any ideas on this?

Mewzard · #1 05-10-10, 11:51 AM

I need some help understanding this..

Yesterday we were in the garden,Oka and I, playing. She was chasing the ball down the garden, i would call her she would bound back (with the ball), i would take her collar whilst offering a treat (recall as taught by our puppy class), then throing the ball again.. we were having fun. Then on one return she grabbed my sleeve (by mistake i think) and i said 'off', she then turned her mouth to grab my arm. I said 'no, off' and she let go and i stood up to throw the ball again. she then started to jump up at me and bite my clothes. i crossed my arms and turned away she barked at me and bit my trousers and shoes. I thought i'll end this here and walked inside in the thought of shutting her out for a minute for a time out.... She bit at the back of my leg and has scored a 3inch scrape across it which today has some little bruising around. i yelled "ow" when she bit me as it really hurt.

After her time out i went back out and she greeted me with her ears flat back and sat down pawing at me (her normal greeting). We played with the ball but no recall stuff and then she did the same...caught my sleeve when i stroked her and i said "off" and she started jumping again etc...didn't bite my leg though.

Today she has done similar but not as bad;jumped up at me when i sat down (after being out playing with her), i tell her 'off', barking and glaring at me then tries to bite me when i ignore her. . I put her in time out for a minute or two. She tends to whine when i put her in it, not sure if she realises she has done wrong or if she thinks i'll let her out quicker?!
She sometimes she has snapped her jaws at me if i tell her off.

She'd stopped 99% of her mouthing and is great with lots of things - i can look in her ears, eyes, mouth, play with her feet with nothing so much as a head turn. I can't workout why she did this. I'm not sure if she was tired, if she's teething or just trying to "answer back".

Anyway sorry for the essay, i was quite shocked at her behaviour. If someone can tell me if what i am doing is right or any other suggestions i would be gratefull. She is 16 weeks - that ticker is wrong

LOVEGSD · #2 05-10-10, 12:40 PM

I wonder if it's over-excitement tbh, she was clearly having fun out in the garden and then got a bit carried away.

I would just be consistent and every time she puts her mouth on you turn your back, fold your arms and stop all play. Once she's calm start again, GSD's love your attention so I found this was the most effective way with my lad.

kalv · #3 05-10-10, 01:44 PM

As above.. I'd put it to over-excitement.. stay firm with discipline.

i do play fight alot with charlie (me and him are the only boys in the house) but I always make sure he doesn't over step the line - and I always make sure i win.

Caryll · #4 05-10-10, 03:19 PM

I'm inclined to think it's over excitement as well. How old is she now? Is she going through an adolescent stage of knowing everything & listening to nothing?

LOVEGSD · #5 05-10-10, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalv

As above.. I'd put it to over-excitement.. stay firm with discipline.

i do play fight alot with charlie (me and him are the only boys in the house) but I always make sure he doesn't over step the line - and I always make sure i win.

Tbh I wouldn't want to encourage any play fighting, although you say you make sure he doesn't over-step the line how does he know that he can do this to you but not to others???

I am fostering an EBT who was allowed to play fight with his owner and he then viewed all people as possible playmates and would grab their arms or clothes, it's taken months of consistant training to stop this. I would be very wary of any rough play that allows them to use their mouths on you....hope you aren't offended but it just worries me when I read stuff like this.

Caryll · #6 05-10-10, 03:58 PM

I have an EBT and I don't allow any play fighting at all - he's not allowed to play fight with Pneuma, other dogs or people. When he plays with Pneuma it's all pushes & shoves & jumping around - the teeth aren't used at all. It's just too dangerous, if he thought he could play fight a child..........I shudder to think.

gsdlover4ever · #7 05-10-10, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOVEGSD

I wonder if it's over-excitement tbh, she was clearly having fun out in the garden and then got a bit carried away.

I would just be consistent and every time she puts her mouth on you turn your back, fold your arms and stop all play. Once she's calm start again, GSD's love your attention so I found this was the most effective way with my lad.

i agree with the above.

sarahj · #8 05-10-10, 05:10 PM

Sally used to do this when she would get over excited (or frustrated when we stopped playing)

Best advice i can give is to just stay consistent and be firm.

x

Stuart · #9 05-10-10, 06:59 PM

Its all been said, over excitment,.. if she plays for 10 minutes before getting over excited,..then stop play after nine minutes,..and go inside, try to stop the game before the excitment builds,..even if its just one throw of the ball, the next day try two throws of the ball,.. always try to finish on a good note and without her useing her mouth

Mewzard · #10 06-10-10, 12:10 PM

Thankyou all!! She has been so good, she has never really nipped/mouthed hard and then Bam!
I think she was probably over-excited and then frustrated because i stopped playing and ignored her.

She did similar yesterday afternoon, she bit my daughters feet (playing with a ball) and i told her "off" and so she bit me + jumping up etc.
Then this morning she was going crazy at the hose, as i was cleaning the path, i think trying to get it to play with her. I bent to clean the drain and she was next to me and nipped my elbow ( i now have a bruise

). I think she was quite excited again....usually she stays away from the hose

I think she is testing the boundries suddenly and it's a bit of a shock! Especially since she has been pretty good so far. We are consistant, so i guess just more of the same even though she's trying something new.

What would you suggest when she bites the kids feet? they tell her "off" which she listens to me say but not them and they really don't go in for ignoring it as it hurts! They crying or make noise which makes it a game i guess... They are 4 and 6.5yrs. Shall i just keep removing her and timeouting (is that a word?) her?

Stuart - i think i will try the 9mins 10mins etc. I think we were playing for about 15 which i'm guessing was too long.