Hi,
Please help, first of all I understand puppies will be puppies, but I really need advice to stop my 4 month old Siberian Husky x GSD from really bad mouthing.
I have tried all methods that I know of ie. ignoring him, turning my back on him, stones in a bottle, clicker etc. The worst episodes are when he out of the blue just jumps at you and hangs on for dear life just pulling and growling and he will not let go, I have tried coaxing him with treat, telling him firmly no, avail he has drew blood a couple of times and had my 6 year old grandson in tears when he had one of his `episodes`(the children are not left alone with the pup it was unexpected), That is why I do not understand what triggers him of he is fine one minute and then wow. He has had a clean bill of health from the vet, his parents have good natures. The only thing is he was not used to people under 7 weeks only his breeder (single lady but very nice her dogs very well kept).
I did start socializing him as soon as and he goes to dog training classes, he loves other dogs just not people, but is gradually improving.
I have had dogs all my life so am not a complete novice, but that is the way I feel now my other little rescue dog and my cats just cannot be bothered with him.
So so sorry for a long letter but please help if you can am getting at my wits end(and he is only a baby too) he is a very loving pup when he want`s to be.
Darcy

Darcy
did you get your pup at the normal 8 weeks ? Just wondering as you mentioned you socialised him as soon as you got him etc . Then again I would say that socialising and mouthing are two different things .
Pups DO love to mouth . I know when we got Gus ( a Staffy) he loved mouthing and those little pin teeth really hurt . Your Pup may be coming to the end of his mouthing now . Tell him firmly NO and ignore him and if he persists then put him in his crate ( if you have one ) or another room .
Maybe his breed has somethng to do wth the excessive mouthing but remember every pup is different . I would say he will eventually come to the end of it but he needs to learn you will not tolreate it
Maybe he is teething early - this may explain the excessive mouthing

Hi Darcy,

you worte that you have tried everything but surely the dog is only 4 months old and repetition is the key in training a dog. It is no good to jump from method to method, you would only confuse the pup. Ignoring is a great tool. Please select one method and stick to it :).

Taylor

Consistency definately counts for a lot in dog training .
The problem is some people let Pup off with bad behaviour now again cos he looks cute - it is especially hard when you have kids in the family as you tell them off and the kids get them worked up and then allow pup to think it is a game :)
When you tell him off , he thinks it is an extension of the game and then you really do need to ignore him .

Hi Taylor,
Yes I understand what you are saying, I was told previously by dog owners to try different methods to find out what he responded to, at the moment he is getting put into a different room when he goes too far, very difficult to do when you are out exercising him though . I was also told by someone high up in the dog world that is was not good to shut him away either as I could cause him more upset, I can`t win.
I have never let him away with wrong behaviour, and he does not get running about with my grandchildren because of his unexpected mouthing. My grandkids know they do not torment my dogs either they are not toys.
Thankyou
Darcy

Hi lel,
Thankyou for your reply, yes you are quite right they are two separate issues. I got the pup at 8 weeks and started socializing him after the vaccination period to help him with his nervousness to people.
Hopefully it is only a mouthing stage, but being owner of Great Danes and Doberman`s in past years never had this type of mouthing before, all my dogs were happy obedient confident dogs and all lived long happy lives. As you said maybe just the different breed
Thankyou again.
Darcy