german sheapard

hogflem

anyone have any ideas on how to stop my 9 week old from always teething on humans,tried all the toys ,training tricks,putting toys in the mouth when she goes for hands or ankles.nothing to date works.has broken skin, is good otherwise.

Sean Quagmire

I found this helped for mouthing/biting hands or anything they shouldn't

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Bitter-Apple-Spray-236cc-Helps-deter-your-pet-licking-chewing-/290607899136?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs&hash=item43a994a200#ht_500wt_778

jessica conlan

hogflem wrote: »

anyone have any ideas on how to stop my 9 week old from always teething on humans,tried all the toys ,training tricks,putting toys in the mouth when she goes for hands or ankles.nothing to date works.has broken skin, is good otherwise.

Hey so unfortunately this is a behavioural problem not a teething problem it is widely unknown that teething should not cause a pup to chew (shocked me when I learned this too) so here are a few tips
Make a loud noise as he starts stand up and then ignore him turn ur back and don't let him touch you until he moves away

Have a small spray bottle of water and spray him when he does it

A very controversial one is to pinch the ear which is what that ceazer guy says in his book

I am a veterinary assistant, dog groomer and pet behaviourist along with having the biggest goof of a German shepherd so I do know why I'm talking about not just someone who thinks they do the important thing is stop it now or he will never break the habit and always mouth ur hands

Because he is so young the first 2 should defo work jut be consistent

Hope this helps and good luck!!

DBB

Hi Jessica,
Can you tell me, what behavioural course from which you got your behavioural qualification is promoting Cesar Milan's techniques, or using water sprays, or ear pinches? Or which teaches that puppy chewing is not caused by teething, at least to some degree?
I've never heard of a course in behavioural science which teaches this material.

OP, using physical punishment is absolutely not acceptable in dog training any more, even more so for pups.
It is really important to use non-physical, gentle techniques, and use our knowledge of learning theory to promote nice behaviour whilst gently discouraging unwanted behaviour. There are plenty of other threads on the subject here, but the idea is that you let out an "ouch" when pup bites, and only then, if he bites again, you tell him "enough" and walk away from him. Or, you gently lead him out of the room and leave him alone for 30-60 seconds. Then you continue with him as before. This will take a lot of repetition, but these are the joys of dog training.
Can I also point you towards www.dogstardaily.com, click on the "training textbook" link, there is oodles of super puppy advice there from the renowned puppy behaviourist Dr. Ian Dunbar.. all of the advice on the site is from qualified behaviourists, and very much promotes positive, trust-building, ethical training.
Do remember, as it is in Ireland at the moment, anyone can call themselves a behaviourist even though they haven't any behavioural training, or have been trained in a short course by people who aren't trained themselves, and often base their expertise on having watched some questionable dog training on the tv, or having read some books. To put things in context, the title of "behaviourist" is on its way to becoming protected in the uk and elsewhere. When it is, a behaviourist will have to be as highly qualified as any medical doctor, vet, psychiatrist etc. So you can see, it is actually a field which requires a very high level of study, experience, and continuing professional development.
Let's hope it happens soon.

tk123

Puppy classes/socialisation helped a LOT with our guy. They'll yelp to tell each other when they've gone too far. My dogs and his friends bite the heads off each other when they play lol - but that's all there is to it - just playing.

ppink

great advice from DBB there. I used to give a yelp if they were mouthing like that and it stopped it quickly.
I would not go down the route of sprays or pinching etc as it will define her relationship with you and you dont want her to fear you, you will get far more out of a german shepherd that does not fear you.

best of luck

Léan

I've a 9 month old GSD Lab X and he can be very nippy sometimes. He thinks it's a great laugh of course :rolleyes:. The yelping like a puppy would or showing him something he can chew on does not work on our guy at all. What we have found to work is we put him out for 1-2 minutes every time he does it and he gets the idea i.e. if he nips the game is over and he goes out. It's the only thing that seems to get through to him but it works! .