Help needed in curbing a biting puppy - Page 1

We are owners of a 9 week old German shepherd puppy who bites us constantly. I am home all day with the puppy and give him plenty of exercise, nylon bones, frozen ice cubes, frozen carrots and he has a variety of toys. He is crate trained and I do not crate him other than at night. No amount of disapline seems to work. We have 2 other German shepherd dogs who he constantly bites. So far we have been able to prevent the other dogs from biting him back but I am afraid some day we will not be able to prevent this. The other dogs are very nice to him. Is this something he will outgrow? Is it a teething problem? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

I guess he is play fighting and nipping and he should outgrow it soon

Bite him back.
Sounds crazy, but i've bitten a puppy that just would not relent. Little bugger stopped using me as a chew toy after one bite.
Mouthing is one thing, but actual biting is another. Sooner or later the big dogs will correct him for being a pest also. Let them. Do not interfer, as it is very rare that a big dog will actually hurt an annoying puppy. You can also try suffing a toy in his mouth or using a bad tasting product like Bitter Apple. Some dogs it works on and some it don't.
Another thing i do in training class if puppies are biting me is i grab them by their lower jaw inside the mouth and use my thumb to depress the area under the tongue. It hurts and they stop trying to put their mouth on me after one or two corrections.
I know it sounds mean but its not that painful more just unplesent. Like being bit.
K

ummm....bite it back???

Redirect them with a toy.  When they try and bite you say "no" and then use a toy and when they bite that..say "yes".  Give a lot of praise.  They are at that stage so it is expected.  They do grow out of it.

Adult dogs can not only hurt a puppy but they can kill them. Why would anyone say  that it is rare for an adult dog to not hurt a puppy? It can definately happen and it is not that rare! I agreee on the toungue depressing. I do the same thing. It quickly stops the hand biting. Any other unwanted biting I use a spray bottle with vinegar water and also whenever possible, toy redirecting.

What I am about to say , you will not agree with as I assume you just have pet shepherds. I do not want my puppies to be stopped biting.

I redirect them from 4 weeks old to ropes, rags, mops, etc.

You have to learn the art of training a real biting dog.. THAT is a trait of a good shepherd. If it didnt bite you and try over and over..I would think you had a collie.

Get the book  The Theory and Method of Schutzhund and you will find all you need from how to PICK your puppy to how to train and make him a good dog without spraying water bottles of vinegar or using means I never would do , to stop biting..I encourage all the biting I can get..

You also need to use the crate you own , during training period every day for your pup or you are gonna have a dead pup.

Those adult dogs will  turn on that pup...MARK MY WORDS>..PUt the pup in crate , for several hours and every day start the rag work after you read up on MEthods.

YR

I agree about the re-directing. I also do agree about the "bite him/her back". 

While I do also agree with Yellow Rose about not really wanting them to stop biting if you plan on doing sport work, I encourage biting OBJECTS, NOT me. I'm the handler, not the decoy and while I do understand it's a phaze, my pups learn quickly on that kisses get rewarded, bites hurt and get a quick short repremand. I had a past GSD bitch I did personal protection with, I never once let her bite me, and she certainly never thought it was okay, but she was very level headed and knew who was the decoy and who was the handler, and luckily for me, never confused the two.

I think redirecting is the answer with a toy.  You need to think about one thing..........This is a GSD  and they are mouthy...  It is genetic....    Personally, if the pup didn't bite I would think less of him..........lol

Review your pups pedigree - is he working line - showline?         Does your dog have dogs in his/her pedigree that were genetically inclined for a nice grip?  Herding?  What is in your dogs pedigree might enlighten you to why he is so mouthy.....  But why scold him for doing what is natural - you should take the time to embrass that characteristic instead of look at it as a flaw in your pup..........

If you are planning on later on doing bitework, pp or schutzhund then you don't need to punish what comes natural to the pup -  only direct it to a object other than you..............Control environment is everything...

Good Luck.

Yogie

Dragonfry wrote " Sooner or later the big dogs will correct him for being a pest also. Let them. Do not interfer, as it is very rare that a big dog will actually hurt an annoying puppy."

I agree IF you know the threshold of your adult dogs.  There has to be a pack order among your dogs otherwise you may find your dogs have to be kept seperated from each other as they grow older and chaos rules.  Segregating dogs would work in a kennel situation but would be more difficult to do if you keep your dogs in a home environment.  As Bosslady has 2 adult dogs and the puppy, I would think she'd want her dogs to all get along.  I never let my puppies run the pack - i.e. be the boss.  I have  trust worthy adult dogs, of both sexes, who will benovolently but firmly put the puppy in it's place.  I was told a long time ago, that as long as the puppy has "puppy breath" an adult dog will not harm a puppy. 

Biting:  All puppies bite BUT not too many adults and especially children enjoy being the pincushion.  Redirect the puppy to biting an inanimate object - i.e. tug toy, kong, bone.  Doing ragwork is a good suggestion too.  AND be consistent.

Bosslady - How old was your puppy before you brought him home?  Some breeders let their puppies leave the litter at 7 weeks of age.  It has been my experience that zero to 8 weeks of age, a puppy learns what I call " doggy manners" ( re: biting each other, pack order, etc) from their mother, littermates and other dogs in the home.  That's why I never let my babies leave before 8 weeks. 

Cassandra

I happen to disagree that a adult dog won't hurt a puppy........and puppy breath - give me a break.........  that is laughable!!!! 

Why would you want to have a puppy be dominated by an adult?  I personally don't believe in allowing the other dogs to establish the order in My Pack.......I establish it........in due time.  I want my pup to grow up to be free of domination - and that is what would happen if I leave it to the others in the pack  to establish............. Not to mention all the rough play that might happen - have to worry about injuries - being rolled or messing up hips...........  etc....

I believe in a controlled environment - and I have the key........  If the pup is being a puppy - then keep them control with the adults and give them a direction to play bite....

I don't have the idea that it takes a village to raise my pup which is what some are suggesting to do.  Nor do I put the responsbility of raising my children or my pups any other's hands.  (dogs included to teach the pup a lesson).

Just my opinion though.

YogieBear