Jumping up and biting

[KentNick]

Can someone please help me with this issue.

I'm perfectly fine with her jumping and biting as I can ignore it but my two children get hounded by her and they are now scared of her as she bites them and won't stop jumping up. It's now got to a point where we have to carry the children from the sofa to the kitchen and then carry them from the sofa to upstairs so they don't get hurt.

I've found a local puppy class but it doesn't start for another two weeks.

Please help me!

 

[gypsysmum2]

Teach the children the "ouch" technique and follow it yourself -

Every single time the puppy puts her teeth on skin or clothing "say" ouch calmly and withdraw all attention immediately. Adults should just stop handling/playing for a minute or two. Children can be taught to play "statues" where they fold their arms and look at the ceiling while counting to 50 or so.

Play can resume but must stop immediately the teeth are felt again. It is never an "accident". Dogs know exactly where their teeth are.

Every person that comes into contact with the puppy must do this. No visitor must be allowed to interact with the puppy unless they are prepared to follow the "ouch" technique.

At first it will get worse. THIS IS A GOOD SIGN. It means that the puppy is getting frustrated at not getting the fun it had before from biting people and is trying harder for a while before giving it up. This is when most people give up but it is very important that you persevere.

You might like to dress the children in tough fabric clothes and boots for a while. The absolute worst thing they can do is squeal and jump around because the puppy finds this very exciting! If they can't play statues in the "ouch" game then they must be kept separate while everyone else does it and they watch to see how it works.

Teeth on toys should be encouraged so the puppy has an outlet for the behaviour.

Timing is important so the withdrawing of attention must be associated with the "ouch" which will, then, be associated with the behaviour.

 

[KentNick]

Thanks for your quick reply, I've tried explaining this to the kids but when she jumps and bites they scream/cry and try and get away as quick as possible which then makes it a game. I will wrap the kids up in 'armour' and get them to play the statue game.

 

[gypsysmum2]

Don't forget that everyone has to use the "ouch" technique for the puppy to understand the concept.

If all dogs learned it, as puppies, there would be no need for the dangerous dogs act as no dog would ever dream of using its teeth on people!

 

[Kate75]

You don't say how old your pup is but if its any consolation that stage really doesn't last forever. We've had Holly (GSD) since she was 8 weeks old and the biting seemed to really get worse around the 10 week mark, it felt like I permanently had a dog attached to my leg!. My daughter is 12 but still jumped and screamed everytime Holly launched herself at her (GSD's aren't known as mini land sharks for nothing). The ouch technique and ignoring her did work and they do grow out of it quite quickly. Holly is now just 6 months old and it has 90% stopped. She will have a go occasionally, almost like a last ditch attempt to see if she can get us to play bite, but its more mouthing than biting now so doesn't really hurt.

 

[gypsysmum2]

Kate75 you trained your dog to stop biting You need to take the credit for a job well done.

Dogs do not "grow out of" bad behaviour. I once fostered an 18 month old 40kg bull lurcher that had been in five previous foster homes because of his "play biting". He had not grown out of it. We applied the "ouch" technique to him and he, eventually, gave up the "game" that had very nearly cost him his life.

 

[ann_e]

jumping and biting are natural nature of dog but when it comes to the children, it's not good. Since they are afraid of that kind of thing. But for me, the best thing you can do is always guard your children. You can keep them away from your dogs.

 

[Daisy May's mummy]

Dogs have to have boundaries (like children) and have to know what's right and wrong.You can't keep a dog away from children and what a shame to have to.If the dog is dangerous to them it should not be with them at all.Dogs and children bond well together an d as the puppy gets older you will know. My grand children have always been around my dogs,They were taught to respect them and not to tease them to make them worse,nothing nicer than a puppy growing with the family.

Christina