I know there are loads of biting problem posts, I see one from Gerry not far below this so apologies!! Cosmo (coming up 6 months) has always been prone to being overly bitey but it has generally improved apart from his crazy moments. He doesn't tend to do it to me, he knows I'm a no-go due to the 'Uh-uh' and hand shake followed by a withdrawal from him. However, he's started really pushing it with my 12 year old daughter. He'll start off tugging at her skirt when she's getting ready for school, she'll then say 'Sit' sternly and turn away to ignore him but he launches himself at her with increasing force, she then panics and calls for me to 'get the dog off'. It's getting me down as it's having quite an impact on child/dog interactions......I don't want him segregated to another room from them but it's making me feel like it's necessary when he's being like that. Any suggestions as to what she can do to feel more in control of the situation or is it normal that I should have to step in and 'save her' all the time? He isn't as rough with my two boys (aged 7 and 8) I lost the clicker we had so I'm going to get another this weekend, maybe involving the kids in the clicker training will help him respect them or am I overreacting to a normal over exuberant puppy behaviour? :-\
Re: Help save my daughter!! As a first step, I would definitely separate the dog from the children during getting-ready-for-school time. That is a stressful enough time without bitey puppy getting involved! Perhaps he feels the mounting tension, and knows that people are getting ready to go out, and is just not mature enough to deal with it calmly... Personally, if it were my puppy jumping and biting at my daughter, I would forcefully tell him NO!!!! and then separate him from her. It's quite often the case that puppies will be rougher with children in the family rather than adults, as they see them sort of like their siblings. Maybe your daughter can spend time with him with him when he is being quiet and good? Dont worry, this will calm down, but I understand it is difficult for you right now!
Re: Help save my daughter!! Could your daughter perhaps adopt the 'uh uh and handshake' or a strict NO rather than 'sit'? I think that the sit is quite generally over used and should be reserved for when you actually need them to sit, rather than to calm down or to stop doing a certain action. Plus its clearly not working if she's being chomped to bits! I'd say pop the dog in the kitchen or wherever you can while you're all busy getting ready on a morning as their time together should be when there's no stress. Also, do they have a 'mad' 10 minutes playing ever? If they do & he bites during that, then the firm NO and play ceases for a few seconds should be enough to enforce it further. Good luck!
Re: Help save my daughter!! Thanks guys, yep, I step inbetween and pull him away and give him a stern look and 'No biting', sometimes he calms down immediately, other times he just transfers his croc snap attempts to me! Distraction or a timeout in the other room usually calms him down. His flare up points are morning (as you say, when everyone is busy and flapping about) and about 7/8 in the evening. Amber has quiet cuddly time with him when his crazy loon time is over so it's not all doom and gloom (much as I may paint it to be!). It's just like having a crazy toddler......are they stimulated enough? Are they overstimulated?! Tired and grouchy? Sheesh, and I thought kids were tricky!
Re: Help save my daughter!! You just need to remember that you have kids that you control so you're more than capable with a dog, it just takes a bit of time and patience. And if your daughter gets cuddle time with the pup then it's not all bad, no matter how much you feel like tearing your hair out on a school morning. My dog is 18 months, incredibly calm (sometimes worryingly so!) and I still feel exhausted by the time the school run is finished. You're doing a great job, keep it up!!
Re: Help save my daughter!! Aww, thanks for kind encouraging replies chaps . He's definitely been responding better to very calm almost silent responses and absolute withdrawal of attention, I'll stick with that til this little phase is over!
Re: Help save my daughter!! Ah I'm sorry you have been having a fraught time,I haven't got much more to add as Dexter was 5 months when he came to us and had most of his adult teeth.I got the worse of it though when he got excited so I must used to yelp and move away from him....that worked for us,but you have my sympathies coping when it doesn't. Sounds like today has been better we've all said it many times and I'm just parroting 'the wise experienced ones ' when I say,this time will pass ...it really will x
