Ouch!

[ninadoxie]

Does anyone else have issues with biting of the hands? Nina seems to think hands are toys. She love to bite them or nip at them. I understand when we're doing something she doesn't like, but she's just playing and biting as well.

I went to obedience yesterday and they said dogs should never bit human flesh for any reason. Their solution is to hold her back until she looks away. I've been trying this but I don't think it's working.

Anyone have personal experience with this as well as how to stop it! I know she'll grow out of it when she's older and stops teething, but I want her to stop now, as I'm afraid of introducing her to children.

Thanks again!

[lotsadox]

Nina definitely needs to learn to stop biting your hands. There have been several posts on this. Many people have had good luck with saying "OW" really loud or yelping when she bites you. I've also heard of stopping the playing or whatever when she bites and going away and ignoring her. You might try these. I'm sure some other members will have some ideas. It's been 11 years since I've had a puppy and I've sort of forgotten things like that!

[ninadoxie]

Believe it or not I have tried these things (saying OW loudly, ignoring her after the fact, putting her in a separate area). It seems she doesn't quite learn from one day to the next on this issue. She will stop when I do these tactics but the next day (or hour) will completely forget and do what is "natural" and start biting again. Please help!

[carpet gator]

I had this problem with Gidget when she was a puppy. I tried everything you've tried and then some, and finally found a solution. I know it sounds mean, and I know some will disagree, but bite her back. Not hard enough to really hurt her but just enough to get your point across. That was the only thing that worked with Gidget and I only had to do it once.

[Lauri Gengor]

This sounds crazy but we resorted to spray our hands with bitter apple if nothing else worked. With the three I have, my short hair Misty was the one that did not respond to "no bite" or "ouch." The bitter apple did work. With my 14 week old Mirri now the "no bite" command did work. We keep the bitter apple on hand though if she does become stubborn. With my first Dachi Marco I have to admit I resorted to biting him, (not hard really!) after that he never bit or chewed on me again.

[Tammara]

Ruben and Trenyce both nip my hand or arm if they get the opportunity. Usually, it's when they are nipping at each other and miss. They respond to Ouch and No Biting, but like Nina, seem to forget. I've taken to keeping a piece of pigs ear handy, and I stuff their little mouths. They forget all about me when there is a pigs ear. :D I'd be in trouble if I sprayed my hands, I think I'd end up with it in my eyes. :crying:

[TessieMom]

I've used "OW" and "no bite" and when all else failed, holding the lower jaw with the hand that was being chewed. The latter stopped it completely, because Tess was not into mom holding her mouth that way. I doubt that you will find that one in the books, but it worked when nothing else did.

Rena and the Waco crew

[FOREVER A DAXIE]

1. Water bottle 3/4 Water 1/4 Vinegar and spray it around her.

2. A Muzzle - use only for a few minutes and the dog MUST be supervised.

Good Luck. The nipping/biting has to stop:flower:

[ninadoxie]

Wow, biting my dog! I don't think that would be in any book! I will try the bitter apple spray, but I like to feed her treats with my hands, will it ever rub off? I don't want her thinking the treats I'm giving her is tainted with bitter apple! Thanks everyone for all these great tips! I'll try them all - until it stops that is!

[Me&DappledDuo]

Rena suggested a good variation of what worked best for me- by holding her jaw, she made biting humans uncomfortable, and therefore, unrewarding. We always stuffed our hands into their mouths when our guys nibbled- it works the same way- they lost mobility of the jaw, and it just isn't fun for them. Mine learned really fast this way- neither one liked to "taste" us much at all, after a couple rounds of that. If Nina doesn't like Bitter Apple, it may dissuade her from chewing on you- but some dogs actually like the stuff! Plus... I don't want to smell like a bitter apple, do you? :D

Be careful about giving treats to distract her- it might become a really fun reward system. Bite mommy, get treat! Awesome!

One more thing- make sure EVERYBODY does the same thing with Nina when she puts teeth on skin (even gentley). Sometimes the men in the family think that kind of rough-housing is cute, and encourage it while you're trying to train it out of her!! No teeth on skin- playtime or not! Good luck!