[TotallyAwesome]

I was on my way to the football field with my 7 month old puppy… its empty at that time of day… early morning… and puppy loves chasing balls…all of a sudden there is a light rain…. that slowly increases by the time we get to the field… the fields pretty slippery and muddy… so footballs off… so we go for a walk instead… I read somewhere it’s a good idea to train in the rain… so he gets used to it… so I figure ok… here’s our chance… the rains not to heavy… but all of a sudden my puppy starts leaping up and play biting me… this is something I thought I trained away… but seems to have started again… so I did what I did the previous time.. I just ignored him while he jumped and bit me… this went on for a while… then all of a sudden I hear a security guard wish me good morning… from pretty far away… probably wondering what my dog is doing… I wish him good morning too while puppy keeps biting… this time instead of aiming for ankles he decides to go for my knees… maybe because he’s taller now… anyway… once he’s done he acts like nothing happened and we walk home… our day goes on as usual… we play football mid day once the rain stops… go home… when it’s time for our evening walk… I see it’s raining again… I think… great! Another chance to get used to rain… and probably won’t be any other dogs to bark at… so we can have a nice walk!
Me and puppy make our way outside… as we’re walking there are puddles everywhere and it’s much darker than I expected… and incredibly cool… almost like it was at the end of winter… unusually cool… it makes no sense to me… anyway… we keep walking.. puppy doesn’t like the rain… as we walk around it gets heavier… we reach the mid point and it’s pretty steady right now…. and all of a sudden puppy starts leaping up and play biting me again… this time he’s a lot more persistent…. the rains getting a lot heavier… I figure it’s probably a good idea we go home… winds picking up….and there is the risk of us getting hit by something blowing in the wind… but puppy is going nuts… seems terrified… and can’t seem to calm down… or stop leaping and biting…. I keep cool and try to ignore him so he calms down… but it’s hard because he has my hand in his mouth and is pulling… now it’s getting really heavy, and I’m telling puppy it’s time we go home, but he doesn’t seem to get it… then I remember to say no… leave it… and then suddenly he stops, and gets it…I feel like a moron.. why didn’t I just say that earlier.. we start walking home but now it’s raining buckets! What should be concrete paths and tiles are like tiny rivers flowing pretty fast… puppy is panicking and wants to get out of the rain… everything is slippery.. and I’m worried if he pulls to hard I could slip and fall… since things are so slippery.. I realise he’s pretty afraid.. and then I notice some ice in his fur… it’s been hailing… and the hail starts getting heavier… much heavier… puppy dives into some bushes hoping to escape the rain but it’s too heavy… everything is slippery.. so I’m hoping we make it back safely…wind is really heavy and it’s dark…
finally.. we make it back to our building steps… one last obstacle… the floors look really slippery because of the water… we make it inside… the lobby is full of people taking shelter.. I hear someone mumble “looks like they took a bath”…. we make it to the elevator and puppy basically lies down on the floor… the doors open up on our floor and we go home… puppy doesn’t feel like drying off… so I go change.. then I come back with a frozen carrot… puppy is happy and while he’s busy with it.. I dry him off… puppy finishes his carrot while I check the news… nothing about the weather… puppy is happy again and brings a ball… I placed some gym mats in a corridor so we could play ball indoors in case it’s too hot this summer to go out…so he wouldn’t slip when running …never thought we would be hiding from hail instead…it occurs to me - this is puppies first hail storm… we play some ball and puppy is smiling again… soon it’s dinner time, and I try to set a new record for puppy to wait before food… puppy’s wondering what’s going on… but he waits… and has dinner… and then takes a nap… and that’s been our adventure today… so far…

 

[WNGD]

Just trying to offer a constructive comment but if you're puppy is still having moments of uncontrolled biting after this long, it's pretty obvious you should toss the (ignoring) as a coping mechanism. How is he supposed to give up this self-satifying behavior if it just appears more like you're OK with it but don't want to participate? Ignoring/avoiding/turning your back etc is just really bad advice and creates exactly this scenario which isn't fair to the dog; what if it pops up again at a year or older? What if someone else has to walk your dog?

It might help if you stop thinking of him as a puppy. Regardless of some definitions, he's an adolescent DOG right now and these puppy actions shouldhave been stopped a few months ago.

It's like "puppy doesn't feel like drying off". So what? We're back inside and you're dripping wet, time ot towel off, you don't need permission
Rain is a dog's least favorite weather usually (mine too) but there are many times you just can't avoid it so dress for the weather and go!

 

[TotallyAwesome]

Just trying to offer a constructive comment but if you're puppy is still having moments of uncontrolled biting after this long, it's pretty obvious you should toss the (ignoring) as a coping mechanism. How is he supposed to give up this self-satifying behavior if it just appears more like you're OK with it but don't want to participate? Ignoring/avoiding/turning your back etc is just really bad advice and creates exactly this scenario which isn't fair to the dog; what if it pops up again at a year or older? What if someone else has to walk your dog?

It might help if you stop thinking of him as a puppy. Regardless of some definitions, he's an adolescent DOG right now and these puppy actions shouldhave been stopped a few months ago.

It's like "puppy doesn't feel like drying off". So what? We're back inside and you're dripping wet, time ot towel off, you don't need permission
Rain is a dog's least favorite weather usually (mine too) but there are many times you just can't avoid it so dress for the weather and go!

This stopped a few weeks ago, about a couple weeks after it started… ignoring him seemed to make him stop as I looked away, and then when I gave him a command it was immediately over… then eventually before it would start when I saw the signs just giving him the command was enough to abort it. After doing this for a few days he gave up on whatever this was and the behavior stopped.

I do not know why it has started again. Likewise I do not know why his barking has suddenly started again.

The advice I am following is based on my understanding of some of these books by Turid Rugaas, Patricia McConnell etc … in his case I do not think he actually likes biting me - since ignoring him causes him to stop… if it was enjoyable he would not stop… but looking away immediately causes him to chill… the hard part is keeping presence of mind to not react to him..
I have thought about this a lot - what if someone else has to walk him etc , so I am spending time everyday trying to train him during walks…in real life situations….At this time I reading as many books as I can, watching as many videos as I can and trying to train him whenever the opportunity comes up… in the event this resurfaces at a later age then I guess he would have to wear a muzzle if someone else is taking him.
We spend time everyday working on impulse control. What this issue is, is hard to say - as it happens only in our neighbourhood and nowhere else -neither at home or in other neighbourhoods… so can’t figure out the real cause at this time… at present I am still looking for a good trainer with German shepherd experience… so other option is online…. So not sure what else I can do…. The behavior went away for a few weeks… it’s been barely than 24 hours since it’s come back… and I have already started taking action to address it…

 

[TotallyAwesome]

Regarding the drying off part - one of the other books I read, makes a big case for dogs choosing to do things out of choice rather than being forced… by getting them to think… if you force him… then he is not thinking… but if he understands he is wet… and that the towel dries him off… then in future no resistance… so waiting a couple of minutes till he’s calm or doing something enjoyable like chewing a carrot doesn’t hurt… because then he willingly dries off, and in future… the carrot isn’t necessary… because he knows the towel makes him dry…

Just trying to offer a constructive comment but if you're puppy is still having moments of uncontrolled biting after this long, it's pretty obvious you should toss the (ignoring) as a coping mechanism. How is he supposed to give up this self-satifying behavior if it just appears more like you're OK with it but don't want to participate? Ignoring/avoiding/turning your back etc is just really bad advice and creates exactly this scenario which isn't fair to the dog; what if it pops up again at a year or older? What if someone else has to walk your dog?

It might help if you stop thinking of him as a puppy. Regardless of some definitions, he's an adolescent DOG right now and these puppy actions shouldhave been stopped a few months ago.

It's like "puppy doesn't feel like drying off". So what? We're back inside and you're dripping wet, time ot towel off, you don't need permission
Rain is a dog's least favorite weather usually (mine too) but there are many times you just can't avoid it so dress for the weather and go!

 

[TotallyAwesome]

Just trying to offer a constructive comment but if you're puppy is still having moments of uncontrolled biting after this long, it's pretty obvious you should toss the (ignoring) as a coping mechanism. How is he supposed to give up this self-satifying behavior if it just appears more like you're OK with it but don't want to participate? Ignoring/avoiding/turning your back etc is just really bad advice and creates exactly this scenario which isn't fair to the dog; what if it pops up again at a year or older? What if someone else has to walk your dog?

It might help if you stop thinking of him as a puppy. Regardless of some definitions, he's an adolescent DOG right now and these puppy actions shouldhave been stopped a few months ago.

It's like "puppy doesn't feel like drying off". So what? We're back inside and you're dripping wet, time ot towel off, you don't need permission
Rain is a dog's least favorite weather usually (mine too) but there are many times you just can't avoid it so dress for the weather and go!

Also regarding this jumping biting behavior…he did not do this months ago… it started relatively recently and stopped soon after… so wasn’t a regular thing… if I’m not wrong… maybe it started in Jan end.. and stopped a few weeks later….now in march it’s been a few weeks and today it’s come up… maybe because of the rain… who knows… I also keep wondering if it has to do with something in the environment I am not aware of… since it happens only in walks in my neighbourhood…

 

[Derek W.]

You are dealing with issues that most puppy owners are able to break very early in the game. I understand your positive only approach, and I applaud you for it, however it's simply unrealistic with some dogs. There's nothing more important to me than my 6 month old puppy, and I would never want to cause any harm (physical or emotional) to him. However, with that said I couldn't tolerate my pup reacting to everything and leash pulling.. the random ankle and knee biting. I put a herm sprenger on him and was super careful not to correct him or be too rough. It literally takes light pops on the leash and now I have seen most of the issues disappear. He's completely in sync with me when walking and he complies with the slightly amount of leash pressure. I seen what that offered me and explored an ecollar and the results have been amazing.

Dogs catch on quick, and as long as you're not abusing your training tools they will catch on very quickly. I use my ecollar for behavioral corrections and maintaining a heel exclusively. My dog doesn't react to vibrations or low level corrections for any kind of other training. I can give my dog a low level correction with the ecollar.. there's no whine or whimper, and the very next second he's still a happy-go pupper ready to play, but he quickly stops the behavior that he knows is unacceptable. I have found that just using an ecollar a couple of times has added so much value and meaning to a firm "no". Literally, within the first day or two here are the things that changed: no grabbing shoes, no chewing on rugs, no pulling items from the trash bins, majorly reduced biting, reduced crazy and unnecessary barking, no chasing the cat, behaves better outside, not reacting to passing cars, doesn't pull on the leash.

I think maybe reading all of the books might be a waste of time and money. You seem to be ignoring a lot of people giving you solid advice. I'm not trying to bring you down, or say my dog is better than your dog, but I am trying to give you free advice that worked for me. There a lot of people on here that have gave you great advice in your many threads, and all of that information was given to you free from experienced people. Nobody here is trying to sell you a book.. just giving some insight through our experiences.

 

[TotallyAwesome]

You are dealing with issues that most puppy owners are able to break very early in the game. I understand your positive only approach, and I applaud you for it, however it's simply unrealistic with some dogs. There's nothing more important to me than my 6 month old puppy, and I would never want to cause any harm (physical or emotional) to him. However, with that said I couldn't tolerate my pup reacting to everything and leash pulling.. the random ankle and knee biting. I put a herm sprenger on him and was super careful not to correct him or be too rough. It literally takes light pops on the leash and now I have seen most of the issues disappear. He's completely in sync with me when walking and he complies with the slightly amount of leash pressure. I seen what that offered me and explored an ecollar and the results have been amazing.

Dogs catch on quick, and as long as you're not abusing your training tools they will catch on very quickly. I use my ecollar for behavioral corrections and maintaining a heel exclusively. My dog doesn't react to vibrations or low level corrections for any kind of other training. I can give my dog a low level correction with the ecollar.. there's no whine or whimper, and the very next second he's still a happy-go pupper ready to play, but he quickly stops the behavior that he knows is unacceptable. I have found that just using an ecollar a couple of times has added so much value and meaning to a firm "no". Literally, within the first day or two here are the things that changed: no grabbing shoes, no chewing on rugs, no pulling items from the trash bins, majorly reduced biting, reduced crazy and unnecessary barking, no chasing the cat, behaves better outside, not reacting to passing cars, doesn't pull on the leash.

I think maybe reading all of the books might be a waste of time and money. You seem to be ignoring a lot of people giving you solid advice. I'm not trying to bring you down, or say my dog is better than your dog, but I am trying to give you free advice that worked for me. There a lot of people on here that have gave you great advice in your many threads, and all of that information was given to you free from experienced people. Nobody here is trying to sell you a book.. just giving some insight through our experiences.

Thank you, and I appreciate that. I am not any kind of expert by any means. All I can say is, just like there are persons here who give advice from their experiences here, there are other persons who give different advice from their experiences in other forums as well. Who is right, which is better, there is no clear answer. I can only try to do my best based on my understanding and what I am able to do.

 

[WNGD]

Regarding the drying off part - one of the other books I read, makes a big case for dogs choosing to do things out of choice rather than being forced… by getting them to think… if you force him… then he is not thinking… but if he understands he is wet… and that the towel dries him off… then in future no resistance… so waiting a couple of minutes till he’s calm or doing something enjoyable like chewing a carrot doesn’t hurt… because then he willingly dries off, and in future… the carrot isn’t necessary… because he knows the towel makes him dry…

I think you're reading way too much and watching far too many videos. People raised great dogs without the benefit of those (or the internet) for decades

When the dogs comes in, it's time to get dired off because.....that's what needs to be done. In my opinion, you're thinking waaaaay to much about too many things. They generally enjoy being towelled off because it feels better to be dry than wet. They bury their heads in the towel and try to rub off on me if they can. Some things just need to be done with no fuss and not over thinking or overly anthropomorphizing a dog. Come inside, tell your dog to stand or sit or .....dry your dog.

 

[TotallyAwesome]

I think you're reading way too much and watching far too many videos. People raised great dogs without the benefit of those (or the internet) for decades

When the dogs comes in, it's time to get dired off because.....that's what needs to be done. In my opinion, you're thinking waaaaay to much about too many things. They generally enjoy being towelled off because it feels better to be dry than wet. They bury their heads in the towel and try to rub off on me if they can. Some things just need to be done with no fuss and not over thinking or overly anthropomorphizing a dog. Come inside, tell your dog to stand or sit or .....dry your dog.

Ok, let me try that next time.👍 You’re right. For my previous two dogs (boxers.. not at the same time… one after the other), we didn’t have any books, internet or people to ask. We didn’t do any kind of intentional training - just said no when he did things we didn’t want him too… no concept of treats… we just said no… or we petted him… no training of recall either… didn’t even know what it was… we took him to the beach and just unleashed him… he ran around.. stayed close… we didn’t even consider him not coming back… or having any incident with anyone else or any other dog… but different times I guess…and different place… we didn’t even think about what to train him.. or exercise or health… he just ran around in our garden and we played with balls or whatever… no such thing as dog toys.. we didn’t even have dog food…they just ate what we ate and they seemed fine.. no weight issues or anything.. didn’t even think about them biting anyone.. they never did… nor did we think about barking… they were pretty quiet… come to think I don’t even remember them barking…an occasional woof… or if someone was outside… 🤷‍♂️… different times I guess… too much internet…