Dog Nippin Problem

[CZKG_Crockett]

I have a 17 month old male Feist with a nippin and jumpin issue. He like to nip at ur hands and feet and ears and pretty much anythin he can get his mouth around. I was wonderin if anyone knew of a way to stop the habbit. I hate hittin him but sometimes he bites really hard and I just can't stop myself, plus he doesn't seem to learn because after I smack his snout, he goes right back to tryin to bite so I know that won't work.

We got him from a rescue, so we didn't have him as a puppy. There are a few things I want to teach him, but I need to stop this bitin. I have a 4 yr old son and a 7 month old daughter that I don't want to see hurt because he thinks they are tryin to play with him.

 

[Vel]

I have a 17 month old male Feist with a nippin and jumpin issue. He like to nip at ur hands and feet and ears and pretty much anythin he can get his mouth around. I was wonderin if anyone knew of a way to stop the habbit. I hate hittin him but sometimes he bites really hard and I just can't stop myself, plus he doesn't seem to learn because after I smack his snout, he goes right back to tryin to bite so I know that won't work.

We got him from a rescue, so we didn't have him as a puppy. There are a few things I want to teach him, but I need to stop this bitin. I have a 4 yr old son and a 7 month old daughter that I don't want to see hurt because he thinks they are tryin to play with him.

You'll find that if you go ahead and start working on a regular, ie.. sit..stay heel..obedience program that the problem will be easier to resolve. If you have a good program in your area, sign up for a group class. If you don't have a class to attend, get a good training collar and a good training book. I would recommend a crate so that the dog has a safe place to call his own and you have a place that you can safely leave him when you can't supervise or when you need a time out. Once you've been able to teach him a few basic manners, you can distract him away from the bad behavior by giving him a command that he understands and can succeed at. For example, if he's jumping at you, redirect his behavior by telling him to sit. When he sits, praise him and offer a toy or chew. Teaching him to play frisbee or fetch is also a great plan. He's an energetic breed and if you'll throw a ball or a frisbee a few times to get a bit of energy off of him, he'll be easier to deal with.
I know that it can be frustrating, but try to remember that his poor behavior is not his fault. He would do his best to please you if he only knew what it is that you want.

 

[strollingbones]

no hitting......vel is right...exercise and attention...it just takes time...

 

[Noomi]

I have a 17 month old male Feist with a nippin and jumpin issue. He like to nip at ur hands and feet and ears and pretty much anythin he can get his mouth around. I was wonderin if anyone knew of a way to stop the habbit. I hate hittin him but sometimes he bites really hard and I just can't stop myself, plus he doesn't seem to learn because after I smack his snout, he goes right back to tryin to bite so I know that won't work.

We got him from a rescue, so we didn't have him as a puppy. There are a few things I want to teach him, but I need to stop this bitin. I have a 4 yr old son and a 7 month old daughter that I don't want to see hurt because he thinks they are tryin to play with him.

He is biting because you are hitting him, you moron. Don't EVER hit a dog - they will try and defend themselves and that is why people get bitten.

And for christ sake, learn proper grammar.

 

[koshergrl]

Hitting won't help.

When he jumps on you, turn your back, and just keep turning from him until he stops and sits, then praise him. Do it every time, he'll stop.

When he bites, same thing, turn away, hold your hands folded at chest level, look away (up at the ceiling) until he stops.

You're at the point in his training where it's do or die. Adolescent dogs have to be trained in some manner; you can't just ignore naughty behavior and fail to address it or they're ruined. I recently went through this with my saint. We managed to get the jumping/nipping taken care of when he was very young, we had to...but when he was the age of your pup it was all about hitting the end of his leash, dragging me when we were walking, jumping and getting excited over new people/dogs he saw etc. So we had to deal.

Walking will help almost any behavior. You're forced to interact with them and they have an outlet and distraction.

I started taking my boy to the beach (I'm lucky I live on the coast). The access to the beach is a huge dune, so I would make him walk behind me as we climbed the dune (this is where he traditionally liked to surge ahead) and I climb slowly...then also down on the other side, and only when we'd made the climb up and down, and he was sitting calmly would I release him to run.

Then he gets to run for a while, then back on the leash for the dune climb back to the car.

The thing is...this short exercise fixed all sorts of other issues. Nervous barking and racing around at home, for example. He'd gotten into a habit of spending an hour or so every night racing through the house, barking and playing with m other dog. Extremely disruptive, messy, loud, and dangerous because he runs into things and jumps up on the bed and stuff.

So start walking him, and when he jumps on or nips you, raise your hands to your chest and fold them (don't flap them around over his head), look at the ceiling and turn away from him.

 

[koshergrl]

Another issue we've had to address is running out the front door, and charging visitors to my house. I've just had to take it in hand. You can't ignore it, you can't pretend it isn't happening, and you can't just yell.

I have to take my time when the doorbell rings. The door doesn't get opened until he's sitting some 10 feet back from the door or so, and the other dog as well. When they're focused on me, and back from the door, then the door gets opened. I don't hang onto them and open the door, it's just chaos. So they have to sit or lay down, then the door gets opened.

They still bark like crazy and race around when anybody goes to the door, but they're learning that when I go to the door, they go to their spots and wait.

 

[CMike]

NEVER HIT YOUR DOG!!!

Puppy's like to mouth. It's how they learn. They also are teething.

I suggest get some chew toys. Maybe a kong.

Also if he nips you can pinch his lip a little .

As far as jumping try putting your knee out when he jumps. Then it won't be as much fun.

 

[CZKG_Crockett]

Wow when I said hit, I meant a nudge on the snout, not a full blown smack. Who pissed in your Cheerios, Noomi?

Thanks for the help, koshergrl. He is great for me on the leash so that's not an issue. I take him for walks before work and when I get home and again before bed. He does have the crazy run around the house at night but it's not very often.

He does get a little crazy when someone comes into the house, but when I call for him he runs right over to me and sits at my feet or on my lap. Same thing when we are outside and someone walks past while he's sittin next to me on the leash. He'll whimper a little and the works, but for the most part, he stays with me.

He doesn't bite because I'm hittin him. I don't sit there and wind up and hit him as hard as I can. I give him a smack on the snout. He's not bittin me because he's defendin himself, Noobi. He's tryin to play and nibble and act like a typical puppy. Society would be much better off without ignorance like yourself in the world.

 

[koshergrl]

Just turn your back on him pointedly, and don't look at him..and put your hands up. He'll stop.

If he's doing it when you're in bed or chair, make him get down, or get up and walk away from him.

 

[Wolfsister77]

I agree with a few comments in here. Jumping up is best handled with turning your back and ignoring the behavior until it stops. This will have to be done repeatedly. I also agree that a good obedience class is a great idea and giving the dog plenty of exercise and a way to burn off energy. Another good thing is to give the dog something acceptable to chew on and then redirect the dog to that. Unfortunately, even smacking on the snout teaches a dog to nip at your hand. Best thing to do is stand up, turn your back, and keep your hands out of the way and ignore the bad behavior. Spend plenty of time rewarding good behavior. Repetition is the key and your dog will learn. Good luck!!

 

[Noomi]

KG is right on this one. Take her advice, and you'll have a happier dog.

 

[Mr. H.]

A friend of mine took on a mature Presa Canario (Canary Dog) from the local pound. One day it tried to tear his arm off so he beat it dead with a baseball bat. In front of the neighbors. Who called the cops. No charges. Irony is... a few years ago the city gave him a recognition plaque for saving a neighbor kid from berzerk pit bull.

 

[koshergrl]

My saint went through the nipping/jumping phase too. We went through it at about 6 months...he was already huge so there was no ignoring it past that point. I had a few months where I didn't go to work ever without paw prints and slobber on my clothes but he did eventually quit doing it.

He did really get in trouble for using his mouth inappropriately just a couple of times...it wasn't his fault but he had to know it was very wrong. It was when he knocked down my daughter and held the back of her head. He was just playing, and she initiated it..the kids insisted on roughhousing with him, running and squealing when he's offleash, and a few times he just ran right over them and kept them down. For that he got in trouble, for real. I yelled at him, used NO exceedingly severely, shook my finger at him....I don't think I hit him because it always happened ahead of me, out of reach, lol. But he's very responsive to my voice and to NO so he got the idea. He also tackled my 14 y.o. stepsons and grabbed his forearm and wouldn't let go...not his fault, again, but it doesn't matter, he got in trouble for it.

I think it took a couple of months, all told, to get him to quit jumping altogether. For him nibbling wasn't too much of an issue, he's not a real chewy dog, not a herder...he got everyone once or twice but it was just a matter of NO! and give him no satisfaction. No mouth play, no games that involve biting.

It was harder to train the 14 year old. He thought he was cute and so would roughhouse and get him to play bite at him. Then my dog would get all excited and take him DOWN. It wasn't so much fun after that happened a couple of times, lol.

Now we don't worry too much when we're walking, so long as we sort of keep an eye on him when he's racing around, and remind him "upon approach" (barreling towards you at about 30 mph, 115 pounds of joy and 1-inch nails) he doesn't hurt anyone.

 

[koshergrl]

 

[koshergrl]

 

[Noomi]

^those eyes! Gorgeous!

 

[CMike]

Beautiful dog. Big baby.

The girl looks pretty hot too.

 

[koshergrl]

The girl is a little girl (it's hard to tell) and thanks. I like these two pics, though they're both fuzzy...

 

[CMike]

The girl is a little girl (it's hard to tell) and thanks. I like these two pics, though they're both fuzzy...

I was afraid of that after I sent my post.

 

[CMike]

I has a St Bernard as a child- Yael.

Great dog. I miss her.