teecee the biter

OK teecee is 12 weeks now and we have tried EVERYTHING about this biting business. we showed him his toys as an alternative, a spray bottle of water, holding his mouth closed and waiting until he looks away (he just waits until we let go then he bites us again), going into another room, everything short of biting him back. so what now? we also just ordered training for dummies but i wanted to get a head start cuz he's getting smarter by the day lol. he's my little rebel but my hands are staring to hurt.

I have posted here before about the same thing. I was so frustrated and had scabs all over.

My advice is just keep making it known that it isn't okay. If my puppy is really rambunctious I now gently hold his muzzle shut, hold his collar, look in his eyes and firmly say no...I do this for about a minute (even after he looks away). I also do the high pitched yelp...this didn't work for me in the beginning but now if I do it, my puppy licks my hand (or where he bit). You have to try different things and find what works best for your puppy then stick with it.

My puppy now knows I don't like biting and if he goes for a bite, I say No in a low tone before it happens. He will then yawn like that was what he meant to do all along. LOL

Actually yawning is a sign of understanding and shows that his brain is working for you.

One thing you can do is earn his respect. Sit on the floor with something he likes. It belongs to you not him. He is going to try to get it and make a game out of it. He might even go to put his mouth on you. You will have the item in one hand, and your other arm and flat hand (facing you) in a guarding position in front of you. Every time he heads into your space you are going to swifly move your hand up and down like a wind shield wiper and say "off" or "leave it" or "quit" in a firm tone. It is his choice to come into your hand and the quick energy or not. He will likely challenge you a few times and if you are consistent in your response he will stop and sit back on his bottom and look at you. When he does this praise him softly and offer the item to him - but don't take your hand off of it. It is still yours - his polite manners just earned him a quick taste or chew. Then say "drop it" and start the game again. Each time he should back off faster until he doesn't even try to take it from you because you have earned his respect.

This can quickly translate to the biting. Do the same routine when he puts his mouth on you. Since you have already earned his respect he will respondeven faster to your other corrections. Always remember to repeat the drills you are doing so that you give him another chance to make a better choice. Until you get the good choice consistently, and then he has learned.

thanks!! we are going to try that. we also got the puppy training diary for dummies tonite so we have a lot of new stuff to try for him.