I have an American Eskimo puppy who is 7 mos old. She is a great dog however has a terrible biting problem. I have tried everything and yet she bites and draws blood. My arms look like I have been severely abused. No matter how I try to discipline her she gets worse. Any ideas?
I read your post and I am wondering if you can give some more details regarding the biting incidents. Is the biting random and aggressive, or does it occur primarily while the puppy is playing or excited? Either scenario needs to be addressed, but the details are important in determining what course of action should be taken. Some biting behavior is normal and just needs to be curbed/inhibited as it would be, naturally, by the littermates/parents of the puppy.
I read your post and I am wondering if you can give some more details regarding the biting incidents. Is the biting random and aggressive, or does it occur primarily while the puppy is playing or excited? Either scenario needs to be addressed, but the details are important in determining what course of action should be taken. Most puppy biting behavior is normal and just needs to be curbed/inhibited as it would be, naturally, by the littermates/parents of the puppy.
It is very hard to describe. When I have her out in the yard-I have her on a 25 foot lead - of course she gets wrapped around the slightest twig. When I go to get her in or unwrap her, she jumps and clings on to any shirt I am wearing or she will latch on my pants legs. I squirt her with water-tell her no firmly and lately have been starting to give her time out. She is very obstinate. I can be in the middle of a training session or she could just be laying around and all of a sudden jumps up and latches on to anything fingers, toes, clothes whatever. She gets plenty of exercise. The funny thing is I will say no, tell her to sit and motion her to stay - and she does it - for 2 seconds-I walk away and she is latching on again until she tires herself out. I really have found the best solution so far is to throw her in the shower (it is a large walk in shower), close the door and leave her in there for 15 minutes. When I let her out I ignore her and that seems to calm her down. I wish I could calm down these biting incidents, actually nipping, I believe she is just playing. I am going to start formal obedience training with her shortly. When I squirt her with water, she jjumps up and attacks the bottle.
Ok, first off, I don't think she is being outwardly aggressive. She may even think you are playing when you "unwrap" her from her tangled lead. My St. Bernard puppy (Ruby) used to do the same thing. We would be playing nicely, and for reason at all she'd go in to "Cujo" mode and start running wild, jumping, nipping etc. I could do nothing to calm her down. My arms were scratched all up and bruised for weeks from me trying to control her during these outbursts...one time she ripped the butt right out of a pair of my pajamas while I was trying to retrieve a toy from under the couch (thankfully no skin broken...haha).
It is true that puppies learn bite/play inhibition from littermates and their parents, and I really suggest following the "alpha dog" guide provided by SSF to establish yourself as the leader from now on, because it teaches you how to deal with behavior as their "family" would. I wish I would have had sitstayfetch from day one! I made huge mistakes in letting Ruby cuddle on furniture, have open access to food, sleep in bed etc...and I did nothing in the way of training. Silly me, because now she is pushing 115 lbs, and I had to start from scratch at 14 months just to get her under control. She actually nipped (more like head butted/gummed) at the trainer that I am taking her to on the first day of class! I wanted to leave, but the trainer didn't even react to her action and made me stay. I am glad that I did stay, because Ruby learned that crappy acts on her part do not get her out of an uncomfortable situation!
It really sounds like your pup is going through the "terrible two's". American Eskimo dogs are known for retaining puppy like behavior far longer than most breeds, so don't be dismayed. My advice is that when she goes in to these "psycho" fits, say nothing, turn your body (shun her) and walk away. You said yourself that the "time out/shower stall" works, so just make this happen without isolation. Don't even bother to scold or correct her by reacting and/or isolating her....just pay NO attention to her even if you have to walk out of the room. Alpha dogs (you) do not negotiate....ever. Set your rules and stick by them. Your dog wants your attention, and she will do whatever it takes to get it. If you respond (even negatively) to her fits, she will think that by acting poorly she gets your attention. By turning and walking away you send the message that bad behavior is NOT going to get it and, (like her mom would) you simply remove her from the group. Dogs HATE to think they are being left out.
Also start rewarding her with yummy treats (20+ times a day) for behavior that you want (laying quietly, playing with her own toys, obeying commands, responding to her name when you say it, or just sitting still etc..). She will get the idea of what you want from her if you reward for desired behavior, no matter how inconsequential the behavior seems to you. Gradually reduce food treats (every two desired acts, then three acts etc.) and replace food with affection, scratches and pets so she doesn't become only motivated by food.
Facts are facts, and dogs are not born as "pets", nor do they speak English. They need, and want to please us. We just need to teach them what our expectations are.....slowly and consistantly through our actions. Again, I wish I would have incorporated SSF (better than the trainer) from the time she was a pup...but even now the results are beginning to show. Obedience training is great as well, but we humans need to learn how to express what we expect as well! Good luck and be calm and patient!
