[Cero21]

I have a 10 week old GSD. I've been trying to teach her bite inhibition but when I have to pry her off something bad (got something in her mouth I don't want her to have), off my pant legs, shoe laces, shoes in general, bed sheets, whatever! she starts to bite me, HARD. I tried yelping, saying NO, ouch to no avail. I tried leaving the room but she'll follow me and bite even harder than before. She's drawn blood many a time and my arms and legs are scratched up to no end. Today, I put her in her crate for some timeout. She'll be good for about 10 min after being out but then go right back into it.

What do I do???

 

[shilohsmom]

I hate to tell you this but she's a baby and thats what babies do. Yelping is a good idea, she will learn from this but it will take time. Right now one of the few ways she has of interacting with you is by using her mouth. You can try giving her chewies to munch on instead of your hand, but again she's just doing what babies do. If you can find a way to enjoy this special time, they grow up so fast and before you know it she will be grown and all you'll have are memories of this special time.

 

[RubySlippers]

Don't lose heart- she will get past this.. with patience. I feel for you- Ruby was the same way.. a little alligator!

And I hated reaching into her mouth for anything cuz those teeth hurt. I stuck with the yelping, a firm no, and I would grab her by the scruff with one hand pry whatever she had with the other hand while firmly telling her NO. To my great relief she got it... but there were times I wished I had picked a toy poodle!

I started to wonder if I could hang with being a human chew toy. However one thing helped A LOT. I started giving her pieces of ice to chew on. She loved it. She was teething! It made her feel better. Just 1 or 2 cubes at a time everyone once in awhile. And good nylabone kept her active and happy for an hour off an on. When she grabbed me or something she shouldn't I said NO, removed it, and offered her the nylabone, when she took it I praised her. She caught on!
Hang in there

 

[Cero21]

How do I properly correct her when she bites on stuff she isn't suppose to? I pry her mouth off it and say 'no' but that just motivates her to try getting at it again. I often use my hand to redirect her lunge then she keeps on trying. Putting a approved toy at her mouth at this time has no effect, instead she bites my forearm. Hard.

 

[cdonahue89]

i think it just takes a lot of practice & patience. beamer never was bad like that, but she was pretty mouthy. it took about a month to kick the habit. try redirecting her to a toy.

 

[doggiedad]

ah, wait untill she grabs a toe or the side of your foot with no shoes on. she should stop by the time she's 2 years old. just kidding. when my boy was going through the nipping stage i would reach down and hold him in the back of his neck and give a firm "no biting". then i would put my hand in his mouth or rub his lips. if he nipped i would repeat the holding and say "no biting". of course if he didn't nip/bite i would praise him, pet him and sometimes treat him. nipping is what they do. i think they learn from it. hang in there, she's going to stop. good luck and look forward to the licking.

 

[xwildman138x]

Well I never thought I would be the one telling somebody "It's going to be ok" When Baron was your pups age he was always in anihilation mode. I still have scars on my hands from his biting. He's 6 months now and still has his moments but when I tell him NO TEETH, most of the time he backs off, second warning consists of "YOUR GONNA GO IN THE PEN!!!" If that doesn't work then he goes in the crate for timeout. When he is put in I tell him "no biting" When he comes out I also tell him no biting and I want kisses. I hold my hand out to let him lick it. Which he does then comes out and lays down. He knows he's not supposed to do it but hes still a pup so just like yours you have to just keep working with them and be patient. The things that have gotten him by are nylabones lots of nylabones and rope toys with knots. The kind that have loose string after the knot he loves them. BE PATIENT. Its so easy to get mad but you have to remember she is just a baby.

 

[BlackGSD]

I have a female pup that turned 11 weeks today. One thing that REALLY helps is to EXERCISE them. Get them tired, when they are ASLEEP, they don't BITE!

 

[Papanapa]

My pup is 3 months old and loves to draw blood if she can. I have to agree with BlackGSD above. If Marley is excercized 4 times a day then she bites much much less. Today was a visit to the vet, walk around town, softball game, and play time with my parents Husky mix. She is pleasantly tired ( I am completely exhausted!! ) but she hasn't nipped all day. I keep repeating, "This too shall pass, This too shall pass, .....)

 

[DarkEquine]

I am going through the EXACT same thing at the moment. I actually have a cut lip from the little snapping turtle! (Made the mistake of bending down to pack up his toys at the end of the day!) The yelping doesn't work with him - he just thinks I'm joining in. Distracting him with a toy doesn't work - he just seems to see the waving sleeve and goes for it rather than the toy. I've tried imitating what his mother did and grabbing hold of the top of his muzzle (gently) and saying "Uh Uh!" and "No, Zac!" But that has the same effect as everything out. Time out doesn't work as he bites my ankles as I'm leaving!

Believe me, I know what you're going through! Bumping this post so that I might gain some info on the subject too!

 

[RubySlippers]

It was really hard to get Ruby to not snap and take treats nicely. I was stuck because I wanted to treat her when she didn't nip, but when I handed her the treat I practically came away with little nubs. When I asked my trainer about this he gave me some pretty good, although hard advice. He said to take her favorite treat and give her one. Then show her that the same kind of treat is the palm of your hand, make a fist and hold it out to her. Tell her "easy" "gentle" "nice" which ever word works for you, but be consistent- don't change it up. The pup will of course nose and then try to gnaw his way through your fist. DONT pull your hand away fast! (bear down through gritted teeth!) Tell the pup NO in a deep (no whine) firm voice- make eye contact.

Then gently pull your fist to your chest (this is mine now signal). Then try it again. After awhile you'll notice the puppy gets either bored and sits down, or frustrated and may lick once- just as soon as they calm in any way palm snaps open and they get the treat.

Rinse,Lather, Repeat! Don't forget to praise in an upbeat voice "good dog!"

But don't move around a bunch and get the dog fired up again. Just a gentle pat. Only do this for few minutes (5 mins) at a time and longer is too much right now. But you can do it 4 or 5 times through out the day.

This will take awhile - like a week or 2- at times they will need refresher courses. You can't be squeamish. If you need to wear batting gloves or gardening gloves do it, but don't flinch! (remember- 2 for flinchin'!). Ultimately you are programming the before you want- nice, gentle.

 

[RubySlippers]

Also - as far as correcting... give up on them being remorseful.. they are small merciless alligators babies right now

The care not for our pinkness and gentle ways "GIVE IT HERE!" is there motto.

Stick with a firm deep NO with eye contact, get a hold of the scruff to steady them, and pry with the other hand GENTLY (don't want to hurt puppy teeth). Remind yourself every morning "my puppy is a hairy, pointy, silly creature with jingling bells in his head- but I love him and he makes me smile. He does NOT hurt on purpose. He can't help that he's pointy!"

They aren't kids- they don't speak english, they don't understad our pinkish ways. They only speak dog- buncha furriners!

It's when we start to think "They really should KNOW better!" "He's doing this to get back at me!" or "He did that on purpose!" that we lose our temper and may punish the wrong way.

A time in a crate is fine some times. But DONT shove them in with a "so there!" (you don't want them to be afraid of the crate or other space). Just guide him in and close the door- no lecture, don't look back. Let him stew for 15 mins. The idea they get is "you can't play nice.. you get a time out".

Good luck and may the force be with you

 

[Cody2]

Yes, at 10 weeks of age she is cutting her teeth and there is some discomfort to the younp pup. For most breeds teething generally last up until 16 weeks. Ice cubes would be good to use as an above poster mentioned. Also a frozen clean washcloth (soak the washcloth under tap water, wad it up and place in freezer) so the pup could chew on to relieve herself of the pain... Ice or frozen items such as a washcloth has numbing effects and would give relief to the pup until the teething has passed.

Good Luck

Dave

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

You are in such great company with your hybrid shark/GSD puppy that we actually have a sticky to help:

Teaching Bite Inhibition

 

[JakodaCD OA]

my 9 week old is the first really "jaws" that I remember having (my luck has run out LOL)...She loves biting hands, feet, toes espec,,my nose if she's near my face..However, we've been doing VERY good on chewing on GOOD things vs my body parts ))

I don't use the word "no",,in my opinion its "nagging", and well who listens to a nag? So I replace my body parts with a toy or hard bone,,immediately.... I also keep some really yummy treats on me, and when she is NOT biting,,(if I tell her to "leave it" and she does)...well she gets a treat,,and at this stage of the game,,food is more important to her than biting ))
diane