<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Hi,
I need help stopping my new Pitt Bull puppy from biting. He grabs pant legs, robes and will jump to get shirt tails, to often he gets skin. He won't let go unless you are really tough with him. He holds on to what he has in a really aggressive manner. (I had another Pitt for 19 wonderful years,I think I forgot the hard time.)He does'nt like the word NO and tries to act tough when I correct him. I have been picking up by the scruff of his neck and shaking him, saying NO. If I hit him he tries to bite the new papper or my hand. I don't like hitting him. Sometimes he barks at me like he is trying to scare me off. He at 2 months is getting heavy. He is a Alpha dog. Very loving but determined. I wantto avoid hitting him if I can but am not oposed to it if I have to. I think I am being to soft on him. He has the run of the house but is pretty good about going out side when he needs to go. He like to sleep in my lap I don't do that often and he sleeps in a cage in our bedroom. what am I ding wrong or am I expecting too much from a puppy? Thanks

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that is normal, my dobe did it all the time.
he grew out of it at around 4-5 months.
just give him a shake with a firm "no" and redirect to something he is allowed to bite, then praise.

Please, don't hit your puppy. This will cause problems later on (ie hand shyness).

Have a look at Allison's question under Animal to Animal Aggression. She has the same concern as you do. There's some really great reply posts.

Thanks for the feedback. Blu and I working it out. I will have to work on my patients.
I will read through some of the other forums for help.
Thanks Again
Mina

I have a mouthy GSD and when he starts bitting to much I grab his gruff "not hard" and point him to a new direction "a toy". I try to keep a toy or something in my pocket or close by and when He starts bitting I just give him the toy and show him that its ok to bit on the toy but not me. I don't ever hit. Grabbing the gruff is bad enough and I don't like to do that either if I can just redirect without correction I will. Now once he is 8 months or older I will correct him. Once again not by hitting. I also find that while they are teething ice or a frozen rag has worked great for me.

I know it sounds silly, but yelping loudly will help. I have a GSD that did the same thing, he didn't know he was hurting me, so I let him know the way a dog would. It worked, he didn't stop mouthing until older, but it wasn'nearly as hard. They don't know they are hurting you, so you have to let them know.

At 2 months, I am assuming you mean between 8 and 10 weeks old.(Unless you mean you've had the pup 2 months and he is really older). I will go with the premise that the pup is 2 months old. That being said, CHILL!!! This guy is a little fella. At this stage of the game, a firm scruff shake and a re-direction should be the way to go. Certainly DON'T HIT HIM! Keep things as positive as possible but if he gets too rough, scruff shake then re-direct his attention to something he can do like play with a toy. Check out Ed's articles on the subject.

By the way...i would get the cage out of your bedroom and also don't give him too much freedom too soon.