Summer Is Launching To Nip

[periau]

I have a 9 week old irish red and white setter pup.

Since her being here( i live with 7 adult irish setters, their breeder and my 3 x bred dogs, she has bitten my housemates face and attaches herself to the bottoms of my pj pants and wont let go- i have tried yelping, "bah", and tapping her nose- even time out in her crate( possibly mixed signals for her)?

I dont want her to bite the wrong dog- they are all show dogs

[SparkyTansy]

i found the thing that worked best for my ES pup was when the would bite i would say uh-uh then give them a toy they could chew, then praise when they obliged.

A loud yelp sometimes works too...

if she bites one of the Irish, they might just tell her about it which is a good thing IMO.

[periau]

i found the thing that worked best for my ES pup was when the would bite i would say uh-uh then give them a toy they could chew, then praise when they obliged.

A loud yelp sometimes works too...

if she bites one of the Irish, they might just tell her about it which is a good thing IMO.

I have done the yelping and uh uh bit and given her something else to chew- she just goes for my hand or face again.

Yep Im hoping the Irish do tell her off too but, they only growl out her and she doesnt listen.

[Monah]

i found the thing that worked best for my ES pup was when the would bite i would say uh-uh then give them a toy they could chew, then praise when they obliged.

A loud yelp sometimes works too...

if she bites one of the Irish, they might just tell her about it which is a good thing IMO.

I have done the yelping and uh uh bit and given her something else to chew- she just goes for my hand or face again.

Yep Im hoping the Irish do tell her off too but, they only growl out her and she doesnt listen.

My viz was very mouthy when we got her at 12 weeks. I tried all the usual stuff, then, resorted to a water spray. That worked. She's great and 'needs' to have a toy in her mouth most of the time. Gun dogs are mouthy but I guess you know that. Would LOVE a photo, red and whites are so pretty :rolleyes:

How did she get near someones face? My viz had no siblings, so no way of learning inhibition, at 9 weeks you have a great opportunity to teach her biting/mouthing is a no no.

[periau]

how do i post a pic?

she got near our face as we leant over to detach her from our trousers

[Guest Willow]

If she mouths, walk away from her...she loses out on your attention. If she follows & continues to mouth, either put he rin another roo m for a couple of minutes, or leave the room yourself for a couple of minutes....all without speaking or eye contact.

Never send her to her crate as punishment....her crate is supposed to be a safe haven where good things happen.

[Monah]

I agree with Willow, crate = great safe haven!!

I did try the time out thing, but, my dog ate the door

Ignore ignore ignore, always good, but sometimes with very young pups they just go and do something else horrendous. Little angels

periau, I use photobucket to post pics. I think there are several pointers on this in the photo photo section.

[periau]

I agree with Willow, crate = great safe haven!!

I did try the time out thing, but, my dog ate the door

Ignore ignore ignore, always good, but sometimes with very young pups they just go and do something else horrendous. Little angels

periau, I use photobucket to post pics. I think there are several pointers on this in the photo photo section.

Yaye- i think i did it

Edited September 4, 2008 by periau

[persephone]

aaawwww

VERY cute!!

[poochmad]

She's gorgeous! How can such a sweet little face like that cause so much grief???

[periau]

u can only imagine

[poochmad]

u can only imagine

I hear you, I hear you. Our beautiful Field Spaniel drives me insane sometimes (I posted a similar thread whereby he's biting the back of my legs and feet).

Luckily he is so cute...is all I can say...

[Guest Willow]

She's gorgeous! How can such a sweet little face like that cause so much grief???

It's natures way of ensuring you won't throttle them even when they stir up merry hell!!!

gotta love 'em

[Guest june.andnovas]

Spray bottle would be my choice for such a problem. I keep a bottle handy around the house if my male cat won't behave while I'm cooking in the kitchen. I plan on doing the same when my pup arrives, quick spray if she's bitting.

With puppies I have had in the past we always really let them play bite but this time around it won't be welcomed! I get enough biting from my kitten!

[Guest Willow]

You run the risk of two possible problems using a spray bottle (depending on the pups personality)

1. The puppy may become afraid of you (may not associate the spray with the behaviour, but instead sees you spraying it and thinks you are a bit scary & unpredictable)

2. You are still rewarding the behaviour....some pups would rather be punished than ignored, and will accept attention in whatever form it comes, and repat the behaviour in order to get *any* attention (negative or otherwise.

[periau]

i am just swapping my arm/body part for a toy at this stage, and saying buh or uh uh

Edited September 6, 2008 by periau

[Cosmolo]

Willow i have to disagree that the theory only applies to a water spray- any correction INCLUDING a time out can have fallout if not timed appropriately and if the dog can't connect the correction to the behaviour. But if it is well timed and executed, there is absolutely no reason why a puppy would become fearful of the person. The few times a water spray (for example) is used is not the only input into the puppy from that person- the training, attention, food and socialisation maintains the bond and relationship.

For a correction to be effective it needs to be

- well timed

- at an appropriate level for the puppy involved

- be of an appropiate type for the puppy involved

- be balanced with positive reward when the pup gets it right

- be followed by assistance with regards to alternate behaviours- eg sit to get attention, grab a toy when you want to bite etc

The dog needs to be taught what the correction is for, how to respond to the correction and how to avoid it with different behaviours.

Mouthing can in some dogs lead to biting and i have seen adult dogs with aggression/ biting issues that have developed over time as a result of mouthing being ignored or the owner hoping the dog will 'grow out of it'.

If you have a pup who goes into drive when mouthing, be aware that they get chemical rewards in their brain at that point so simply ignoring them or redirecting them will often not work. I see this most often in the gundog and herding breeds.

[Guest Willow]

*shrugs*

That's cool Cosmolo....remember that you & I come from different schools of thought with some training techniques

That's why I said it depends on the personality of the pup....I know plenty of pups in my classes that would curl up & die if faced with a spray bottle, and others who would just think it's a big game.

The majority of people cannot apply a correction with perfect timing.

An owner walking away from a puppy will not damage it, and isn't the same thing as a time out.

[periau]

"If you have a pup who goes into drive when mouthing, be aware that they get chemical rewards in their brain at that point so simply ignoring them or redirecting them will often not work. I see this most often in the gundog and herding breeds. "

So help me out here- i have a gundog and she will be in the showring- i dont want her to be aggressive in the future.............

Edited September 6, 2008 by periau

[Cosmolo]

My advice would be to seek out a reputable private trainer or puppy class who can show you how to properly implement a correction.

No probs Willow- i didn't mean it as having a go, just wanted to present a different point of view. Agree that the owner walking away will not damage the pup- but may damage the owner- or their clothes as the puppy chases them!

While there are plenty of people who can't apply a correction with perfect timing- there are also many who- when instructed properly- can be very close to spot on