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Old March 14th, 2011, 10:02 PM
exkalibur exkalibur is offline
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Question Mouthy GSD ......

As good looking and awesome as he is, Chief does have a couple of bad habits... mouthing is one of them. GSD by nature are mouthy but we would like to "tame" this behavior in a non confrontational way...redirecting is not always the right choice (timing and activity) and he does stop briefly when we use the "no bite" command (he licks then goes back to mouthing). Lot of other suggestions were made in the gsd forum but none seems to be working well.
note: He is a year old, german workline mix and has high drive...

What other tricks would you suggest ?
Thanks
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Old March 14th, 2011, 10:27 PM
Mirela Mirela is offline
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Try this: if he's mouthing during play stop immediately. Don't even say anything, (or just say "no" in a firm voice ) and just stop and cross your arms and look away from him. Even turn your back for a few moments.
Losing your attention and play time will let him know that the behaviour is unnaceptable and means no more play and no more fun and no more "you".

Then redirect and start over with some other activity.
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Old March 14th, 2011, 10:34 PM
exkalibur exkalibur is offline
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Thanks Mirela...tried that and it doesn't seem to affect him...
He's usually worse when he gets ramped up (doesn't take much for that) or when he's frustated.
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Old March 14th, 2011, 10:51 PM
Mirela Mirela is offline
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Originally Posted by exkalibur View Post
Thanks Mirela...tried that and it doesn't seem to affect him...
He's usually worse when he gets ramped up (doesn't take much for that) or when he's frustated.
I believe you but you have to be patient and consistent. He does look for your approval and wants to spend time with you. In the end he will "get it".
There are a few members here who have good experience with headstrong dogs; I hope they will log in soon and add their advice.

Oh, and check out this link: http://www.pets.ca/forum/faq.php?s=&...l&titlesonly=0
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Old March 15th, 2011, 12:36 AM
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millitntanimist millitntanimist is offline
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This video is geared for puppies but all the principles still apply
http://www.youtube.com/user/tab289#p/u/18/ZKjk84OkzcI

The keys here will be re-directing your dog before it starts mouthing, a good off command, and lots of good play and training to tire them out.

Oh, and incidentally, Chihuahuas are statistically second (below Dachshunds) for dog bites and aggression.
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Old March 15th, 2011, 07:13 AM
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Masha Masha is offline
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We had the same problem with Jermy.... what worked for us (and not right away, through a lot of repetition and patience) was saying 'no' and literally taking my hands away (sitting on them for example) so as to remove it from his sight. sometimes he would get frustrated and bark but i would ignore and not play with him or pay attentin to him. Getting up and leaving to another room worked well too, basically anything to remove the hands from his access after saying 'no'. i am glad to report that this worked well and at about 12-14 months he SIGNIFICANTLY improved.
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Old March 15th, 2011, 07:52 AM
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Sorry Ex....dont have anything to give you about GSD....I know my nephew had a King GSD and he did get a bit rambunctious at times with the other puppers in the family...but eventually, with age and patience, he did calm down.
Good luck
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Old March 15th, 2011, 07:54 AM
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Old March 15th, 2011, 07:55 AM
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i did answer on topic,,it is going to take him time and patience to deal with chiefs juvenile behavior,,,he's still a young dog is he not?
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Old March 15th, 2011, 09:22 AM
exkalibur exkalibur is offline
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OK, let's get back on track here....
Maybe I need to address a different behavior first since it seems to be the trigger for his mouthing : excitement...he get to that stage easily and it's not for lack of exercise.. he usually gets 3 to 4 good daily sessions of running/chasing balls and flirt pole. His energy level is always high and like I may have mentioned, he has 2 gears: park and overdrive. We have been spending more time to find a way to relax him when he gets hyper but then again...he's still a "pup" (big one).
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Old March 15th, 2011, 09:28 AM
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Maybe a bit off topic, but has been neutered yet? Maybe that would help.
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Old March 15th, 2011, 09:39 AM
Mirela Mirela is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by exkalibur View Post
OK, let's get back on track here....
Maybe I need to address a different behavior first since it seems to be the trigger for his mouthing : excitement...he get to that stage easily and it's not for lack of exercise.. he usually gets 3 to 4 good daily sessions of running/chasing balls and flirt pole. His energy level is always high and like I may have mentioned, he has 2 gears: park and overdrive. We have been spending more time to find a way to relax him when he gets hyper but then again...he's still a "pup" (big one).
Would you have time to do some agility training with him? Recreational classes are fun and mentally tiring - which is a good thing. He's a working dog and needs a "job".
I bet that physically he can tire your entire family and still keep going.

Another idea - teach him lots of fun tricks - again, mentally tiring for him and can be done anywhere - at home, during walks,....
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Old March 15th, 2011, 10:02 AM
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At age of 1 jermg had so much energy we would play fetch for 1.5 - 2 hours non stop to tire him out or a good two hour hike/ water fetch... But hes still a pup and will become over excited at times just make sure your reaction is calm to not fuel his excitement... By 1.5-2 years he calmed down a lot

I would recommend not just physical but also mental exercise
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Old March 15th, 2011, 12:15 PM
exkalibur exkalibur is offline
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Maybe a bit off topic, but has been neutered yet? Maybe that would help.
No ! I want to keep him intact...and give me lots of puppies




























Got ya !
He got fixed when he was 6 months...
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Old March 15th, 2011, 01:15 PM
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Originally Posted by exkalibur View Post
No ! I want to keep him intact...and give me lots of puppies
..
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Old March 15th, 2011, 01:52 PM
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No ! I want to keep him intact...and give me lots of puppies


Got ya !
He got fixed when he was 6 months...
Good for you Ex...hated to think you were one of the people who didnt want their dog losing their privates to reflect badly on themselves!!!

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Old March 15th, 2011, 02:39 PM
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Good for you Ex...hated to think you were one of the people who didnt want their dog losing their privates to reflect badly on themselves!!!

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Old March 15th, 2011, 03:33 PM
exkalibur exkalibur is offline
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It's "mandatory" for all of our critters to get neutered/spayed, other than the female horses...all of the studs we had got fixed as soon as we safely could.
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Old March 15th, 2011, 05:56 PM
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Ex...do U give him bones he can chew on to try and calm him down?

Tegan still mouths a bit when she gets exieted and I just tell her "no teeth" but we also bought her a beef bone at walmart with stuffing inside and she hasn't done it since she's gotten the bone.
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Old March 15th, 2011, 06:44 PM
exkalibur exkalibur is offline
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Oh yeah ! We keep a good supply of soup bones and he always has at least 2 or 3 to play with...
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  #21  
Old March 15th, 2011, 07:58 PM
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Melinda Melinda is offline
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Hi Ex, we had that trouble with our rotti/lab/dane and believe me, when she got mouthy, it hurt!! our trainers solution? and man it worked in less than two weeks.......ballons.....yep, she loved balls, especially her mini basket ball, so we went to a balloon shop (no cheapies they pop in too many pieces) , blow it up so its still real "pushy" and start playing with her, the first time give her a chance and take out a second when the first pops, but after that only use one, tell him "gentle" each time you play, when it pops, play times over, we'd put it on the floor and tell her "take it".....at the end of two weeks she could gently lift the balloon in her mouth and bring it to us. But don't ever leave him alone with it. after that when ever she'd start to get "mouthy", we'd tell her "gentle" and it would work.
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  #22  
Old March 15th, 2011, 11:01 PM
exkalibur exkalibur is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by millitntanimist View Post
This video is geared for puppies but all the principles still apply
http://www.youtube.com/user/tab289#p/u/18/ZKjk84OkzcI
Good reminder...I had subscribed to that page a while back...thanks
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