help with new dog

[etowndiver]

I recently rescued a 7 month old beagle mix from a local shelter. I'm fully aware that she is still a puppy, but does anyone have any ideas on how to control the bitting. She doesn't mean to be nasty, but it still hurts anyway. For starters, she is enrolled in obedience school. Classes start in 2 weeks. Until then is there anything I can do, or do I just have to get over it.

Thanks in advance,

joe

 

[O-ring]

etowndiver once bubbled...
I recently rescued a 7 month old beagle mix from a local shelter. I'm fully aware that she is still a puppy, but does anyone have any ideas on how to control the bitting. She doesn't mean to be nasty, but it still hurts anyway. For starters, she is enrolled in obedience school. Classes start in 2 weeks. Until then is there anything I can do, or do I just have to get over it.

Thanks in advance,

joe

 

[Jersey]

Don't smack the dog. Understand the dog is probably teething - just like kids. It's gums hurt. Give it appropriate toys & things it can chew, bite & praise (in a higher pitch voice) when the dog uses the appropriate toy. (Give it an enthusistic "GOOD DOG!!!!")

I've never had a dog with a bad biting thing, but my friends doberman puppy did & he hurt! When he grabbed my arm, I grabbed his jaw, kept my hand wrapped around his lower jaw (fingers between the teeth), looked him in the eye, and reprimanded him with a firm, low pitch "NO!" A couple repeats & he stopped biting. Negative reinforcement & establishing who is the 'top dog'. After a week living me me - no more biting.

You could also try bitter apple - a substance that dogs are not supposed to like (although my lab licks the stuff.) Put some spray or spread on your hand then offer it to your dog. The smell & taste should deter biting (also works for chewing problems)

Good luck & be consistent - always reinforce the same behaviors. I've found most dogs really want to be good. We just need to learn to communicate. And thank you for adopting from a shelter. My current lab was a shelter dog & she is my best dog ever! 2-3 yrs old when I got her (6 yrs old now), never jumped on furniture/people, no chewing, no biting, great with kids, just wants to make her people happy.

 

[O-ring]

Don't smack the dog. Understand the dog is probably teething - just like kids.

I would smack the kids too...

 

[etowndiver]

Jersey,
Thanks for the bitter apple suggestion. I've heard some good things about it. By the way hittig the dog was never an option nor will it ever be.

joe

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

Jersey: Great advice. Eye contact and consistency is huge.

 

[Mnflyboy]

O-Ring,

I think I hear Jerry Springer calling you !!!

 

[O-ring]

Mnflyboy once bubbled...
O-Ring,

I think I hear Jerry Springer calling you !!!

Just let me go get mah wacking stick...

 

[MikeS]

In the past, we were a foster home for Akita Rescue until my wife fell in love with one, which we adopted. As a result, we had many dogs passing through the house and got a lot of good advice from very experienced dog handlers. Most of the dogs were at or over a hundred pounds so it was important to stay in control and quickly teach them how to behave.

What I suggest is you use the same method that the dog’s mother did to discipline them. When they exhibit unacceptable behavior, in this case biting, grab them by the back of the neck and gently push their head to the floor. This does several things. First, it demonstrates your dominance and secondly with repetition it will teach your dog what behavior you deem unacceptable. They are used to this; it is how mother disciplined them. It will not hurt them in any way. If done correctly the dog will learn quickly and you will both be happier.

One word of caution, if you take this approach do not back down. If you do, your dog will not recognize that you are dominant and then you’re in for all kinds of trouble. Don’t worry, if you firmly grab a dog by the back of the neck they cannot bite you. I’ve done this on multiple occasions with a 120-pound Akita so you should not have a problem with a Beagle. Do not let go until they stop struggling and submit. If they put up a big fight, a knee gently pressed into the rib gage at the same time does wonders.

Good Luck,
Mike

 

[Nessie]

Hi,

you already got good advice I think (no, o-ring, not talking about you ). Just two things:
1. If you do as Mike said and grab her by the neck, make sure NOT to shake her, because that is the way they kill other animals and it might destroy the trust she has in you.
2. I personally would ignore her as soon as she starts biting, stop playing with her and don´t do anything until she calms down. Call her, start playing again and stop when she bites you. Do that several times and she will soon understand. It also often helps, if you scream a bit with a very high voice when she bites, even if it doesn´t hurt you that much. This is the reaction of a puppy to pain and she will probably understand.

3.Wish you lots of fun with her! Do you have pictures?