Hi Everyone,
I hoping to get some insight and suggestions. I adopted an dog from the shelter 10 days ago. I am using a crate and utilizing Ed's groundwork information as well as the basic obedience DVD. Which helped me tremendously with my previous "rescue" 3 years ago. I am also following Ed's recommendation on introducing a second dog into my house. The transition is going very well. The new dog is young about a year, she is a Pit mix, with a lab personality. I started some marker training with her, just to get her to focus on me, while on leash etc. Anyway, this dog loves to chew, mouth things, and loves to chase a tennis ball. She will however, get mouthy while playing. She sometimes grabs the leash to tug or jumps and mouths my arms. How should I handle this behavior?? Correct it? Redirect it?
She is a sweet dog, with alot of energy. Unfortunately, right now she has a mild case of kennel cough, so i was instructed to not really exercise her!! I had been doing two walks a day for a total of about 60-75min walk, with some fetching in the yard on the long line.

Any insight I'd appreciate!!

This site has helped me tremendously with my previous dog!! They are just different, with different drives.

Linda

Linda I don’t know if this will work with older dogs but with our AB as a pup when she would put her mouth on use we would yelp no madder how hard she would bite which she never did bite hard and it stopped the mouthing completely. We have a no tooth rule in your house that her teeth are not to touch skin end of subject and have been quit successful. We have had some problems with her being a dominant dog and stranger aggression, but we have never had an issue (nock on wood) with her putting her mouth on any of us even in play. The cat that’s another story and have had some issues with her attacking our other dog who has now passed away do to an illness.
Hope that helped good luck

How old is she?

If she is old enough, you could use a prong collar and correct her, then redirect to a toy.

I would try redirect first until she knows what you are asking and then implement corrections.

If she mouths you, game over.

If she likes to play fetch, you could use the two toy method for a while and see how that goes. One ball kept with you and one for her. When she brings the first ball back and drops it, throw the second one. That way she does not get the opportunity to jump at you. And if she does.....game over.

For the leash biting, I use two leads a prong and a flat collar.
While walking, if my dogs bite the lead, they get a pop with the prong and a leave it command. (They know what leave it is before I start this type of training).

And, my dogs usually get to carry a toy on walks (not for obedience work) since we stop and play games while out on them.

Hi Carole,
I posted this question about 2 weeks ago. Tyge, is about one year old. Anyway, I started using two leashes with two collars, as you suggested. I strongly corrected her when she started to really escalate, so hyper, that she was almost out of control. That really was the end of it!! She learns very quickly!! And, I think she is more settled into a routine in my house and aware of the "rules."

I'm having alot of fun with her because she has more drive to play, than my present dog.

Also, I followed Ed's groundwork to establishing leadership and closely followed his suggestions on adding a second dog.....everything has gone very well!!

I love this site and the sound information available.

thanks alot,

LInda

Cool, glad to hear things are better. I tend to miss dates on posts, so I will watch for that in the future.

Sorry you did not get answers sooner though.....