Help required! Unruly rescue bites........

lexiedhb

lexiedhb

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:confused::(:confused:

So I rehomed a rescue dog 2 weeks ago..... I knew there would be issues but this one I seriously do not know how to deal with.

Dexter used to hump, this he stops if you just ignore it........ however now if you are ignoring him, arms folded etc he either jumps up to bite your wrists, or more recently bites your feet- but he really will not stop...... voice does nothing, a stern no, or a "you have hurt me yelp" almost encourages him, I have smacked him away a few times, again encourages him, but this is a big dog, and this "mouthing" hurts.

He also does this for no apparent reason- as in OH will be sat on the sofa- Dex will walk in, sit down, have a stroke, then grab OH's wrist. Or we go for a nice long walk, go to a pub, and after 10 mins hes humping or grabbing at you.

Have tried grabbing his collar and removing him from the room, either he goes crazy while you have hold of his collar and you can not get him anywhere, all the while trying to bite your wrists..... seems anything you try to do turns it itno a game. Also tried getting his collar and making him lay down to be calm- like that chappy on the tele..... sometimes hes fine, others, well just gets back up and starts over again

We start obedience classes tomorrow, not sure how well they will work as he does not really respond to the voice, but willing to give it a go

I am covered in tooth sized bruises, so ANY assistance would be appreciated.
 
I don't know if I do the right thing but when my IG puppy bites my wrists, I sit on my hands. He soon gives up.
I appreciate that my dog is a pup (7months) and is considerably smaller but it does work, just ignoring him.

Have you tried ignoring him?
 
It can be ignoring him that makes him do it Quirky!!!

So you are stood there arms folded because he is trying to hump your leg, and he does anything in his power to get your attention.... meaning biting feet/wrists!! and becasue of his size you really can not just ignore that.
 
I stand up "ah ah" and leave the room for 5 minutes every single time

Either that or me move to an incompatible behavior. He jumps so i ask for a "sit" click and reward. This is where you can be doing your small 5 minute training sessions. Random trick training works wonders for redirecting unwanted behavior.

It seems that maybe he has just never been taught not to and is essentially a very big unruly puppy and he needs more mental stimulation.

Abe use to hump when he was bored. Now he gets just as much if not more mental stimulation a day than physical.
 
I think you may need a professional to help you with this one, so it might be best to ask at the training classes, but one or two things spring to mind: is he castrated? If not, get him done asap. Can you distract him with a chew or squeeky toy or piece of food that you throw to the ground for him? If you can't remove him from the room, take everyone else (human and other animals if any) and leave him behind everytime he displays the unwanted behaviour. Leave him on his own for 5 minutes, pick a moment when he is quiet (if he happens to be barking) and re-enter. If he mouths you again, repeat.
 
Try either squirting him with water (water pistol or empty washing up liquid container) every time he tries to bite, or use a Pet Corrector spray. I wonder if it was this behaviour that lead to him being in rescue in the first place.:( Hopefully Cayla will be along later and will have some more useful advice, it might be worth contacting the rescue and asking them for help. The trainer at the obedience classes may also be able to offer some constructive tips, as you say you cannot let a dog of his size continue with this behaviour.
 
Oh dear :eek:.

It sounds quite amusing but I'm sure at his size it isn't.

Has he got a favourite toy that you can distract him with?

I do tricks with my pup and it is great for re-focussing his thoughts :).
 
8/10 you can distract him.... with a tennis ball- not interested in anything that squeeks!! If there happens to be a tennis ball within arms length.

We do do sit, stay, come,paw etc to try and knacker his mind out, as well as long walks etc, but when he is "playing" - read biting feets etc, none of these commands work. Have also tried teaching new things, V slow process- which is surprising seeing as he is so food orientated.

OH tried spraying him with water- he now hates all squirty bottles, and tries to bite them if he sees one, or you pick one up!

Will phone the rescue again tonight.

Will obviously ask the trainer tomorrow........... I thought maybe he is trying to assert some sort of authority- new pack and all that.
 
A friend had an issue similar and she sprayed her arms and hands (well clothes, wore gloves) with a foul tasting anti chew spray, I think she enhanced it with tabasco. A few gnashes later the dog got less and less interested and it did work in that case.

Water spray - add vinegar to the water, dogs often hate the smell.

Good luck with the trainer.
 
Hi lexiedhb,

Firstly what breed of dog is your rescue? I would try to find a trainer who has specialised in difficult dogs of that breed. I don't wish to dishearten you but it could be months before you stop this behaviour. Every dog is different and some can be taught/retaught behaviour by the gently, gently approach others unfortunately do need a confrontation, but be consistant and give any method a decent time to take effect before changing method. But you must try to discover why dex is doing what he is doing.
I have taken on a BC which frankly I didn't have the experience to deal with and many trainers would say what I did to stop him bitting me was wrong but I bacially ended up having a serious confrontation with him, and basically continually invading his space, until he decided there was no point in attacking me then I would reward him by a gentle physical stroke. It is really hard to give anything useful via email but basically get yourself a good trainer who you can work with (rather like a riding instructor) and stick with it as it really could take months to stop this behaviour.
Best of luck
 
We think he is Staff X ridgeback, but being found as a stray no one will ever know for sure.

Thanks all for comments, hopefully this trainer will be able to help in someway- if he actually exhibits any of the behaviour whilst out.
 
I would be interested to know how old this dog is and what the rescue told you. Most rescues these days have access to behavourists and are willing to help through any problems after all its in their interest as they dont want the dog to come back to them.

I would not be confrontational with this dog if its a Dobe or another large breed as this can backfire but rather try to distract or time out when he is going through theses episodes.

From what Ive read and I may has misunderstood this dog is crying out for some sort of mental stimulation so a good dog trainer is a must in this sort of situation.
 
Ok the rescue/vet reckon he is about 2- seems younger in his behavoiur to me. The rescue I got him from is small, and do not have the resource for behaviourists, he also never displayed this behaviour when cooped in a kennel for 23 hours a day.

I am reluctant to be confrontational with him, as we just do not know him well enough to know his response. He does have time outs.

As I said classes start tomorrow, but other than a kong, trying to teach him new things, or doing the things he already knows, and "find the tennis ball" games Im not sure what other mental stimulation I can give him!!!! :(
 
Firstly well done for taking on a rescue and I know from your reply the rescue cant help you. You are doing the right thing in taking it to a trainer and looking at it from the dogs perspective being cooped up 23hrs in kennels and now being with you he must feel he has died and gone to heaven. My last dog was a rescue Dobe about 2yrs old completely unsocialized and very challenging, at times I thought I had taken on more than I could chew and was out of my depth. But with a good trainer and lots of work he turned out to be a dog of a lifetime.

Ignore the post about dda .
 
I suspect this is why he has been passed on from the last home, a behaviour thats gone un trained, the kennels wont have seen the behaviour, this is why we assess (hence me not rehoming Buster through our rescue) as for all I knew he could have displayed similar behaviour, but I do understand not all rescues have, esp not pound based ones.
I too think a trainer out to the house, a one experienced in this type of behaviour not just a franchise or some randomer with a load of letter after their name, go for a recommended behaviourist from the vet maybe.
An outsiders opinion/stance could be what is needed, someone to see you hands on with the dog and see his behaviour. It's so hard to advise on things like this over a forum it's definately one where an experienced person needs to see the behaviour.
The less fuss/attention and the uicker the action to deal with it the better, esp if u are grappling with him, it's feeding the behaviour.
 
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Thanks all. (whats dda?)

Have gone with a local trainer who has no numbers after her name, but 20 + years of experience so will see what she has to say!

I did wonder if he had done this to someone else for him to be kicked out, a kid maybe. The biting is never hard enough to break the skin so know he knows there is a limit, but it is bruising none the less.

lets hope mrs trainer lady has some ideas..... will ask her to come to the house if he does nowt wrong whilst out tonight.
 
DDA is Dangerous Dog Act. Whilst agree with DG that the post above (which has now gone I see) is a load of bull, you do need to be aware that with a big Staffy type some idiots will always think pitbull, which is another reason why you need to get this behaviour sorted. Hope the trainer tonight is able to help.
 
This would be why I did not understand....... anyone care to enlighten me as to what it said.... or who it was by?

ETS: I have read the act, and yes I guess those who are not educated enough to know better may say pitbull, but hes obviously not
 
Can't remember the exact words but it was basically saying you should put him down because of the DDA and the fact he is a Staffy x. :( Suspect it was a troll as it was a first post.
 
Super.... yes lets cull all staffie X's shall we..... while we are at it what about rotties, Dobes, GSD's...... PAH
 
My rescued staff x lab (READ PITBULL!!!!!) Stan did exactly the same, jump, mouth etc etc - as it happens he was only with us for 4 weeks before he found his forever home - I'm in contact with them still, so will try and find out how they cured it.
 
No advice on this i'm afraid but just wanted to wish you good luck with the trainer later. Well done for trying to understand his behaviour and doing best by Dex - hope you can work through this :)
 
Good luck and hope you find an answer - he sounds lime he is complete overexcited at finding himself in a real home with people to give him attention - just pure attention seeking.

Go to your butchers and get him a big fresh bone and leave him in the garden with it - it's amazing how much a fresh bone will tire them out!:)
 
For mental stimulation, you can teach any number of tricks, from the basic obediance ones (sit, stay, down, come) to the more complex and fun ones - give paw, spin, sit up and beg, play dead, weave etc - I did a thread on this recently, if you search I got lots of great ideas given to me.

This kind of training has several benefits. First of all, he will learn that your attention is to be earned and not demanded. He wants something nice? He has to earn it. Secondly, it will improve your bond as you and he will get to know one another better. You will be better equipped to read his behaviour and mood, and vice versa. Finally, it will give him something to occupy his mind, other than eating your arms;)

You may find clicker training to be of value, because this is a very calm way to train a hyper dog. With using your voice to praise, an excitable dog can get just so excited that they start to lose it a bit - a click is emotionally neutral.

When he does leap at you, I would second the advice about calmly leaving the room - or put a houseline onto him and calmly lead him from the room for a timeout. He must learn that every action has a consequence, but there is no point in getting confrontational about it.

Good luck with the trainer, hope they are a good one:) Remember to keep your own brain engaged though;)
 
Thanks.... clicker on list of things to buy- LOL

He did do spin a few times yesterday (was the first time I asked!!)
 
lexiedhb said:
:confused::(:confused:

So I rehomed a rescue dog 2 weeks ago..... I knew there would be issues but this one I seriously do not know how to deal with.

Dexter used to hump, this he stops if you just ignore it........ however now if you are ignoring him, arms folded etc he either jumps up to bite your wrists, or more recently bites your feet- but he really will not stop...... voice does nothing, a stern no, or a "you have hurt me yelp" almost encourages him, I have smacked him away a few times, again encourages him, but this is a big dog, and this "mouthing" hurts.

He also does this for no apparent reason- as in OH will be sat on the sofa- Dex will walk in, sit down, have a stroke, then grab OH's wrist. Or we go for a nice long walk, go to a pub, and after 10 mins hes humping or grabbing at you.

Have tried grabbing his collar and removing him from the room, either he goes crazy while you have hold of his collar and you can not get him anywhere, all the while trying to bite your wrists..... seems anything you try to do turns it itno a game. Also tried getting his collar and making him lay down to be calm- like that chappy on the tele..... sometimes hes fine, others, well just gets back up and starts over again

We start obedience classes tomorrow, not sure how well they will work as he does not really respond to the voice, but willing to give it a go

I am covered in tooth sized bruises, so ANY assistance would be appreciated.
Click to expand...



I would pinch and hold on to his nose until he released. A few times of this and he will get the message:)
 
So the education begins.........

Trainer- we ended up having a one to one as the women who were there did not think he should go into a class for now- due to the god awful noise he made through sheer overexcitement at the number of dogs around him, said he is not aggressive in the slightest, just does not know how to channel his overexcitement. Trainer had a sonic blast thingy- stopped Dex in his tracks.

For now it is just working on watching me etc and clicker training.... which he responds to
 
Glad you made some progress.

I find the 'watch me' command very bizarre. If pup has shot off rooting for food, or tissues to rip to bits :rolleyes:, if I say "watch me", he will come and see me. I could stand and holler his name name until I pass out and he will ignore, 'watch me' gets him every time :).
 
Yeah- well the guy said a name means NAFF all to a dog, and all his jumping, mouthing- which thank god he did, is just probably not knowing the rules, and us dealing with it in the wrong way. Dex isnt allowed to have his nose welded to the floor when walking etc

Really good training club too- from tiny pups just having a chat to the advanced lot doing dumbells, and down stays miles away from their folks all in a line- great to watch- and is a bargain- £15 to join for the year then a fiver a time for a class..... or in our case a one to one

Dex is knackered bless him-
 
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