Mouthing and Nipping

[danccooke]

Hi,

 

WE have got through the teething stage and we did so with very little damage to personal belongings, and the little fella had stopped biting or mouthing but he has started again. Although it doesn't hurt he is a big lad now, 6st of puppy Ridgeback nipping is fine for me or my wife but if he does it to someone elseI could end up getting in trouble.

 

Any pointers on how to curb it. He mostly does it if you touch his collar, first start to stroke him. It is almost like he is so excited that he can't convey himself in any other way.

 

I think i need some help on this one

 

 

Dan

[MC]

A sharp tap on the snout and teach him the word NO! By sharp tap I don't mean to hurt him, just to get his attention.

[danccooke]

Tried that for the last about 3 weeks it doesn't seem to be having any effect, just seems to become a game. He is so full of energy he just wants to play non stop, we give him loads of excercise mental and physical, but still he nips. I am just scared he is going to nip someone who will say he has attacked them.

[al4x]

if he mouths your hand can you get hold of his tongue and give it a sharp pinch? stopped my GWP pretty fast still does it from time to time but not as often as before, as you say a tap on the nose almost turned into a game.

[Boromir]

When he bites your hand next time cry like a dog would when hurt, push him away at the same time.

[danccooke]

When he bites your hand next time cry like a dog would when hurt, push him away at the same time.

We tried this also, it worked initially but then became a game again.

[p-a-s]

i think you need to instill the NO command next time he mouths grab him by the scruff of his neck push him to the floor hold him down for a few seconds and tell him NO,wont take him long to understand

might seem harsh but it works

[danccooke]

i think you need to instill the NO command next time he mouths grab him by the scruff of his neck push him to the floor hold him down for a few seconds and tell him NO,wont take him long to understand

might seem harsh but it works

 

Tried it, took 20minutes to get him to eventually realise he wasn't getting up until i said so, scratched to *******, sweating like i had run a mile.

 

this is a pretty big dog, with endless engergy always ready for fun and games, everything just seems like a game, he is never maliscious i just don't think he realises that it isn't acceptable. but i don't seem to be able to instill it into him. I know he is adolescent at the moment and maybe that is why he is being a sod. Today he decided that he didn't need a release command once the lead came off. Basically he is forgetting everything he has learnt already, most of it i can cope with and we are going back to basics with him as we know that there are loads of hormones floating about, but the biting has to stop, and i have tried almost everything that we did in puppy training originally, everything i have seen on Dog Whisperer. Calm and asertive doesn't get his attention he just looks the other way, arghghghghghgh

i am trying so hard not to lose my temper as i know that is just going to make things worse but sometimes I just want to shout.

 

the annoying thing is, he is such a friendly dog, seriously good looking, and loves everyone. he was crate trained within a week, he hasn't really destroyed anything in the house, just one xbox headset that was left out. I don't want to have an unruley dog.

 

 

 

any off the wall ideas welcome.

[Jim Tait]

Try a disposable latex glove - give a pop in the end of the nose as well as 'NO'

 

It's more of a distraction, rather than a discipline thing. It's worked to stop the labs jumping up, as well as a scatty collie we had for a week or so who did the same silly mouthing thing.

 

Have the end sticking out of your pocket once you've started to use it - you look a right ****, but it serves as a reminder.

 

Jim

[danccooke]

Try a disposable latex glove - give a pop in the end of the nose as well as 'NO'

 

It's more of a distraction, rather than a discipline thing. It's worked to stop the labs jumping up, as well as a scatty collie we had for a week or so who did the same silly mouthing thing.

 

Have the end sticking out of your pocket once you've started to use it - you look a right ****, but it serves as a reminder.

 

Jim

Kinda ping it like an elastic band? i'll give that a try. i guess it makes more noise than anything.

 

i am not being defeatist and happy to give anything a try, he is our pup and our pride and joy i just don't want people saying "oh there's that psycho Ridgeback" etc etc. Village life and all that.

[MC]

If it is a distraction you need, get an empty coke can (diet preferably) and drop a couple of pennies in it. Keep it handy and the next time he mouths or nips give it a shake.

 

You will need to do this for a while, and he will soon get the message.