Puppy biting - Page 3

If one has a pup with the proper hard, driven temperament of a working dog and one interacts in the appropriate way with it, puppy biting isn't that much of a problem.

If cuddling and hanging out is the way one interacts most often, then what will be happening is that the pup will be trying to "work" while the owner wants it to "not work".  That, to my mind, is the real problem.

Going forward, physically getting the dog off your skin isn't such a monumental thing-  a good pup won't be "damaged" by some physical instruction - IF - the correction is pyschologically appropriate in that one is REDIRECTING rather than INHIBITING the biting.

If one has a working line pup - one needs to understand that pursuing & biting is the  way they express themselves and DEVELOP into adults.

The following video link, to my mind, is the appropriate way to keep the puppy from biting skin. That is by CONTROLLING  the situation by not giving it an opportunity to bite skin because it is too busy interacting IN THE CORRECT WAY.

Note how this trainer gets the dog to release the toy. Two different ways at different times.

My final point is a reiteration of the point I was trying to make in my 2nd sentence. A problem with biting is really a problem with the wrong king of interaction with a puppy. When it wants to bite, it's time to make it "work" - It's NOT a time to make it stop biting. This of course, is simply my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZwPNleOM

P.S. I'm in no way connected to the trainer in the video, except that I'm an admirer of his dogs and accomplishments - which are manifold.

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The redirect to a toy has worked well for us.  I think it takes a bit more patience for a drivey pup but well worth the effort.   It also worked to keep one from chewing on the other, she has to have a toy in her mouth if they are together in the house.   She learned he is not a chew toy.

 You're right Trafalgar, I had to learn the hard way and my poor 1st dog (a very high drive male) had to put up with my good intentions and huge inexperience  .  Thank goodness for a wonderful trainer that took me under his wing and taught me so much.  Loki is such a smart and, thank goodness, forgiving dog, that there was no lasting "damage".

I had to learn the difference between dogs and humans as weird as that sounds.  Dogs speak in a different language and have different customs than humans and that lesson was an epiphany for me.  Of course 7 years later I am still learning new things about doggie customs and language and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.  I learned from my dogs the importance of body language.  Paying attention to all those subtle signals came in handy on my job dealing with mentally ill or plain dangerous people.  Having to keep cool, calm, and in control of myself has helped in so many different aspects of my life.   I learned that I don't have the right to force them to "think" the way I do, and this has helped with my parenting skills.

Some days I really believe they are smarter than I am, especially when that "a ha" moment hits and I do the Homer "duh" (add smacking forhead here).  That's why I love them, they put up with me and are willing to continue teaching me and accept that I am far from perfect.  My Oma always said, "If you want to know how God sees you, it's how your dog looks at you".  That is a powerful incentive for me to get it right for them.

 For what its worth, I actually let my pup mouth my hand as long as it's gentle.  If he does bite too hard then all play stops and the human guy ignores said puppy.  Then we go back to playing and try again.  I want him to know what a humans pain tolerance is (not much), so if he's ever in a situation where he forgets himself and actually gives a warning bite to a person he may actually practice some bite inhibition and not do any damage.  I've never had any luck with the finger down the throat.

Of course I could be entirely wrong on this.

It is part of him growing up in my opinion.