My 4 month old lab, Max, has developed a very bad habit. Whenever my husband or I are walking around the house, he will bite at our ankles. Most of the time he just grabs our pants and lets go as soon as we stop walking. However, sometimes he bites down on our legs which really hurts. And sometimes we won't even be moving and he will bite our pant leg and growl and pull on it. Nothing we do seems to get him to stop doing this. Any advice?
Biting
- Thread starter YellowLabMom
- Start date
Have you tried ignoring it?
This is probably one of those attention getting behaviors. With puppies, anything can be perceived as a reward, even looking at them can be a reward. That means that whatever you have been trying to do to get him to stop, yelling no, flipping him, grabbing his muzzle, pushing him off, grabbing him by the scruff, saying stop, stop walking it etc was only awknowledging the behavior and reinforcing it.
To stop it, you must ignore it completely and teach him another, polite way to get attention. If he does it while you are walking, just keep walking and doing whatever you are doing. Don't awknowledge it in the slightest, don't even look at him. Pretend like it's not even happening. If he gets your leg, try your best to refrain from reacting.
Now if he's doing it and your not giving him attention for it, he is likely to sit down somewhat confused. If he sits down, awknowledge it! He is performing a good behavior. He will soon learn that sitting down and looking at you gets him attention and biting your clothing doesn't.
Another thing you might want to try if he knows a simple command like sit. If you see him coming towards you and you know he's about ready to grab your pant leg, then catch him before he gets to you and tell him to sit. Then reward him for sitting. He should start coming to you and sitting.
This is probably one of those attention getting behaviors. With puppies, anything can be perceived as a reward, even looking at them can be a reward. That means that whatever you have been trying to do to get him to stop, yelling no, flipping him, grabbing his muzzle, pushing him off, grabbing him by the scruff, saying stop, stop walking it etc was only awknowledging the behavior and reinforcing it.
To stop it, you must ignore it completely and teach him another, polite way to get attention. If he does it while you are walking, just keep walking and doing whatever you are doing. Don't awknowledge it in the slightest, don't even look at him. Pretend like it's not even happening. If he gets your leg, try your best to refrain from reacting.
Now if he's doing it and your not giving him attention for it, he is likely to sit down somewhat confused. If he sits down, awknowledge it! He is performing a good behavior. He will soon learn that sitting down and looking at you gets him attention and biting your clothing doesn't.
Another thing you might want to try if he knows a simple command like sit. If you see him coming towards you and you know he's about ready to grab your pant leg, then catch him before he gets to you and tell him to sit. Then reward him for sitting. He should start coming to you and sitting.
I dont' think ignoring works well with anklebiters since it becomes a game. I'd find a place to put the dog for a short time-out. That means you pick him up/walk him to a safe puppy-proof room where he goes to think. You don't say anything. Don't look at him. Don't acknowledge he exists. Just get him there. Start with a minute at a time and if he is quiet let him out. If he isn't quiet wait until he calms down and is quiet for 30 secs or so and then let him out. Repeat this every time he nips at you even if your favourite movie is on and you should see progress.
I agree with Saje. The ignore strategy works for some behaviors- such as barking for attention. If you don't give the attention they will learn not to bark to get you to to notice them.
This situation is a bit different because biting and pouncing and playing with your pant legs is fun for the pup even if you aren't acknowledging him.
This situation is a bit different because biting and pouncing and playing with your pant legs is fun for the pup even if you aren't acknowledging him.