Brydie has a bit of a problem with biting. Whenever something happens that she doesn't like - ie. something getting taken away from her, brushing, getting picked up when she doesn't want to be, etc - she will bite. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how I can stop this behaviour.
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Biting
- Thread starter Aimee
- Start date
She doesn't seem to be in any pain at all and she's just been to the vet and she's completely fine. And she bites whether your handling her or not. We're starting puppy preschool in two weeks so I can learn how to train her correctly and so she can be socialised so I'll definately be asking the trainer about it then but I was wondering if anyone had some tips I could try until then - telling her 'no' just isn't cutting it and moving away from her doesn't work because she will lunge after you a second time.
Kodee
Well-known member
This thread has a link from Molly (scroll down). http://board.cavaliertalk.com/showthread.php?t=17674&highlight=puppy+biting Also if you search this forum with "puppy biting" you'll get lots of great info and additional links
matties mum
Well-known member
How old is she you are going to start puppy class so I would think she is still quite young puppys go though many stages
Aileen and the gang (Jazzie---Barney---Sam)
Aileen and the gang (Jazzie---Barney---Sam)
Caraline
Well-known member
Aimee I see from your signoff that Brydie is only about 8 weeks old right? This is so normal for a baby puppy. When Brydie was with her litter mates she would have been biting ears & legs, and bellowing when she was getting her ears & legs bitten. It is how the puppies work out where they belong in the pack. If she stepped out of line with her mum, chances are she had been disciplined with a little nip or a growl.
As her new leader & alpha bitch
you get the job of teaching her that it is not appropriate to bite. There are lots of different approaches. Some people let out a high pitched squeal like a yelp. My approach has been to say a sharp & reasonably loud "uh!" and move my hands away. If the biting continues, I put the puppy on the ground and ignore it. They hate being ignored. You can also re-direct the biting. For example during brushing time, have 2 brushes. Start off brushing with one brush & when she starts to bite it, let her have that one & brush her with a different brush. If she bites at your hands, say the loud "uh!" again. Make sure to give lots of rewards if she is good during her grooming. Let her know you have the goodies. Do a little brush & then food reward, a little bit more & another food reward.
When she does the lunging at you for a bite, stand up (if you aren't already), stand tall, puff your chest out, chin up in the air & look away from her. completely ignore her. Do not respond to her at all. Another approach is to put her in her crate for time-out, but I really like the alpha-bitch ignoring approach myself.
Though you want to train her not to bite, please don't feel that there is anything wrong with her behaviour. I've never had a puppy yet that didn't have to be taught not to bite and it does not mean that she is going to be aggressive. She just has to learn a different way of communicating.
Have fun!
As her new leader & alpha bitch
you get the job of teaching her that it is not appropriate to bite. There are lots of different approaches. Some people let out a high pitched squeal like a yelp. My approach has been to say a sharp & reasonably loud "uh!" and move my hands away. If the biting continues, I put the puppy on the ground and ignore it. They hate being ignored. You can also re-direct the biting. For example during brushing time, have 2 brushes. Start off brushing with one brush & when she starts to bite it, let her have that one & brush her with a different brush. If she bites at your hands, say the loud "uh!" again. Make sure to give lots of rewards if she is good during her grooming. Let her know you have the goodies. Do a little brush & then food reward, a little bit more & another food reward.When she does the lunging at you for a bite, stand up (if you aren't already), stand tall, puff your chest out, chin up in the air & look away from her. completely ignore her. Do not respond to her at all. Another approach is to put her in her crate for time-out, but I really like the alpha-bitch ignoring approach myself.
Though you want to train her not to bite, please don't feel that there is anything wrong with her behaviour. I've never had a puppy yet that didn't have to be taught not to bite and it does not mean that she is going to be aggressive. She just has to learn a different way of communicating.
Have fun!
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