Biting

[Tsizara]

We've had our Newf (Tika) for 1.5 weeks now and I'm pleased to say that she's already doing great with being house broken. Our only major concern right now is that she bites. We've gone from sticking a chew toy in her mouth to saying no, and moved on to holding her mouth closed (in a mothering way like the vet showed us).

All seemingly to no avail. She's still biting. Bites our hands, arms, and sometimes yanks on our clothing. We're using the Bitter Apple stuff (sometimes seems to work).

I don't want our lil Tika to be an unsafe dog when she's older so we need to break her of this and soon. I do realize that she's teething (12 weeks old) but biting ppl is not acceptable.

 

[bearbearsmom]

Our Bear is 8 months old and still sometimes thinks that hands are the best chew toys around !! Sounds like you are doing the right thing. We give him lots of toys and whenever he bites the hand we replace it with a toy. We give him a firm grasp of the jowls and get right in his face with a firm "NO BITE" and he gets the idea most of the time. They are as stubborn as they are lovable, so be consistent and be firm.

Nancy and Bear

 

[dbradley]

Some people on this board have had success with sticking their hand to the back of the dog's mouth so that he gags or putting your thumb under the dogs tongue and pushing down hard. I have also tried to teach our dog to give kisses by putting peanut butter on my kids hands and so that she licks them instead of biting. None of these has worked 100% for me but she has grown out of it a bit. She will still put her mouth on you if she is really hyped up and ready to do some crazy play. I guess my advice is to just be patient and consistent and know that some of it your puppy will grow out of.
I have also found that Moya reacts to people as they react to her. For instance, she will lick my 6 mo old and never be rough with him because he can't be that way towards her. My almost 3 year old however likes to wind her up and so she can get a bit wild with her.

 

[dmcgynn]

Jake still bites too but he is getting better, I do use the bitter apple on my clothes if he is grabbing them and I also spray it directly in his mouth, it has gottn to where all I have to say is I am getting the bitter apple and he stops. The fist down the throat and the pinning him down etc never worked at all for Jake in fact I think he saw it as more of a challenge he is very alpha but getting better as he gets older thank goodness LOL.

Diane