Hello everyone….. I am new to this board so bear with me as I learn how things work.

Need advice on a nipping issue. A month ago I adopted a rescued Australian Cattle Dog, Lila. Lila is a spayed 1yr old that appears to have gone through some basic training. Lila knows Sit, Stay (for short periods), Down, Off, Leave It and has an outstanding Recall. Since she is new to me I am taking her through basic obedience again. I also have a 10 yr old spayed Bichon, a Katrina refugee. Lila and Wynnie can play nonstop!

Lila has a severe nipping issue. I suspect that who ever owned never dealt with the typical Cattle Dog nipping and jumping and that at some point she nipped a child (I am single but Lila absolutely loves kids). Lila is not aggressive and I have never felt threatened by her.

I have tried “No”, bitter spray (which she likes&hellip, a squirt bottle, a can with pennies, time outs, and just walking away. Nothing works. Using “Leave It” works for the moment.

Example: Last night I was saying hi to her and she licked my face all lovey dovey and then nipped my chin. Although a tooth touched by chin she has never “bitten” me but to me the nipping is an unacceptable behavior and I need suggestions on how to correct it. Typically it’s my arm she nips. I have tried putting a bitter tasting spray on my arm but Lila only licks it off.

Lila doesn’t see me as the pack leader but she is quite obedient. We can be walking down the steps and she’ll immediately sit on command. When I think she’s getting better, she nips.

Any and all suggestions are welcomed!

Welcome to the board, Nancy, you will learn a TON of very helpful things on this site <:-) Starting here:

http://www.leerburg.com/groundwork.htm

After that, you can look in the main menu & go to Articles, where you'll find advice on how to stop that nipping -- And, plenty of other posters will chime in on this thread, I'm sure...

Hi Nancy! Boy did you ever come to the right place. There is so much info here, and really experienced people.

As far as the nipping goes, try this:

http://www.leerburg.com/qabiting.htm

It's mostly about puppies, but it should apply to a one year old dog.

As you probably know, submissive dogs in a pack will occasionally nip the underside of the alpha's chin as a sign of submission. That could be a possiblity...I've encountered it with my dogs at first. While it's a good sign of how they view you as a pack leader, it's annoying or painful and has to stop.

Ed has some really good advice on this, and I would also suggest you use the search feature on this board because this issue is a common one and has been talked about a lot. Personally, all I've ever had to do was make sure the dog knew I didn't like it. I also have hearding dogs and they would try to nip my ankles, or my son's, when we were running.

When he nipped me in any way, under any circumstance, I would say a deep, assertive, loud, "NO." If I ran and he didn't nip, I would praise.

If it's puppy hand nipping, I would do the same thing, only I would then put my fist (to protect fingers, if he's a hurtful nipper) up to his nose after a "NO." If he tried to mouth it, he'd get another, strong "NO." Then I'd do it again, and when he didn't put his mouth on me, or when he licked me, he'd get praise.

This is my opinion, but I think playful or submissive "nippers" (meaning NOT biters or aggressive dogs) usually just need to know you don't like it. They want to please people, but they need clear corrections and clear praise. It's been my observation that many people don't really make it clear to their dog that they don't like something.

For example, they'll say "no" in a high, wheedling tone, or a rapid serious of sweet, "no-no-nos." To a dog, this can sound like praise, or encouragement. It's not the word, it's the tone.

I heard an example of how to say "no" to a dog once: Pretend that the word "NO!" is a rock that you are throwing. You can throw it lightly or hard. There are levels of correction with your voice as well as with any other method. So at first, a firm "no." If no response, really throw your "no" rock! This has always worked for me.

Things have to be clear to a dog...and do it every time they nip, not just occasionally, and every visitor to your house should be given permission to do the same to your dog if they're nipped (I say this because if you don't tell people, most people will be afraid to discipline someone else's dog).

And if this does not work...and I recognize that with some dogs it won't, the you should probably get a correction collar of some kind (but I'll let others here help you with that part, if needed).

In any event, it's all about increasing the level of correction until you get the desired results. And don't forget to praise calmly when you do.

Best of luck to you and enjoy the board!

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Things have to be clear to a dog...and do it every time they nip, not just occasionally, and every visitor to your house should be given permission to do the same to your dog if they're nipped (I say this because if you don't tell people, most people will be afraid to discipline someone else's dog).

Very nice post, Amber, but I, for one, do not want anyone else to discipline my dogs, with or without my permission. If I don't have them under control around other people, they go in their crates. I will proof their major training skills in new and different places with new and different people, but they learn their manners from me.

Yeah, I figured someone would bust me on that one! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

But I think that if your dog is very well behaved in all other aspects, and only occasionally nips...then I would feel comfortable with other people telling my dog being nippy isn't okay with them. I should specify that I don't mean just anyone...someone I trust, and even more specifically...someone who will regularly come in contact with my dog.

The OP said that she's a single person, so perhaps she could crate the dog when others are over. But I have a 7 year old son and a very passive fiance...and my pups learned very quickly that they couldn't nip me, but still tried it with them. It really only took a couple of times of them saying NO! to realize that the rule was universal, and not just applied to me! Now they don't nip anyone at all.

I completely see your point, and agree in general, but I based on the OP, it seems like the dog is fit to be around company...as long as it learns not to nip.

If the dog is a "hurtful nipper" to company, then I suppose a drag leash could be used with the owner offering a correction anytime the dog is anything more than calm to another person.

It's just that what I did worked for me.

Boy, I'm wordy today! Too. Much. COFFEE! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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I have tried putting a bitter tasting spray on my arm but Lila only licks it off.

And if all else fails...you could always shower in bitter apple! Then she'll be licking you instead of nipping!! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have a Border Collie who tends to nip when she gets worked up/excited. In addition to Amber's suggestions, I have had great success with redirecting her excitement. She has a high ball drive, and having her ball to focus on gives her something to do with her excitement.

For example, her natural response to kids playing tag would have been to try and head them off and nip at their heels and sleeves. If she has her ball, she carries it in her mouth, and tries to get the kids to throw it for her, with no nipping.