....

[makenzie71]

This isn't meant to be an "I told you so" response, but the reason he is doing this might have a LOT to do with being taken from his mother and littermates so early. 6-8 weeks is a crucial part of development, I believe it is around this age when puppies develop important things like bite inhibition, which your little guy does not seem to have. Were he left with his mum and littermates for that period of time, you probably would not be having such a big problem with this.

I'm not really trying to argue with you, but I've never experienced a problem I could relate to this. Every dog I've owned for the last 10 years, except my most recent adoption, I've gotten at around 4 weeks of age and have had no socialization or behavioral problems. The dogs I've owned prior to that came into my care between 8 and 16 weeks of age and were accompanied by behavioral and social problems, mostly related to pack-behavior dominance and aggression.

I will also note that my newest adoption, Buddy, has certain dominance-related behavioral issues...there's no way to know when he was severed from his siblings, though.

 

[RD]

I'm not saying that's absolutely the cause. Honestly it sounds like normal puppy behavior, but if the pup is biting that hard it is most likely because he never learned bite inhibition.

Good for you for never having behavioral problems with your dogs. Were they raised with other dogs in the household? That can make a world of difference.

 

[makenzie71]

Actually, no. Until Makenzie, my prime example, was over a year old he'd had almost no experience with other dogs. He was taught propper behavior in all situations and a general respect for all living critters...be they people, dogs, cats, bunnies, etc...odd as it may seem, a rabbit once attacked him and won.

I've got to say that the only thing that has disapointed me about how he turned out from my training is that he's not very playful...or not so much that as limited to how he plays. His favorite games are "chase" and "terrorize the cat" (a game that consists of licking a cat into submission). He's just now accepting that he can paw and be "mouthy" while playing with other dogs, but he's very leary of actually biting. Tonight he's come as close to actually biting a living thing in 7 years; he sneezed while I was brushing his chest and managed to actually stab me in the thigh with one of his fangs.

...bleh I'm tired and am tending to ramble...ultimately, I'm not saying the early severence plays no part in the dog's aggressive behavior, I'm just stating that it likely can not be blamed alone, if at all. I was just stating that, in my experience, I've never had negative bahavior to blame on it.

 

[mrose_s]

mac is a biter aswell. but at only 8 weeks we arent toooo concerned. she istn aloud and i think it is mainly because she gets over excited. if you squeal or smack her nose or tell her no, or growl she gets even more worked up. so i just put her down and she thinks "whatthe hell was i just doing" and calms down a fair bit.

 

[stevinski]

werent you going to get like two puppies?
i just remember someone saying they were goin to get two maltese pups, might not have been you though but i just wondered.

 

[Mindy Miller]

From the sound of your original post, you are trying too many things. One "doesn't work" so you immediately move to something else. Pick a method and be consistent with it. It will probably take several weeks for the dog to learn.

With one of my dogs, I taught her by redirecting her behavior. I gave her something that was okay to bite and put her down. The other one, I taught by pulling my hand back and saying "Ouch!" Dogs learn things differently and the important thing is consistency.

 

[doberkim]

Don't jump all over her she didn't ask for that.

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21680

this person asked us twice how early he could get the puppy(puppies, at one point he was getting two). and mentioned it other times, including their plans to get the dog early (2 weeks early). want links to those threads too?

 

[Saje]

Ok, I'm going to say it. We told you so. These are the problems you get when you take a puppy away from their mom too early. We told you over and over. Bit inhibition is something they learn between six and eight weeks. Now you're going to have to go through this.

edit: oops, should have read to the end

 

[zoe08]

My beagle was very mouthy throughout her puppy stages. The one time she got my real good it really hurt and I screamed. Not cuz that was how I was trying to teach her, but cuz it hurt. That is the only time she ever bit me that hard. She knew right away she was wrong and felt bad then wanted to crawl in my lap and love on me.

I got her at probably 6 and 1/2 weeks. And I cant remember what age that happened at.

 

[moxiegrl]

Katie was severed from her mama before 8 weeks, because thats when we got her, and she had already been at the shelter, fostered, and before that running around on her own for god knows how long. But...we are dealing with the bite inhibition. She's getting better though, just gotta be persistant. (which is hard when my bf keeps playing with her when she's biting)

 

[Gempress]

It's obvious that your pup is having bite inhibition problems (just like we warned you might happen). It is not normal for an 8-week-old maltese to bite hard enough to draw blood, even in play. A dog that small must seriously be biting down to do that amount of damage; that is not a normal play bite.

With a pup like that, I think it might be best to try and teach him that it is not acceptable to lay a tooth on you at all, even in play. When your pup gets excited, offer a stuffed toy to bite and wrestle with. Whenever your pup tries to mouth you, no matter how roughly or gently, yelp loudly and stop the play. Walk away for a moment or two and let the pup calm down. Then try again.

 

[Fran27]

I personally totally disagree with giving a toy when the pup starts biting you. I don't think dogs make the difference between 'good boy, here is your reward' and 'don't bite me, bite this'. See what I mean?

If he bites you, just get up and leave the room for one minute. That's all. When you see him bite his bone, tell him what a good puppy he is, so he can understand clearly that biting a bone is good, and biting you is bad.

 

[Doggish.Obsession]

THE PROGRESS TODAY:

Well, I didnt get much done. I just had my tutor over, and all durring that, He's been climbing onto me, chewing on me, and pretty much just going nuts with anything related to his teeth.

So here was the normal pattern:
-Run towards Tutor, say hi and come back and tackle owner
-chew on owner for a little bit, then have fingers replaced quickly with the end of a pen -I couldnt grab a chew toy because if I suddenly got up, he'd think it was a game and try and chase me-
-Catch sight of a stuffed doll and run around with it and crawl into owners lap with the doll
-See fingers again and snatch them and chew a little bit

And that was the general pattern. I'm going to be going downstairs in a little bit to try and play with him. -kill his energy for a little bit LOL- I'm going to try and walk away from him when he mouthes me at all.

I forget who said this, but I HAVE been consistent in yelping and yanking my hand away, but like someone said, -I'm horrible with names- I have to agree that he wouldn't understand what a yelp was. I take him to see his brother about once a week (or try to) and they play kind of wildly, although MINE is the one to give in first.
I think he gives in first because when I go on playdates the place is where the other pup normally is, so the other pup must assume that the place is HIS territory...
ANYWAYS.

So I'm going to go downstairs in a few and when he mouthes me at all, I'll yank my hand back and go to the stairs where he cant get me.
And also, just so you know, before, whenever he used to bite me really hard, I turned around and ignored him, but he just runs around me and bites me somewhere else. This time I'll try going to a place where he cant get me.
Question- When I go to a place he cant get me, should I not move, look or even pay attention to him until he stops wanting to play with me? -Which is generally when he calms down-

But the thing is, I tried that once, and he just glared at me for a while and went away, although when I stood up again to return to him, he was watching me like, "HAHA! I knew you would come back again!"

Actually, no. He just sits a couple of feet away from me with his head cocked and tail all crooked and stiff. (But its always crooked and stiff because I think he still doesnt know it exists yet...)

Oh and -LOL I'm never going to stop- I bought these chew things that say good for puppies and teething. I bought it, and Happy (my pup) eats it up in about 5 minutes. Should I get something else?

-DONE! FINALLY!-
But then again, I like ot know my facts clearly so that I dont screw up or just keep pondering the question... ^^

 

[Gempress]

I personally totally disagree with giving a toy when the pup starts biting you. I don't think dogs make the difference between 'good boy, here is your reward' and 'don't bite me, bite this'. See what I mean?

Let me clarify my earlier post. Don't give the pup a toy when he starts to bite you. Offer him a toy BEFORE he bites. You should be able to tell when he's getting excited. It's kind of like housetraining: when you see your puppy sniffing to go potty, you take him to the place where you want him to pee. You're doing the same thing with the toy. You're directing the play biting to an acceptable item.

If he's not responding to the ignoring, then you might not be ignoring him long enough. And I mean completely ignore him: avert your eyes and act like he doesn't even exist. If he's in a puppy-proof room, you might even try leaving the room entirely. Dogs know the cold shoulder when they see it.

 

[Mordy]

Did you ever manage to get a hold of Ian Dunbar's book, as I suggested on at least 2 other threads?

This is typical puppy behavior that is expected from an 8 week old dog and dealing with it for a day or two isn't going to get you a well behaved dog for the rest of its life.

Expect to be working on training on a daily basis for quite some time - consistently. This isn't a human being who will understand what you want after telling him once or twice, it's a dog whom you are expecting to fit into a primate lifestyle when naturally he knows nothing else but that of a dog, and due to his age not even much of that.

 

[Doggish.Obsession]

Did you ever manage to get a hold of Ian Dunbar's book, as I suggested on at least 2 other threads?

This is typical puppy behavior that is expected from an 8 week old dog and dealing with it for a day or two isn't going to get you a well behaved dog for the rest of its life.

Expect to be working on training on a daily basis for quite some time - consistently. This isn't a human being who will understand what you want after telling him once or twice, it's a dog whom you are expecting to fit into a primate lifestyle when naturally he knows nothing else but that of a dog, and due to his age not even much of that.

Of course! LOL -cracks up cuz i reread it in the bathroom y'know?-

I've been giving him the nothing in life is free, and before treats, and water and food its always SIT. (He doesnt know the word word, only the hand motion. Gotta work on that.) So anyways, I read it, and I think i missed the part on behavior of an 8 week old... gotta go check.

 

[bubbatd]

Sigh !!! Again it goes back to good breeders who handle these issues with EACH pup before they go " HOME"....My Goldens were ready at 8 weeks..AND I never wanted them to do " hard play " with them. You get what you instigate .... I don't believe in roughhousing with young pups or children. Sue me.... I'm old fashion!

 

[Doggish.Obsession]

Sigh !!! Again it goes back to good breeders who handle these issues with EACH pup before they go " HOME"....My Goldens were ready at 8 weeks..AND I never wanted them to do " hard play " with them. You get what you instigate .... I don't believe in roughhousing with young pups or children. Sue me.... I'm old fashion!

LOL!!!!!

Since I'm still a teen I come home and tackle -nononono, just like HUZZAH and just roughhouse my puppy until we both die of exhaustion.

 

[sharpei-girl]

my pup did it too...
every time she bites my hand or clothes,I give her something she is aloud to bite on...
and if she plays with it I click with the clicker and reward her...

it took 4 weeks,but she understands now...
shes 14 weeks now...

I do clicker training with her,works perfect on her.
I train her myself,no training program,and she does great...

be patient and really conseqent...

 

[tobylittledude]

Just a suggestions... but when a puppy bites, try yelping as loud as you can and then ignore him/her for a few mintues. This was a training tip that a dog trainer had told me about.