Biting

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Lucy_Nottingham

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Hi,

Ok border collie puppy, nearly 5mnths old, when I walk round the house from room to room sometimes (not always) but normally when he is excited, he starts jumping and nipping my legs. I stop and ignore him for a few moments, and he stops but the moment I start walking again he starts nipping again. He doesn't seem to do it to anyone but me!
Also when we play, he likes to play fight, which is fine, but then he gets too excited and starts biting and grabbing on, which a) hurts! and b) is not good...
So question

How do I make it stop please?
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any advice most appreciated! (short of covering myself in tabasco sauce so I taste nasty!)
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You have a dog, who for generations has been bred to herd sheep, he can't help but want to herd you, so his instincts drive him to nip at your legs. It is much the same as the guarding instincts in GSDs and Dobermans. Whippets can't help but chase and kill things from an early age either.

Firstly without running the legs off your puppy I would make sure he is getting lots of exercise and I don't mean just chucking him out in the garden. Secondly, you have one of the most intelligent breeds , a simple command of NO and hold your hand out in a blocking manner. Don't continue the game if he gets rough, just walk away and ignore him, it is a much better punishment that walloping him. Start training him to sit, stay, heel, fetch, anything that will occupy his brain, he is like a sponge, have fun with him, Collies are desperate for stimulation.

Also check what you are feeding him - although puppies need proper feeding, some of the complete feeds are extremely high in protein and can make young dogs go quite bonkers.
 
He does get good exercise good walk round the park (off the lead) in the morning, so he does twice the walking/runnign I do! often we take a ball (we are starting to learn fetch, rather than just herd the ball then watch it!)
I can do NO or DROP and he will let go, but then the moment I set off walking (anywhere) again he at my heels, or knees, or anything he can get hold of!
We can do sit, down, getting better at stay, but has the patience of a..... i don't know, an impatient thing! lol my sister plays with him no end, she wants him to be an agility dog!
Once he gets the idea he is good and stops biting, but then if we do it a few minutes later, the biting starts again! I guess its just repitition and consistency!?
He is on Hills Science Plan Puppy food. He gets 250g a day (given in 2 equal meals) as it is the best food and regime that means his tummy stays happy and runs free, and his coat doesn't get excessive dandruff! (black dog with pink/white skin! not a good combo!)
 
You have to be careful not to over walk puppies because you can do damage to their immature joints, but a walk in the park in the morning, is not enough for a collie, he needs to be walked twice a day, every day.

It is the reason why I could never have one - they are far too hyperactive for me. My neighbour has one that needs 2 hours walking every day or else it goes mental.

Repetition is the name of the game in any training plan. Never allow him to mouth you. A firm NO and ignore him for a few minutes before you ask him to continue the training game. Take him to dog training classes. Collies are like brainy, nerdy kids, for them a simple exercise like sitting is not enough, they want to know whether you want them to sit quickly, slowly, to the left, to the right. Keep pushing his training sessions to keep him mentally entertained.
 
O sorry, I didnt put after the park that we go for a walk in teh evening, which can take about half an hour (ish)
He is a pretty chilled out collie, so I am quite lucky in that respect!
We have been to puppy training classes but cause its a class, and he was RELATIVELY well behaved we just got overlooked, and I didnt get to work on the little problems we were having, so a trainer is coming for a 1-2-1 session tonight to try to help me out a bit! (in theory! for £25/hour he should be!)
 
As you know, we have Bess who is a week or two younger than Beau.

She is physically walked (as in we go out with her with the purpose of taking her for a walk) five times a day. Three of those walks are off leash as we are in the fields. Twice for an hour and the third time is about 30 mins now that it's getting dark (as it's tea time).

She's walked about 6.45am for 20 mins, but on a lead as it's dark and I walk her on a lead in the field (with me using a headlamp) about 8.30pm. She is then let out into the yard with us when we're doing farm jobs during the day for stretch of the legs and throw of the ball.

She used to be quite nippy, but now she's not as contained in the house/pen etc she's far more placid and seems generally happier. Slowly losing the "whirlwind" label. However, we all did used to tap her nose and give her a firm "NO!" if she mouthed at us. Not sure if Beau is the same, but Bess is so easily sneeped if you tell her off. She soon learned.

I don't play ball with her in the fields anymore as we keep losing them in the long grass. I just march up and down the hills at pace and let her do her own thing around me. It's more about ME getting fit at the moment!
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hey long time no see/speak! we got 2 collie/spaniel pups about 2 months ago. when they first came they literally ran around ALL day and we found out the food we were feeding was like redbull to them so now they are on chappie complete adult food as they need to be on 20% protein or less food to cap their energy levels and its nice and easy on them as they are prone to bad tums. Charlie used to bite when he got excited so we pushed him off, said no and ignored him until he decided he was going to be good. Its just repetition until they finally get it! x
 
Hi kwinstanley ye heard you got some puppies! Beau is funny sometimes he is just not in the mood will walk well behaved and calm, then other times he goes into collie mode and goes spacky and slightly mouthy, but he is getting better the professional trainer helped us alot.
QWent for a walk today off the lead, LOADS of other dogs around and he was REALLY good! came back when called and kept up if we walked off I was like YYEEEEYYY!!!! hehe
 
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