I've seen a few people on the boards recommending water sprays to break the habit of biting/nipping etc. Does this work and what are people's feelings on it - it sounds a bit harsh but I suppose it's harmless! We find that all the other things we've tried (the can with stones/ignoring/distracting with toy/yelping like mum etc.) don't work (or work once or twice only). Opinions?

Fine except some dogs enjoy it :D

If your dog is being aggressive because he thinks he is top dog and you squirt water in his face there is a chance he will see this as aggression on your part or a challenge to him and he could respond by being more aggressive towards you.  If your dog is aggressive because he is nervous or fearful he is likely to respond by biting you.  Some dogs think being squirted with water is great fun and it does not deter them at all.  Squirting water in dogs face does NOT have the same effect on all dogs and can make some behaviours even worse.  Be careful how you go.

If a dog is actually being aggressive, a water spray won't help as the owner needs to understand what is triggering the aggression and address the cause if at all possible.

From the original post though, i presume we are talking about puppy nipping/mouthing. All i can say is that each breed and dog within the breed is different. I wouldn't recommend it because i know someone who used this method on the littermate of my dog and the dog became verywary of her and trust was  not regained for about a week!

It is important to be consistent and calm, my very nippy puppy ( so i quite understand why the owner of her littermate used a water spray! if they were anything like each other) was "sorted" by taking her out calmly each time she nipped, and redirecting her onto a toy. After a while she would actuallly choose to grab her toy when she was excited ratherthan my fingers. It can be a worrying time but if your pup is still relatively young don't worry. People come on here with a "mypup is 10 weeks and hasn't stopped biting" and i have to smile :)

Lindsay

Hello Lindsay, Mum doesn't redirect a pup that nips too hard she roars and grabs it if that doesn't work. She does act instantly stay completely calm, shows no sign of temper, and once the reprisal is done she is as affectionate as ever to the pup (maybe that's where people go wrong :) ? )

I know this is a bit off topic but after reading reams of training books right from the 'old choke chain and punishment' through to the modern 'no aversives, all positive persuasion', I've yet to find one that has seriusly looked at how the dam disciplines her litter.

Hallo Jas

My view is that as humans we can never imitate properly the often very subtle communication between bitch and pups, other dogs etc and so although i completely understand where you are coming from, choose not to follow that particular method. For example the bitch may have given several signals before she does anything else, and usually she also ends up ignoring/leaving the pup ;-) for a short while.

I do agree that often humans tend to nag at their dogs which does no good whatsoever ;)

Best wishes
Lindsay

Hi Lindsay, I agree that humans miss a lot of inter-canine communication. That probably explaines many of the dog fights that happen "for no reason". Even if people are watching the early stages, they are probably not seeing the events that are important to the dogs. But Mum's communication with her pups is writ large in comparison to canine adult to adult communication, because she is teaching them, and puppies themselves seem (to the human eye at least) to communicate in broad gestures, like human toddlers who are learing to interact with the world and other people. So I've always wondered why no one that I'm aware of has looked at puppy training from the POV of the litter rather that wolf pack behaviour, operant conditioning, dominance, behaviourism of assorted flavours, etc, etc

I'm fascinated by how the pups react to mum, uncles, aunts etc. For instance mabye Mum gives a warning or two, then snaps. The pups take a lot of notice of her every movement, but are not at all wary of her. Auntie makes a lot of noise and gives contiinual warnings, but never follows up. The pups more or less ignore her warnings and show little affection for her. Great-aunt gives no warning, makes no noise, snaps very hard but always just misses making contact. Pups usually walk carefully around her, but if she initiates play they seem to adore her. Uncle acts as if he's a pup himself. Pups treat him as a play toy and soon the adult bitches all begin to act as if he is just another oversized puppy too. Great uncle seems almost scared of the pups, and they avoid him as much as possible.

So good obsessive that I am, I'd love so see someone try to observe, video and analyse such reactions over a series of litters and breeds, and try to work out if there are common factors that us humans could use :) ;)

I too find it fascinating watching litters and pups interact with the rest of their canine family.  As you have noticed each of the other dogs other than Mum treats and is treated by them differently and at different times.

My youngest has now reached four months and I have noticed Mum and Great Grandma being much harder on her now than when she was younger.  the others were already fairly firm with Grandma being very harsh to our eyes (she has been a very good disciplinarian of her own offspring).  She wouldn't play with her at all, but just over last week has decided she is worthy of notice and will play with her, but if she gets cheeky will tell her off in no uncertain terms.

No actual physical harm has been done even when I thought Mum was really having a go, but this is one very self confident pup, and in the past I have noticed far gentler discipline of less pushy pups.

I now have five generations of bitches.  Retired top bitch is the eldest at almost 12, her daughter who has no power issues is 9, the new top bitch is her daughter of 6 (pups Grandma),  Brash Mum who is 4 and 4 month pup.

Hi
I use a water spray (like the hairdressers use) on Lola, my 8 month old Dobe. She understands it means No. If I tell her No to jumping up etc she doesn't always do as told :D All I have to do is aim the water spray at her and she behaves. The only problem is I have noticed at dog shows that many owners spray their dogs to cool them or to dampen their faces.  :D
Annieee:)

It works on 2 of my dogs but makes the other 2 worse, I use it to try and stop unwanted barking.

Works on mine to stop barking - I only have to put my hand on the tap & there's not a dog in sight!!

2 of mine stop the others have hysterics. Mind you one of those is The Sod so 'nough said.  

It is a load of BS and only for people who know nothing about dog training and behavior.If you use the spray on your dog it will be detrimental for his future training,especially if you want to do any form of protection work with your dog.It will make your dog scared of water,wich is not a good thing.DO NOT DO IT!!!!!!!!!Retha

Almost all posts here are to simplistic. The characters of dogs are as varied as humans. Some love the spray, in some it has the desired effect and yet in others it could terrify. Always know your dog. You live with it and should know it better than anyone else. Unfortunately should is the operative word and in so many cases people I meet have really no idea just what makes their dog tick!

As to your comment Retha, I'm glad to say very few people want to do protection work!

John

Having had the pup for 4 weeks, I know he has a mad bitey period once or twice a day and I think it is normally before he sleeps, but I can't find anything that stops him doing it. Even trying to distract him with a toy can make him more aggressive at these times and he then snaps at hands. John, is there a method you would recommend to find something that works? We're now leaving him alone in the kitchen (where his bed is) or shutting him in the utility for a few minutes.

If its before sleep periodes its proabaly because the dog is tired, we found we were trying to play and give to much attention with our pup if we ignored his biting and pushed him away gently he would ly down and go to sleep, dont forget you dont like being bothered when your tired dont expect your puppy to play all day.

I find them a Godsend, but I have confident pushy dogs, and it is a non physical way of getting my point across.  It has worked especially wel for the bitch I had back at 8 1/2 months who was used to instigating rough games, and saying no made her try all the harder, grabbing at your arms legs, boobs even.  If you got cross she would just try ever harder to turn your mood into fun.  She is a very tigger type character, didn't seem to understand that others didn't like the game (or just didn't care).  when she would launch herself in my difrection repoeated shots in t5he face stopped her and gave her pause so that I could then get the commands in.

For unwanted barking I have found it very good, whcih is what I used it for with my first dog.  Some people find the Garden hose just as effective with this a breed who isn't over keen on water.