help needed with 5 month Aussi X

[jackieC]

Hi,
I've been having trouble training my puppy Ozzy. He's a 5 month Aussi Shep. X Lab. We've had him since he was 9 weeks.
He has always been extremely playful, which included a lot of play biting (very hard and persistant). We've tried many things suggested to stop this: loud yelping (just gets him more excited), making a loud noise to distract him(works for a day or so), spray bottle of water(he likes that and tries to get a drink) holding his mouth shut (suggested by the vet. He initially really hated that but now just stands there and when released he keeps biting). Just telling him "no bite" and giving him a toy instead has no effect. If you ignore him he just follows you and bites even harder. Yes, he has been a difficult puppy.
Now at 5 months he is play biting less often, but now he started biting to get things or when he's annoyed, which I'm very worried about. For example if he want's what I'm eating he will nip my leg. Yesterday he was mad while we were out walking because I didn't let him go see a lady who was standing on the street talking on her cell. So after we got past her he jumped on me and started biting. He also does this when he gets overly excited while we are playing. He bites quite hard and generally goes for your sleeve or pant leg. Clothes are being torn and we have had scratches from his teeth.

Another time he starts biting is when we are crossisng the street or a parking lot. Very weird. My kids are unable to walk him or even play with him. He's too hard for them to handle.

I've been training him to sit and wait before going through doors or gates and also before I kick a ball for him. He caught onto that very quickly, so I'm sure he's smart. I think he's very stubborn though!

He has other bad habits, such as chasing the cat. (Won't stop even though he's been scratched). Recently he started jumping on the kitchen table. Yep, right onto the table. I'm cooking dinner and I turn around and he's lying right on the table.:yikes: I think he's trying to get a better view of what I'm doing.

I've been worried I've neglected his training because shortly after we got him I was diagnosed with breast cancer and have since had surgery. So really my heart was not into puppy training. Now he seems out of control. I'm really concerned as I still might need chemo and therfore may be lacking the energy needed to train him.

On the plus side, he loves to meet new people and dogs. He seldom barks, and has never yet barked at anyone he's seen on the street or any visitor to our home. The only person he's barked at was my son and that seems to be because he had just got a haircut and Ozzie didn't recognize him, lol. He must have thought a stranger suddenly appeared in the house.

Any advice? I'm most worried about the biting, especially when crossing streets. Some people are telling me it's because he's a herding dog, but I'm not so sure if that's the reason. He also get upset if we are walking in a group and one person leaves the group, such as to go into a store or something. That may also set off a biting episode. Right now when he's starts the biting I've been putting my foot on the leash close to his collar, so he's forced to lay down. Sometimes he continues to bite my shoes or legs, but he usually calms down pretty quickly.

 

[Criosphynx]

Have you tried redirecting him to a toy every.single.time he mouths you?


Another thing would be to play on the floor, very close to a door or babygate and when he bites say OUCH and stand up and leave 100%, closing the door behind you. Since you are very close to the doorway, there is little oportunity to chase you.



I would also start to teach him Impulse control. Heres a good game..

YouTube - "It's Yer Choice"


if you could start teaching him tricks that would be awesome, he sounds a bit bored, and once his brain is being used more, the behavior will subside a bit.

 

[kenbig]

How To Train Your Dog To Stop Pooping,Peeing Inside,Bitting,Jumping,Barking

When a dog is playing with the owner he is likely to bit softly. but when the bitting becomes more harder and often it is dangerous because when he makes
it a habit he can injure visitors or other strangers or even you or your kids especially when he is angry. My advice is that you should get yourself a more simply and detailed techniques that can enable you train him so he don't cause
problem for you by bitting your visitors or any member of your household. Click on the link bellow to get the techniques.
Dog Training Masters Home Study Course
Cheers.

 

[Maura]

The nipping and biting is herding behavior. However, you are not to be herded. I taught my border collie this game, it's "I'm gonna get you", which I decided to use because I read it in a book, I can't remember which one. First, teach the puppy "give". Basically, human says, "I'm gonna get you!", puppy picks up toy treasure and human chases the puppy around. Dogs think that humans view old rags and torn up kongs as treasures, just as they do. When you say "give", the puppy gives up the toy (for a treat at this age), then the game starts again. This game keeps the puppy from chasing you, and since he has something in his mouth he isn't nipping.

When crossing the street, first have him sit behind the curb and treat him. Cross the street while practicing the "heel" command using treats. If you have to, you can hold out a treat to keep him at the proper place and lead him across the street. He's a puppy, so wait to phase out the treat. Having him sit at the curb will keep him from dashing into the street. I've always taught my dogs that and more than once it has keep a child from getting hit by a car (big dogs that park solid).

These methods are not specifically teaching the dog to not bite, but are giving him other options. Are you using NILIF?

 

[CharlieDog]

He sounds similar to MY Ozzy, who is ALSO an AussieX.

With the nipping, I either redirected consistantly, or just stopped playing with him. If he attempts to start playing again, id crate him until he calms down.