Author Topic: Very nippy puppy  (Read 2893 times)

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Offline itchy

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Very nippy puppy
« on: June 04, 2010, 09:05:13 AM »
We brought home our blue roan girl last week.  She is now nine weeks old.  In many ways I can't complain.  She never howled at night for instance.  However, she is rather nippy.  We have tried yipping in response to hard bites, but it just makes her worse, especially if tired or hungry.   She is getting so bad that my daughter's hands (she is 18) are covered in little pin prick marks and scratches and mine are not a lot better.  The younger children can't really have much to do with her at all as she quickly starts nipping and it seems for the best to keep them apart mostly. The last couple of days when I have tried to stop her chewing me or anything else that takes her fancy she has also started to bark at me.

I've read so much (including the sticky article) but leaving her in a room isn't an option a lot of the time as she just runs off to chew someone else.  I realise it is really early days, but the one thing I wasn't prepared for is being treated like a human chew toy - it really hurts and very wearing with the lack of sleep/constant vigilance and I don't know if I am just doing something wrong or simply not up to this. 


Offline LCQ

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2010, 09:30:10 AM »
I used a soft toy (soft lion in my case - LEO  :005:) to distract the pup & let him bite that instead.  Hold the toy, so that you are still interacting with the pup & if he/she accidently still catches you, you can "yip" as you say & immediately stop playing.  They soon catch on & the scratches will decrease with time.  Worked for us, as he doesn't bite our hands at all now, so good luck.

Let us know how you get on.

Lin, Dave, Toska & Barley





Offline Sarah1985

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2010, 10:07:16 AM »
Rather than leaving the room could you try standing up and folding your arms. She will prob jump at you so when she does turn around so shes jumping at the back of your legs. When shes calm, sit back down and start the game again. If she moves onto another victim they'll have to do the same. You just need to do something that makes her realise that nipping means the end of the game and that she'll loose your attention if she doesnt behave in a more human friendly fashion.

 

Offline Mel

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2010, 10:31:46 AM »
I've just come through exactly this. Nothing seemed to work at all. But with persistance standing up or walking out of the room works. If pupst goes to bite someone else, they stand up and show her no reaction.

What you need to remember is dogs sense and feel with their mouth. They have no hands. Humans hands are full of very sensitive nerve endings which tell us alot about something new; the texture, weight, shape size, etc. Small puppies learn by mouthing. Cockers, due to the original nature of the breed are known to mouth more so expect some weeks of bitten hands, ankle, etc. They are sensing their environment and they are also scared.

Now, I really appreciate how painful this is. I have had three Cockers and you very quickly forget those few months of pain, and it was as much a shock for me as for a first time owner, as the intensity of Tali's biting has been very bad.

But standing up, leaving the room, etc DO work eventually. Tali learnt all the basic commands; sit, stay, down, drop, leave, come, etc, in a couple of weeks. No biting however, took far longer. But their IS an end, Tali has lost all but one baby canine now and I have been working very hard on the gentle command and he can now mouth my hands softly. Yes he still tries to have a chomp but we continue with the training. With my previous dog I could remove a treat he was chewing from his mouth and place my hand in there and he would push ,y hand out. He had no intention of ever biting me, but it takes time and practice.

With regard the baby teeth, around 17 - 21 weeks all the sharp needle teeth should be gone, and you will then understand the expression, "velvet teeth".

Please don't forget your pupst is scared, inquisitive and very, very young. I know it's painful, but you will get out of you pet what you put in.

If you do feel you cannot cope, speak to your breeder who may be able to help or rehome the little dot before she's too old. But please be REALLY sure before you uproot puppy.

PM me if you want and hope that helps.
Kelynen Mister Bojangles 17th March 1997 - 29th January 2010

”Come on Stink-woo, time for bubbyes. End of days now my poppety.”

Free Cake!

Offline Karma

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2010, 12:05:07 PM »

I'm sure you are "up to this" - and you are doing everything right!

As others have said, it really is a matter of persistance...
Some people have found yipping makes matters worse - these have often suggested a lower pitched noise (maybe an "Ack") which is sufficient to mark that the behaviour is unacceptable but doesn't get into ths confrontational "no" (I know dogs don't initially know what "no" means, but as humans we tend to get more frustrated if a "no" is ignored... even though it is only another word to the dog!!!).

I'm not sure why you say you can't leave her when she is nippy - the idea is that she would be alone so there shouldn't be anyone else for her to run off and nip.  If this isn't practical in your house, it may be an idea to keep a house line on her and have her bed in a puppy pen and when she is OTT you could lead her to the pen for a bit of time on her own (especially if she is tired, as she needs to learn to relax!).  This only needs to be for a few seconds at her age (unless she curls up to sleep!!!) but may need to be repeated many many times before the message sinks in... (I recall afternoons in tears when Honey seemed to be spending more time on the opposite side of the door to me, and the second I let her back in, the biting would start again...  and so she'd be back the opposite side of the door... but it didn't last for ever!!)

I suspect the barking is a combination of excitement/play and a bit of pushing the boundaries - again I would use the houseline to move her away from whatever she is chewing... and apart from the quick "Ack" don't give her any attention - remember negative attention is still attention, so some dogs will "misbehave" for the reaction!!! (Similar to some children!!!  :005: )

It DOES get better, and you are certainly not alone in feeling frustrated, overwhelmed and out-of-your-depth in dealing with what amounts to a crocodile in cocker clothing!!!

Try and set a couple of minutes at a time aside for some other training - just the basics like "sit" "down" etc, as that will help you see some more positives... and will be mentally tiring for her too.
Also (just to warn you!) most pups will need to let of steam at some point in the day - a lot of Cockers keep this up for life (known as the wall of death) - they may race around manically, growling and seem like they are out of control... for a young pup there really is no point trying to intervene once they have got going in this, as they will be very hyped up... we encouraged Honey to engage in tuggy games when she was hyper - it gave her an outlet for her energy which was managable - with the same groundrules that the second  teeth touched skin play stopped (just for a second or two, but it stopped)...
Remembering Honey. Aug 2007-July 2020

Offline toby_m

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2010, 12:39:34 PM »
I dont have much to add as this is our first puppy but we are going through the same thing at the moment and there are a couple (non expert!) of things that have helped us.

Getting the kids and myself to wear wellie boots when in 'dog zone', this works especially well with my 3 year old who will run around the house being chased by a nipping pup and will end up on the dinning room table :), of cause Toby thinks this is the best game ever!!! but if my youngest has her wellies on he cant nip her toes so its 'no pain no game' and works a treat.

The yelping doesnt really work for us very well, but if I yelp and then whinge a little and nurse my wound, it stops him for a little bit.

If Im playing with him I always try to have a toy to hand so if he nips I can instantly direct his nipping to the toy instead of my arm.
If hes far to excited and nothing works, I pop him in his crate for a nap.



Offline Betty

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2010, 06:22:12 PM »
We have a 10 week old nippy blue roan girl too - maybe it's the combination??
We tried the ouch thing but it got her more excited and the going into another room thing wasn't great ususally because she was too quick for us to close the door!
Last night at puppy training they made a good point. When she gets bitey pick her up and put her in the crate for a few minutes with a toy and say playtime finished.  That way it's telling her ankles are not for playing with and doesn't feel like you're giving her a punishment.  I have done it today and last night but saying game over and it feels like there has been an improvement.  We always have a big cuddle when she comes out and then start again.  It feels like I've done it loads but its probably only about 4/5 times today (a couple of minutes each time)

Don't give up!!  It will get better but when you're knackered it doesn't feel like it.  I find a very large glass of white numbs the pain too!!
Bx

Offline Alfiethecocker

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #7 on: June 04, 2010, 06:32:12 PM »
Were going through the same thing too  ::)
But im relying on growing out of it to put us our of our misery   ph34r
We say a firm 'No' and sit down when he starts to nip but i think im going to start doing the turning around thing     :005:
The puppy yelp thing just made Alfie more excited so we stopped doing that  ::)
We normally keep a toy near by and get him more intrested in that if he gets too nippy.
But i was also thinking if there is no toy around what else are they going to play with ?  :shades:

Defiantly dont give up it will get better if you keep practising x

Offline Frugal Mule

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #8 on: June 05, 2010, 09:12:09 AM »
I do really sympathise! We had a really hard time with Sweep biting. It seemed like nothing worked; yelping make him bite harder, us leaving the room or putting him out of the room didn't seem to make any difference and it felt like there was no end in sight. It was much harder to deal with than we could prepare ourselves for and I know you are probably exhausted at this point.

Whilst nothing really had a dramatic effect at the time, we owe our sanity to two things. The first is his "pen", which was just a small area in the kitchen baby-gated off. We actually still have it because he loves it (he gets treats and toys in there) and if he's ever being really annoying with his jumping up/counter surfing then he goes in there for a couple of minutes to calm down. He spent a lot of time in there when he was at his most bitey - in out, in out. Never for very long at a time but very frequently.

The second was a "long line" which is just like a long soft lead for house use. You may already have both of these suggestions but don't be afraid to use them. The long line was great for keeping on him in the living room because as soon as he turned into demon-dog I could just lead him straight to his pen without him getting all frustrated at me for picking him up and getting even more bitey.

Hang in there. It is SO hard but now we are really seeing the benefits of using calm, positive reinforcement methods. Sweep is now nearly 9 months and gets compliments on his good temperament all the time. There were many times at the beginning when he was growling and quite scary and I really worried there might be something wrong with him.

How funny, I just had to interrupt this because he'd gone off with a slipper and refused to drop it. I said "Do you want to go in your pen?" and he dropped it straight away :rofl1: :rofl1:

You think these things you are teaching them don't go in, but suddenly it clicks and they get it.

It took until he was six months for his teeth to come out and from then on the biting became less and less. Now he still does a bit of mouthing but really it's nothing; doesn't hurt anymore and he understands when we tell him not to.

As you said, we found we had an easy ride with regards to him sleeping through the night from day one, no howling at night and he was also very easy to toilet train. But boy, did he make up for it with the biting!

You will come out the other side!  :lol2:

Offline Karma

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2010, 10:01:36 AM »
We have a 10 week old nippy blue roan girl too - maybe it's the combination??
We tried the ouch thing but it got her more excited and the going into another room thing wasn't great ususally because she was too quick for us to close the door!
Last night at puppy training they made a good point. When she gets bitey pick her up and put her in the crate for a few minutes with a toy and say playtime finished.  That way it's telling her ankles are not for playing with and doesn't feel like you're giving her a punishment.  I have done it today and last night but saying game over and it feels like there has been an improvement.  We always have a big cuddle when she comes out and then start again.  It feels like I've done it loads but its probably only about 4/5 times today (a couple of minutes each time)

Don't give up!!  It will get better but when you're knackered it doesn't feel like it.  I find a very large glass of white numbs the pain too!!
Bx

Just a quite note of caution on this - for some dogs picking them up can seriously escalate the nippy behaviour (Honey hated being picked up, and still isn't keen!!) - if your dog is happy to be picked up, fine - if not, use a house line (or use the puppy leash as a slip lead) to gently guide your pup to the time-out area rather than getting physical by picking up! 
Otherwise great advice!!  :D
Remembering Honey. Aug 2007-July 2020

Offline mlynnf50

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #10 on: June 05, 2010, 10:18:12 AM »
I think we are just coming out of this phase!!!!! I  hope i haven't spoke too soon :lol2:
He is now six months and I thought we would never get to this point, I often wondered what on earth have I let myself in for, but believe me it is worth just persevering and be consistant  with the training, I left the room at least a couple of dozen times a night and dragged OH with me, and the number of time I had to stand up and fold my arms, I thought he would never get it, but they do in the end, and it is worth it in the end, all I have to say is do you want to go down and he looks as if to say ME I haven't done anything.  You are doing all the right things so dint give up and you will have a best friend for life. all the best....

Offline Mel

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2010, 10:23:46 AM »
I've never used the pen or as I call it the Tali den for punishment, but if he's been up to no good, which is quite rare to be fair, a say in a loud stern voice, "what's been going on here?" and he runs and sits in his den.  :005:

Actually the nipping has been the worst thing and apart from the fact he won't always wee outside and won't do number two's, I couldn't have asked for a better dog. I had one mobile phone charger lead chewed and a couple of magazines, that is it! Think of the positives with pupst, work on the good behaviour as the more positive reinforcment they get, the better.

As has been previously said, you are doing the right things.
Kelynen Mister Bojangles 17th March 1997 - 29th January 2010

”Come on Stink-woo, time for bubbyes. End of days now my poppety.”

Free Cake!

Offline JeffandAnnie

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #12 on: June 05, 2010, 08:38:29 PM »
In my experience all puppies of all breeds mouth when they're little.

Lots of great advice there; the only thing I can add is something that has worked well for me, and that is to hold up the flat of my palm to the puppy when it tries to nip/mouth my hand. The puppy can't get a hold on the flat of the hand, and quickly the attempted nips turn to licks, which is  :luv: It doesn't stop them mouthing; as others have said, it's normal puppy behaviour and and important part of their development; but quickly prevents instances of the behaviour without having to remove the puppy.

Offline Woodstock

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #13 on: June 08, 2010, 01:43:56 PM »
Loads of great advice here.  Woodstock was a devil for feet and socks but every time he got "hyper" I would just carry/lead him off to his pen and now (he's 9mths) you can say "... or you'll go pen" and he knows and quits so that does work.  We just used to give him 5 mins calming down time and often he'd be fast asleep when we went to get him out, overtired just like kids! 

Best of luck, it does pass. 

Bx

Offline Sheepscheeks

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Re: Very nippy puppy
« Reply #14 on: June 08, 2010, 02:01:57 PM »
Yep, loads of great advice as usual. Freddie was an average biter I think - not sure as he is our first dog. We used the "ow" and remove from the room if he didn't stop method. Sometimes had to do this over and over again. It takes a long time but they do understand eventually. I think around 14-16 weeks Freddie suddenly started to get it. Trouble is - consistency. He stopped nipping my OH and I long before the children because they would run away and jump onto the arms of chairs squealing - of course Freddie thought that was all a great game! I explained again and again what they should do!  >:D He is now 7.5 months and biting hasn't been an issue now since he was about 6 months. He does sometimes get excited when he's playing and lunge for a hand but as soon as he makes contact with skin I still say "Ow" and he moves his mouth straight away. He also nibbles as part of his greeting when I have been at work but it is gentle so clearly he has learnt what is acceptable.

We also used a large soft toy as a barrier.

Good luck and do hang in there - I found the first few months very hard (not a natural dog person) but patience and perseverence has paid off.  ;)
Paula & Freddie x