Still biting at 15 weeks - HELP!

[benson mum]

Hi there, just wanted to let you know you are not alone, benson is now 20 weeks old and we have had a right nightmare with him.... to the point where we even considered rehoming (mostly because of biting but he was also only giving us 4-5 hours sleep a night so everything he did seemed way way worse than it was!)
We have an excellant trainer who has helped us know end.... she even took benson for a couple of night so we could get some sleep.
We tried all the normal ignoring etc but your right he just moved onto another part of our body.... we have found that being firm but not loosing your temper work (its hard i know) also we say loudly and firmly arh arh as soon as he goes to put teeth onto any part of us.... this has worked but like evryone has said it didnt happen over night.... you have to be consistent.... everytime he goes to do it you must respond straight away, miss one time and you almost go back to the beginning.
Sorry for the long post and im sure im only saying what others have said but just wanted to show my support.
Benson is now a totally different dog, he is mellow occasionally forgets himself but gets a quick arh arh and it still works.
Good luck and keep us updated.
xxxx

[T'sAndC's]

Hang on in there, keep your chin up. Spyke was a bite monster too and I posted a similar thread and everyone said it would get better AND it did. It finally became better once his baby teeth were gone, not saying he suddenly became an angel but at least he wasn`t hanging off my slipper boots


Tracy

[Caryll]

I know it's easy for us to say this, but it will get better. She's a very young pup, and will still be used to playing with her siblings in this way. You now have to show her that this isn't your way to play.

A firm & deep "Noooo" the instant she bites, followed by isolation if she doesn't stop is the key. She WILL get it eventually. I know it sounds painful (and probably is!) but when she bites, try not to snatch whatever she's bitten away. Stay calm, don't look at her & don't talk to her other than the "No!" If she won't stop, then isolation or time out in her crate.

[smallscreamy]

Hi Chrystèle

I just thought you would want to know that Diva's auntie Willow is also still biting like a four legged shark! About 10 days ago, we started a new thing with Willow because, as you know, Willow is terrible for biting!! Now, if she bites, she gets told No loudly. If she lets go she gets a lot of praise, if she doesn't or bites again, she either gets put in the kitchen with the door shut, or the yard with the door shut, for a minute or so. The first couple of days, she spent most of the day being shut out - 1 minute at a time!! I wouldn't want to say she is cured but we are starting to notice a small improvement - YEAH!! It is only a small improvement and she still has days were she seems to bite all day, but we are hoping that things will eventually get better.

It has been really interesting reading this thread because we have been wondering what we will do if this biting was to carry on (as we have small children) and obviously we couldn't have a full grown GSD that bites all day. I was wondering myself if we have an aggressive dog so it has been such a relief to know that most GSD's seem to be the same as puppies and the biting will one day stop.

[daeneth]

Originally Posted by smallscreamy

Hi Chrystèle

I just thought you would want to know that Diva's auntie Willow is also still biting like a four legged shark! About 10 days ago, we started a new thing with Willow because, as you know, Willow is terrible for biting!! Now, if she bites, she gets told No loudly. If she lets go she gets a lot of praise, if she doesn't or bites again, she either gets put in the kitchen with the door shut, or the yard with the door shut, for a minute or so. The first couple of days, she spent most of the day being shut out - 1 minute at a time!! I wouldn't want to say she is cured but we are starting to notice a small improvement - YEAH!! It is only a small improvement and she still has days were she seems to bite all day, but we are hoping that things will eventually get better.

It has been really interesting reading this thread because we have been wondering what we will do if this biting was to carry on (as we have small children) and obviously we couldn't have a full grown GSD that bites all day. I was wondering myself if we have an aggressive dog so it has been such a relief to know that most GSD's seem to be the same as puppies and the biting will one day stop.

Only thing I might say about this is that in giving attention to her when she bites you and then stops can teach her to make accidental behavioural chains, so she could learn that in biting you she gets a chance to be told no and then gets lots of nice fuss.

Dean