Hi everyone I,m new here, after a long search and much info from the internet we got a beautiful bernese puppy on New Yrs Eve, he's 9 weeks old has been so good from the first night he stayed on his own downstairs and we've got him toilet trained exept thro the night obviously but he only goes on his paper by the back door, he'll let me take anything out of his mouth which he tries constantly to fill with leaves plants etc..I'm sure he's going to make a lovely companion, but like most people on here with pups I'm finding he doesn't take any notice of (NO), he will "Sit" and "Stay" fora few seconds and I reward him with a treat.. that took two days to teach, so his only problem is his constant biting... when my 6yr old son goes into the kitchen we have to lift him onto the kitchen table because "no" or "pushing away" or turning our backs doesn't work he just continues to bite..we've tried the low deep "no" the shouting "No" he made a real mess of my 70 yr old mums leg and she's having it dressed everyday..just because she pushed him away.. he hurts us all..We're all using the same command "NO"I'm just wondering if I should start to manufacture "steel wellies"..also when you try to get him off something in the garden he really rears on us.. I'm hoping there isn't a nasty streak in there somewhere..I'm hoping to find some training classes nearby..he loves his food so much and i reward him with "good boy" strokes and a tit bit when he's good but why isn't he understanding "No"..??We love him to bits and we seem to be saying No so much of the time when we all just want to stroke and love him .Does anyone have a bernese that could give me some help??

I am sure this will raise some objections from other people on this site but I had similar problems with my Akita (she is 9 months now) and I ended up having to smack her - only had to do it a few times as well as saying no! And this cred her very quickly and now No works on its own. I sometimes think that they get so engrossed in what they are doing that they ignore everything else. You just have to look to the wild for your answers. Most animals will try the ignore, the growl and then resort to a small amount of pain.

Whatever make sure that you do not physically hurt the dog it just needs to sting, like those smacks on the backs of the legs we used to get as children!

Tim

yes we;re not even allowed to smack our children for biting anymore ;-)

Not meaning to get PC or Not just because the govt says you are not allowed to smack children makes it right! It is done to protect those children that have adults that cannot control themselves and get too heavy handed. If punishing is wrong why do we have prisons?
PS I am not advocating bring back hanging!

I like your line of thought ... the other option is to lock up the children and puppies who bite because we cant tap them and they wont listen to no... but you are right there are far to many people in society who cannot draw the line between a gentle tap and abuse... there is a fine line and whilst i dont condone hitting a dog or a child I see no problems with a tap if it gets the message across... people say a tap leads to harsher punishments but i cant agree - its about educating the pup/child for their own good which surely is acceptable if all else fails

Hi guys,

I think a scuffle, or a stern shake is most suitable for a puppy who is not understanding no. Not too rough but enough for them to get the message.

Pam. :-)

PS the Government did not ban smacking they banned abuse.

It was not meant for the everyday good parent who is correcting their children in a moderate way it was directed at those who loose the plot and go berserk and whack their child so much that nothing is gained except an injured child and those who loose the plot in a public place.

They also restricted the use or term "in loco parentis " where people like teacher,childminders and grandparents had the same rights to discipline the child when the child was in their care this has been restricted as this was highlighted as a risk area for all parties concerned.

Just like Dams with their pups if we dealt with naughty children before the issue escalated then they would learn.

Not opening a can of worms here just thought I would point it out moderate discipline is OK for children and animals.

PS , I too have been a loose the plot parent, you would need to be a saint sometimes with pups and kids.

Pam :-)

Tim and Emily- I agree with smacking them:o Rightly or wrongly I was told once with my bitch (GSD) as a pup when she was nipping- you can arty farty about this all you want- allowing it to carry on- but a short sharp whack with a rolled up newspaper will have it sorted in a few days- and it worked:)!!!!

Stacey x x x

I also agree with the smacking policy...actually a small riding/schooling whip is very stingy without doing any harm.....they are a good idea.

I would NEVER hit a dog, puppy or child with anything other than my hand. If you can't feel it yourself, the chances are you will use FAR too much force, and end up being cruel.

Just my opinion.

tHATS THE WHOLE POINT JEANGENIE....you can feel it...a sting with just the tiniest touch...so no danger of having to smack too hard to get the message through!

But Sam, how can you feel how hard the sting is, if you're using an implement?? Very few children (too many though) are badly hurt if weapons (belts, canes, for example) are NOT used. I maintain that if you resort to using a whip you are likely to go too far. MY opinion.

I dont hit my kids or my dogs:) Julie:)

If you had seen the look of fear in our rescue dog's eyes, even when we were just going to put his lead on :( How could I hit him ??

Daisy

I have always used the rolled paper for a biter . not mouthing puppy a biter .
it is not harsh and gets the message across.
I actually never use my hand as i dont wish them to fear my hand. .
A hand coming down on a dog looks like a big looming eagle , as they view things differently to us so smack with the hand is a potential head wrecker for a puppy , Bernese can be very strong willed and need control from day one. The fluffy babies can be demons in disquise. So however you choose to teach him do it now .
I. m. o. sooner sorted soonest mended
Mari

Hi Mari, yes we were told that Oscar would try to win all the time but I've been trying the newspaper,, it seems to be working so far, but I think I will end up with a very red leg. (must remember to keep changing which leg of mine I hit lol)

I have found that pups will treat your withdrawal aws a chase game. when he nips you snatch the hand away, and he gives chase.

I have found that when a pup mouths if you press on the tongue with your thumb, even slightly with your nail, that he will let go. then continue to stroke the side of his mout, saying gently.

With older bigger more persistent pups I have found balling up my fist and pushing it further into their mouth which again will cause them to gag, works quite well. If they find having your hand in their mouth unpleasant then they won't want it there.

With my own pups I used to deliberately get them a little excited when small and rolled on their backs, and when they went to bite at my hand I would put their own paw or hind foot intheir mouths. when they bit on their own foot it hurt and they learnt to be more gentle. this was at the baby stage.

With a pup who thought mouthing was a great game, and if you got physical just liked the game even more. I used a blast of water from a spray bottle in their face, and then the No command. My breed isn't a water lover, but even with a freinds Retriever this method worked for undesirable behaviour, but it has to get them full in the face/eyes!

The dingle most important thing is to stay clam, ad keep your movements slow and deliberate to minimise excitement. Small children with their high voices and quick movements are the most exciting playthings of all. That is how the pup is viewingyou all as it's personal playthings Chew toys.

Did you see him with his Mum, how diod she tell him off??? We can learn a lot from canine Mums, and it is one of the reasons I do not subscribe to theearly homing (6 to 8 weeks) theory. It is great for knowledgeable trainers like Guide dogs for the blind who want the pup inporinted on Humans more, but in my Opinion a Pup learns a lot about discipline from it's mother from 6 to 8 weeks.

I think many peopl who have had a litter feel that at around five weeks the bitch is weaning her litter, and doesn't want to be around them, they then split them up, as Mum has had enough.

In my experience and circumstances, where all the dogs interact as a family with the litter, I have found Mum wants to keep contact to a minimum at 5 to 6 weeks, as she is weaning them. Once they6 have accepted that the milk bar is no longer a free for all, she usually begins to take renewed interest in them. Playing with and encouraging them, then knocking them back, and if they squeal, or are overawed, then she encourages them again. the ones that are little so and so's she soon sends about their business, and will refuse to interact with them until they are more respectful.

The pups that I have had from younger generation new exactly what they could do with each dog in the household. They were bravest with Mum, then Grandma they just knew to leave alone, even though she never did more than give a low growl (but she is the top bitch). Half sister mothered them at first, but after ignored them, and gave them a hard stare if they annoyed. Young neice was actually intimidated by them, even though she is the most confident 9over confident) of dogs.

I have never had a problem with playbiting in a puppuy that I have raised from the nest, as I have never tolerated it.

Hi yes I have a 9 week old Bull Terrier and she is exactly the same but a small tap on the backside does no harm.I once read that if you shout ouch fairly load then this stops them to,but you must be in comand and NO means No.Best of luck
Kim

Some pups will get the wrong message with a smack and will either see it as a game, or start to get defensive - not all i agree :), and some will hardly notice :rolleyes: :p

At 9 weeks the pup has only just left littermates and does not understand it cannot play as before. I like to use education, as in the End Game method, because i feel it is fairer on the puppy who after all is in an alien world as regards communication and expectations.

The only drawback is that is does take patience and may take a few weeks before it works, but the positive side is that the pup learns the lesson of bite inhibition, which in my view it may not if made to stop straight away.

I've had 2 pups who never nipped me at all, and i never knew why....I suppose they just had each other and played such exciting games that it never even occurred to nip me. My current bitch was a little B*****.

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record :D :o treat yourself to a copy of "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen BAiley.

And don't worry as we've allbeen there :)

Lindsay

Hi Lindsay,thanks for your advise I have read the book from the library and it is a good book.I know she is only 9 weeks but those teeth are lethal.She only nips when the children come home from school and it's because she pleased to see them,I must admit she has calmed down alot.I'm sure she will be fine.
Thanks any way
Kim

Hi
Welcome to the world of bernese:D
I have a 16 week old bernese called Marley and I had (and sometimes have) the same problem!!
Marley also has a nipping problem. He picked on my 9 year old son as he was the smallest in the house. He was either playing or after food (he is such a piglet!) I cured the problem by getting my son to feed Marley all his meals for 1 week. Once Marley understood that my son was higher up the pecking order, the attempted food stealing stopped.
As for the playful nipping, I walk around with rolled up newspaper in my back pocket. If Marley does not stop when I stand still, remove the piece of my body that he is biting, or respond to a firm NO, I hit the paper hard against my leg and the noise distracts him!
I then ignore him until he calms down and then call him to me for a cuddle:)
I have a friend with 2 bernese who are both 10 years old and a friend with a year old bernese. They both tell me they had the same problems. Must be the breed!!!:D

Let me know how your fluffy baby gets on:)

Vickie and Marley ( devil spawn) :D

Hi Vicki and Marley, what a great name (Marley) well its nice to meet someone with another bernese, yes I think I know the way to our Oscars heart and thats thro his belly, hoping I don't overdo the treats tho.. I think its a fine idea for my son to do the feeds for a week, starting today when he gets home from school.. our little ball of fluff is so tender sometimes and mostly when he's a bit tired.. but this morning we've had some wonderful non biting cuddles..(things are looking up!!)Regards Sandy xx