Hi this is not for me for a change, Molly and I are doing fine. I have met a lady locally who also has a Tibetan Terrier who is nine months old and she was telling me that at the end of a walk it gets a bit fractious and bites her legs! Apparantly it is real hard bites and her legs are black and blue.Now I had zero tolerance with mine biting from day one and at five months she wouldn,t consider it as an option and live! What can she do, its not something you can ignore as you walk along is it, not if it hurts. I am seeing her Monday to take our dogs for a walk would be grateful for any advice, cheers Peaches

If this happened to me walking the dog on a leash, I'd probably dead stop, say "nobite", push the dog into a down/stay position ( there's a wonderful pressure spot in between shoulderblades) and put my foot on the lead to keep it there until it calmed down. Then resume walk.
No playing any games at all with this naughty behavior.

Of course, I haven't exactly had to deal with this problem before, so this is definitely theoretical. I hate to say it, but the more problems I read about, the more I love my dogs and their personal little quirks :D
toodles

I haven't tried this myself, but a can/tin with coins in could be shaken to make a noise whenever the puppy bites, this will make the pup jump away, and if coupled with a firm 'no' the dog should soon learn that his behaviour is not only unacceptable for this lady, but unpleasant for him. Morris used to occasionally display similar behaviour at the same age, always while doing heel work at obedience class, I eventually stopped this by firm 'no' and every time he did it, walk towards the door to 'go home' this worked because he loves his class, but isn't applicable in this case. I have seen the can work effectively on aggressive dogs, so wonder if it might work?
regards, Emily

Do you mean right at the end of a walk when she has got back home and is taking the lead off?
A simple distraction may work like producing a toy or some treats to occupy the puppies mouth when she is taking off the lead.
Funnily enough one of my GSD's is absolutely fine to put on a lead and take on a walk, but reacts aggressively to anyone other than me taking his lead off at the end of the walk. No idea why. I have two friends who are bonded with him sufficiently to look after him if I am away, but because of his reaction at the end of a walk carry a ball on a string which he will die for. They pop the ball in his mouth at the end of the walk have a bit of a pull on the string and then take his lead off while he is distracted without further incident.
I haven't heard of any other dogs with this particular problem - until now perhaps?

I'm sure this is going to come as no surprise to you all but...........guess what....this is EXACTLY what the mockodile has now started doing. I have tried several things but the only one that really works (for anytime between 2 mins and the rest of the walk) is to stop dead, get the dog to sit and ignore them. This can get very boring and can often turn a 10 minute walk into an hour so I won't walk him very long in one direction if I actually have something I need to get back and do as I don't know what length of time the walk will escalate to.

I'm afraid (and this is bound to put the cat amongst the pigeons) that in 2 weeks time the mock is going to be neutered on the advice of the vet and we will see if that somewhat calms down all these sorts of behaviours. It sounds ridiculous but when the mockodile is not leg humping, snapping at arms or legs or ankles or ripping beds up, I really love him and he really seems to be bonding with me. For example, latest is that he will not stay out in the garden on his own if I come in - he comes straight in too and will not play outside on his own. Whilst a little bit endearing, this is infuriating as I have to be with him - another example of the attention seeking brat I have got here - and before you all say it, if I have better things to do, well, I won't just drop it and trot out at his beck and call !!

I am definately beginning to feel like Max & Banger here :)

Beth

Beth,
Good luck with what you do. I've pretty much been a solid advocate of spay/neuter programs if the owner is not serious about putting serious research and good effort into "breeding for the improvement of the species." Sometimes your plate is full enough just to have & enjoy the personal pet. There's room for all types of owners on the planet. :D
toodles

Hi Beth, I'm sure this isn't what you want to hear, but Morris began displaying this behaviour 2months after he was neutered, so not sure if neutering would have any effect, I think that it's more to do with 'dog adolescence' in strong willed dogs (like the mockodile???) Good luck anyway, it should stop the mounting in time anyway!
emily

Hi Emily

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect that the neutering will help with the biting, only me & Jake can sort that out (???) It's more to do with stopping the leg humping (he started this at 11 weeks and I almost fell off my chair with surprise:) and the little dominance issue (ho ho). The thing about adolescence, I only wish it was but is it possible for a dog to go through adolescence at 5 1/2 months (especially considering he has kind of been like this since 9 weeks !!) I hope it is otherwise I'm afraid that with the onset on adolescence it will only get worse. The woman who does our training says that it's highly likely that he won't get worse as he has tried (and in several instances succeeded) to push his luck all this time. I thought that adolescence set in much later on !! If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know

Beth :)

Hi Beth
The 'humping' is a nuisance isn't it! Morris was luckily not too bad, he used to hump his favourite toy, 'dodo' (no wonder they're extinct!!:) ) and occasionally cushions, but this all stopped within two weeks of his op 1 1/2 years ago now. maybe we were lucky, but we had to confiscate Dodo, which he will still try to mount even now, which is embarassing especially in front of guests, hence it having been hidden for a year!
emily
ps sorry I thought your pup was older, my mistake! I do sympathise with your problems though as Morris was a 's*d when he was that age too- just remember-they grow up...eventually!! :)

Hello Bethn I am not interfering with your choice only one thing , isent Max neutered. :D
I do have to tell you as well that neutering a dog will not change his temperment only his ability to mate. He will continue to hump your leg , and mount , as it does not take away the drive only the ability at least that is my experience of neutering , not my own dogs as I dont like to spay or neuter , but other peoples . Ialso know that a young dog does not mature properly when neutered , ask JackieH. The choice is yours , and please do not take offence at me for telling you this .I am only giving you my opinion. best wishes Mari

Hi Mari

Yes I think you're right, Max is neutured :) And if memeory serves, he was done very early in life !!

I don't think you're interfering, just helping but the other reason is that we live in a little village in the middle of nowhere where everyone has dogs and as I don't intend to put him to stud, I don't want to cause problems for anyone else. Also, our next door nighbour has 2 black labs, one of which she is going to breed from so is not spayed and when she had her season recently Jake was trying to get through the fence and I wouldn't really want to create demon Dobedors !!!!!!!!:D And they do like to go out for walks and play together etc.

The vet just said that he wouldn't do it before 6 months but if I was going to do it then the sooner the better after that as it would be less stressful on Jake (and hopefully he won't remember it for too long !!) He is actually very good and spent a long time explaining pros and cons and drawing mind boggling pictures etc.

To be honest, I know that sod's law is that if I thought it would calm him down, I know it wouldn't so it's not really for that reason that I'm thinking of doing it really !!

Beth :)

Well Bethn it is very good of you to think of your neighbours , not many are as responsible as that well done , but I am roflol at the dobodor :d:d very good ..
I really think your boy will grow up in a few months as the dobes are well behaved adults [usually] :D I am again saying this but only in my opinion. If you must neuter and feel this is the best avenue for you , leave it as long as you can , as I said neutering a young dog will stop him maturing properly. I wonder would that make him stay a naughty Boy forever :) [ JOKING] best wishes Mari

Wouldn't want to upset John with yet more designer Lab crosses, eh John! :D :D

I have to confirm this a male that I sold was oversexed at this age and was done at 6 months. at 2 years old they came to visit while his Mum was at the end of her season. Their jaws dropped when he attempted in a very experienced looking way to mate her, and would have succeeded had I not removed the little slut.

He is still inclined to show mating actions when he gets excited, usually fresh air!

Also physically he doesn't look like a 3 year old male, but has the look of a very gangly overgrown puppy.