Help! Diva thinks Im her littermate...

Chrystie22 · #1 21-03-11, 02:01 PM

Ive come to the conclusion that Diva sees me more as a 'littermate' than her owner

and I really need advice on how to re-establish myself in the 'pack' (dont really believe in or like all the 'dominant pack leader' stuff but hey..); I have posted many times about her biting,it's slightly better but still there! She doesnt do it to my OH so much but Im sure she sees me as this big giant chew toy coz she will be fine one minute and the next she will lunge at me, barking, and attempting to grab my arm! I know it's only play-biting but it is getting seriously annoying now, it had me almost in tears last night as she looked positively vicious at soem point and I thought there may be a possibility she doesnt like me

We both feed her/ play with her/ groom her/ walk her,..equally so not sure what Im doing wrong

She can sooo affectionate sometimes and cuddly that it saddens me to not being able to get over the situation. HELP please!!

kita · #2 21-03-11, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrystie22

she will be fine one minute and the next she will lunge at me, barking, and attempting to grab my arm!

What do you do when she does this?

The best thing to do is immediately turn your back and ignore her, if she keeps jumping at your back then walk out of the room and shut the door behind you.

It has to be immediate and you have to do it every time. Don't give any commands or anything (everything is attention and that is what she wants).

She will soon learn that the behaviour gets her absolutely nothing.

Sue

LucyA · #3 21-03-11, 02:09 PM

This happened with my Mums collieX and my sister who was just 10 at the time. We think it was because she was the smallest.
We all had to be very strict after that, we had to come downstairs in the morning, ignore the dog until we'd been to the loo/had a coffee whatever we were doing, then fuss her, same everytime we came in, it just reinstates that they are not the only thing in the world.

Chrystie22 · #4 21-03-11, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kita

What do you do when she does this?

The best thing to do is immediately turn your back and ignore her, if she keeps jumping at your back then walk out of the room and shut the door behind you.

It has to be immediate and you have to do it every time. Don't give any commands or anything (everything is attention and that is what she wants).

She will soon learn that the behaviour gets her absolutely nothing.

Sue

Believe me Sue I have done the leaving the room and ignoring her but it only works 50% of the time..I do it 5 times in a row sometimes and she sort of gets the message but starts again a bit later..This is a technique that can work indoors but what about outdoors? She will lunge at me too when we are out on walks and I cannot then just leave her there, can I?

kita · #5 21-03-11, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrystie22

I do it 5 times in a row sometimes and she sort of gets the message but starts again a bit later..This is a technique that can work indoors but what about outdoors? She will lunge at me too when we are out on walks and I cannot then just leave her there, can I?

You have to keep at it and do it every time. If you are consistent she will learn in time.

On a walk if she does it (I presume she is on a lead) either hand the lead to the person you are with and walk away, or tie her to a fence and stand just out of reach until she calms down. If there is no fence and you are on your own try putting something in her mouth (like a glove/toy or something) and let her carry it. I have even been known to go down on my knees and curl up in a ball - nothing to bite then!!! That was when I was in the middle of a field with no one around though!!

She is probably doing it because she is getting over excited/frustrated and wants to play, but she has to learn that biting is not acceptable.

Sue

Chrystie22 · #6 21-03-11, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kita

She is probably doing it because she is getting over excited/frustrated and wants to play, but she has to learn that biting is not acceptable.

Sue

Why doesnt she bite my OH then? Doesnt she want to play with him?

GobbySchäferhund · #7 21-03-11, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kita

I have even been known to go down on my knees and curl up in a ball - nothing to bite then!!! That was when I was in the middle of a field with no one around though!!
Sue

Hahaha im sat at work laughing my head of this really made me chuckle, I suppose you can try anything once

pamella · #8 21-03-11, 04:31 PM

Marley who is now 7 1/2 months used to do this to me when we were out.it would be when i took the 2 dogs to the field,the second his paws topuched the grass he would want the lead off like yesterday.he would lunge and nip at my arms.
i couldn't understand this sudden behaviour untill i noticed my hubby playing with him one weekend in the garden so i thought then that it was excitement.when i told hubby he stopped it immediately and i started to walk them seperately and didn't take him to the park for a while.in the mean time i did the back turning thing and also told him no before he started it.
when i eventually took him to our park which funnily enough has been today he didn't do it.if he had have done my plan was to allow the other dog to go off and do the back turn until he stopped then allow him off.he used to do it on the way back to the car when put on the lead and today there was nothing.
i have been walking them seperately now for about 3-4 weeks and when we are out i practice heel .sit stay etc over and over with him.he also had started to bark at other dogs when we were waiting for daughter to come out of school and i would walk him the other way every time-so he couldn't see the other dog then when calm take him back.i did this twice and he got the message.
you have just got to think ahead and be on your game with them.
sorry for the long post-good luck.

Bonniesmummy · #9 21-03-11, 06:00 PM

Bonnie used to do this with me, and I know it's so hard when outside.... When I tried to walk away she would run after me and snap at the back of my legs!!! Omg it hurt and had bruises/cuts sooo big from a ickle wee pup

Only advice I can offer is the same I'm afraid, walk away immediately! Say nothing! I also sat with her on the floor playing and let her nibble at my hands, when it got harder than just teeth on skin I would make the loudest noise 'Oowww' and suck breath in, did that everytime and she quickly learned how hard she could bite.... I was advised this as she had no bite inhabitation at all due to being taken away from her litter early

I don't really know what stopped it, she just clicked one day that she couldn't get away with it xxx

#10 21-03-11, 07:02 PM

I can only echo what's been said. I would fold my arms and turn instantly away - no interaction, no sound, no fun for Diva! If she does it outside on a walk it is more difficult. You could try giving her an obedience command, or put her back on lead to regain control. Be aware of giving a toy or something to put in her mouth instead - some bright pups will behaviour-link and bite to get the toy!

It is something they grow out of, thankfully.