Since marker training can be use to reward, and negative reward for any, if not all behavior. Chico my pup has a puppy behavior that drives me crazy and has marked up all over my hands. almost every time I am putting on his chain here come the mouth, a bite here, then there, and soon we are struggling. I am slow, not LOL. but still amuse by my old school manners. and I go for the struggle that is not good. He is a chow hound, so if I started to reward with a treat and lots of prays for good behavior (not biting) and use a No; For bad behavior (biting). He might stop that behavior. Simple right? A reason for this might be even thou we spend a lot of time together, it is not in our home. always in the back yard, front yard or in the woods, sun room is as far as he gets. maybe more bonding inside the house can also bring a change. What do yo think?

Don' get the wrong idea, we have a great relationship, He is just who he his and when I remember my other dogs, never had those problems, but never use marker training either. Not knocking the marker training, it works, I am just stating a fact.
We have had very good sessions, that I left elated, and one or two, that keep my head scratching.

You all are my pack, so here I come for advice and knowledge, the light bulb just went of in my head, better late than never. Dan

Dan, Are we talking a "chain" leash or collar?

Barbara on the leash. right now the wifw is gone so we are next to each other. but he is trying to bite the leash, so I distract him and put him in a down, will play and repeat this several time tonight. Dan

Puppies....

Dan, try to have things with you at all times which you can give the pup to chew on instead of the leash and your extremities! I walked around with an old dish towel or small rope tugs in my pocket when Falcon was younger so that I easily distract him or engage him when he was attempting to do something he shouldn't have been doing. (Lots of folks swear by the Kong).

The other thing is to make sure he is getting enough exercise, which I know can be a real challenge. He might be letting you know he needs to burn off some more energy.

Hey, Danilo, my copy of Ed's video - Puppyhood 8 weeks to 8 months just came yesterday and I watched the first 30 minutes or so. Ed's pup was, of course, very mouthy/chewy. For the chewing per se, Ed always had another toy or tug close by and if pup chewed for example his hand, he would quickly get the pup going after a toy and chewing on it.

As for the leash, the pup wanted to chew it, too. Ed explained that you don't wanting him chewing it, so when pup started to chew the leash, Ed would give it a little pop and say no, and move on, trying to get the pup interested in something in the environment. Of course, Ed explained that this could go on for awhile (as in MONTHS).

As for the hand biting, I feel for you. We have a dog whose teeth were daggers when he was a pup. Still have a couple scars, in fact....fast toys, fast hands..

Barbara said it well: A tired pup is a good pup

Hi Barbara and Rob, last night and today so far as been a hit, negative reward (No) even thou I have been doing that all along, I guess he notice my change in attitude, Who knows? Positive reward as in (treat and good boy) We stayed up until about two AM. wife was not home. smile. still tried to be mouthy once today, and I distracted him with a drink of water. We do exercise every day, other than my appointment schedules. we walk for about one hour to two, my pace. very slow, and we stop and sit, and talk. Remember that this is in the woods, but he has the tugs, and balls, and Frisbee. no jumping thou. Evening times we are in the back yard several times for short periods, I can't move like I use to, but he does get tired because he drinks water every chance he gets. while I also use a towel and noise with my mouth. He has recreation bones, We even do this at night. I won't mine been him. LOL

The leash we almost need a new one. I started out by saying no to the grabbing of the leash, like 8 weeks to 8 months. I believed he think it is a tug. Anyway, going back to the reward and negative reward, If he walks good no pulling , good boy and a treat, as we turn around to come home a different creature, but I stop, I go the other way, and we play. I found he did not chew on the leash as much as before.

So thanks for putting up with me, on my no handling dog self. But I have big dreams for Chico and I. Dan

You were up until 2 am training a puppy?

Think you might be overdoing it a bit?

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Dan, try to have things with you at all times which you can give the pup to chew on instead of the leash and your extremities! I walked around with an old dish towel or small rope tugs in my pocket when Falcon was younger so that I easily distract him or engage him when he was attempting to do something he shouldn't have been doing. (Lots of folks swear by the Kong).

I do the same thing here with my VERY mouthy 7 month old. He is happiest when his mouth is occupied {so am I} ..I too carried the dish towel or tug, I leave a spare in the car. Try not to compare to your previous dogs, my previous GSD never put his mouth on anything/anyone, never chewed anything, very laid back,however, you could have never utilized him in the plans that you have for Chico! Good luck, you will see improvement!

Aaron, no, no training, just inside the house with the wife at work. I am on the computer, to get him socialize more with me and try to avoid the mouthiness. As he got distracted I use a treat and play. Dan

Tammy, I am learning that a full mouth is a happy mouth, and good point about comparison, I know no two dogs are alike. That happens as I over think. And I do have the everlasting kong. will use it. Thanks for all response. Dan