Community Chat

[JustJules]

I don't post much in this forum, I lost my beloved dog Nook last Thanksgiving, he was 13 1/2 and the best dog I ever had. I have had many dogs in my life and I was still mourning his loss when this little ball of fire romped into my life. I've named her Mia (means mine or beloved) and since she found me I guess she is mine. She is approximately 5 months old, not quite sure since she was a stray and skinny and nobody claimed her. She is fattening up, she is definitely part Lab and not sure what else... she is pure black with some white markings under her chin and collar, in the form of a cross, and white tips on her back paws. My neighbor lady that used to raise and show Border Collies thinks she might have some Collie in her, she is long and lanky, not a chunky Lab. Anyway, she has stolen my heart, but she is a baby girl and in the chewing phase. I call her "Gator" sometimes because she will come running at me and jump with her mouth open, I wish she came with warning music like the JAWS movie! I give her toys and bones, she has plenty of things to chew on, but she seems to enjoy chewing on me. I have so many bruises and scratches, my hands look awful. I know she was abused wherever she came from because she is skittish when I make a move to touch her head. She has been with me for just over 4 weeks and she knows she is safe and loved, and I would never hit her, but this chewing thing is really difficult. It hurts when she chews on me, and I don't know how to teach her that it's not okay. It's been 14 years since I had a puppy. I love her too much to give up, but I need to train her.... any suggestions?

[luvmyteddy4]

I went through the same thing with Teddy as she was the only puppy I had. She didn't know how to lick and not bite and my arms and hands were bleeding all the time. It took 3-5 extra months after I got her at 4 months old before she switched over to licking. It was pretty bad. She had toys and my other 2 dogs to play with but that was all she knew.

Good luck, it will pass.

[AnikaBrodie]

Hi Jules, Sorry to hear Mia is chewing you up. Below is an excerpt from a cairn terrier breeder's website that may be helpful for you. I recall we used the can routine with several puppies and it helped to resolve some negative behaviors. I hope it resolves Mia's chewing if you decide to try it. BTW, I love the name you chose.

We have begun the process of researching cairn terrier breeders. Believe me, they are not easy to find. We still miss Brodie tremendously and know the grieving period has no time limit. It's been nearly a month since we lost Brodie and I'm still in tears often. Brodie was our "heart" dog and I believe the bond was made even stronger since he was a therapy dog and we shared him with so many people for many years.

SHAKE CAN (Use as Training Tool)

This is a wonderful ( Non -Physical ) and very effective ( Correction TOOL ).

Take a cola can and 10 pennies in the can. I really like metal on metal rather than stones or rocks. Put duct tape over the opening to prevent items from flying out.

When your dog engages in a behavior you wish to stop, Shake the can ONCE. This is ONCE UP AND DOWN. You do not shake, shake, shake the can. If you do, the dog will quickly desensitize to the startle/stop effect of the sudden, unpleasant sound.

When you use the shake can on an undesirable behavior, your dog will startle/stop the behavior and look around for the offending noise. Use this break in the behavior to give them the desired command and then praise. NO BARK, GOOD NO BARK...... NO CHEW, GOOD NO CHEW.......NO DIG, GOOD NO DIG...............etc.

Do not be surprised when your dog, almost immediately, "resumes" the behavior. Be prepared and repeat the shake can process. As with any behavior modification process, it will take numerous repetitions to successfully "modify" a particular behavior. This is NO DIFFERENT than it is with people.

You must be patient and above all....Consistent! Every time you allow a dog to engage in a behavior you are trying to modify or stop.......Uncorrected, you are allowing a "reinforcement" of that behavior. This will only add time, confusion, and frustration to the modification process. This is unpleasant for you and exceedingly UNFAIR to your dog.

DON'T MAKE THINGS HARDER ON YOU OR YOUR DOG!

You can possibly speed up your behavior modification process by using an additional step. As soon as your dog ceases the offending behavior and they have gotten their NO____, GOOD NO____.....immediately, try to DIVERT their attention to another fun, pleasant stimulus. This could be getting them to play with a toy...with you. There is no better reward than getting to play with "Mom or Dad."

Do not consider each "infraction" as backsliding. Instead, consider it one more OPPORTUNITY to correct/modify the behavior. Each of these OPPORTUNITIES, gets you closer, faster to ultimate SUCCESS ! For pups & new older dogs, I make up several shake cans & strategically place them throughout my home & on the patio. In this way, I have access to the shake can correction WHERE EVER / WHEN EVER it occurs. I want to take advantage of EVERY opportunity to advance the behavior modification process.

The shake can is especially effective because the dogs do not associate the "correction" with you. Therefore, they do not have to "think" WHY? WHAT ? Rather, they more quickly associate the correction with the actual BEHAVIOR. This means, they will more quickly understand that it is the BEHAVIOR that is causing the correction. This allows the behavior to become "self-correcting", which is the most effective correction!

[kittymomNC]

Hi Jules, it sounds like you've had more than your share of loss in the past several months, and I'm so glad this little girl found you. You must have been made for each other. It's been a long time since I had a puppy...I had two little white miniature poodles (not at the same time) from the time they were tiny puppies, one lived to age 14, the other to age 18, and I loved them so dearly. When the second one passed away over 10 years ago, I had already adopted 3 cats and decided I probably wouldn't have the time or the energy I would need to devote to another dog, as much as I hated not to get one. So my cats have been my "heart" since then, and I've lost two and adopted another one. Now I have the remaining two, one is 16 with kidney disease and I don't know how much time we have now, the other is 6. All my furry babies are almost as much my children as my real child is.

I'm sorry you're having this problem and have no advice to give, but it sounds like the Shake Can method Anika posted would work. I've never heard of that before.

I just wanted you to know that I feel I've gotten to "know" you in the last few days and have read many of your very thoughtful posts. I'm sure you will be a great "Mom" to Mia, and I hope you have many wonderful years together!

[Kachina624]

If a pup is kept with it's mom an adequate amount of time, she will teach her pups bite inhababition . I got my collie pup when he was 4 months old and never once did he nip, bite or even "mouth" my hand. He is so gentle when he takes a morsel from my fingers that I can't feel it.

Of course when you adopt a pup from rescue or a shelter, you have no way of knowing how much time he spent with his mom. Most people are anxious to sell or get rid of pups much too early. The best solution is to react to his nips like his mom or sibling would do, with a loud, pained yelp. Then withdraw your hand and totally ignore him. Put him down if he's on your lap or move away from him. It usually doesn't take long for him to figure out what he's doing is unwelcome.

[CrazyDaisy]

If the biting is happening while you are playing, a shrill yelp (as would occur with his siblings) and all playing stops. He will quickly lean they he has crossed the line and all fun stops.

If it is mouthing, direct him to an appropriate chew toy to play with. He is teething now and will need lots of different chew options.

Puppies at this age do not know how to entertain themselves and will test their limits, this often includes jumping and biting. Consistent corrections and positive reinforcement of good behavior is needed. My puppy is about 6.5 months and can be a handful. I keep saying he is getting by on his cuteness not his manners right now.

[luvdoodles]

I am in the same boat as you, hands, arms and ankles with so many bite marks, same with my husband. Daughter moved back home with her puppy, a goldendoodle. He' a big boy even at three months. I have raised many pups and dogs and have never had one like him. His name is Bentley but I refer to him as Cujo. He is a monster. She started training classes with him this weekend. Mornings are the worse and he and our other dog don't get along at all. I feel your pain. At least the weather is nicer and he likes to be outside.

[spot555]

The same thing happened to me with a stray Golden Retriever/St. Bernard mix. We found out he actually lived 3 houses down, & the people were nice, but they didn't have time to spend with him.

The woman told us he had 3 homes before the age of one year, & they got him from a shelter. You can tell he had been smacked or kicked on the behind, because he would go nuts if you patted him in a loving way in that area (semi-aggressive). But, he found the right home with us. We don't throw away any animals just because we don't deem them perfect (who is?)

I'm telling you this because he used my arms as teething rings for a few months. It was part nerves, part incomplete puppyhood. He didn't know how to play with toys, he had bad teeth, etc. Wherever he came from, the conditions weren't good, that's for sure.

I really think what your pup needs is some obedience training. It helps SOOOO much in these cases, because it gives them so much confidence. They enjoy the whole process, plus they enjoy the time spent with you. I've taken a couple of my dogs to training, & the changes in them (for the good) were incredible.

[spot555]

I think sometimes these behavior problems happen when pups or kittens are taken from their mom & siblings too soon. When they're in their group, they play-fight, & learn an immense amount from one another. If you watch little ones group-play, they BITE each other, sumo wrestle, fight over food, etc. Sometimes the mom gets pretty strict with them, too. If you take all of this away, it can be a confusing start for a pup or kitten.

[mousiegirl]

Do not allow her to put her teeth on you. Whatever a puppy learns as a puppy, it will carry that behavior over into adulthood, and you do not want a dog who bites, nips, or otherwise puts teeth on a human being. Clip her lightly her on the nose with a firm NO, until she learns that it is unacceptable.