. It's working like a charm with our 9-wk old pup. The yelp helps initially, but if he's biting your fingers, try the "leave it," click/treat, then pull out the tug toy and play, or give him an ice cube, or a frozen carrot. Good luck!

The thing is, the pup might take it as a game and bite you on purpose to get a treat once you say leave it?

[taydeedee@earthlink.net]

I have an 8 week old pup and I swear she is half piranha. Please someone tell me that this is going to get better. She isn't sweet AT ALL. She want's to bite me all over. In the face, on the hands, heels, side, she pulls my hair. Drivin' me CRAZY. I read that if they bite you should pick them up gently by the scruff of their neck until they whine or whimper (the mother's response to biting). I have done this and she loves it. It's like it makes her more aggressive, if that is even possible. DOes this mean that she is gonna be an aggressive dog? I'm a little worried as I am a first time GSD owner and I really want a loyal pet not an attack dog... Any suggestions?

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by taydeedee@earthlink.net

I have an 8 week old pup and I swear she is half piranha. Please someone tell me that this is going to get better. She isn't sweet AT ALL. She want's to bite me all over. In the face, on the hands, heels, side, she pulls my hair. Drivin' me CRAZY. I read that if they bite you should pick them up gently by the scruff of their neck until they whine or whimper (the mother's response to biting). I have done this and she loves it. It's like it makes her more aggressive, if that is even possible. DOes this mean that she is gonna be an aggressive dog? I'm a little worried as I am a first time GSD owner and I really want a loyal pet not an attack dog... Any suggestions?

Read the links at the beginning of this thread. There are lots of tips on teaching bite inhibition.

[Jeven's Tyde]

Lol... those thoughts were running through my head when I first started experiencing Tyde's sharking. He's calmed down some, and isn't quite 9 wks yet, I'm hoping he doesn't ramp back up. He soft bits my son, chomps on my daughter, and I'm somewhere in between.

[taydeedee@earthlink.net]

I went back and read the earlier threads, I left the room today after she bit me hard. I just walked into my home/office (just out of her site). She whimpered for maybe 2 seconds and then ran and got her toy fox and started chomping on it and shaking the stuffing out of it. I counted to 60 and when I re-appeared she was like a new dog. I guess she took out all her aggression on the toy. She was much calmer and acted like I had been gone for hours. I love it when she seems to "understand" things. She's a good girl.

[1337f0x]

I like the clicker solution article, and the part about " When teaching these behaviors, put your hands in your dog's mouth all the time. Get him used to your being there."

My puppy picks up random objects and my hands are always in his mouth. He's used to it, but still uses my hand as a chew toy. lol.

[Sunflowers]

I am considering cut resistant safety gloves... but what to do when he goes for my hair?