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Bellankin -- Ahh. The memories you bring back. 15 years ago I had a wicked little beast of a puppy who did exactly as you describe with the additions of biting my ears, nose, tops of feet, backs of ankles, and, on one memorable occasion, the meaty part of my upper arm. I remember the torture so clearly.
We tried the NO method, the OUCH method, the YELP LIKE A LITTERMATE method, the SHAKE A CAN OF PENNIES IN HIS FACE method, and the SHOOT HIM WITH A WATER BOTTLE method -- all of which I'm sure you've heard of. He laughed in the face of these attempts at discipline... and bit harder next time.
In the end, we were most successful when we redirected him to a toy every single time he bit, which was many, many times. When, in the fits of frenzies he wouldn't redirect, we would put him in doggy timeouts.
Neutering at approximately seven months was the real trick, though. After that, he settled down into the sweetheart that he was been (mostly) since.
Also, professional dog training when he was a little older really helped us to learn how to manage his dominant personality.
Don't know if this helps -- but you have my sympathies for sure. They can certainly put those sharp little needle teeth to naughty use...
Oh, haha! I just remembered something. I once bit him back when he bit me (on the leg -- tit for tat). It didn't make him stop biting, but it sure did make him pause and reconsider in that moment.
^^^THIS. ALL OF THIS (except for biting the pup back lol). I tried the coins in a can. Nothing. Tried the water bottle. Nada. He LIKED it. I even went as far as banging on a pot lid (it seemed to have frightened him when a pot would bang while I put the dishes away). He was just like, "hey, that's noisy" but that's about it. It seems he's relentless when it comes to my daughter though because she doesn't "fight back". She just yells "stop" but he pays no mind. So far we have about 10 chew toys but I have to act FAST and always make sure I have at least 2 on hand to re-direct him. Ahh, the joys of puppyhood. I know it shouldn't last much longer but we'd like to stop it now while he's still a baby.
Thanks for info and hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane
It seems to me that you might need to re-direct his energies, especially right before bedtime. Long evening walks or taking him outside in the yard throwing a ball, sticks, chewtoy, etc, over and over, will wear him out for bedtime.
We had a herd dog puppy we were training, and one of the ways to train him to herd in a specific direction was a two-foot pole on a 4-foot rope tied to one of his favorite chew toys. It was my job every evening to come home from work and take him out for an hour or so, teaching him the directional words ("Take-em-out" and "Way-to-me") by whirling the toy around me (holding the pole) in opposite directions. I kept repeating the words, and would let him catch and chew the toy for a few seconds every 4th, 5th, or 6th revolution (I'd vary the times he could catch it).. This had the added benefit of wearing him out for the evening! Even if a cocker isn't a herd dog, you can still wear him out by doing this. You give him little snacks after every time he catches it.
Our neighbors thought we were crazy, but a year later he has settled down to be quite a good herd dog, who knows his directional commands.
Yes, I try to tire him out before bedtime. Weather permiting, I let him run around the backyard otherwise indoors we play "fetch" for a good 20 minutes though I don't think 20 minutes is always enough. He seems to react better 1 on 1. When hubby and my daughter come into the room he gets distracted and goes on his little frenzie. He's very smart. He does understand the commands, it's just that he can be stubborn. I appreciate the info!
When I was having the same problem with one of my Siberians, our trainer gave me some advice that worked very well. My pup would try to chomp on my hands and sleeves all the time. When she bit me, the trainer told me to stick my thumb in the gummy part (I don't know what it's really called) on the outside of her mouth behind her teeth . It doesn't hurt the dog (or you) at all, but it annoys the dog and once she realized that this annoying sensation is what she'd get as her "reward" for biting, she stopped chewing on me. I did it consistently for two days and that's all it took.
Thanks! I've read that somewhere. My hands are constantly in his mouth because I have to always pull something out. Is that between him teeth and "cheek" or do I need to actually go behind his teeth inside his mouth?
My 4 yr old bulldog did that at about 3-4 mths old. I thought I'd never get her to stop. I watched Victoria on Animal planet one day. Her suggestion worked for me right away. When your dog nips, You yelp (sharp sound) really, really loudly. It only took a few times for my dog too stop. That is what a puppy's kennel mates do if one bites too hard...They automatically stop. See if that doesn't work. Also, distract her w/ something to chew. My dog loved those edible chews, not the leather, it is like a nyla bone, but made out of veggies or something. They need something to chew on a few times a day, their little mouths hurt, and probably are itchy from growing just like a human baby when teething. My dog loved chewing on ice cubes, and it is bound to help the teething pain. As she catches on to not nipping, start teaching her to be soft mouth, I eventually started saying kissie, and encouraging her to be soft (baby talk)....it will work. Dogs want to please us.
Thanks JanND. We tried the loud yelping but after a few times, it didn't phase him at all. He gets all riled up at night and it seems nothing works unless I really distract him. He loves the icecubes and I have chew toys that can be frozen. Those help him too. I gave him one of those chew rings. He devoured it in 2 days lol.
When Ginger was teething, we kept a bunch of toys close by and when she'd open her mouth like she was thinking it was time to chomp on us, we'd stick a toy in there. She liked softer toys when she was teething, things that had a little give to them when she bit.
Yes, I noticed sometimes he prefers the soft toys over the hard teething toys. I think I'm going to keep toys in every room...just in case!
So the puppy has been doing better with biting. I tire him out as much as I can at bedtime. I just keep tossing chew toys back and forth. I also give him a few ice cubes. Normally I give him 1 or 2 but the past few nights I've given him one every time he seemed more nippy. It distracts him and entertains him (and us too!). He also leaves my daughter alone. He's more relentless with her than with hubby and myself. He also backed off a few times when I would stand and turn my back to him. I wouldn't say anything. Just turn and ignore. Thanks for all the feedback!
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