help! Aussie puppy fear biting, afraid it will become a problem

[CoyoteMagic]

What redhen said!!

Spook is an Aussie. I taught her from an early age that she was not to put her mouth on me. "No Bite" is the term I used too. I would push my arm, hand, etc in towards her mouth and until she let go. (Did this with my German Shep too) She would spit me out and then lick the body part.

Never use you hands to disipline your dog. Words and tone are much more effective, especially with an Aussie. They never forget if you are ruff with them. I had a vet that raised her voice to Spook and shook her. From that time one she would just growl when she saw her. (She's no longer in my vets office.)

Aussies need something to do. They have lots of energy. Frisbee, tennis ball, soccerball, something to keep them busy. Spook shocks people with how calm she is out in public (she's my service dog) thing is when she is home, we PLAY. I mean P-L-A-Y!! We kick the soccer ball (used to be a frisbee until knee surgery 4 years ago) until she is tired out which is well after I am tired out. Even at this age she can start learning all kinds of tricks.

Saw this a while back.

A Pet's Ten Commandments

1. My life if likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6.. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old and weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
Oh my this made me get all teary. Then I had to scoop up my puppy and snuggle her for awhile.

 

[farmergal]

Thanks for the input. She is getting better about biting me -- I have been holding on to the scruff of her neck and making the dominance move like Redhen described -- but I'm not sure how I can control her biting other people. Also, she gets lots of exercise... a really long walk every morning with off-leash run time... plus fetch up and down the hall of the house.

I definitely make her do tricks for almost all of her food, and put my hands in the bowl, take her food away, take her bone away, etc. so she'll know I'm boss. But I don't know how to show her that I'm not the only boss -- that all people everywhere are boss and should not be bitten.

So when she tries to snap or bark or growl at other people, should I do the "dominance move" (pup on back or belly, hand on scruff of neck)? Will this mess her up if she's really biting out of fear, not dominance? I can't really tell -- she definitely has a dominant side -- but often the biting occurs when she's out of her comfort zone (i.e. being picked up, or in a new person's house, or with a new person in her territory).

Thanks SO much for the helpful replies already....

 

[redhen]

Quote:
ahhh! now i'm all teary also! that was awesome!

thanks so much for that post!

i am going to write it down and keep it on my fridge! i love it!

 

[TC]

About the snapping/ growling at other people. I had this issue with my rottie when he was younger (about 4 months). I started working him in VERY social settings and I did this...

When ever people would want to pet my dog, first I would give them a piece of hotdog. Then instead of patting him on the top of his head (a threat to a dog), I would have them hold out the hot dog, and talk to him using his name. After about 5-6 people he was hunting down people for hot dogs.

He had food agressions with his food too, not with me, but with my hubby and my kids. All of this was him trying to push his weight around, testing the waters if you will. So, this is what I did.

I had hubby/kid1/kid2 put jess in a sit stay. Then they would add like 6 nuggets of food in the bowl. Make him wait, then release. After he was done he would sniff around. Again sit/stay. Another 5 or 6 nuggets in the bowl. Wait... release.. praise!! After 3 or 4 times, of sit/stay/wait for the few nuggets, I had them start adding nuggets in the bowl before he was done with the others. He learned that people in his food ment MORE food and he was happy to oblidge

Soon, we started taking it away while they were eating to put more food in, and he was "cool, more food". So he was cool with that. He will still sit stay, "watch me" (hes not allowed to look at the food, only daughter1) thats her thing so okay. But now we have a 10 month old puppy that went from fear aggression and food issues, to a puppy that now is beginning obedience with a 10 year old girl that he OUTWEIGHS by at least 10 lbs. He will be starting protection at 18 months and agility at a year. He is soo super smart.. Good luck with your aussie. -TC

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

Quote:
this is the best thing you can do....pin her down on her back....maybe even put ur hand on her neck...its a submission position...the best way is to lay your whole body accross her and not let her up until she stops fighting!

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

Quote:
ok thatll make u feel like crap!!!! BRB i gotta go get my dog outta his kennel....

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Sorry ya'll. I even tell my husband (and he agrees) I never truely knew love until this dog entered my life. Like Buster's siggy says. "If it's not an Aussie, it's just a dog" Sorry other dog lovers, but there is something about an Aussie that reaches into your soul.

Now that you are crying I've got another one for you.

I AM A WORKING DOG
My eyes are your eyes,
to watch you and protect you and yours,

My ears are your ears,
to hear and detect evil minds in the dark,

My nose is your nose,
to scent the invader of your domain,

and so you may live,
my life is also yours.
~Author Unknown~

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

o and also many people may disagree, but whenever ive had a "mouthing" problem...i stick my whole hand down their throat...way less dangerous than loosing it or ur face

 

[redhen]

Quote:
okay, so if you are doing the dominace scruff thing and it isnt working..it means that she has already chosen to challenge you or humans.. in a sense....SO....what i was taught from a saint bernard rescue lady was to stop doing it...because...you are putting them in a position where they will HAVE to bite you...*since they HAVE DECIDED to challenge you or other humans..* that dominace scruff thing can really only work if the dog submits to it...if they really start to fight you on it..you have to stop doing it...BUT, the problem is....if you stop..they win the dominace fight....sooo...what she told me to do is to get a prong collar...it cant choke them...it cant really hurt them...they just dont like it BECAUSE..it is like another dog biting their neck...and a dominant dog HATES that....so....what you do is get the collar and get/make a 2 ft lead...the lead is to ALWAYS be attached to the collar, so you can grab it at ANY time you need to....the dog wears the collar all the time...*till she learns who is boss* also, make sure the collar is the right fit for the dog or it is useless...soo...when the dog does something agressive or dosent listen to your command right away...you grab the lead and give a firm yank UP...not out towards you..but UP..so it sort of pinches her neck...and you go from there...give the one yank...if she stops her behavior...thats all you will need...one firm yank...to tell her NO...but...most times the dog will fight you in some way...so then you DO not let off the pressure of that collar until the dog submits..and stops the behavior.....OR THE DOG WINS...and it did not learn anything...and it was all for nothing...i took in a Dane rescue..and he had some dominance issues...and since i did not raise him froma pup i was concerned enough to take him to a dog specialist ...he would challenge my hubby...not get off our bed...etc..he actually gave very scary growls...and agressive stares to my husband...she told us to walk right up to him and grab that lead and say "NO!" and give it a very firm yank and make him move...and to also put him in a dog crate...to teach him that WE decide what he does..WE can control when he is out.....where he sleeps...etc...and this dog is a angel today..i mean it..i would not have a dog i was afraid of in ANY way..whether it be biting me or ANYONE else....i do foster care also...so...i have to be secure in my dogs temperment....all he needed was for US to be the pack leaders ...and it actually makes a dog more calm when they are sure who is boss..they dont have to stress about pack order and such....