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Posts: 3
From:Chino, CA,US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-16-2003 02:59 PM         

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My and my boyfreind bought a dalmation about 4 weeks ago. The pup is about 9 weeks old. He chews on everything and is constantly biting (not angrly) at hands ankes and anything he can get his mouth on. We have tryed flicking his nose lightly and saying "No -No" but so far he isnt getting the picture.... im afraid pretty soon it will be too late to train him? Is there anything that we can do besides geting a dog trainer to teach him??? Help!... Oh yah and he whines for everything??!!

[This message has been edited by RoCCO (edited 09-16-2003).]

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Posts: 889
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 09-16-2003 03:11 PM         

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Flicking him on the nose may just encourage him to bite more. Instead of flicking his nose try shoving a toy in his mouth when he starts to chew on hands or feet....you can also do this when you catch him chewing something you don't want him to chew, just take it away and give him something suitable to chew on. Most puppies go through this crazy chewing stage but seem calm down alot once they are done teething. I've gone through this with mine as well. Good luck.

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From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 09-16-2003 03:14 PM         

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Also, be sure to ingore all whining. If you give him attention or toys when he whines...he will learn that whining works well to get him what he wants.

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From:Phoenix, AZ, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-16-2003 04:07 PM         

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Worked for my dog, when he wanted to gnaw on shoes, hands, feet, etc. I gave him a chewbone. He's conditioned now to chew something that belongs to HIM. Oh, he'll bring out shoes, socks, toys from the kids rooms, etc. but he won't chew them anymore. He'll just scatter them all over the place, like a doggie santa claus!
I would suggest enrolling in an obedience class with your pup....go to your local PetsMart or human society or community college, they all usually offer obedience courses. You certainly want to get some basic obedience before he's too big....or, there are wonderful books available on how to do it yourself, and also a wealth of information online. Have fun and enjoy your pooch!

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Posts: 166
From:Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-16-2003 05:24 PM         

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You do not want to let your dog playbite with your hands or feet, ankles etc. You need to be firm about this, and so far he has gotten away with it and you are right, the problem will get worse. A few things to try- Pretend you are the mother dog and act out like a mother would. Yell "OUCH"- "NO BITE" pull back and ignore your pup, walk away - do not reinforce this behavior with your attention. If this doesn't help, then you are going to have be more firm and more direct. When the pup bites at you, grab the pups entire muzzle firmly for just a few seconds, and say "NO BITE" in a loud voice, right down by his ear, making eye contact with your pup. This would be equivalent to a mother's warning growl, or dominant sibling telling the pup to "BACK OFF or I am going to bite you". Be firm. Release the dog then give him something appropriate to chew on, (NOT TREATS though) and let the dog be (equivalent of a "Time out")--- Then, this is what I call the "teachable moment"...and you need to follow through with this to encourage and build a strong trusting bond with your pup, and also because you want to make opportunities to reward good behavior, as well as end the "training session" on a positive reinforcment. After you ignore him for a few minutes, and he is going about his business of chewing on something appropriate or just laying around, go to your pup and give him your attention and IF he is acting appropriately, PRAISE him and reward him with treats then.
One more thing you can try if nothing else seems to be working.. When he bites at your hand, lift your pup up by the scuff of his neck, again as a mother dog would do, and again say "NO BITE" firmly, then put the dog down, and leave him alone for a few minutes, repeating what I said above about the time out. Try to take advantage of opportunities to praise and reward your pup when he is letting you pet him without him biting on you. Offer treats then. keep it short and sweet, then offer him a chew toy before he decides to chew on you. If he starts biting, repeat whatever measure seems to be most effective, or a combonation of methods and ignore him again. The idea is to give him your attention when he is not biting, and to let him know you will not tolerate any kind of biting whatsoever, your attention and praise towards him will stop the minute he starts biting at you. Always have things handy that are appropriate chew toys, but do not play tug of war or games or associate your hands with any kind of playbiting. He needs to learn to respect you, understand what his limits are and what works to get your praise and rewards and you have to teach him that, just as his litter mates or mother would do. Just think like a dog! Good luck-

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Posts: 166
From:Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-16-2003 05:46 PM         

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Another thought on chewing things that are not appropriate (which is different than biting, or playbiting on you). One of the most valuable commands a dog can learn is to "LEAVE IT"- once your dog learns this command you can use it for many different things (objects, other animals, children, bikes riding by, cars he may want to chase, litter boxes, all sorts of temptations) and I highly recommend you start working on this with your pup. He is pretty young to expect much now, but you can start getting him used to hearing the command, and getting the idea. You will probably feel like you are saying it for everything at first, so have plenty of appropriate chew toys, and bones to replace the object you do not want him chewing on. When he starts chewing on something inappropriate, say "LEAVE IT" firmly and re-direct his chewing towards something acceptable. There have been many good posts about teaching this command, especially from Maisey. Good luck and keep us posted on the progress.

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Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-17-2003 06:05 AM         

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I would definitely enroll in a puppy class as well. Besides the obedience commands, your puppy will get to meet other dogs and people. Socializing them is very important. Try to get your dog to as many new places and situations as you can while he is still young - but check with your vet first to be sure he is current with vaccinations and it is safe to take him out.

Jamiya

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From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-17-2003 12:26 PM         

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Congrats on the new pup! May I ask why you don't want to use a trainer?

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From:New York, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-17-2003 05:44 PM         

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I am wondering why you don't want to use a trainer as well. The training classes more act as a way to teach you the Human then they do the dog. They teach you how to teach your dog. That's just my Two cents.

[This message has been edited by NewLabOwnr (edited 09-17-2003).]

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Posts: 251
From:Allagash, Maine USA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 09-17-2003 09:00 PM         

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Advice for biting is when the puppy decides to bite.. push the corners of it's mouth inside and let it bite itself.. it will hurt the pup to bite himself and he will get that treatment everytime so he/she will think it hurts to bite people. Works like a charm.. Giving chew toys to a biting dog just encourages it to think that if it bites at you that it gets treats... I would be careful with that.. BUt I usually take my thumbs and push the corners of the pups lips into its mouth and they hate it.. give it a try..

Angie, Saige and Jekkyl..
(Mommy- WE HATE WHEN YOU DO THAT, why can't we just bite, it is fun!)

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From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-18-2003 08:55 AM         

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The wonderful thing about this forum is that you get options, different things to try. I have used the method described in the post above mine, however, I have had much more success with saying OUCH!, stopping play immediately and walking away. Its simple and easy to understand for a pup. "when I bite, it hurts mom and ends playtime". It is important to understand that all puppies do this, it's part of their development. They are learning and teething, not attempting to be mean. If the pup is knawing on your hand in a calm way, as if it is soothing to him/her, it's because it is teething, say "no" to the chewing on you and then show them what they may chew on by giving it a bone, chilly willy, or toy to chew on. If it is biting in roughhouse play try the above OUCH! and end play. When you catch your pup chewing on something that is his, reward him. I have always gotten more out of my dogs with "honey" rather than "vinegar".

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From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-18-2003 09:01 AM         

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I noted this in your post.....
"My and my boyfreind bought a dalmation about 4 weeks ago. The pup is about 9 weeks old."

Was the pup only 5 weeks old when you got it?

If thats so, your pup missed important lessons from mom and littermates, he will likely not have any inhibition to biting you roughly in play. It is very important for pups to stay with mom until 8 weeks. You can still teach him those lessons with the techniques above, it just may take more patience.

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Posts: 240
From:uk
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-18-2003 09:58 AM         

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hi i am a german shepherd breeder and i have found the best way to stop the puppies biting is when they bite you you bite them back i know it sounds funny but it does work or there is the yell ouch and turn away and pretend your checking your wound. there is a presure point on the dogs nose where it is soft on the long snowt bit you can gently press there and this inturn gives a sharp but harmless pain to the pup and he backs off...

whining is his way of getting your attention never give in to this as once he learns you will give in when he does he will run your life he will be the master of the household if you cant get him out of this within a couple of weeks puppy training classes to help you out

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Posts: 3
From:Chino, CA,US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-19-2003 03:06 PM         

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Thank you all for your help... i havnt been geeting very good results though. He is very hyper everytime i try to dicipline him hes jumping away or skwerming out of my hands! I cant keep up with him! lol

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posted 10-17-2003 01:42 AM           

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Hi, My dalmation puppy is 11 weeks old, and I have had the same problems. One thing I know for sure is they need to burn off the extra energy, make sure your puppy is getting enough outside time running around. thanks for the tips people left you, i do the NO BITE when its skin contact, & toy replacement when its other things. what have we signed our selves up for? good luck, and i advise no aggresive play

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