Weve recently got a new english bull terrier, shes 8 weeks old and is always mouthing and nipping people. Weve tried telling her NO and putting her in another room to calm down but even if we go to stroke her she bites. She also growls and barks when we tell her NO. Does anyone have any pointers to help the situation before our little boy gets scared of her altogether. Even i am scared of her at times!!

Hi Kim, did you do any research on this breed before you bought your puppy, any kind of terrier needs very firm handling, can I ask what age is your son? is he young or a bit older, does he understand not to touch the puppy when it is lying sleeping. This behaviour must be stopped NOW if you want to get this puppy to obey you. You are the boss, not the puppy, she is trying it on with you, when she mouths a loud NO and if she turns her head, or growls, you say NO very firmly and please do not let her see you are scared of her, thats what she wants, she wants to dominate you even at this young age. What conditions was she reared in when she was born, was she in kennels, or reared in the house with children present? (nothing against some kennels) has she has any socialisation at all, i.e. have you been taking her out in your arms to meet people, this sometimes helps, have you found out where your nearest training classes are, this breed needs training. I would advise you get a cage for the puppy so she has somewhere "safe" to go out of everyones way, this also helps with house training, but DO NOT send her to her bed if she does anything wrong. I found if I lifted the pup by the scruff of the neck making sure all 4 paws were just slightly off the ground, and said a loud NO, mine soon learnt not to playbite etc. after all thats what their mums do to them if they hurt her or any of the littermates. You dont hurt them by doing this. Hope this helps a bit. Irene-Westyholm Westies

You can also put you hand around her muzzle and close her mouth and say no bite in a low growl, I noticed the mother to my pups nips the pups on the nose and growls at them if they nip her. I personally don't like to use the word no too much because it's used for alot of things, I find it better to have one command for one thing and one for something else. Handle your pup alot all over so the pup is use to it. NEVER leave a child and a puppy alone always supervise them. I have left our pup and child alone and always the pup would nip because my child would do something. This can turn a pup mean in no time. Take ur pup to puppy class and have ur child involved with the class this way it's a family effort and all are invloved (depending how old ur child is). If pup nips also try ignoring the pup after you tell it your command. Don't be scared of ur pup they will no it and will try to be more dominant. Terriers are a handful but so is any dog without the proper obedience training and socialization. Go to puppy classes and obedience classes they help alot and can point things out to you and also answer alot of questions. Good luck and I hope I was of some help. :)

Hi Kim, this is going to sound awful but reading your problem has actually made me feel better because we are having exactly the same problem with our staff bitch pup and I thought we were the only ones! I just posted my problem on the site - so you should probably read the answers I get as I found your answers very interesting. I feel scared of Angel (ironic huh!) at times too as I find this behaviour so strange for a puppy although I never show her that I am scared. This growling and agression when she is told no is just not acceptable but I cant seem to get her to understand this. She has improved in every other aspect since we got her 1 month ago (no longer cries in her crate, has learnt commands really quickly, toilet training is coming along really well) but no improvement with this problem. Let me know how you get on.

Hi gals (& guys)
I'm having the same problem with my jack russell who's 8 weeks old. I'm not overly concerned though, as I know it's a stage that puppies go through, and would wonder what was wrong if he didn't nip! I just take it as" Oh good, my puppy wants to play with me" and that's the only way he knows how to instigate it. Of course I do correct him when he does it- either by holding his muzzle together shortly, or by saying no & then ignoring him for a while (thus, the game ends). This does work- but so far only until he becomes really excited again! It's a long process, this one. I don't expect to really get very far with it, until he's onld enough for me to use a check collar on him. Now now, I know lots of people don't believe in those, but I feel that if used correctly (& not harshly or too much) then they are a great training aid. If you've ever seen Mathew Margolis' work, you'll see my point. Anyhow, 8 weeks is far too young to use a collar like that, so for now I'll just continue with the ignoring method!
It must be very frustrating for you having the extra worry of your child getting hurt, and then becoming afraid of the pup. The best thing I can think of (not being a Mum or anything) is to explain to him/her that the puppy only nips because it's the only way he knows how to play. Then I would suggest that s/he learns to recognise when the pup is excited (when he shouldn't be touched), and when the pup is calm (when he can be touched). Also, definately bring him/her to puppy class/parties as s/he'll be doing all the puppies a favour just by being there (even if not involved per se).
Hope this helps... somewhat!
Emma =)

Well I was at puppy training last week and asked the trainer this same question!!

The answer ...SCREAM as loudly & high as you can and walk away ! the shock of the scream makes them let go and then you leave them alone which they do not like. Apparently when playing with their litter mates if they nipped too hard the nipped puppy would yelp and walk away so they understand this and know they have done wrong!

It has worked with me I must say but not my 4 year old as he will not scream as he likes puppy playing with him!
and my 12 year olds voice is breaking so he cannot scream high enough !!

Hope this helps!!
jude

In my experience this only works with sensitive and very young puppies, say under 3 months of age.

With a more confident/older pup, you have to register disaproval, as certainly an older dog would do if plagued this way by a bad mannered pup. This is what it is bad manners.

A Growly negative response and then removing your attention.

Well things didnt improve much with all the ideas i got off here sadly :( and whilst playin with the pup at the weekend she got very excited and bit my arm instead of her tug toy!!! Causing me to bleed which didnt help with me being scared of her as it was!
So action had to be taken and we took a trip to the pet store. We bought the "clicker training" kit and over the next few days we clicked and gave a treat for good behaviour and for her toiletin in the right place...... and im must say im impressed with the results. She is mouthing less and less each day and is actually trying her best to be good in order to get a treat! She has now learnt basic commands like sit and lie down and Im slowly build up my confidence with her and can definately say she is like a new pup!
I would recommend the clicker for new pups!!!!

Hi Kim,

I'm due to get a pup shortly, can you explain to me what a clicker is and how it works.

Thanks,

Zoe (UK)

It is difficult to explain in brief, I will look aroung and see if I can find a link for you.
Ja:)kie

Thanks Jackie! - sorry re-read my e-mail and realised I forgot to say please :)

Zoe, am i the Jackie you are talking to, if so I have not had an e-mail. I have not found you a site to look at either, but if you enter clicker training into Google you will find a fair bit to go on.
sorry I forgot.
Ja:)kie

Hi Kim

We have a beagle pup, he was and still is mouthing badly. When I played with a toy with him and he caught me instead of the toy he bit my finger hard enough to bleed quite badly. He let go of the toy as I yelled a bit by the surprise and he knew it was wrong.

What that told me was this, that the mouthing and nipping is not serious, I now know just how HARD he CAN bite if indeed biting is what he wants to do BUT if he isn't using this power normally then it is play and or bad manners as another person on this site stated.

We have stuck with it and he is getting better and better with each day.

Good luck

Jackie

Agree with the trainer. I've only had my pup for less than a week, so I have not started with training for mouthing and nipping. I let her mouth and have never minded that in a puppy. Nipping is an different thing entirely and she is at the end of her grace period with that behaviour. In the past, I've found that a loud "yelp" for effect usually works. If not, I hold the mouth firmly and say "no" loudly and in an angry tone of voice. With the pup I have now, I expect it will be the latter method. She is smart as a whip and definitely not the sensitive type.

Stacey

Your pup is only being normal. Its doing what it would do with its litter mates. At eight weeks old its a bit too young to learn too much at once. Its in a big new world now with lots of new things to explore and a short attention span for any training. Playing bonding and gently told no for a few weeks. Dont expect miracles over night.
Sharon from Bully wood terriers will be able to help with the right choice of books on your dog. Read about it and you should not be afraid of it.
All the best Mick

A clicker is small and box shaped witha button to press inside which makes a clicking noise when pushed. When the puppy does something good eg going to the toilet on paper/outside you would click the box and then give the dog a treat. The dogs soon associate the click with treats and try their best to do something to make you click it. My puppy now comes and sits at my feet looking at me waiting a click so she can have a treat. You can buy them in pet shops and should be able to get a book giving information and tips.
Hope you find it as helpful as i did.

Thanks Kim,

Sort of what I thought it's use would be but in reverse, I thought one would click it when they were misbehaving - but then, thinking about it, why would a small click bother them!!
Thanks for clearing that up for me Kim :)

Zoe (UK)

The clicker does have to be "conditioned" first, or the dog will not understand and it will mean zilch :)

I often wonder if, when new owners say "the dog hates it and growls when i say no" they are in fact scaring the dog or rather, pup. Dont get me wrong, we need to set boundaries etc, but very often owners say No, with steam coming out of thier ears, and may then go on to chastise further, often for minor misdemeanours the pup will not understand at such a young age.

I have had the pleasure of dealing with a different variet of pups, my in-laws Westies, my sister's JRT, and at puppy class, also my own who are very highly reactive. None of them have ever growled at me, and i feel this is because they feel safe. I praise much much more than I say "No", but i do set boundaries.

At this age especially I would be rewarding the good, and with mouthing etc, would calmly end the game immediately teeth touch skin. This does work admirably, although it is not instant. It also ensures the pup learns about inhibiting its bite, and so understands about the pressure of teeth on skin. It understands that humans are frail compared to dogs :) in the same way it would with pups in the litter. After all, littermates may well squeal and scream if nipped, but the most significant thing they do is to end the game.

If a young pup sees its new owner as at all threatening (OK a calm or maybe a firm No, but if said harshly, too often, or in a threatening manner, with cross body language etc and no alternative praise for good stuff) then it will indeed get defensive. I would if i was a pup. Every time i heard the word I would be scared and my adrenalin would start pumping. This is why dogs often repeat the very thing they have been told off for, because they are thinking "Fight or Flight" and the cells in the brain are not open to learning as they are under stress.

I'm not saying one has to be totally soft, or that one shouldnt say NO, but I have seen it used all wrong and then the pup fights back.

If a pup at 8 weeks is doing something wrong, then the owner can re-direct it onto good behaviour. So maybe a little No if pup is chewing a shoe, but hen straight away, give pup a chance and offer a toy, and praise lavishly.

JMO
Good luck with the pup
LIndsay

Lindsay,
I love my clicker and so does Cava but have you seen the ads which describe them as a sonic devise to change your dogs behaviour. Usually see the ad in Sunday Paper make it sound like some sort of remote control that you point at the dog and zap all problems solved. I think there may be some disappointed people out there. I keep meaning to send for the pack to see what the info is like but as I have at least one clicker in every room haven't got round to it yet
Anne

Oooh Anne ...wouldn't it be wonderful if it was though ? ;)

:D

Cor yes!!
:-D Anne

HI Anne,

Are those just normal clickers, then? I have heard of them, though not seen the advert at all. I must be naive 'cos i thought they were some sort of new invention :rolleyes: :p

Lindsay

Think they are just normal but may push the boat out after Christmas when I see the ad
Anne

I agree with 'fear' making the dog react worse or aggressive as a puppy. When my two sibling Beagle mixes were being abused behind my back, one became extremely submissive to roll over on her back and piddle if even looked at.
The other became snappy and snarly at any harsh word. If she was backed into any corner, she'd act like an attack dog. This was around 12-15 months old. I couldn't figure out why their behavior was changing so much...neither could the vet.

What was going on? Every time they weren't reacting fast enough to please, the (now) ex would haul off and drag them around to what he wanted them to do. He'd yell "No" at them. The slightest misdoing was treated as if it was equivalent to a dog bite breaking the skin. I now know he hit and probably hurt them. Two sisters with the same make-up had completely different reactions to the same abuse.

They were good dogs that I had trained, but his anger made them shy off...then they wouldn't 'obey' him. I found all of this out after a neighbor saw his 'correction' of them. :(

I believe that puppies who 'fight back' have to be treated just as gently in consideration as those who are overly submissive. Firm consistent and positive training has to be done to overcome these resistant behaviors. Both are fear reactions, imo.

Sara,

That was a really interesting post, how awful for you to find out about your ex like that, and also how sad to then realise what he had been doing to your dogs. I do hope there was a happy ending for the dogs and that they were able to be with you :)

I think it does illustrate very well how 2 dogs from the same litter, as you say the same make-up, reacted so differently.

I totally agree with your comments regarding the training side of things in such instances :)

LIndsay

Lindsay,
Once I knew what was occuring, I was able to keep them only with me until we split. (It wasn't long after...final straw etc.. ) I just kept working calmly with them to reinforce their confidence again.
Unfortunately, within 4 months, I had to give up my residence and move into dormitory housing where I couldn't take them with me. By that time, they were back to their sunny dispositions :)
As to what happened to them.... I took them across the state to a no-kill shelter where I insisted they be placed together. Within a month they had a home with a family that had a boy and a girl that each dog suited the other's personality (quiet demure -- girl / active brassy -- boy :rolleyes: )
I visited after 6 months to see how they were doing and they were in great hands. The woman was so appreciative for their training and socialization. The two were very content with their home. So much so that they did not want to acknowledge me whatsoever. Everyone was surprised on how they stayed near 'their' kids and did not want to be anywhere near me after the initial greeting. We all went on with our lives and I think they lived quite well in their happy home :)

The same thing happened with Pepper when we met up with her original owners after I had her for 4 months. So I think it's some 'loyalty' code that some dogs get when they are rehomed. When Pepper stayed with a friend while we went on holiday for 2 weeks, she did the same 'ignoring' to me and took her time adjust back to being 'with' us for the next day. :)

I'm really glad things ended so well Sara, and you obviously took great care to ensure the dogs had very good homes. I know you will have felt really happy at the loualty they showed to their new owners :), such a good sign :)

Lindsay

Hi again Kim

We have used the clicker on our beagle for the past three and a half weeks. It is great!! He has learnt many commands and is almost housetrained. Just the odd wee here and there. He uses the cat flap so we need to get a bigger on fast!!!

The clicker helped him to learn commands very very quickly, I mean in a few minutes some of them. Such as Come, Sit, Stay, Leave, Fetch, Down, Bed and Gently, when taking food.

I think they are such good devices that everyone should try it on the mother in law.............haaaaaaaa............sorry all you mothers in law.

regards
Jackie