Request: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Archived on 06/15/2009
I have just recently adopted a Pitbull puppy from our local rescue facility. I was not informed that it was a Pitbull but a boxer mix. She is very playful and I would say could be a good dog. It is hard to explain her behavior. When we get home from work she licks and plays. Then we may sit down and pet her and she starts to bite. She's being playful but it goes on all day and all night.
When we try to sleep she jumps at us and tries to bite our face. I know she's being playful, but no punishment is helping. She is about three months old. I'm starting to take her on long walks to see if it will help with her energy. I am very patient with her and have trained her to sit. I know if someone else adopted her she would be on the streets or back at A.W.O.L. Please help.
Thank you,
David C. from Independence, KS
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RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I just got my first Pit, a female and she is by far the best puppy I have ever had. A few issues, but overall she is so smart, I expect to overcome the naughtiness. I had great luck with house training, but I took her out every half hour and praised her endlessly when she went. At 3.5 months she now goes to the door, it only took a few weeks. She crate trained awesomely, but I started with a large cat carrier that she only went in at night and I put it on my bed. Within a week she transitioned to the living room in the crate at night. She goes all night without needing to go out. The biting and getting "narly" when I try to correct is the only real issue. She really growls and barks when I say "no".
Tapping on nose only made it worse, so I quickly stopped that. I started putting my thumb in the bottom of her mouth and saying no. That works better. I also start play time when she is laying down and calm, when she goes to nibble, I say "no" firmly and redirect with something she can chew while I continue to pat and snuggle her. My best luck with her is when she is calm (tired from hard play, ready to nap, trying to nap) it is easier to talk to her when she is calm. If they get rowdy, they need to go out and run and play hard, wear them out. I never attempt to "love" her when she is wound up, that is play time. I also always pat her, praise her, and kiss her when she is resting quietly too. This seems to give her the attention she craves and when she is ready to get rowdy and play hard she directs her play at the toys and running, instead of biting me.
I have the luxury of being home all day with her, we are also very rural and she has no distractions from neighbors, etc. A calm environment has been great for her. I do care for a 4 year old and have a cat which she is much gentler with. The cat has already established his pecking order as top "dog" and I also let her know the cat is the leader. I hope she will protect the cat when they are out together. She follows the cat everywhere. She adores kids and when my 9 year old nephew comes to stay she follows him everywhere and listens quite well to him also. I have a question on how much to feed her though, the vet says 2 cups per day, but she will eat all day if I let her.
She always seems hungry, no worms or health issues. Is her activity level so high I should feed her more? I feed her Wellness puppy mix, which is very pricey, but worth the quality. I will not feed her stuff full of chemicals like the other dog foods have. When I switched her to this dog food, I noticed a much happier puppy. Everyone should research the dog food brands and feed your dog a top quality food to keep them healthy.
I plan on taking her to training as she is so intelligent, I want to work that as it a constructive outlet.
I want the "best" dog around and prove a Pit can be a great family and kid friendly dog. (06/08/2009)
By goodwifey
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Request: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Archived on 06/05/2009
I have just recently adopted a Pitbull puppy from our local rescue facility. I was not informed that it was a Pitbull but a Boxer mix. She is very playful and I would say could be a good dog. It is hard to explain her behavior. When we get home from work she licks and plays. Then we may sit down and pet her and she starts to bite.
She's being playful, but it goes on all day and all night. When we try to sleep she jumps at us
and try to bite our face. I know she's being playful, but no punishment is helping. She is about three months old. I'm starting to take her on
long walks to see if it will help with her energy. I am very patient with her and have trained her to sit. I know if someone else adopted her
she would be on the streets or back at A.W.O.L. Please help.
Thank you,
David C. from Independence, KS
Feedback:
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I have a large dog that gets bored during the day and tends to act out in the evenings. I found it helpful to buy her a toy that engages her
mind as well as her mouth. I got her a BusterCube. It cost about 20 bucks, but I think it was one of the best investments I've ever made for
her. There are other toys that are similar but you have to search petco.com or petsmart.com .
With the BusterCube, you fill it full of their food, or treats, and then the dog keeps busy all day, pushing it around to get it to dispense the
food. It really keeps my dog occupied and helps her a lot. (03/08/2007)
By azDana
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Get The Dog Whisperer's (Cesar Millan) Books and watch his show on TV. I raised my Pitbull useing his techniques and she is a great dog.
(03/08/2007)
By Lori
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I, too have 2 Pit mixes. As puppies, they played and bit lightly. As they grew older and stopped teething, so did the little bites. I think it
was teething/playing mix. Neither one did it after teething was finished. (03/16/2007)
By Vanet U.
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Almost all puppies go through this phase, its perfectly normal. Long walks are great. Puppies have a short attention span so keep a stuffed
animal type or baby toy around to distract and redirect her. You can use a bitter apple spray on your hands (or on things you don't want her to
bite in general) to keep her from biting or "mouthing". If she does sneak past and bite your face, don't let your face show a reaction. Stand
up or hover over the puppy with your nose in the air, act aloof. Your puppy will try and lick or nibble your chin. This is good dog language.
Don't become frustrated if your puppy is clumsy or over excited when doing this, just remove yourself from the situation (stand up). I have
rescued and raised several Pitbulls for therapy work over the past 5 years and I can assure you that your puppy is just trying to communicate
to you in dog language. (05/06/2007)
By Amanda
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I have grown up with Pit Bulls I have an eight week old right now They are very loyal dogs. I was attracted to the breed when my parents were
breeding them. They are very athletic as am I. They do tend to be a little nippy, but you have to teach them who's boss in a growly voice say
"No Bite" they will catch on quickly. Pit Bulls are one of the best dogs you can have. I used to have Toy Poodles. They were a lot worse, they
bit and did all the same stuff. Pit Bulls are very smart they learn quickly with the proper owner you should be just fine. Good luck. (05/15/2007)
By KT
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I recently got a Pitbull Boxer mix from a friend. They said that they could no longer take care of her. I got her when she was about 3 months,
and she is now 11 months old. My Pitbull does the same thing. When we get home she is so excited to see us and she is so loving. When she begins
to play with us, it consists of lunging and biting at us. She is just playing, but this is how she thinks she plays. Needless to say, she is
deaf. They say that deaf dogs play and when they get excited they bite as well. This is because they do not know they are hurting you or that
they are doing something wrong. Testing your Pitbull to see if they are deaf is hard. We didn't think anything of it for months. I hope this
information helps. (06/18/2007)
By Kelly
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I own two Pit Bulls right now, one is full blooded, he's a puppy right now and a Blue Tick and Pit mix which is only a little older than the
full blooded one. Peanut (fullblooded one) does the same thing, he likes to snap. It isn't that he is mean or is angry or wants to hurt you. Most
dogs go through a series of chewing and wanted to just bite on something because they are cutting teeth. Pit Bulls are worse about it. They
can't help it, but for some reason in their breed, they chew more.
The best thing for you to do, is to buy him/her a raw hide bone, or even pig ears. It's hard enough for them not to just eat it, but it also
gets soft enough for it to soothe their gums. As I always say, Pits aren't mean, its the owners that make them mean.(not saying you are) Pits
take alot more attention than most dogs. They are really strong and have very strong jaws even as little puppies. The best thing to do, is even
when your not busy, and yes it sounds weird, but rub the puppies gums, trust me, they love it. Well, hope I could help. Good luck. (07/23/2007)
By Pitbull Lover
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Over the years I have had many Pits, raised them all from pups. Currently I have a 2 year old fawn Pit who had the same problem. If you but a
spray bottle with a mist option on it, fill it with water and spray them in the face everytime they begin gnawing on you it will break them. It
is safe and doesn't hurt them, but it should only take about a week to break them. (08/27/2007)
By layinlower690
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Biting, mouthing, nipping, if you were to watch two dogs play, you'll see this and the wrestling. With the biting, mouthing, nipping, I always
re-directed the behavior. As a beginner dog trainer, I do believe that dogs don't really generalize too much, but associate. The puppy probably
sees you as a playmate and plays with you as if you were another dog.
For biting, mouthing, nipping, I recommend re-directing. While playing, use a nice rope bone or a soft toy. Soft toys are recommended for puppies
or adults that are trusted to not tear it apart. Play the game of "tug". If the dog or puppy begins to mouth or bite your hand, say "Ouch!" in a
high-pitched tone, much like a yelp. Ignore the dog for a few seconds. Continue to play when the dog calms down. When you're holding the dog,
and it begins to mouth/bite your hand, re-direct. Put a toy in the dog's mouth.
The mouthing and biting may be caused by teething. Examine the puppy's gums, are they inflamed? If so, they may be teething. The "Teething
Period" lasts about 4-6 months. By the age of 6-6 1/2 months they should have lost all their baby teeth.
Never ever get physical with a dog. Aggression breeds aggression. The dog may even run from you or become a fearful biter. Some may even
recommend hitting the pup or dog with a rolled magazine or newspaper "only" so the dog does not associate your hand with slaps. Flicking the
dog's nose and slapping the dog lightly, what happens? What happens if the dog were to snap at you and you pulled your hand away? You've just
empowered the dog. You've showed the dog that when it snaps at you, you'll pull away.
I hope this helped a little. I do have a dog and am looking forward to getting a Pitbull puppy in a few months. (02/24/2008)
By Meee-Shelle
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
If It is teething I've heard that taking a favorite toy or rag and getting it wet and freeze it. Then let the dog chew on it to sooth the
teething pain. I would also like to add that it's not the breed. Most all puppies do this. (02/25/2008)
By mellissa68
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
It's in the nature of Boxers to bite feet or ankles. That's how they play. So if your Pitbull/Boxer puppy is doing it, it's a normal thing for
them and I found that the word "enough" in a deep tone really works. (09/09/2008)
By Tyler
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
My puppy is 13 weeks old, the breeder said she is half red nose and half blue nose Pit Bull and he had both parents there. She was the only one
out of the litter to have 2 colors. I believe her coat is called fawn with mask? Her name is Sophie and she chews everything. I just replace the
thing I don't want her to chew with a bully stick or her toys. It's working so far. (10/25/2008)
By Ari
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Also, socializing them with other dogs will teach them how to play nicely. (11/14/2008)
By Danielle
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
My husband and I have had several Pitbull pups and all of them liked to chew. We have our youngest Hunni who is only 6 weeks old. We have bought
here a toy that is called a Kong you can get it at any pet store. These work very well. This is a pic of our sweetheart that past just 2 months
ago. We love and miss you Dojo. (01/17/2009)
By Pookie
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Well, Red is a Pit Bull mix. He loves to play in a way that people may think would be scary. He's about 17 months now and he like to play as
if he is going to bite my hand or arm, but never actually bites down. Its called a soft bite, its the same type of bite that mothers use when
carrying their young. However, the soft bite is not instinctive and needs to be learned.
A trick I picked up from the vet is when he does bite hard, quickly and firmly press down on the skin that lies under their tongue, while
saying "No biting." Its uncomfortable, but it doesn't hurt. Your thumb would be wet from slobber, but hey, it works. After you do this this,
your dog should lick your hand in a submissive manner. You have to understand a puppy is just like a child that doesn't know their own strength.
If you don't let them know that its hurts then they won't change. Good luck. (01/27/2009)
By Scott D.
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Crate training is very important. Don't leave your puppy out at night. They need they're special place where they can calm down. If at a puppy
age you leave them out at night and they can go everywhere in the house, they will own the place. They need to earn that right when they grow
older.
(01/28/2009)
By Dom
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
My name is Jasmine and I'm a freelance Canine Behavioral Therapist. Like many other postings have said, every dog is different, just like
people. Something that works for one may not work for the next. The best thing you can do to start to rehab process is to firmly say "no" and
turn and ignore your dog. Only say "no" once and continue to ignore. Eventually it starts to tell them that unwanted behavior is ignored and
therefore no attention "at all" (good or bad) will be given to the dog until the desired attitude is met. Constantly correcting a dog that looks
for attention feeds their drive to get more. Whether its positive or negative attention; in their eyes it's all the same as long as they're
getting it. This will go for any attention seeking behavior at any age.
Please try this out and don't give up. They are strong willed dogs, so what may take a Lab a week to break could take a Pitt 3 weeks. But like
I said this isn't true for every dog, some Pitts (like mine) love to be corrected and really enjoy training sessions. The biggest thing is to
dominate your dog. Only give attention when you want to give it, not when they come up all cute asking for a belly rub, especially with bully
breeds. Dominance is key. Do not use physical strength. You may overpower them as a pup, but once they mature you will never win a physical
combat against a bully breed. If you or anyone have any questions or comments please contact me. I'd love to help. (05/05/2009)
By jas1012
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Request: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Archived on 03/06/2007
I would really like some information about Pitbull puppies and whether their early puppy-hood habits, such as biting, are going to be the same when they grow up? Chino (my puppy) Is very well behaved but bites a lot just to get what he wants!
Whitney from Auckland, NZ
Answers:
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Is he biting people or things around him. All puppies tend to chew. Does he have lots of toys to chew on or play with? (11/09/2006)
By maddiva
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Some of these comments are so far fetched that I cannot believe that people would post. Well enough of that I have a pitubll female and I would not trade her for anything in the world. When she was a puppy and would bite at me I would tap her nose and tell her no in a firm but not loud voice and after a few times she understood. Just like when she want to jump I put my knee up and tell her no and she no longer jumps If you crate train her do not use her crate as a punishment place this is her safe zone. It is not good to feed any bones they will splinter and get stuck in their throat. (11/18/2006)
By Brenda from Texas
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Yes in early years they do bite but they will grow out of it unless you let them keep doign it. I have 3 brendel pits and 2 blues. So it took a while but they do get outta it. Sorry for my slang. Im not a good typer. But yes if u treat them good they will be.. my pit scooby is a lap dog haha. So No worries they will grow out of it as long as you have a good heart and good entintions and have times u can spend with them. They are the best companions and I trust mine to protect me. They are my life. (12/07/2006)
By Tori
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Puppies like to chew and they will chew on you. They are teething. With pups that I have had, I told them "No Bite" when they tried to bite me and gave them a chew toy. You need to be consistent and never let them bite anything but their chew toys.
(12/27/2006)
By Susan
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Request: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Archived on 11/08/2006
I have a 4 month old pitbull puppy. I read that I should use positive reinforcement when raising and disciplining. So when she pees on the carpet, I pick her up and bring her outside. I just got her about 2 weeks ago, so I am trying to train her. I never strike her or pop her nose. One of my challenges is... she gets excited and jumps and bites. I know she is a puppy and she is excited, but it hurts, I don't want her to continue biting. I have heard all the bad rumors about this breed, so I want to make sure I am doing this the right way. If anyone has suggestions about raising a pit... I am all ears.
shawnkd from Lafayette, LA
Answers:
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I have 2 Pit Bulls and one of them used to nibble on my fingers and I didn't like that. What you need to do is be sure that they have enough bones to chew on. When I say bones I mean bones like go down to the meat market and get some pigs feet or a leg and boil it in some beef bulon re chicken until it is done and then put it in the oven until it is dry and hard. This takes about 1 to 1 and a half days. Your dog will love it and she will stop bitting at you. Also Pits don't like to be left alone at all. If your dog hasn't already started to eat wood, it will. They have anxity and they hate to be left alone. If your dog is a female than I suggest that you get a male, but dont get two males because they will fight each other when they get older. If your dog continues to bite then teach it discipline. Meaning take it for a walk everyday for at least 1 hour and make sure that it doesnt pull you. choke up on the leash, until when you can just drop the leash and the dog will stay at your side. I got bit by a Pit when I was younger and they used to scare me but when I got one my husband and I really were stricted with the dogs. I havent had a problem with them at all. The female will go up to others and lick them, and the male will let you pet him also. My female is about to have puppies so the male wont let anyone pet him. Don't always listen to what people say, because I also have a Scottish Terrier which lives at my moms house and he will bite you before my Pit Bull would. No joke. If you have anything to add e mail me at my home prayforusall (at) msn.com. Good luck with your dog. (06/27/2006)
By Melissa and Ju;io
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I've had nothing but pitbulls all my life, i've gone through about 4 now along with some other off breeds like german shepards and even a doberman. The pitbull terrier has proven to be the best breed in regards to atheletic ability, intelligence, and loyalty.
The bitting behavior exhibited itself in all the breeds through the various puppy stages. It was up to me as the master/dog owner to correct this behavior or any other unwanted behavior. In all the breeds that i owned i found that just establishing yourself as the pack leader/master in a no nonsence manner quickly helped me gain control of the puppies attention. No beating or pain stimulation was required. Firm strong commands along with deep eye contact is extremely effective.
A tug on the nape of the puppies neck as a mother dog would do to get the attention of a stubborn pup along with the voice commands where the extent of any physical contact with the dog. This by the way was done not in a manner to induce pain.
Sometimes when the puppy still didn't get the point that the biting was unwanted i would give a loud yelp to let the puppy know that it applied too much pressure. They don't know what there limit is until they are taught. This would startle the pup and also gain his attention. This should quickly be followed with a corrective verbal command. At all times stay firm with the voice and eye contact.
My current pitbull who is 8 months can be corrected with a glance and subtle change in voice. And keep in mind with all this, make sure to give lots of love, positive reinforcement along with a stern discipline will quickly get your dog in line. The dog wants to please you and you will find that the sooner you take a no nonsense approach to training your dog, the sooner the dog will be a able to co exist with you and be what you need him to be and enjoy each other's company. (06/30/2006)
By bloodborne
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Puppies of any breed share that trait, to get excited and start ot nip at the hands, feet, clothes, etc of people around them. This is not unique to this breed. This form of excitement, I agree is painful, you should try to focus that energy and excitement elsewhere. If it is mild, try getting the puppy to chew elsewhere by offering a favorite toy or chewy instead of your hand. If that doesn't work or if your puppy is biting with pressure, ignore it. Be firm and let the puppy know that it is nor acceptable. At that point in it's life the puppy is developing and is looking for it's place in the "pack". Do not feel bad, in the wild, wolves "discipline" pups to establish their heirarchal role. You should think about enrolling in a reputable puppy training course to properly socialize and make her comfortable arround changing surroundings. Remember, as Pit Bull owners we have to be at the forefront of the cause. Our Pit Bulls have to ambassadors for the breed, to show the public that it is not the breed, but irresponsible people who make them bad. (07/01/2006)
By Jose
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I have a 12 week old Blue Pit Bull Named Tequila. Many have voted against me having her since I am just 21 and everyone knows the responsibility of having this controversial breed. Me and my dog have a great relationship and I have never wished to not have her right by my side. I have found that she does require lots of patience and training but the rewards we both share.
She has so far been raised around two miniature yorkshire terriers and a year old cat in which she does Phenonminal communicating and playing with. She understands that these animals are smaller and you can tell by the way she plays with them. She is extremely submissive.
As to her biting: it was only a problem twice. After she bit me (it hurt), instead of showing her aggresion I said "ouch" and completely ignored her. I did this by playing with the other dogs and not even looking at her. She was completely devastated! Tequila did it again within a few days and I practiced this "discipline" again. We have not had one incident since.
I also do a lot to socialize her. She is put into different situations ever day. She goes where I go, Period. She's always around other animals and different children. Kids are definately her favorite, although, she doesn't quite understand that she has trippled her weight in a month so I keep an eye out for her clumsyness... :)
There are so many different things you can do to help the temperment of this breed. It just requires some research. Simple things like playing with her food while she's eating or taking it away and giving it back or hand feeding her at times will help. This all takes time. There are some really great websites and books out there. You just have to want to learn and look for them. (07/07/2006)
By Danielle
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
My puppy is 6 months old and had the same problem - it usually fades out as they get older. Sometimes "negative" reinforcement must be used. People are people, and as much as we may want our doggies to be little people, they are not.
They love a pack mentality, because that is how it is in nature. You have to assert that you are the "leader of the pack". Your dog won't "resent" you or act "abused", they'll be thrilled.
Having a dog as the "alpha" in the house usually results in an aggressive, noisy, stubborn dog that is almost impossible to train because they won't do anything unless they want to.
For chewing, if she jumps, what I do is clap at my dog, and she's associated that with "no". When she jumps, step back so she falls back on all fours and say "No!" very sternly, or clap, or both.
Over time I stopped using no, and just clap, and she associated that with "no" no matter what she's doing.
They are frighteningly smart dogs. I've had 5 danes, a dachsund (downsizing, haha) a doberman, and a lab- this is my first pitty, and as much as I am in love with danes, I find them to be a lot quicker to pick up things, and out of all the dogs I've owned, met, or experienced, I find this to be the smartest breed I have ever encountered!
Pitbulls are *verY* loyal and love to please. The first thing I would do is to make sure she understands that you are the head of the pack- this doesn't entail anything mean, but one thing I urge you to look up is the "Nothing In Life Is Free" training method.
You can find stuff about it all over the place on line, depending on how stubborn your puppy is and how out of hand, it might take awhile, but if you have a bit of patience,
fixing the problem now will be MUCH easier on both you and your dog if corrected now, rather than when she's big enough to cause some accidental damage with those teeth of hers!
Thanks, and good luck! (07/09/2006)
By Christie
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
What you should do is, everytime your puppy jumps on you, you should turn away and ignore it. Do that often so your puppy will think that if he or she jumps on you then you are going to ignore him or her. After doing that it'll calm down then you call it to you. Just repeat this because I own a pitbull too and thats how I do it. Hopefully this works for you too. (07/25/2006)
By Teddie.
RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
I have a two year old female brendal and at first i had the same problem but i would spray her face with water and that really helped. She is really well trained. (10/31/2006)
By Stephen Hinnant
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Request: Pitbull Puppy That Bites
Archived on 12/06/2005
| My puppy is about 10 weeks old and it's my first. He's a pitbull and he bites a lot. When I tell him "No" he seems to get excited and tries to bite more. He has little blood spots on him, I'm guessing my cat did that because he tries to bite the cat every time she comes in the house. I was wondering if i should take him to the vet. I don't walk him much since it's winter because I think it's too cold for him? Is it ok for me to still walk him when it's cold? Also, I was gonna give him a flea bath but I don't know if those spots would hurt him because of the shampoo. Some help would be appreciated. Thanks a lot.
Hung from Oregon |
| Answers: |
| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
12/06/2005 |
| I read about puppy problems frequently and I don't understand why people do not investigate and read about the breeds of dogs before becoming an owner. If you never owned a dog -- read about how to take care of it. This sounds weird but you have to think like a dog. If you know anything about wolves and how they socialize in their pack this will help you understand more about dogs since they are pack animals. This will give you an idea how to raise a puppy. Owning a dog is a big responsibility and can also be expensive. The key is to make sure that the dog understands who is in charge. That doesn't mean you have to be abusive. Just be firm with the dog. For the sake of the animal, learn first before adopting. We have always had mutts and never had any problems. So before you adopt a puppy or a dog, please read up on the breed and care of the animal. I always get complements on our dogs' behavior. We love them and they are part of our family but yet they must know their place in the household. |
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By mkymlp
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
12/07/2005 |
| Training animals not to do a socially unexceptional behavior is done by using a squirt bottle filled with water, every time the animal does the bad thing squirt him/her in the face. This does not hurt the animal in any way but does stop most unwanted behaviors. As to walking your baby, a doggie sweater and booties would make it easier for him to take the necessary walks to burn off all the excess energy that puppies have. |
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By wookieland
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
12/07/2005 |
| Karen you have it right. That's exactly what to do. Puppies bite, that's normal. Dogs should NOT be put in a cage as punishment. Crates should be a den/haven if you use one at all. To the person who is suggesting the ancient method of holding the dog's nose and putting them on their back. NO! We've known for a long time that it is bad old advice. If anyone has to resort to any physical punishment including hitting, especially hitting/tapping/whatever you want to call it, doesn't know what they're doing. The whole idea is to make training fun and rewarding. If you want your dog to be afraid of you and HATE training, keep hitting. |
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By Vic (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
12/07/2005 |
| Greetings:
You say you are a first time owner of a dog. What in Heaven's name are you thinking in starting off with a Pit Bull? I have been mistress to my half-pit bull that I have owned now for 12 years. He is indeed my 'baby'. But, I am not a first time dog owner by any means. A Pit carries a BIG responsibility. In as much as I've trained Bogie to be a loving and behaved dog and kept him in the house or fenced in back yard, there have been times when a grandchild of mine has not closed the gate and Bogie would get out. He never bit people, but he sure hated other dogs. Didn't care if they were poodle or the meanest of the mean. If Bogie got around another dog, the fight was on.
These kinds of dogs can make for very good friends to an individual... but they have been known to turn on other family members, especially children. This is your dog, but, if you ask me, I would very strongly advise you right now to find a good home for him elsewhere and get a different breed of dog, perhaps a Brittany or Springer Spaniel. Actually, just a good old fashioned mutt from the pound can become your best friend.
If you choose to keep your puppy, just remember that one day, he will grow into a full size dog with a mind of his own. Be very careful.
Respectfully,
Mary M. |
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By Mary (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
12/07/2005 |
| Consider this:
1) All dogs are pack animals, meaning they want to be members of a pack or family.
2) Imagine that you are one of the pack and that you are, in fact, the leader of the pack.
3) As leader of the pack are you going to allow any or all other members of the "pack" to bite you whenever they wish? Your answer should be "NO".
4) What do you suppose the leader of a real wolf pack would do if one of the juveniles nipped or bit him? Probably, growl at least and most likely slap at the pup, take him down, roll him onto his back, and hold him down with his paw for some time until the little one began to recognize that biting is not acceptable behavior.
5) You have now just learned YOUR first lesson in how to speak dog/wolf language.
6) From now on, realize that you must at all times make the dog aware that YOU, NOT HE, is the leader of the pack. |
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By Kathleen Rounds (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
12/08/2005 |
| Just because he's a pit doesn't explain why he's biting. It's the puppy not the breed. I had a lab that did the same thing when he was a baby and like most dogs grew out of it. He would really bite hard when he got into his play. Once he was old enough I was able to tell him NO and he understood that it hurt. Think of a human toddler that has a problem biting it takes a whole lot of NO BITING for them to understand you can't bite other people. I now have a 13 week old pit bull and I have no problem with the rough play biting with her. She is a wonderful puppy. I hardly have any problems with her other then the normal puppy potty training, she's getting there but it's a slower go then the lab puppy I have to compare her to. Each puppy is different no matter what the breed. Not saying the pit bull breed is for everyone but just because he's biting now with puppy play doesn't mean he will bite when he's an adult and knows better. Good luck he will grow out of it. |
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By lonny (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
01/09/2006 |
 I can't say it enough... have your dog trained by a professional trainer, preferably in your home. As everyone else said, biting is not limited to one breed of dog. Puppies nip because first of all, they don't know any better and it's part of playing. If you are the target, it's because your dog sees you as a litter mate. You must take on the role of it's mother. Studies show that mother dogs use only a few sounds to communicate with their young. When the mother dog is correcting her pups, she will give out a low growl and if she needs to, she will nip the pup. Not to hurt it but to correct it. She also will put her mouth around it's neck to show it who's in charge. There is a prong type correction collar that I strongly advise you buy. It simulates the mother's mouth on the pups neck when the collar is pulled with a leash. The prongs are not sharp at all and does not harm the dog in any way. This works on our dog when we are walking. What ever you do, don't allow this biting to continue because whether the dog is a pitt or a fluffy little mutt, biting is unacceptable in any form. Some day you might be looking at a law suit or being hospitalized or worse. |
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By ldyharley
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
01/18/2006 |
| Walk the dog. it has fur. If you don't walk it, it will remain restless. Give the dog a bath so the scratches will not get infected. A cat's scratch is very dirty. |
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By chic from ohio. (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
01/29/2006 |
 All dogs love exercise no matter the weather temp. All they want is to spend more time with their owners. One attempt at the biting bit, is to make him sit before you start petting him. This will teach him that being calm will give him love and attention. If he continues to bite, you can try making him sit, holding his muzzle closed (loosely), looking him straight in the eyes and making him look in yours, then shaking your finger and saying "no bite", or "bad boy, no bite" each time he bites. Make sure he knows what
"no" means before you tell him that. You can still show him all of your love towards him, but it needs to be a strict love. Don't give him love when he bites though. This will teach him that it is good to bite.
I hope this information will help.
P.S. This will not take affect immediately. He must learn, which can take a matter of months. Be patient, show lots of love, and get him plenty of exercise. He'll love the walks no matter the temperature. I know min. does.
Sincerely,
Vet2b(quote)(/quote) |
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By vet2b (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
02/04/2006 |
| I have a 7 week old that bites and when he didn't get his way he would snarl and try to take your fingers off. I solved it! I make him sit by putting him in a sit and if he is really being nasty I grab the scruff of his neck. I do not hurt him but I do make him stay there while I hold him until he calms down. It took about 5 times and now he respects me and life is much better! Good luck |
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By Amy (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
02/07/2006 |
| I have 2 baby pits. People say that pit bulls are very hyper until they are about a year old. I'm sure yours will calm down. When my babies are being like that I put them in the bathroom for about 10 min. Then they seem fine. Happy Training.
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By Brian Boor (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
02/26/2006 |
| Pitbulls are like every other breed of dog, they all chew and play bite and have to be taught when and where to use the restroom. No dog is a bad or mean dog, it's all in the way they are taught and raised. I was raised with Rotts and some people say they will turn on their owners in a heartbeat but the ones we have owned are very respectful to people (especially to my children 1 and 2). They can take food out of their mouth and they will just look at them and ask for it back. Teach your pits as if they are one of your children you are raising. |
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By Momma 2 H. & H. (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
04/22/2006 |
| If you want JOY to stop nibbling a lot Just flick her soft on the nose and say no. |
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By Devin. (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
05/08/2006 |
| My pit went through that stage too a lot of the times it's because he's teething so he has to bite on everything. Mine used to love to lay under my coffee table and bite on the legs try getting him some rawhide toys that he can chew on, he'll stop chewing soon. |
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By ladyb (Guest Post)
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| question on brendel pitts |
05/25/2006 |
| I have a Brendel Pitt bulldog and she is lovable, however, I have two small kids and she has a tendency to "PLAY" with the children and leave marks on them, Is this normal? Also, I was wondering about how to get her registered and is it mandatory? I am from Alabama. People have told me that i needed to get rid of her because they turn on their owners and on children. Are they right? I am a concerned parent, please help if you can. |
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By Diane (Guest Post)
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| RE: Pitbull Puppy That Bites |
05/29/2006 |
 I've got a 3 1/2 month old pit. Biting is part of his daily routine. Anything that comes near his mouth is a potential target for his constant "nibbling" and "biting". It also starts to get harder and this is only because they do grow and as you grow a lot of things increase. I've raised 5 pits and they seem to get over the whole "biting" thing at about 6-8 months.
Chew toys, a strong toned "NO" lets him know when the biting isn't "cool" anymore. It's a phase i've seen most pits go through. I'm going try the "flicking nose" technique and the 8in1 "no biting" thing to see if those works better. Good luck!!! |
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By ToNe_RoC (Guest Post)
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