Help with being over protective

[Amber Horner]

Hi all we have a 5 month old dashound cross. We have had him for just over 2 months. We have almost cracked the toilet training and we are going through the typical puppy nipping/biting. Now my question is we have 3 children 2 boys and 1 girl. Our puppy is brilliant with them and they are starting to know when he gets to excited etc etc. What we have noticed is that he seems to be very protective of me. When adult females come to visit he will constantly bite them, their clothes and will bot leave them alone at all. He isn't like it with adult males. We have tried lots of things like distraction techniques, putting him on the floor saying no in a stern voice but he just keeps on and on at them. Any advice on how we can manage this behaviour as one friend is refusing to come back round until we have his behaviour under control

 

[Ari_RR]

My 2 cents - this is just a phase, will pass in time. Meanwhile, any kind of reaction is rewarding, even if meant to be discouraging. So, if redirection to toys fails, best would be a time out, and the easiest kind of time out is not taking him to a “timeout area”, but for everyone to leave the room and leave him alone for 20-30-40 seconds. Then come back and carry on, and if he is at it again - leave again, and again, and so on....

The problem with this approach is that it needs everyone to be on board and participate, and it seems that friends come over to socialize and have a good time, not to be props in puppy training....

So in this case I would suggest indoor gates, to keep him away from the guests, this would probably be the easiest way to manage when guests are there, and diligent timeouts at other times.

I doubt this has anything to do with being protective, it’s just puppy having fun. He is a lovely boy.

 

[Amber Horner]

Thank you for your reply. I will get another stair gate for the front room and will try the other technique you said as well. He is so good with my kids he has built a very special bond with my oldest son who is autistic it's lovely to watch. Really hope this is a phase as we have many friends who want to come and meet him but we are nervous because of his behaviour

 

[Ari_RR]

And one other little thing that might make things easier - I would advice friends to wear old clothes, long pants... nothing new and fancy, for just a little bit longer, not forever, only until he grows out of this. Stuff that none will lose sleep over if he manages to get to and rip or bite through.