Theresa Greene wrote 04/10/2007 10:12 PM Not Sure if "Play" Biting #137665 - 04/10/2007 10:12 PM
Theresa Greene Webboard User Reg: 02-19-2005 Posts: 60 Loc: Offline	I have a 13 week old German Shepherd, very tough mutt even at this age. She's a biter, and a half. I've had her for 3 weeks, and plan to use her in Schutzhund. I've been substituting toys and tugs for bites. However, she is soo consistent, any movement brings on the mouth. I've clapped my hands and said NO. She barks at me, and then will try to take a nip. I think she's playing, tails up, wagging, bright eyes, seems as if she's having fun, but wanted others opinions. Haven't had a pup like this since I was a kid. I know it's not good to discourage biting in a drivey pup like this, what do you think of her barking at biting at me after being told no? She's pretty smart, knows kennel, sitz, platz already! with no distractions of course. Am I worrying for no reason?? Tks! Theresa Greene
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Carol Boche wrote 04/10/2007 10:30 PM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Theresa Greene ] #137669 - 04/10/2007 10:30 PM
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005 Posts: 4531 Loc: South Dakota, USA Offline	Personally, I would not tell her no at all at that age, rather I would work harder and redirecting her to a toy or puppy tug. My two GSD's are 14 weeks and I encourage all the biting and tugging that I can. I always make sure that I have two toys in my pockets so that if they latch on to me I can give them something else. I am learning that I redirect more with these two than I ever did with my Mal when she was a pup. She always latched on and would hold like her life depended on it. The GSD's seem to let go a little more and re-bite somewhere else. So it takes more effort on my part to keep them holding on. Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
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Michele McAtee wrote 04/11/2007 06:29 AM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Theresa Greene ] #137681 - 04/11/2007 06:29 AM
Michele McAtee Webboard User Reg: 02-05-2006 Posts: 1121 Loc: Iowa City, Iowa Offline	My experience with my 9 and a half week old pup is that even with careful and constant redirects I still get bit. Or, it's the oops, missed the toy and chomped on hand/finger, or when he will continue holding that grip whilst head/mouth turns, *sometimes* slides grip across hand to get to my toy redirect...ewwwch! However, the pup, I do believe overall, has *a lot* more fun when he gets the toy than he does biting on me. Do you have a spread of fun toys for your pup, toys that it gets completely ga-ga over? As for any injuries, just wash well with soap and water and a smear of triple antibiotic does wonders.
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Amber Morgan wrote 04/11/2007 08:20 AM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Michele McAtee ] #137685 - 04/11/2007 08:20 AM
Amber Morgan Webboard User Reg: 10-18-2006 Posts: 1849 Loc: St. Louis, MO Offline	It's normal! And it's a good sign, too. They do really grow out of it even though time goes in slo-mo while your waiting for your skin to grow back. Carbon
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Yuko Blum wrote 04/11/2007 12:22 PM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Amber Morgan ] #137715 - 04/11/2007 12:22 PM
Yuko Blum Webboard User Reg: 11-20-2006 Posts: 1002 Loc: Offline	Quote: Amber Morgan It's normal! And it's a good sign, too. They do really grow out of it even though time goes in slo-mo while your waiting for your skin to grow back. Amber, what a horrible image you've just put into my mind, OUCH!! Is there anything that you've found particularly helpful in protecting your skin (or raw bloody flesh ) from puppy bites? Sleeves and gloves made out of a special material that won't get shredded yet is lighter than say a metal armor? I've already forgotten what it's like to have a puppy that age... I'm trying to get ready again - hopefully I'll be able to spare myself some suffering and skin damage this time around
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Amber Morgan wrote 04/11/2007 01:05 PM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Yuko Blum ] #137724 - 04/11/2007 01:05 PM
Amber Morgan Webboard User Reg: 10-18-2006 Posts: 1849 Loc: St. Louis, MO Offline	Sure Yuko, try these Heh, heh. I'm kidding of course! Your best defense is having a toy on you at all times and having cat-like reflexes doesn't hurt. Mostly though, a high pain tolerance is mandatory!! How can you forget what it's like already? I think the memory of my gator-pup's needle teeth will be burned into my brain until the day I die! Carbon
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Theresa Greene wrote 04/11/2007 11:36 PM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Amber Morgan ] #137803 - 04/11/2007 11:36 PM
Theresa Greene Webboard User Reg: 02-19-2005 Posts: 60 Loc: Offline	E gads!! I have holes and scabs all over my arms and hands. I always carry a toy, and we play lots of tug and fetch. I don't want to dampen her prey drive, and it is pretty darn strong! Guess I'll just hold my breath. Thanks for the encouragement. She's slooowly learning not to always bite. It only takes a second to get her going tho. I have one of the balls on a rope, and she goes nuts for that! Anyway, thanks for the encouragement! I'll keep her biting and divert her as much as I can. Theresa Greene
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Carol Boche wrote 04/11/2007 11:40 PM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Theresa Greene ] #137804 - 04/11/2007 11:40 PM
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005 Posts: 4531 Loc: South Dakota, USA Offline	Have you tried a horsewhip with a rag or tug tied to the end? Those work GREAT......we LOVE those at my house. Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
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Alison Mayo wrote 04/12/2007 12:07 AM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Carol Boche ] #137810 - 04/12/2007 12:07 AM
Alison Mayo Webboard User Reg: 03-14-2005 Posts: 471 Loc: Canyon Lake, tx Offline	My pup is tearing huge holes in the back of my legs right now. I seemed to have found something to portect my hands though. If my had is in his mouth and he is not gentle, I stick my finger down his throat and puish his tongue. I don't do this rough or meanly, I just say, "no bite" when I am doing it and it kinda gags him for a second. He is very gentle after wards and we continue to play and he can bite but only gently, if he get rough, then I tell him "no bite", then push my finger down. He stops immediately and after awhile I just say "no bite" and he's learned to stop right away. Now he is being gentle on my hands. I always praise him for stopping and let him be as rough as he wants with the toys, just not my hands. His drive hasn't gone down and he seems to like the toys better, since they don't poke back..lol. This might help- be gentle, calm, but serious when you do it, he's just a puppy! Top Paw Training: serving Canyon Lake & New Braunfels, San Antonio to Austin.
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Yusrie Khondker wrote 04/12/2007 03:06 AM Re: Not Sure if "Play" Biting [Re: Alison Mayo ] #137815 - 04/12/2007 03:06 AM
Yusrie Khondker Webboard User Reg: 03-19-2007 Posts: 126 Loc: South Africa Offline	i know where u are coming from. i have 2 GSD puppies and i play fetch with them all the time. I keep one on leash and let the other fetch. then after a while i switch. they love it. the problem i have sometimes is when trying to get the toy back, i get them to sit and then say out. and most times they drop the toy. but every once in a while il have to try and grab it with my hand and then sometimes il get the toy out and as i am stnading up the little bugger will munch down on my hand because he/she was going for the toy.all the time its a surprise and give me the shock of my life bcoz i was not expecting it. so i pull my hand away fast and the pup will get a shock and go lay. then it takes a minute to get him interested in the toy again but then he goes for it and his drive comes back up. it just takes some pain and time. good luck and have lots of antiseptic and antibiotics on hand..Try using a petroleum jelly or oily gel on ur hands when theres tha chance u might get bit it helps.
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