SheltieGuy
Forums Enthusiast
i cant imagine such a sweet cute lil puppy doing anything destructive !!! 
Puppy biting and snipping non stop
- Thread starter Raya
- Start date
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
I cured getting my ankles nipped by getting a second Sheltie, if that helps!
As for the pulling. First I would recommend a martingale collar. It won't stop the pulling, but it will avoid the scenario where pup slips the collar and escapes accidentally.
I'm not a believer in using special collars and harnesses to stop unwanted walking behaviour. I prefer to train the pup to walk with you rather than have the tools force the behaviour. Dogs on an Easy Walker or Gentle Leader will still be inclined to pull because they've not been trained otherwise.
If you have not yet enrolled in puppy school, do so. They will teach you techniques. And there are numerous threads here already as to how to deal with pulling, which I won't go into again.
But if you require more info, please feel free to PM me.
Maybe Shelties (haven't tried it with Duncan, but he doesn't need it), but not ALL dogs...
Pierre is the strongest willed dog I've met. Unless he wants it, he will not do it. After endless hours, weeks, months "acting like a tree" or other loose-leach walking techniques (with him still pulling and straining on the lead), we needed something extra (Pierre would cough and gag after pulling). The Gentle Leader didn't work how we thought it would, but the Easy Walk harness taught him how to walk nicely. I know this because after using it for a little while if we were in a hurry and put the leash on his collar, he would not pull. It was only until weeks after his harness was destroyed that he got back into the habit - and we'd only been using the harness for maybe two months. I look forward to going back to the harness for his safety and comfort once I get a replacement, but I do not think of this as a permanent solution. For us, we need a segue into the real-deal for our headstrong pooch.
Again, we did this after trying every technique we could think of and did not start him on it as a puppy. But maybe if we did, he wouldn't think pulling was an option in the first place.
Zoey has been going to puppy classes for 4 weeks now. We wanted her to meet other dogs. She was very shy at first but now she's doing great with other dogs.
The trainer also recommended me the easywalker harness. Today was the first time I tested it out. What I like from it is that I don't need to apply as much force than with the collar to bring her close to me. The way the harness is positionned on her body seems to create a reaction where she knows not to pull. I've had my longest walk with her since I've been actively training her not to pull. That's very encouraging.
Although I agree with the idea that dogs should be trained not to pull instead of using tools as a crutch, I also believe that it's unfair that she gets hurts with her regular collar.
The trainer also recommended me the easywalker harness. Today was the first time I tested it out. What I like from it is that I don't need to apply as much force than with the collar to bring her close to me. The way the harness is positionned on her body seems to create a reaction where she knows not to pull. I've had my longest walk with her since I've been actively training her not to pull. That's very encouraging.
Although I agree with the idea that dogs should be trained not to pull instead of using tools as a crutch, I also believe that it's unfair that she gets hurts with her regular collar.
Caro
Moderator
Many women I know with bigger dogs use the easy walk harness so they have better control of their dogs (and can't be pulled over). its very popular here. The only problem they have is when it gets wet. Some dogs I know have gotten 'hot spots' where the harness has rubbed (on the back of their neck) when the skin has been damp.
Hey guys. Before posting, here's our Zoey as of last weekend (4 months mark)
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/5116/26824106413872720821100.jpg
We've been noticing something very odd with Zoey. We've never been able to pet her, unless we pick her up. If we try to pet her, she turns her head and nips at us (not really bite, but just brings her mouth to our hand rather quickly. I've had a cat before that used to be very annoyed if we tried to pet him a certain way, and it feels like Zoey's heading that way. She's absolutely fine when I brush her, when I pet her when I carry her with my other arm, but she absolutely refuses to be pet when on the floor. We've never hit her before, so it feels wierd she acts this way. Anyone else have heard or experienced that before?
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/5116/26824106413872720821100.jpg
We've been noticing something very odd with Zoey. We've never been able to pet her, unless we pick her up. If we try to pet her, she turns her head and nips at us (not really bite, but just brings her mouth to our hand rather quickly. I've had a cat before that used to be very annoyed if we tried to pet him a certain way, and it feels like Zoey's heading that way. She's absolutely fine when I brush her, when I pet her when I carry her with my other arm, but she absolutely refuses to be pet when on the floor. We've never hit her before, so it feels wierd she acts this way. Anyone else have heard or experienced that before?
OntarioSheltie
Forums Celebrity
Hi Raya! I felt the same frustration when Sadie was a pup, she just couldn't be still long enough to be pet and was constantly mouthing at our hands when we'd try and pet her. I felt very discouraged, I didn't expect her to be like a cat but I wanted to be able to love her up some times. But Sadie did eventually grow out of it.
I'm finding its exactly the same with Ginny, only worse. As soon as we would pet her she'd jump around growling and barking and lunging at our hands. She never bit down ever and was gentle, but acted like a little monster. She's 8 months old now and is definitely growing out of it. She still has her moments but is much more likely to let us stroke and cuddle her.
Just give Zoey time, she's still very young. When she's older she'll realize how great being pet is and will stop trying to play all the time and use you for her own personal chew toy
I'm no expert on the subject of raising a puppy but I've been doing a fair bit of reading and watching TV (granted I'm suspicious about using any of the techniques I've seen on TV but still there are somethings one can learn.) In preperation for my own puppy who will be arriving shortly.
I've noticed a few techniques in order to stop biting/nipping. Some have already been mentioned and others have not so I'll just write it all out.
For biting people:
1) Make your puppy think he is hurting you each time he has a nip at you. This method replicates the way dogs sort out this biting amongst themselves. When puppies are biting and nipping each other it only stops when one puppy lets out a yelp. We can use this natural way dogs learn by letting out an Ouch! or an Arrr! every time one of our puppy's bite. The trick is to startle your dog with your voice, and then pull away and stop playing with your puppy for a while. Be sure that you do not run, scream, or jerk your hand away, as he may see you as prey.
2) Encourage licking instead of biting. Apply a thin coating of butter to one hand and praise him as he licks. Offer the other hand. If he tries to bite or chew, say “Acch” and present the other hand.
3) You may also want to try the opposite approach. Apply Bitter Apple to your hand, arm, or any forbidden thing that he likes to bite or chew.
4) Some biters respond best to time-outs because they are attention seekers. For those dogs, sharply say “No bite” and immediately crate or isolate for less than 5 minutes. Do this in no nonsense way without talking because anything you say or do is attention. You may have to repeat the process several times, but do not increase the amount of time in isolation.
5) Fill a can with coins and shake the can when your puppy starts biting/nipping at someone he shouldn't then say "No".
6) The last technique I saw for biting problems was to spray your puppy with water every time he starts nipping. I'm not a big fan of this idea, as it would associate getting "wet" as something bad.
I hope this informations some use to you. Good luck.
I've noticed a few techniques in order to stop biting/nipping. Some have already been mentioned and others have not so I'll just write it all out.
For biting people:
1) Make your puppy think he is hurting you each time he has a nip at you. This method replicates the way dogs sort out this biting amongst themselves. When puppies are biting and nipping each other it only stops when one puppy lets out a yelp. We can use this natural way dogs learn by letting out an Ouch! or an Arrr! every time one of our puppy's bite. The trick is to startle your dog with your voice, and then pull away and stop playing with your puppy for a while. Be sure that you do not run, scream, or jerk your hand away, as he may see you as prey.
2) Encourage licking instead of biting. Apply a thin coating of butter to one hand and praise him as he licks. Offer the other hand. If he tries to bite or chew, say “Acch” and present the other hand.
3) You may also want to try the opposite approach. Apply Bitter Apple to your hand, arm, or any forbidden thing that he likes to bite or chew.
4) Some biters respond best to time-outs because they are attention seekers. For those dogs, sharply say “No bite” and immediately crate or isolate for less than 5 minutes. Do this in no nonsense way without talking because anything you say or do is attention. You may have to repeat the process several times, but do not increase the amount of time in isolation.
5) Fill a can with coins and shake the can when your puppy starts biting/nipping at someone he shouldn't then say "No".
6) The last technique I saw for biting problems was to spray your puppy with water every time he starts nipping. I'm not a big fan of this idea, as it would associate getting "wet" as something bad.
I hope this informations some use to you. Good luck.
Megan was the same way too as a younger pup. It actually really upset me that she wouldnt let me cuddle her or have her sit on my lap, she was just too busy. She has calmed down a little bit and lets me hold her, but still isn't a lap dog.
Hang in there and like I did, force your affections on her,
. Just imagine a squirming toddler, they want to play, not be held..
Hang in there and like I did, force your affections on her,
. Just imagine a squirming toddler, they want to play, not be held..