Puppy biting

Let me start by saying I have owned in my lifetime 12 dogs and have never been this frustrated before. Of course, I understand that most of the previous training of the new puppy was done by the older dogs in the house at the time. However, last May I had to put down my two females for agressive fighting. Understand please, that I went thru 6 year of vets, surguries and wounds on both of them and myself. I fought hard with repeated training and behaviour experts with those two before finally coming to the decision to let them go. It broke my heart twice over and to this day I keep thinking there had to have been something else I could have done for my girls. I came to find out that one of my dogs, a spaniel mix, had what’s called “Spaniel Rage Syndrome” where the dogs attacks with no obvious provacation and seems to enter a trance while fighting. My other girl was 11 years old and had bad hips and knees. But, I still think “maybe…”

8 weeks ago I decided to adopt two new dogs. I went with Boxers as they are the breed I grew up with and know the best. I contacted a rescue group and got a 3 year old male and a 10 month old female. Both are fixed, the female a few days before I got her. The first few days were hairy for me as the play sessions between my two new kids looked alot like the fights I used to have with my two females. I knew this was my issue and looked away when the new kids played.

Well it is now 8 weeks later and everybody has somewhat settled in. I’ve learned that the male never had any other dogs to play with and was confused at first by the little girl’s antics to get him to play. He figured it out quickly and now tag-and-tumble are their favorite game. I’ve gotten over the “oh my god, its’ a fight” reaction I used to have, so now everybody is coming out of thier shell.

I don’t think the puppy was ever taught bite inhibition. I’ve watched them play and it’s an all out rough and tumble romp the way Boxers usually play. Very physical. A lot of contact. And with my other boxers someone would eventually tell the puppy “stop, that hurt.” But my boy doesn’t do that. He has only told her “no” two times that I’m aware of and boy, did she listen quick. But they were not times when they were playing. Now he has “kennel bites” on his legs and some pretty nasty ones on his neck. Is it fighting? No. She is a hyper ADD child and he is always gentle with her. He even wraps his lips around his teeth to make sure he doesn’t break skin on her when they play. She, however, hasn’t learned that. And he won’t tell her “ouch, that hurt.” When she plays with me, I make sure to make the “ouch” sound and turn away from her when she bites. She’s learning, slowly, with humans. But my concern is for my boy. His wounds are healing, I keep them clean and covered with anitbiotic cream, and I watch them as much as possible when they play. I make sure to intervene and distract when the play becomes too rough or she starts heading towards the wounds too hard. I do work and I know i can’t watch them all the time, but is there any way I can get her to stop biting?

Hi, chygyrl2!

Your problem also had me worried. I empathize with your situation. I searched on topics about aggression and I learned that with careful diagnosis, treatment, and time, aggressive behaviors can be trained out of your dog. Here’s some information I got:

There are very few dogs that are prone to aggression regardless of the situation. That’s why it’s helpful to think in terms of aggressive behaviors rather than aggressive dogs when trying to reduce your dog’s tendencies to growl or bite. Usually these behaviors are related to specific events, relationships or environments.

If your dog exhibits aggressive behavior, try not to label it too quickly. Often there is more than one root cause, so it is best to make an appointment with an experienced canine behavior counselor or behaviorist, and give them a thorough history of your dog’s past behavior.

Be sure to include details about any incidents of aggressive behavior (even minor warning behaviors like growling) – in your puppy’s case- biting, so that a successful behavior modification program can be developed.”

For more details on the subject, check out these links:

http://dogtime.com/aggression-in-dogs-aaha.html

http://dogtime.com/aggression-toward-dogs.html

Hope everything works out well for your “family”

Chygyrl2,

I would also like to mention that your description between your two fighting and aggressive females sounds like a familiar tale I have been witness to. It is good to note, that if you are not the leader from the getgo, the dogs WILL take it upon themselves to establish pack hierarchy. Two dogs of the same sex tend to “bicker” a little more than those of the opposite sex. Bitches are noted to be worse than dogs. If there is “turmoil” in the pack without established rules, boundaries, and limitations, some dogs never “get it” about who is to be higher in the pack and tend to fight and bicker constantly for top position, and sometimes with serious consequences. The best thing to do for yourself and the dog, as hard as it may be, is to rehome one of them. I don’t believe that you set yourself up with the two fighting females for so long. Well, that’s under the bridge.

You are more knowledgeable now.

A neighbor had two dogs that would not, could not get along. They had to be separated from each other in the yard, in the house, everywhere. The owners had to intervene on numerous occasions. One was more aggressive than the other and a few years younger, as well. This went on for years. I had mentioned early on when they moved in that they should seek training, as well as think about finding a home for one of them. The more aggressive dog was aggressive not only around the other dog, but with neighbors and others. I would have hated to see if the dog got out of his fenced in yard! Well, they just went on as usual. Until, one day, the two dogs got at each other, and viciously. Their 12 yr. old son, tried to break up the fight, and then mom stepped in. Sadly, the more aggressive dog turned on the boy mutilating both hands, and bit the mom repeatedly and bit a piece of her thumb right off! That dog is gone because animal control had to be called and get the dog out of the house and he was put down.

I guess the moral of the story is you must read the dog and sometimes, as hard as it is, you must do what’s best for the dog.

Sincerely

What I have now are a 3 year old male boxer, fixed and an 11 month old female boxer, fixed. I know that I am “Pack leader” in the house as all I have to do is use “Mommy voice” and it stops everybody cold. I know you all know that voice, the one that your mom or dad used to use when you were kids that let you know you were in serious trouble. I only have to use that voice and everyone freezes. And I issue commands like I expect them to be obeyed. And they dogs do obey, and not after two or three times of saying the same command. Don’t think I’m mean, please. I just enforce the rules with a look and a vocal tone. I do enjoy snuggling them and loving on them when they do right things, which is becoming more and more often. So they get lots of love too.

I guess what I was asking in my orginal post was if anyone else had gone through the puppy biting period and had some tips to get thru it.

And Boxer dogs are renouned for not growing up until 3 years old.

well its often for a dog to bite a person it just means he needs more disaplin if he trys to bite someone put him in a room with no one or look him in the eyes and say bad dog and if he bites alot just watch him more often if he bites dont give him a treat or somthing like that listeni have alot of dogs and u just need to give more disaplin dont hurt him just say no bad dog so he wont do it again take comand of ur dog and say thats not a good thing to do

Hi emi…

Puppies tend to bite and chew because this is the way they explore, and help them set in place loose teeth. As they grow older this behavior disappears, very seldom adult dogs have biting problem…

Try reading this articles in preventing destructive chewing and biting

http://dogtime.com/prevent-chewing-biting-6-old…

http://dogtime.com/prevent-chewing-biting-0-6-c…