Red is 5 1/2 months and has just started to snap. She is not the croco pup she was but this is new. Examples: when I go to put her harness on (she has never been keen but hasn't snapped); biting Sky's collar and we intervene. I'm sure we are handling it all wrong. Has this happened to you and what did you do?
Yes - mine have all gone through a snapping phase. Mollie is just about through it, 'tho we still get it occasionally. With Mollie it was when she wanted attention, rather than when she didn't want something. I stand up and turn my back, then - once she's stopped I wait for ten seconds or so then do some training with her. The ten seconds is important so that she associates the training (attention) with the calm behaviour not the snappy behaviour. I would also try putting Red's harness on for meal times for a good few weeks so that he associates it with (very) good things.
Can I ask how you deal with biting when your pup jumps up and nips any part of the body he can reach such as legs when you try to turn your back on him? Max is terrible lately for nipping and he can really hurt.
Try to actually leave the room. Go into another room and shut the door. Or set up some baby gates in doorways that you can quickly step over. You only need to remove yourself for a brief time - like 5-10 seconds. Also, short training sessions before the most nippy times of day (if there's a pattern to it) can help to wear out the brain and head off the worst of the craziness
Cassie snaps the air sometimes, but I'm pretty sure she's doing it less now. She also doesn't much like her harness, although she tended to take evasive action rather than snap. The trainer who fitted it etc advised me to put some peanut butter on the fridge door so that she would put her head through and lick that while I fastened it up. That didn't really work for us, so I just give her a small reward from my hand as I slip it on. I've noticed the last couple of days that she's now sitting by the door instead of hiding from it. Also, I make sure to adjust the fit to allow for growth, I'm sure you will have thought of that though.
Thank you for this Selina. Yes Red does the evasive bit to start with - it's when I reach for her (albeit gently) - she will snap. I don't want to grab her so have been trying a gently gently approach up to now. We get there eventually. Once I have started to get it on, she's fine and let's me finish, then goes and sits by the front door. It's almost like a game she plays!!! I don't like the snapping though. I check the harness every time I put it on - she is growing so quickly .
I should put the harness on Boogie at meals times and I will make the effort next week and see if it makes a difference. Once the harness is on she is fine with it and I always check it carefully and treat her.
Bailey is not overly keen on having his harness put on - I just hold a treat in one hand and put the part he puts his head through between him and the treat (his head has to go through the harness to get the treat), then fuss before I clip the sides together. Then lost of praise and fuss afterwards. However Bailey then stands like a statue, with his tail out straight behind him only moving his eyes...pick up the lead and open the door and he immediately comes to life and happily goes and stands at the front door waiting for his lead to be put on. No issues afterwards. Taking it off is also funny - take the lead off as we come in the front door - he trots into the front room turns around and waits. When I walk into the room his head goes between my knees and I unclip one side and then the other and fuss him. Slip it off over his head and say "run free little nut case" - he jumps on the spot (all four feet off the ground) and then goes running through to the kitchen and back several times (each time going through my legs!). Once he's done this I can take my coat and shoes off!
Been doing the leave the room thing & he attacks my furniture then as soon as you go back to him he continues to bite. When I trying to unhook his teeth from my hand this morning I noticed that's got adult teeth coming through and when he gets in one of these moods even food won't stop him, he'd rather bite an arm than a tasty treat lol
When he starts it's really hard to get hold of him when he's lunging at you with his teeth but ive started directing him to the kitchen if he's not near his crate & closing the door on him. He immediately started again when I let him out so I'm just gonna have to keep doing it & hope he learns eventually lol
He will get it eventually - I can understand its hard to direct those snapping jaws away while they are in action - as they get older they do tend to mouth less, or that's what I've found anyway
