How can I stop my 10 week old GSD from biting? He bites our pants legs, feet, ankles, hands and anything else he can find. We have tried the “NO” command, really stern and sometimes even grab him by his scruff, but all that does is makes him madder or more playful and he starts back at it. When we try to discipline him, he barks and growls and bites even harder. What can I do to stop this aggressive behavior? It really worries me because he is showing his teeth when growling or barking at us, sometimes his tail wags and other times it doesn’t. So far, he has been very trainable, he loves his crate, sits, shakes, lays and other typical puppy tricks. What can I do?
Thanks for any advice
Allison, sounds like a normal GSD pup. What are your plans for this pup? Some pup owners would love to have a pup as you described.
Again what do you intend to do with pup? Schutzhund, family pet, this would give everyone here a better understanding to answer your question.
use bitter apple spray, apply just a small quirt into mouth, (just one time only) so he will get a negative association of it, than apply it to your hands, pant leg, whatever. and still say "no" when he mouths your hands, pants, etc. and always direct his attention to a favorable chewable toy, etc. he should get the message after awhile also ingore his rough play. and only give attention when he chewing appropriate items and not on you. another trick is feeding pup right out of your own hand. and to pet pup with one hand while deverting his attention with other hand, with treats, kibble, or toy. plan is to get him use to your petting without him thinking it is chew time "with your hand". always avoid rough play with hands, this only promotes biting, instead get him focased on his toys. practice all of the above, you should see a differace.
Allison, I came across this article a couple of days ago. You might like to read it. It will explain what you're going through and why puppy play biting is so important to the future development of the dog.
The title of the article is...
"The Bite Stops Here: puppies should be encouraged to play bite- so you can teach them when to stop" / by Dr. Ian Dunbar.
Here is the link: http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm
Ed also has info on his website about play biting/mouthing.
Thanks all for the replys! I will try all of them. Our GSD is going to be a house pet with plenty of outside play time. This dog is absolutly wonderful, other then the biting. So you all think it is just play biting? Because in a way, I feel that it is aggressiveness too, with the growling and showing of the teeth. He has several chew toys, everytime he starts the biting, I give him one of his toys and encourage it and praise him. I will start feeding him some out of my hand, I give him treats now out of my hand when trying to train him and when he gets me when he is needing to go potty. Is it not creul to try the spray in his mouth? If not, I will try that as well. I have a nine year son who the dog has driven him to stay in his room with the door closed, because he is constantly biting him. I am willing to try anything.
The pup is normal, and so is biting, but he does need to know now, so to avoid the biting when he is alot bigger and stronger, what is right to bite and what is wrong. like i said a very small squirt in the mouth is recommended (ONE TIME ONLY) just so he gets a negative assoication of the taste. it is better to sway the inappropriate biting now at 10 weeks than accepting it now, and trying to stop it later on when he is 8 mouths old.
with the spray, be sure to read the directions, you will need to apply the spray everytime the pups gets nippy, apply whereever he is biting, you only need to quirt the mouth the very first time you use the product and only one time in the mouth, but you will need to reapply to your hands, feet etc each and everytime the biting occurs, because if he can bite you hand one day and it taste bad but the next day he bites and it is fine(no spray), than it will be harder/longer to stop the behavior. be consistant. this product works wonders on other forbidden ojects as well, if he should development a chewing habit later one, like shoes and such.
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