Puppy biting. (2 Viewers)

[Caggsie1]

We don't allow him on sofa and we think we're treating him like a dog and not a baby. Notice the word think. I'm sure he'll grow out of it but it's frustrating when he's so good in every other way.

I’m sure you are, I wasn’t trying to patronise. You also have to take into account his bite, being a bull type breed is much harder and stronger than your normal puppy. Just to clarify I have been the owner of English bull terriers so am experienced bull breed owner, had 5 in the past.

 

[Lisa]

Wow, there’s some positive and negative punishment advice on here....
My advise would be to look online for any training videos that promote positive reinforcement. There is a very good trainer called “Glasgow dog trainer” on YouTube with some very helpful videos. He explains things very well.

Here is a good starting video

 

[Tom A]

I’m sure you are, I wasn’t trying to patronise. You also have to take into account his bite, being a bull type breed is much harder and stronger than your normal puppy. Just to clarify I have been the owner of English bull terriers so am experienced bull breed owner, had 5 in the past.

I know you wasn't patronising. Really appreciate your help and having a similar breed you know what we're going through.
He's an American Bulldog/Staffy cross. We know his mum and dad who are very gentle loving family dogs.

 

[Nanniemate]

 

[Tom A]

Wow, there’s some positive and negative punishment advise on here....
My advise would be to look online for any training videos that promote positive reinforcement. There is a very good trainer called “Glasgow dog trainer” on YouTube with some very helpful videos. He explains things very well.

Here is a good starting video

I'm YouTubed out. Think I've watched every puppy biting video on there but I've not watched The Glasgow Dog Trainer.
That's my afternoon sorted.

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[Nanniemate]

start at 1 minute 15 seconds

 

[OldCodger]

A watch of the Channel 5 TV show Dogs behaving (very) badly. It about showing them who is the leader of the pack. Letting them know what’s not acceptable and reinforcing “good” when they do stop. The advice is good though All done with out violence. Just a firm voice, consistent signals and occasional rewards.

(I’m an expert of 5 episodes so good luck )

 

[bellabee]

For his sake, and for yours, you need to crack down on this now. He's a beautiful dog but he's going to be strong and, potentially, uncontrollable if you let him get away with things. As others have said, consistency is essential.
If you feel you can't deal with it yourself, you might engage a dog behaviourist. The trainer at the socialisation class may be able to point you in the right direction.
If he isn't going out for walks, I suspect that he might be bored. I did notice from the photo that his nails are quite long. Maybe exercise and a change of scenery would help. We all get bored during lockdown .
If you're unable to take him out, you can still provide him with some mental stimulation - training, games, healthy chews hidden around the house or garden.
I wish you both luck. He really is a lovely dog.

 

[Rosemary1]

We got our dogs when they were a year old. Part of the reason the ordinal owners didn’t want them anymore was because they both would nip especially when excited

we sorted it with a loud ”ahah” and immediately redirected onto a soft toy (literally stuffed in their mouths)

 

[bellabee]

I know you wasn't patronising. Really appreciate your help and having a similar breed you know what we're going through.
He's an American Bulldog/Staffy cross. We know his mum and dad who are very gentle loving family dogs.

Just a thought, have you asked the breeder for advice, as they've obviously raised well-adjusted dogs?

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[irnbru]

If he was mine I would briefly put a muzzle on him each time he does it. You should get to the stage where the threat of showing him the muzzle will be enough to make him stop it.

 

[Dorset Diver]

I have only skimmed this thread so may have missed some comments but the most important thing is to give fulsome praise every time he does as you want.

 

[Tom A]

Just a thought, have you asked the breeder for advice, as they've obviously raised well-adjusted dogs?

Got him from a family friend. We've spoken with her and she's not an expert but says he was the pack leader when she had him and thinks he might still think he his.

 

[TheBig1]

I know you wasn't patronising. Really appreciate your help and having a similar breed you know what we're going through.
He's an American Bulldog/Staffy cross. We know his mum and dad who are very gentle loving family dogs.

Then you know he will grow in to a strong willed powerful dog. Without guidance, he will easily become uncontrollable.

All dogs, especially bull breeds need a pack leader, not somebody that they can control. Get this pack order sorted at an early age and you will have a loyal, loveable dog that is well mannered. Unfortunately that also includes training family members to be consistent and strong with him. When the position training is imprinted, it will be there for ever

In staffy rescue, we frequently had to retrain dogs that had received the wrong guidance early on. They were a major handful for their owners and others and some where even police referrals. It takes a lot of extremely hard, dedicated work to retrain some dogs. Far easier and safer to do it right first time

Imagine your lovely puppy as an aggressive older dog, snapping and snarling or worse. More than once I have had to step in a break up dog fights, they are never nice. The safest method I found was to grab the attacking dog by the scruff of the neck. They almost always instantly submit, especially if their legs are off the ground. It is imprinted into their brain from tiny puppies with their mother

 

[Conrad J]

Can recommend clickstart dog training, (https://www.clickstartdogtraining.com) they're near us in West Wales but are doing on-line training. Very well experienced and will stick with you. Often these issues only need a couple of sessions for a turnaround.

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[Fraggle 22]

I mostly agree with a lot of the advice. My smaller one ( pictured on Dads lap) was a crocodile as a small pup. I have bred Rotteilers in the past who were all fab family pets able to ge controlled by children so Kai was treated like them. NO very firmly, a bite on the ear, escalating to a scruffing and as a last result a smack on the nose. He very quickly grew out of it and is the friendliest dog safe with the smallest of children. You will get there. I never used a crate as punishment but a place of relaxation.

 

[138go]

Pack theory, in dogs has been discredited for some time now. First of all, it is impossible to be their pack leader, since your dogs know perfectly well that you are not, in fact, a dog. But even if you were, the whole concept of 'pack leadership' in domestic dogs as it is commonly understood, has long been dismissed by trainers, veta, vet behaviourists and modern behavioural science.

Do we need to provide leadership and guidance for our dogs? Of course.

Do we need to force them to be 'submissive' to us and view us as a 'dominant' figure in their lives to suppress their supposed natural instinct to take over our relationships, our households and our world? No.

Training a dog is all about consistency, kindness, positive rewards and firm correction.

 

[Fraggle 22]

Pack theory, in dogs has been discredited for some time now. First of all, it is impossible to be their pack leader, since your dogs know perfectly well that you are not, in fact, a dog. But even if you were, the whole concept of 'pack leadership' in domestic dogs as it is commonly understood has long been dismissed by trainers, veterinarians, veterinary behaviourists and modern behavioural science.

Do we need to provide leadership and guidance for our dogs? Of course.

Do we need to force them to be 'submissive' to us and view us as a 'dominant' figure in their lives to suppress their supposed natural instinct to take over our relationships, our households and our world? No.

Training a dog is all about consistency, kindness, positive rewards and firm correction.

I totally agree but not when biting is involved. Unchecked biting as a puppy leads to unwanted behaviour in later life. Stopping the problem early is the key. Positive rewards work brilliantly once that problem us resolved. Usually only takes a few weeks.

 

[Caggsie1]

what were the issues with Mum?

 

[Tom A]

what were the issues with Mum?

She'd got mastitis and her teats were swollen and sore. Even though all the pups had been weaned they still tried to suckle. Puppy owner asked us if we'd have Bruno a week early because of it.

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[glenn2926]

When my Boxer pup bit my young lad. The lad just bit the dog’s ear back. Pup didn’t bite again. This is what would happen in the pack.

 

[138go]

I totally agree but not when biting is involved. Unchecked biting as a puppy leads to unwanted behaviour in later life. Stopping the problem early is the key. Positive rewards work brilliantly once that problem us resolved. Usually only takes a few weeks.

I've already said that the biting needs addressing but in a firm, consistent manner. No one is suggesting letting a puppy get away with biting. I agree entirely that stopping the problem straight away is necessary. Positive rewards work hand in hand with any training. It's part of the training, not something that's added on, once a problem is solved.

 

[Fraggle 22]

I've already said that the biting needs addressing but in a firm, consistent manner. No one is suggesting letting a puppy get away with biting. I agree entirely that stopping the problem straight away is necessary. Positive rewards work hand in hand with any training. It's part of the training, not something that's added on, once a problem is solved.

Did anyone suggest that? Positive rewards are necessary but stopping biting in a dominant puppy is very necessary. The fact that he came to his new home at 7 weeks not 8 probably has no bearing on the matter

 

[Lisa]

Positive reinforcement (+R) training IS a method of training in its own right. There is no need to add punitive training alongside it, it will only confuse the animal and undo all the good work with +R.
+R is used for marking a behaviour that is wanted. By reinforcing behaviour that you do want, you will see more of that behaviour.
Any behaviour that an animal offers repeatedly, would have been reinforced. That can also be bad behaviour that we have inadvertently reinforced.
Also, the reinforcement is decided by the animal. What we see as a reward, may not be what the animal values.

 

[PaulyP]

This is also Bruno, 7 month old Frenchie, he has nipped me a few times, not because he tries to bite but he wants to grab anything I’m carrying, he can also bark a lot when he want attention, found the a firm no and cage works. When he’s been bad he has been put in his cage and then goes quiet ( only for five minutes) then he’s back out, it’s become his naughty step.
His biggest problem is grabbing anything I’m carrying, if I walk in with a shopping bag, laundry bag, rubbish bag he will be hanging of it. I now have to put him in his cage before I bring shopping bags out from the car. Otherwise he can be perfect, he does seem to be growing out of it.
Maybe being called Bruno causes it.

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[Podney]

Our pup is now 19 weeks and showing signs of becoming a teenager ugh!
The biting stage has nearly stopped.

Pack animal.....you are meant to be the leader of the pack.......make sure you are!

Carrot and stick. Not literally the stick........a rolled up newspaper (and let’s face it,they’re no good for any other purpose) ,is a great deterrent. You are not hurting the dog,used correctly it is a shock they do not forget when you tap them on the nose. The noise is as much a part of the treatment as the physical contact. Usually about half the paper gives the combination of light touch and snappy noise. I repeat....you do not need to hurt the dog.

 

[C33JAY]

We have 3 x dogs all were Puppies when we got them and are Rescue dogs, our tiny Maltese Nips and we use a stern voice with some success and a small Plastic bottle with stones in used as a distraction, the same is used on our Bichon who barks & growls at other dogs its does work for us and we do lots of positive reinforcement when they have done what we want.

Good Luck with yours

Rgds CJ

 

[bobandjanie]

<Broken link removed>

Love watching Graham. Bob

 

[138go]

Did anyone suggest that? Positive rewards are necessary but stopping biting in a dominant puppy is very necessary. The fact that he came to his new home at 7 weeks not 8 probably has no bearing on the matter

Yes you did, at least that how it sounded.
Positive rewards work brilliantly once that problem us resolved

 

[Fraggle 22]

Yes you did, at least that how it sounded.
Positive rewards work brilliantly once that problem us resolved

I apologise if that was the way it came across. That was not my intention. I was only trying to give my take on biting puppies having had experience of them in 3 different breeds. I also use positive reward based training but i was only trying to help the new owners of a strong willed puppy biting them. I have been training dogs since 1970 from mongrels, through Rottweilers, wire haired dachshunds and poodles plus many of them rescue/rehome. All of my dogs have been loving well behaved dogs we can take anywhere and more importantly been safe around small children.

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