Play biting problem

**lindachacha** · 31-12-2008 10:03

Hi, am wondering if anyone has some advice on this to assist me with decision.

We recently got a dog, she's 10 months old, very sweet natured, but we do have a problem with play biting.

The bites are not vicious and happen when playing generally or trying to put her harness on. However last night she got me in the face.

We have been trying to teach her bite inhibition but it obviously isnt going to well. My main concern is my two children. The baby has no real contact with the dog but my toddler does.

I really am unsure of what to do as I've never experienced a dog who play bites like this before. I have been considering rehoming her.. even though it's playful in nature it still worries me..is rehoming her the right thing to do or should we persevere?

**Dilga** · 31-12-2008 10:55

All puppys play bite...its natrual for them to do this so I wouldn't rush into rehoming her.
Do you take her to puppy school? If not its really worth looking into for general training and they can give you lots of tips and advice for lots of different things. Its also great for socialising your puppy and teaches you and your children lots. I think our school cost $60 a year.
What I was taught to do with our dog (she's an australian bulldog so it was very important to train her not to bite due to her big bite! although they are a very gentle bread by nature) is to yelp like your a pup but not move your hand away and if she does it again yelp louder etc until she stops. Thats how they learn with their brothers and sisters whilst playing -so at first she might keep testing to see what happens which isn't a bad thing unless she really starts hurting you - which we never experienced.
Another thing you can do is making a loud argghhh sound with a deep voice - which took me practice and is naturally harder for females to do cause we don't have a deep voice. And moving away from your puppy - turning your back and crossing your arms.
I would teach your child to do the second method for both play bitting and if your puppy likes to jump (mine does and boy is she heavy!)
By turning your back they're not getting attention and will quickly work out they get ignored when they do these behaviours and by folding your arms it removes those little things called fingers that puppys just seem to like to chew

It wont work straight away but if you keep follwing through with these methods you'll start to notice she'll do it less and less. Hope that helps.

**~Candy~** · 31-12-2008 11:40

I agree with the pp

My pup is only 11 weeks old but she loves to play bite all the time and her puppy teeth are sharp! I growl at her like her own leader of the pack would and stop playing with her till she settles down. If she keeps it up, she gets sent outside or we go inside. When she's playing nice without the biting...she's praised...told good girl and a good tummy rub ect.
Same with the jumping up as the pp also mention..stand up, cross your arms and turn your back on the pup.

It all takes time and training and remember...a dog needs a master

**lindachacha** · 31-12-2008 19:58

Thank you for your responses.

Yes, I was aware that play biting is normal.. the reason I guess I panicked is because she went for my face. I was concerned that she would do the same to my daughter.. she does try to play with her by biting her clothes and her piggy tail once or twice. Even though I am there all the time if I'm not right next to my daughter I am not always able to stop her in time.

I have been trying the techniques you discussed Tegan with both the biting and jumping problems we have. I will continue to persevere.. we've had her for maybe 8 weeks or so now, so hopefully will see some improvement soon! We are taking her to obedience classes, finished up for now but intend to take her again next year.

**Chickadee** · 31-12-2008 20:23

I panicked is because she went for my face.

Anyone would! and you certainly don't want pup doing that with your DD. But even going for the head/neck region is part of normal pup play - when our GSP was a pup she and her sister always wrestled and it included taking each other by the neck and snapping at each other's ears or faces. Our GSP and deerhound still play this way - mainly grabbing each other by their collars. So it's normal for dogs. What you're doing to discourage biting in general should also deal with pup snapping at faces & necks.

Other things you can do daily to help establish your DD's place in the pack above the pup include feeding the dog last, don't let the pup barge between you and DD or put it's face between you, and making sure you and DD go out the door before pup (putting pup in a sit first can help). Your DD can also help feed the pup depending on how old she is.

**Dilga** · 01-01-2009 09:57

I'm glad your taking her to puppy school

They'll teach you lots of things there.
Including what Chickadee said - my dogs not allowed in or out of the house or any gate or door till she sits, I walk through and then give her permission. She's also not allowed to eat her dinner till she sits waits and I tell her 'dinner time' and my goodness that took a lot of time and patience to teach!! But well worth it! Now we can leave her sitting there and go to another room if we wanted to and she'd just sit there and drool till we say she can eat

**Mum2Tyla** · 01-01-2009 13:31

alot of good advice here, you got her when she was over 6 months so it will take longer to train her than it would a pup but it is possible with patience and consistency, play biting generally occurs when the pup is excited, if this is the case thewn take yourself out of the equation and give the dog time to settle, the yelping wsorks well, when young children are involved it can be very difficult and a very trying time, but with time, and patience you will get there.