We have been trying to control puppy biting, growling by leaving Cassie in the room alone when she does it and then going back 5 mins or so later...Problem:- When we attempt to go back in the room she lunges and growls trying to bite again.. I am starting to feel as if we take 1 step forward and 2 back.. Cassie is an 11 week old Norfolk cross..

Many thanks

Debbiexx

Different dogs respond to slightly different ways of doing things, and Cassie doesn't yet understand why you go out. She just sees it as a bit boring, and starts her "fun" again when you return.

Dont worry. Try popping a houseline on her (maybe an old lead, or if she chews it, put clove oil on it ). If she attempts to nip, simply take the line and pop her outside the room for a short time - try just 2 minutes. Any longer and she may well not realise what it is for.

You may have to persist but it does get better :) Putting her out, rather than you going out, may work better in her case. If she gets silly as you bring her back in, simply pop her out again. Reward her with calm praise, food treats or toy if she desists in her attempts. It's also worth standing completely still if she lunges, this has worked well with some pups.

You may like to add an "ouch" type squeal when she nips, before you put her out, but dont do this if she starts to see this as fun - some pups will. I used to say "ah ah" sharply as anything else made my pup much too hyper for any training or control.

You can also try re-directing her onto a toy but if possible try to do this as she with draws her teeth so it is a reward as well as a distraction.

good luck :)

Lindsay

We recently got an English Pointer pup. I love her, but we too went through this rough biting time when she was around Cassie's age. I read and read many opinions. We took her to an obedience class and saw some improvement for a couple of days, but then right back to it. I have a 5 year old and 8 year old. I had to get a grip on the problem, or I was going to have to give the dog up. Please know, I wanted the dog, researched the breed, chose breeders. This puppy thing was not a flighty decision.

Here is what did not work for my pup...turning her upper lip under so she'd bite it instead of me, spray bottles, shake cans, verbal "NO!". Every thing seemed to excite her and even encourage the behavior! In effort to correct her, I quickly could see I was putting her into a defensive mode and she had begun to protect herself so to speak. Also, putting her out all the time did not help. It said, "you are not part of this 'pack' go make your own pack and you can be queen."

Here is what did work. I went back to my obedience trainer (me in tears over the matter). We talked and changed our plan. Whenever I was with the pup, I left the lead on her with a slip collar. This way when I had to get control of her, I could reach slightly away from her and make a lead correction instead of bending down at her and TRYING to reach at her head. It kept my hands out of her harms way, it was not a threatening action, and she did not get the chance to get her teeth in me.

At the same time, we also began training on how we feed her. We did the sit stay eat thing. We would hold the bowl up and wait for her to sit, then tell her stay, then set the bowl of food down, make her wait, the instruct her to eat. I think this help with the bite thing because is was showing my dominance! I had to start thinking like a dog pact. The dominant dog eats first and controls when and how much the others in the pact gets. Instead of putting her out when their was a problem, I would crate her just until she had relaxed. I tried very hard not to make it a punishment so I did not leave the room, but would do other things in the room until we had both chilled a bit.

But, now my pup is in adolesence...good grief and again I am full of questions.