My new(ish) dog is doing really well and has finally settled into life here. We're working on basic obedience and manners to set a solid foundation for agility. However, I don't think he was exposed to appropriate human contact and he is extremely mouthy and has very little bite inhibition. If he becomes too excited he immediately thinks we're playing and wants to bite my hands and arms. It's hard enough to hurt, but not break skin. I've been following appropriate puppy training for his mental age (he's a year old, but acts like a 4 month old pup) but it's not getting better. I have a feeling it's going to be a very long road, or else I'm going to have to escalate and hurt him when he hurts me.
I've had several very young children want to pet him and I won't allow them near him. Aside from biting he has a severe lack of self control and will jump up and claw at people and dogs and cats. He's a pit bull mix so of course everyone assumes he's aggressive and mean because I won't let them touch him. When people ask 'does he bite' I don't know what to say. YES he will bite. NO he's not trying to rip your hand off. Keep your kid away unless they want claw marks on their face. The average Joe doesn't comprehend that a dog's mental maturity can be severely stunted by lack of good puppy raising.
I've been working with him a lot and he's definitely gotten a lot better from when I got him over a month ago, but he's still very wild and out of control. Exercising doesn't work. Brain games don't work. These things entertain him for as long as they last, and then a few minutes later he's pacing, galloping around, and spinning in circles. He needs a job, but without self control and basic obedience he can't do any sports. He's going to be fantastic and a work-a-holic when he's polished up, but for now he's just the red headed step child that I absolutely adore for some really weird reason.


So what would you do in this situation?

As far as the kids go just say something to the affect that he has bad manners right now and until he learns to behave politely he's not allowed to greet them because he might accidentally knock them down or scratch them with his nails. Actually, if any of the kids you know will do exactly what you tell them, this is something they could help with (with parental permission) by not interacting with him and totally ignoring him (standing like a statue with their back to him)while you work with him at an appropriate distance.

For jobs here are a few, possibly off-the-wall suggestions for things to do at home:
1. Teach him to help around the house by wearing a back pack with your cleaning supplies and tethering him to you while you clean.
2. Get a weight pulling harness and teach him to pull weights in the yard, not for titles. Could come in handy sometime.
3. For fun teach him a freestyle routine that incorporates what he's learning along with some of his behaviors that he's displaying in inappropriate ways currently.

Sound like Harley a while back. One thing that got him to calm down was long but not very fast bike ride. Any game that put him drive did not help to calm him later on.

Tracking also is great so are long jog with some sprint. Nosework and ob are too exciting.

He is now much much better but still the only dog in my agility class that is not ready to stop at the end of the class. He will jump in the pool just so he can play more.

Some of the jumping up and mouthing is lack of respect.

We just came home from a wk long trip away ( SO GREAT) and our English Shepherd showed very different behaviors with my husband and myself.

With hubby, he sat, made little whining noises, wagged his tail like nuts -- but he sat still. My greeting involved bites to the arms, a few leaps close to the head---I had to stand "like a tree" with my back away from him to get him to calm down enough so I could pet him. Showed me I have a LOT of work to do with this dog.

I forgot to add that it's OK to correct him when his behavior is inappropriate. His mother would not have put up with his biting her too hard and neither should you. Well, in your case, he should not bite at all but the idea's the same except while she corrected with her teeth, you'll probably want to use a pinch collar to imitate her correction in an appropriately human way.

what elaine said . . .

sometimes it is appropriate to go into the " forbidden quadrant " of operant behaviour : the dreaded " positive punishment " .

just make sure your timing is good , the method is appropriate and the level/energy of correction is appropriate for your particular dog .

judging by your post , it sounds like it won't damage the relationship , and it may take a little higher level than your average pekingnese lol .

and remember , if you go that route , better one good effective correction than a bunch of niggling little annoyances that don't get the message across .

Sounds a lot like Duke a few months ago, to be honest (oh the progress we've made!) I generally tell people with kids that he's not calm or mature enough to be around the kids and he'll hurt them by accident. Most people do not argue with this. And if they ask if he bites, I tell them he play bites, but it still hurts. (not really an issue anymore, but I'm not taking the chance)

You have far far more training experience than I do, but what we did to manage this - emotionless crating inside when he gets over-excited, outside play is a privilege, not a right, bad behavior means I take my toys and go inside. There hasn't been any lunging/leaping at my throat in months now, so I'd say this has worked for us. He was actually able to be around a couple of neighbors in and outside the house this weekend when they were helping us move in a new refrigerator, and didn't jump on them or mouth them. It took a good long while though. Since you're an awesome trainer I'm sure you'll see results quickly once you decide on a course of action

Maybe you have tried this already but what if you first exercise him well, like tire him out. Then take him to a public place just to work on (with markers), being calm around people. Don't have anyone pet him, just work on his attention on you and on staying calm (you and him both). Increase the distractions gradually, and start at a distance.

I'm glad to know he's not alone with his behavior.

Emotionless crating - When he's pushed my buttons I calmly bring him to his crate (he's always tethered to me) and he slams into it so hard he's actually moved it a few feet across the floor before. Then he spins constantly since he can't exactly pace. I've timed it and he's spun for a good 30 minutes and that's right after a 6 mile bike jog at around 11-13 mph. He enjoys his crate, but he's just as active inside of it as he is out.

The backpack is a good idea. So is weight pull. I'll start with the backpack tomorrow and order a pull harness soon.

Going out in public - he doesn't focus on me. Ever. We've been working on eye contact games for a month and he's still not comfortable with it. He won't even gaze at a neutral body part. We can go out in public without hysterics but he's all over the map and if I force his body still he's literally spinning his head around constantly to make up for the lack of movement. I've thought about blindfolding him to force him to THINK for once.

I really don't understand positive punishment. Could you explain what you mean, Ian?

I'm still looking for a good place to track. All the local grassy areas are heavily trafficked.

Samantha, have you ever tried Bach Flower Remedies? They've really helped some of my dogs. I would think Rescue Remedy (always a part of our do first aid kit) for general anxiety and Cherry Plum for his inability to settle down and concentrate.

Just don't expect instant results as they're homeopathic. And they do have versions for pets that are not with the alcohol base the human versions are in but you can use either one perfectly safely.