please help me. I have an 11 week old GSD X Staffie and she won't stop biting. I know it's normal for puppies to bite and chew but i think that she might actually be viscious. She snarls when she bites and at first she's playing but she gets out of hand and we can't find a way to stop her. I am covered with cuts a bruises from her. She also barks at our other Dog who is 8 years old and she ends up nipping the other Dog. The thing is, i am concerned about the neighbours, they know we have a puppy but she makes so much noise im sure they are going to be fed up with us and the dogs soon. I really really need your help. Thanx loads! from Rakkerz :)

I have a 7 month old cavelier kings charles spaniel who also started to get over playful and started to get quite nasty (or as nasty as puppies can get). To solve this we bought a couple of different toys and then every time we played with him and he started to get nasty or bite our fingers or clothes we told him no very firmly (and tapped him on the nose) and put him away from us on the floor or something with a toy of his. Eventually he realised that he could do what he wanted to his toys but that if he did anything to us he would be put on the floor and ignored by us for a while. About the barking thing though again it all comes down to reward..a trainer told me that if they bark at another dog don't try and cuddle her or tell them that they are good to try and calm them down and don't give them a treat to distract them as this only teaches them that every time they do this they will be rewarded for it. If I were you I would give her a really good telling off with a firm tap on her nose and say no every time she does it until she learns. I know she is young but you can assert authority without hurting them and I always get told by trainers that you should start as you mean to go on otherwise they will never change their tricks. Hope this helps somehow.

Please don't resort to physical abuse in an attempt to teach your puppy manners - it only serves to teach them that humans can be spiteful and that hands bring pain :( Persistance is needed when dealing with puppies, and the best way to discourage biting it to discourage it by giving a lound 'ow!' - enough to stop the pup in it's tracks (make sure you don't snatch the injured bit of you away, as it just turns you into a moving squeaky toy!) When she stops to see why you made the noise, offer her a toy you can play with - such as a ragger, and encourage her to play with you with that.

The barking at your other dog is a little more difficult, as we need to know *why* she is barking - is she scared? Is it an invitation to play? Or is it for attention? Only when you have an idea of the reason can you start to eliminate it......

please read my posting under heading answering back.....i feel desperate at times....my norfolk x also comes across as viscious....lets keep our fingers crossed.

good luck

debx