I have an Aussie that is 12 weeks old. He is a super super smart dog, however he nips at everything. He has stopped nipping me but when guests come over he jumps and nips on everything, and will not stop, if I tell him no he stops for a second then goes right back to it, it is insane. I know this is normal puppy behavior, but I want to know what steps to take to help him stop biting on guests. He is treated well, so it is not like acting out, he is never beat or anything, but when people are trying to give him love and attention when they see him he just starts jumping and biting. Any tips or websites with tips? He has been to the vet and had almost all his shots and we are enrolling him in puppy classes this week. Will puppy training classes help? What are some other tips?
Australian Shepard’s are infamous for doing this. He needs lots of chew toys and things to keep him interested and active. He is a very smart puppy, but the nipping may be a way to get attention or ask for play. Its just something he has to grow out of. Ask your trainer for further information.
i don’t know if this will help with you but when my one year old lab was younger whenever he bit somone we would bite him on the ear (not very hard) in about 4 weeks he was cured.
It is good thathe is never beat. He is teething. Give him some chew toys when he goes for something he shouldnt redirect him to the chew toys. This should help.
The puppy is still young and is having troubles learning that nipping is a bad behavior. It is just trying to be affectionate and playful. So instead of teaching your puppy to not nip, teach your guests to not let it. Give your guests a little briefing when they come in explaining that you are trying to teach your puppy proper behavior.
Only let them pet the puppy if it is sitting and calm. If it starts to jump nip, have them immediately stand up straight and turn their back on the puppy and ignore him. When the puppy is sitting and calm again, they may resume petting it. EVERY time the puppy starts to jump or nip, turn around and stop giving it attention until it is calm again. It may take awhile the first few times but he’ll learn quickly! Good luck!
Petsmart or Petco get bitter apple spray and use it. Voila no more biting. They HATE the taste and it’s not toxic.
get a little nylon martingale collar and a brightly colored nylon leash – you can let him drag the leash, pick it up and give him a tug when he starts with the nipping, or is getting near his next target.
This is puppy stuff, but you want to nip it in the bud, so to speak – just give him a tug and say NO firmly but not sharply – you don’t want to ever scare him. Once he knows you don’t want him doing it (about 10 seconds into the new leash), you can just say <unh> loudly, and he should stop it.
Make absolutely sure he is never allowed outside with the kids when they are running around or playing ball – this always riles up their herding instincts, and ends up with a crying child (usually a lawyer’s kid) with a torn pant leg.
As for biting hands, you can spray human hands with some of the icky yellow Listerine from a cheap spray bottle, also gotten at the drugstore – it tastes bad enough, but doesn’t last anywhere as long as BItter Apple if you get it in your own mouth. Puppy will note quickly that hands don;t taste good, and avoid them.
Bless you, you are a great dog owner for you’ve done all in your power to stop it yet it continues? Now for step number two – phone your friends who call at your house and tell them what to do next time they call at your house. they’ll come in and your dog will jump all over them then when they sit down he’ll nip because he’s over-excited – thats when your guests have to develop a ‘shouty’ voice!!! When your dog jumps on them and nips, they’re to stand up immediately ( and with great effect ) and shout NO! Tell them to continue standing, tell them they are NOT to look at your dog for even a second and to wait until he slinks off all embarrased, which he will do, until they sit back down again. They are to repeat this excercise, as are you, whenever your dog nips and he’ll soon realise that no-one will want to play with him until he gets rid of this annoying behaviour! Dogs and puppies hate to be ignored and the best teaching tool to them is ignorance! You can only try it – if it doesn’t work then its training school for you both but give it a go – it doesn’t work overnight mind, it’ll take at least four days of continuous training but if you stick at it it’ll work for you both. Best of luck.