How to stop puppy from biting

Lévrier;13677009 said:
Sorry I would NEVER recommend Caesar Milan - he is a complete idiot who has been proven to be such!!! Use common sense instead, please...

Your opinion only and your entitled to it.


Well maybe OP might want to use him - and many others do it's their choice isn't it, not really your place to tell OP not to use them without a valid reason. Where is this so called proof??? He would not be making a career out of it if what he says has not helped some dogs in the past.

You could say don't use Richard Maxwell I would not recommend him personally. I would never say to someone I don't know base on my experience or views not to use him, buyers be where and all that. Many dogs benefit from his training and I am sure they only televise these cases, and there maybe many many cases not screened where he may have failed or something wrong with the dog and he could not help it.
No reasons to slate the guy.
 
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Thanks everyone for your reply’s, they have been really helpful and have put my mind at rest. We have been telling her of but After reading these replies, I think I should be more firm. I will also have a look at some of the methods suggested and see if anything suits us
 
I was a bit unfair to CM before. I am kind of neutral about him these days. Like most dog trainers, he has some methods and ideas I would agree with and others I disregard completely. It is all about making the right choice for the dog in front of you because, as well know, one size doesn't fit all.

Baaaaaaaaa!

Also if the OP ever wants to do any sort of sports training I would never advocate complete shut down of behaviours. The acts of gripping, pulling and ragging, winning
and the teaching of the letting go and them reactivating the object as a reward (even just a ball on a rope) are a major basis in a lot of training development which particularly suits GSDs.
I see a lot of people who come to try and further their dogs training or who want to get involved in sports and the dog is confused and conflicted when presented with a prey object because all that sort of behaviour has been extinguished.

Depending on the breeding of the dog it could be genetically inclined to want to hold something in its mouth. Chewing is also a stress reliever. Better to channel that IMO and teach it when, where and what is appropriate and create a distinction.
 
Well maybe OP might want to use him - and many others do it's their choice isn't it, not really your place to tell OP not to use them without a valid reason. Where is this so called proof??? He would not be making a career out of it if what he says has not helped some dogs in the past.

There is quite a balanced article on the pros and cons of Caesar Milan's methods on the link below, makes interesting reading IMO:

https://www.livescience.com/5846-critics-challenge-dog-whisperer-methods.html
 
Your opinion only and your entitled to it.


Well maybe OP might want to use him - and many others do it's their choice isn't it, not really your place to tell OP not to use them without a valid reason. Where is this so called proof??? He would not be making a career out of it if what he says has not helped some dogs in the past.

You could say don't use Richard Maxwell I would not recommend him personally. I would never say to someone I don't know base on my experience or views not to use him, buyers be where and all that. Many dogs benefit from his training and I am sure they only televise these cases, and there maybe many many cases not screened where he may have failed or something wrong with the dog and he could not help it.
No reasons to slate the guy.

Any particular reason you only chose to respond to my post and not the 3 others that agreed with me?
 
I don't believe that Milan ever advocates his training methods as a from-the-start way-to train a dog. It has to be remembered that within a very short period of time (a single episode of a show), he has to break in to and control an established behaviour pattern in dogs which are often exceedingly dangerous. Sometimes he gets it wrong — I remembered when he was nailed by that labrador and he immediately put his hand up and said that the fault was his. I wonder how many of those who decry the man would succeed using their own methods. Who's that clown of a Uni lecturer who's never trained a dog but advises those who are gullible that his experience as a canine psychologist is the only way? :D

Cesar Milan with his charm and his ever so shiny teeth is a television show presenter, except that he's more than that. His 'reading' and understanding of difficult dogs is remarkable —— at least, I think it is! :)

Alec.
 
……..

You could say don't use Richard Maxwell I would not recommend him personally. …….. .

I've had RM travel here twice and to deal with seemingly impossible colts. The effects were quite remarkable and with 2 x 30 minute sessions in a day, both the youngsters were transformed, still colts obviously, but manageable and safe. The strange thing, to me anyway, was that at no point during the mini crash-courses did he utter one word to the horses. I have a great deal of time for RM …. and just as I have for Cesar Milan! :)

Alec.
 
I don't believe that Milan ever advocates his training methods as a from-the-start way-to train a dog. It has to be remembered that within a very short period of time (a single episode of a show), he has to break in to and control an established behaviour pattern in dogs which are often exceedingly dangerous.

That may be true, but in this thread we are talking about a puppy showing typical puppy play-biting behaviour - and what the OP is looking for is exactly what you call "from-the-start-way-to-train a dog". So this is not an established behaviour pattern in an exceedingly dangerous dog.
 
That may be true, but in this thread we are talking about a puppy showing typical puppy play-biting behaviour - and what the OP is looking for is exactly what you call "from-the-start-way-to-train a dog". So this is not an established behaviour pattern in an exceedingly dangerous dog.

You raise a good point; and all that we need to do is watch what an adult dog would do in this situation. Without any unacceptable pain, the puppy would be on the end of a slap and it would learn both manners and respect in a couple of seconds.

Should the early lessons not be learned as they probably haven't in most of the cases that Milan deals with, then we're left wondering what to do!

Alec.

As a ps, I was responding to the comments which referred to Milan and I'm quite certain that he wouldn't advocate anything more than teaching the little blighter some manners …. sharpish! :)
 
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You raise a good point; and all that we need to do is watch what an adult dog would do in this situation. Without any unacceptable pain, the puppy would be on the end of a slap and it would learn both manners and respect in a couple of seconds.

Alec.

This is why don't understand why some people seem to have problems stopping their pups biting - This isn't the first thread about the subject on here. Pups generally learn not to bite mum, even while feeding from her, it's not a difficult lesson for them to learn and it is very rare for a bitch to cause harm to a pup while teaching it manners.
Why do some people find it so difficult? How do they play with their pups that encourages them to bite?
As well as the big dogs mentioned in my previous post (Labs, GSD, Rotts), we have had JRTs which soon learned not to bite. Admittedly almost all of our pups for the last 50 yrs have come in pairs and come to live with established adults within the home.
 
Baaaaaaaaa!

Also if the OP ever wants to do any sort of sports training I would never advocate complete shut down of behaviours. The acts of gripping, pulling and ragging, winning
and the teaching of the letting go and them reactivating the object as a reward (even just a ball on a rope) are a major basis in a lot of training development which particularly suits GSDs.
I see a lot of people who come to try and further their dogs training or who want to get involved in sports and the dog is confused and conflicted when presented with a prey object because all that sort of behaviour has been extinguished.

Depending on the breeding of the dog it could be genetically inclined to want to hold something in its mouth. Chewing is also a stress reliever. Better to channel that IMO and teach it when, where and what is appropriate and create a distinction.

Absolutely! I have posted earlier about how I deal with a biting puppy. The bits of CM I agree with are that most dogs don't get enough exercise and stimulation, the need to remain calm and patient when training dogs, and boundaries need to be established that the dog understands. The hiss, the kicks, the flooding - no, I don't agree with any of that.
 
Lévrier;13677398 said:
Could that be...... Because you were the only one suggesting that the OP used his methods!!!!

NO read my post I suggested her look at Caesar Milan
Have a look at Caesar Milan for nay tips
as in his videos I did NOT say USE his precise method. I said she could get some T I P S

I really must learn to explain ever so simply what I mean for those not putting 2 and 2 together.
 
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I have a GSD puppy who is just over 5 months old. She very lively (as is any other puppy who is her age). She is still nipping and biting quite badly at the moment and as you can imagine, really hurting us due to her size. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a GSD as a pup and so I am looking for some advice on whether it is normal to bite at this age and how can I work to get her out of it.
I understand it’s all part of having a puppy but she is leaving quite bad marks when she bites and I really want to set her up with the right start. Thanks in advance.

I'm not against physical chastisement but at this stage I really don't think you should use it. You've had a GSD before, what's so different about this one? what's changed in your household? Hopefully you bought this pup from a breeder who asked you to stay in touch. Don't delay, hightail it back to them and get some advice there.
 
Some pups are bitier than others. It's not unusual for experienced dog owners to have a complete culture shock with a new pup.

I think with your background, you're coming at this from an ausgepragt angle ;-) This dog is in a pet home and what we need to establish is whether this little typewriter is gearing up for something. My hope is that she's just extremely bored. Either way, the breeder should know.
 
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Every time, we alwyas say never again.

Our current pair of Rotters (litter sisters) are the first pups where we have had a short break after the last dog, in 50 yrs. We got them home and soon realised "They don't speak English". That was something of a culture shock, as always before the older dogs have trained the pups. Fortunately they are clever girls and soon picked it up. Now we wish sometimes that they weren't so clever - or so good at English.
 
Pronounced strength, courage and fighting spirit lol?

It's in the way that you use it :-)

Thing is, I've had this breed for over 50 yrs, all flavours, some with 5 generation pedigrees and some with nothing at all and I can honestly say none of them have ever thrown up any surprises. We had a reject from a security firm who was one of the best dogs ever. My first dog was from a Marchael lines and very sharp so maybe I just expect it. I do favour the WGSL which is not popular on these boards but I've had others.
 
I have a new Gsd pup from wgsl, he is now 15 weeks and a bundle of puppy love and teeth, I think it is just a matter of redirection until they get the idea and they stop teething. I have been lucky and mine has shark teeth but I wear jumpers a lot, my poor Dad who is older has not quite got the hang of not waving his fingers and hands in front of Teddy's mouth like toys, it's also an unfortunate thing that as you get older your skin looses its elacsticity so what once was an ouch turns into red pinpricks.

The one I feel sorry for is my older boy who is the target for most of the bitey behaviour.
 
This is why don't understand why some people seem to have problems stopping their pups biting - This isn't the first thread about the subject on here. …. .

Perhaps Admin will award it with a sticky status! :D

I don't play with pups, any pups and there's a reason for that, when I'm tired of the game, or hurt and bleeding then I'm going to scold the pup by way of bringing the game to an end or in some way preventing the continuance. What would the pup have learned? Dogs don't learn what's acceptable by failing to understand that what they do today may be fine, but not tomorrow. Dogs, and the learning process starts as they leave their mother and join in the human world, learn by an association of ideas, they don't speak or understand English and neither do they understand our intentions when we send them mixed messages.

The greatest obstacle that most of us have to overcome is the avoidance of inconsistency and to a degree, we all fall in to that trap. No pup will respect or understand its owner if we introduce confusion.

Alec.
 
I don't have a problem with giving a smack, a sharp jerk on the collar or using physical chastisement. I deal with dogs exactly as I do horses - calm, patient and understanding, unless they do something rude or dangerous, in which case they'll get a short sharp shock. I'd rather give one smack that hurts them and never have to do it again than try to 'redirect' with a toy thirty times (which IMO, teaches absolutely nothing and is just a distraction).

I think often that those who are totally adverse to the use physical reinforcement have probably never had to deal with a 20KG Bull Terrier or the like...
 
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I think often that those who are totally adverse to the use physical reinforcement have probably never had to deal with a 20KG Bull Terrier or the like...

And I think this comment actually highlights the crux of the problem - there are such a wide range of breeds and types of dogs and they vary hugely in terms of traits and level of sensitivity. I'm not totally opposed to physical reinforcement, but it would never be my first 'go to' option. But then I currently have sighthounds and they are generally very sensitive and in my experience rarely need such an approach. On the other hand, I've met some thuggish types of dog which probably do need a firmer hand!
 
I don't have a problem with giving a smack, a sharp jerk on the collar or using physical chastisement. I deal with dogs exactly as I do horses - calm, patient and understanding, unless they do something rude or dangerous, in which case they'll get a short sharp shock. I'd rather give one smack that hurts them and never have to do it again than try to 'redirect' with a toy thirty times (which IMO, teaches absolutely nothing and is just a distraction).

I think often that those who are totally adverse to the use physical reinforcement have probably never had to deal with a 20KG Bull Terrier or the like...

I agree - redirection is a useful tool but will only work when the thing they're being redirected to is more interesting than what you are redirecting from! Dogs also need to understand what no means.
 
And I think this comment actually highlights the crux of the problem - there are such a wide range of breeds and types of dogs and they vary hugely in terms of traits and level of sensitivity. I'm not totally opposed to physical reinforcement, but it would never be my first 'go to' option. But then I currently have sighthounds and they are generally very sensitive and in my experience rarely need such an approach. On the other hand, I've met some thuggish types of dog which probably do need a firmer hand!

yes,, this-I wonder if those who like physical reinforcement have never had to deal with a sensitive breed.
 
yes,, this-I wonder if those who like physical reinforcement have never had to deal with a sensitive breed.

It's about just using common sense really isn't it? It should go without saying that someone (e.g. like me) who would use physical reinforcement or punishment or whatever you want to call it wouldn't use it on a nervous dog or on a behaviour that was a fear response.
 
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