How to deal with a youngster biting?

L

lillian101010

New User
Joined
23 February 2013
Messages
5
Visit site
Hi,

Was just hoping for some advice. My 2.5year old has recently (last 2 months or so) started biting. He bites anything he can get his mouth onto, including the lead rope when being led and me!!
When the behaviour first started I assumed he was teething and tried to ignore it the best I can, but now it's getting a bit too much and I'm starting to think it might be him challenging my authority at times.
He used to be a complete Labrador and followed me round like a puppy, on or off the lead rope, however as expected he suddenly found his boots and is pushing boundaries.
Now he's completely fine being led around on the yard, but I got him a dually as he was very strong going to the field, and I'm on part livery so it was more for the yard workers who put him out. Fingers crossed that has worked for that.

So it comes down too when I ask him to walk around nicely, with that being the purpose. I took him in the school yesterday just too practice walking in hand and he gets silly, trying his hardest to bite the lead rope or me. If I shout at him, he just throws his head in the air or backs up and yesterday he went up on his hind legs twice.

My method with dealing with him biting me has been trying to pinch his muzzle - as that way he doesn't see a hand flying towards him (a method recommended to me)' but he doesn't take any notice at all.

Just wondering if anyone's got any tips? I've been told he will grow out of it, but I don't want him to think its understandable.
 
The biting sounds like an effect of his own self importance and lack of respect. Sort that out and the biting should stop. And also stop him turning into a horribly little brat!

He needs to learn respect to humans. What's he like to tie up? Brush? Handle in general?

The rearing, dragging and biting sounds like a side effect of him general lack of respect and therefore not something Id tackle directly. Id sort the root cause instead.

Does he try to rub on you? Nudges you with his nose? Swing into you when something distracts him? You say he's already strong to lead. They are all more subtle signs of lack of respect and often unnoticed or uncorrected by the handler. So they then start pushing their luck more (nipping, kicking, dragging etc) and it quickly escalates, with the owner wondering why it's gone wrong.

Do you know much about groundwork? Moving and controlling the feet? That'd be a good place to start. And you need to be super strict at all times. He is NOT allowed to rub his head on you nor push you with his nose (and should get a flapping screaming dragon impression should he insist on trying). He needs to be taught correctly to move over from pressure and then, if he rudely ignores you or swings into you, violently shoo -ed off. There is no need to hit him at all though :you should be able to put the fear of God into him with just body language.

You also need to deal with him being strong to lead, again a sign of rudness (assuming he has been taught correctly)

Once he's become a polite and acceptable member of society then you could tackle the biting (nose pinching is usually enough) if you find it hasn't sorted itself out.
 
He's absolutely fine to handle, tie up, brush etc.

However you have hit the nail on the head in that he does just walk into you etc.

In regards to being strong to lead, that only occurs on the trip to the field, and the behaviour kind of manifested after a long stint in because of the weather. However, unfortunately I am not around to take him to the field due to work commitments - hence why he is on part livery.

So you think the best way to gain respect is to scare him through body language (flapping screaming dragon) when he does anything he shouldn't?
 
Sometimes nothing says "respect me" as well as one of those tyre rubber poo buckets around the bum. Makes a hell of a noise, makes them jump like mad, doesn't really hurt them. Can remove the need for a whole lot of fannying around with a horse that continues to try and move up the herd pecking order with you.
 
Best way to correct him to to reshow him what you want. Repeat again more firmly. Then if the little sod still insists on swinging into you, yes, drive him off with as much force as you need. If you've been letting him walk all over you then you probably will need to flap and frighten him initially. The level of ' agression ' in your movement depends on his temperament. My polite sensitive ISH baby only needs me to square up to him to move off. Friends rude thickskinned Highland needed me almost bulldozing him to move (rude ill mannered ****** who thinks nothing of knocking you over to get to some tasty grass).

If he's been allowed to get to that stage then somewhere along the lines the more subtle issues have been missed. They are the stage when gentle reminding is all that's needed.

However poorly timed or inappropriately gauged reprimand will do far more harm than good so if you're not sure, get someone out to help you. There's some really good groundwork instructors about.
 
He's not quite at the bulldozing stage, and will move over with pressure on his sides.

And I havnt been letting him 'walk all over me'. I really appreciate your help and advice, but please don't look down on me. It's a learning curve and I'm trying to do the best by my horse.

This has only been an issue in the last 2 months or so, so hopefully can be corrected relatively quickly.

But thank you for your help.
 
if you have a dually then you can use it, if he goes to bite school him backwards quite forcefully and then rub his head and walk on as if nothing happened and just keep repeating, mine used to bite for treats but now he takes 2 steps back instead of 2 towards you. i was told if they bite you jump up and down and scream loudly (kelly marks book) however mine thought it was more amusing than anything else. get a monty instructor to help as well maybe x
 
My youngster used to try and bite, chew lead rope etc. I made sure that there were no tit bits, I didn't touch her mouth or muzzle - if she didn't make contact I would either ignore it or push her head away - if she made contact, she would get a short sharp smack on the muzzle and I would just, carry on with what I was doing. I don't believe in shouting at horses, I always think if you shout they know they've won. Its just a baby thing and when he realises its no fun anymore and he gets a bit older he will stop. Mine took a while to stop but she's four next month and she has completely stopped. I give her titbits now when I leave and I can give her a fuss and there is know sign of biting.
 
Thanks for the advice. He definitely needs to learn some respect though, as he pays no attention to me shouting anyways.

He doesn't have any treats by hand already.

I think I'm going to try being a scary flapping thing, when he doesn't listen, just to try and get that bit more respect. I know he's still young and learning, so we'll see how it goes.

I will also get a groundwork instructor out, when I have a bit more money, to see what they say.

Thanks again.
 
I'm having a similar issue with my youngster, he used to be bargey in the stable and impatient tied up, i found that when he got bargey if i just walked off each time and ignored him he stopped because all he wanted was fuss, although i can't guarantee that would work with every horse. For biting either a quick flick on the nose or pinching the bottom of his mouth stopped him

With leading my pony is also very strong and has tried to run off before, i tried him with a rope headcollar but then he just bit instead, i've found (so far, i've only used this for a couple of days) that a normal headcollar with a rope over his nose has worked as not only does it give me a bit more control if he want's a mental moment, for him he feels he can't open his mouth to bite, if that makes sense, again, this may only just work for me but it is an option?

It all takes time obviously, good luck :)
 
Same issue for me, my filly teethes like crazy, will stand and chew the metal gate, nothing is sacred. I was getting a little slack by not correcting her for nibbling my coat, huge mistake! Now I'm being extra vigilant and it's getting less and less, more like threats now but even those are corrected. My girl is a sensitive sort so my best approach is to try to make sure she doesn't get her face near me to begin with unless invited for a scratch. This means I ask her to back away at feeding, before I enter stable and when tying/untying. If she goes to stick her nose too close I just move her head away and carry on, if she does threaten, I say 'eh eh' sternly, if that fails I back her up sharpish, I find by moving her feet she understands perfectly that I am in charge and she needs to have more respect. I tried pinching, even squirting lemon juice in the past and blocking with elbow but she just seemed resentful and felt like a 'game'.

Consistant boundaries. I'm getting my EDT out again to check how her wolf teeth are doing, anyone would think she's a colt the amount she chews!!
 
Thank you for your help - I feel a bit better about myself as I have been doing quite alot of the things you say help ie always make him move backwards before food. I think it's a case of I'm going to have to be really vigilant with him and not let him get away with anything.

He definitely needs to learn some respect for humans though, as being higher in the pecking order, so I think I'm going to try and deal with that first and then the biting after. As I suppose he won't listen to anything with regards to biting if he doesnt respect me.

Will try some of the techniques everyone has posted on here.

I'm very grateful for all your help.
 
Yep dont feel bad op, no one can be 100% all the time. Luckily horses are usually v forgiving and as long as we correct these issues they will learn. Definitely trial and error, I learn what my girl responds best to by trying different things.
 
Yep dont feel bad op, no one can be 100% all the time. Luckily horses are usually v forgiving and as long as we correct these issues they will learn. Definitely trial and error, I learn what my girl responds best to by trying different things.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top