Author Topic: nipping at children  (Read 760 times)

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Offline cupcakebarb

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nipping at children
« on: July 10, 2009, 11:49:48 AM »
Hi all I think this is the right place to post as i have seen a few other threads about his moved to here.  Although not a puppy my resacue who we had for 7 mths now has started to nip at my boy (9) sometimes usually she has been barking just before when this occurs.  But also she she done it when he was playing on the floor with my partner.  She also barks if anyone comes in house and when my sons friend came into garden she ran up and nipped his leg, although we didnt see her as she is fast.  I think it is when she gets excited but then she continues barking at my son and he is getting to be frightened of her.  She is about 3 and when we got her didnt know what play was, she has only just started to play with my dogs.  She is also still very timid and even now can run away from me or my partner if we go to stroke her to fast.  Shouted and pointed at her when it occurred but think maybe i should isolate her if she shows signs or at last resort muzzle!  Any thoughts on what to do please  :huh:

Offline Jane S

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Re: nipping at children
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2009, 12:39:33 PM »
Hope you don't mind but have moved your thread to Behaviour as you're asking about an adult rescue dog nipping which is a bit different from the playbiting threads on the Puppies board.
Jane

Offline Karma

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Re: nipping at children
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2009, 12:53:40 PM »

I really think you need to get a behaviourist in to assess the situation.

It could be that she didn't learn bite inhibition correctly as a pup and doesn't realise what she is doing is hurting, but it does sound like she is reacting out of fear... the situations you have described are all times when she would have high stress (someone new arriving suddenly, play etc) so you really need someone professional to see what it is that is stressing her and then advise on dealing with the behaviour.

I wouldn't recommend you shout and point, as this will only increase her stress (and she won't necessarily know why you are shouting).  If she does start barking or nip I would just get everyone to quietly and calmly walk away (until you have more appropriate advice from a behaviourist).  I would also avoid pushing her into stressful situations, so keep play very controlled (especially with children about), don't approach her too fast, try putting her into a different room when visitors arrive. 

Make sure your behaviourist is properly registered and uses positive methods (if she is nervous, aversive methods could make matters so much worse in the long term).  Good luck!  :D
Remembering Honey. Aug 2007-July 2020

Offline Birdie Wife

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Re: nipping at children
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2009, 02:16:39 PM »
Maybe if she disn't know what play was then she wouldn't know that it should be initiated by you and not by her?  My pup will often nip at us if she wants to play - much less so now than before.  We manage it by playing with her when she's calm but alert, but when she barks or nips then it's a firm 'no' and if it escalates, we put her out of the room for a few minutes.

I'm not saying that this is the reason, and I would echo what Karma says about finding a behaviourist - there are lots of reasons why this might be happening.