[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=153716&page=1#Post153716

The articles are the most important part.

Interesting that the mom does the muzzle clamp-how often does that happen? I am also guessing it happens when the puppy is at that overtired stage of obnoxiousness? Not when they are playing.

What I am getting at is that the mom probably isn't doing this every time the puppy bites and that they do let them play bite. And they don't do it harshly it's more of a gentle move than what we think (even though it looks like they are eating the puppy). I am not arguing with what you are saying you see, but trying to point out that from what I have seen there is a build up before they get to that level of correction.

I think dogs do things way better than we do.

I have a non-related pack that has raised puppies and they are very tolerant. It takes a lot for a puppy to earn a muzzle grab. What they DO do is give the puppy a tug item or get up and ignore them. If the puppy does nail them for a yelp, it is combined with ignoring. And it is purposeful ignoring. The puppy knows it is being ignored.

Don't discount the power of "the Look" (but don't use it to scare the puppy of course!)

This little guy was raised by humans prior to me getting him at about 8 weeks. He had no bite inhibition-I did nothing-and he ended up with a soft mouth and good inhibition thanks to my dogs. See the other foster dog pulling back-after that she got up and walked away and would not play with him. It killed him.

Find the puppy in the pile-learning how hard to bite in play:

Oh-we think he's so cute-and he's learning how to approach appropriately:

Cut to a little bit later-okay, junior, we are almost done here-we went in because he was getting tired and she was starting to wish she knew how to get him in his crate (which is another tool-not using as punishment but a nice relaxing time out with an ice cube or something enjoyable):

Hope you don't mind-but I think it is interesting to watch how adult, non-related dogs communicate to puppies.

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I think this is the difference-when she's had enough she does it. We see them do it and say good idea. So we do it every time and the puppy is like what the heck? I didn't even get a warning? The adult dogs give so many warnings ahead of time and don't go right to that. But we do, because hey, if it works...but what we are NOT teaching then is inhibition and inhibition is what you want the dog to know most of all. That means they can understand and not bite even when they want to.

Does this make sense? I know what I want to say.

I'll use an example that I hope is more clear. Ilsa is the bigger red dog in the picture above-came to me with zero bite inhibition. I knew she was a danger in that way, and she also did not want to engage with me at all. So I decided the dogs do it better anyway and while I have that luxury, I will see if they alone can teach her bite inhibition. They did and now, while she wants to bite me and I can see her wanting to bite me, she does not. She has learned to control that desire. Had I clamped on her muzzle or done other things without letting that learning build, she probably would be one of those dogs that nails you out of the blue.

I hope that makes sense!

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Exactly! I feel bad for people who have to do it on their own. I just sit back and let the dogs do the work and end up with soft mouthed, bite inhibited puppies! I DO do some of the other training though.