Proper way to stop play biting/nipping??

JennLM

New Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2005
Messages
2
Likes
0
Points
0
#22
Ruckus said:
my trainer is the one from Petsmart , you know the $99 8 week course, so im not expecting much expertise from them. thats why i posted in this forum.

i already stopped with the cotton ball soaked with bitter apple method (suggested by Petsmart trainer), so now he recommends clamping his muzzle shut. what you say makes sense. they are puppies and they are doing what they do naturally. the main thing is i dont want him biting me/people, is there anything i can do to let him know that bitting/teething me/people is wrong, but you can still bite/teeth other things? what would you recommend i do if he bites me/people?
Being I AM a Petsmart Trainer, I find your remarks offensive. Not only that, that trainer should _NOT_ be telling you to do any such thing. Period. That person would get written up in an instant if the managers knew.

Secondly, I do wolf/wolfdog rescue. From your pictures, yours is in no way a 75%er, you got ripped. Many breeders tout their offspring as much more % than they are. If yours has any wolf blood in it, it is very little.

If this other person who posted previously is an "experienced" wolfdog owner, had they looked at your dogs pics, they would have seen you have a low to no content. And would have known you train them the same way. I know I do.

You should get ivolved with Husky and Mal lists who deal with Northern Breed Dogs or a trainer who has experience with them.

If you doubt my word I would be happy to send you a private message with a number of lists to join and let them tell you the same thing I have told you.
 

Ruckus

The Shifferbranes
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
70
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
38
Location
Bay Area, CA
#23
many people here say petsmart trainers arent that great, so im just going by what they say. i think i read somewhere that petsmart trainers only need to take like 1 class to be certified? either way, i still dont expect that much from them, since everything else in petsmart isnt that great....actually, both petsmart trainers recommened i start using negative reinforcement.

i really hope that Ruckus isnt 75%, that would be a big relief, but their really isnt a way to find out. i didnt buy Ruckus because he was part wolf, so i dont consider myself being "ripped off". the "breeder" probably did over exaggerate/ lie about him being part wolf to get a sale. Even if she told me he was just a Husky mix, i still would have bought him :)



JennLM said:
Being I AM a Petsmart Trainer, I find your remarks offensive. Not only that, that trainer should _NOT_ be telling you to do any such thing. Period. That person would get written up in an instant if the managers knew.

Secondly, I do wolf/wolfdog rescue. From your pictures, yours is in no way a 75%er, you got ripped. Many breeders tout their offspring as much more % than they are. If yours has any wolf blood in it, it is very little.

If this other person who posted previously is an "experienced" wolfdog owner, had they looked at your dogs pics, they would have seen you have a low to no content. And would have known you train them the same way. I know I do.

You should get ivolved with Husky and Mal lists who deal with Northern Breed Dogs or a trainer who has experience with them.

If you doubt my word I would be happy to send you a private message with a number of lists to join and let them tell you the same thing I have told you.
 

Saje

Island dweller
Joined
Dec 26, 2004
Messages
23,932
Likes
1
Points
38
#24
My thoughts are that Ruckus is gorgeous and you love him. What else do you need! :D

And a good trainer is a good trainer and a bad one is a bad one. Petsmart does not have a good reputation but we don't have one around here so I wouldn't know. I would only use them for socialization anyway. Just my opinion
 

JennLM

New Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2005
Messages
2
Likes
0
Points
0
#26
I went though a lot to get certified. Taught many a classes in front of the area trainer _after_ having books of things we had to study. Body postures, behavior etc etc.

What may have been may not necessarily be the way now but they still have to go through an accreditation which is way more than 1 class.

You may just have a bad trainer who works for our company. I cannot say that is the norm in most states I know there are other trainers. So I would definately complain.

I am glad you love your dog no matter what, that is what is important. I wouldn't worry about it being any part wolf and go about calling it only a Husky/Mal mix since in some cities/counties/states they are illegal or you need a special permit.

Other than letting the dogs be next to each other on a leash we do not do socialization the old way anymore. Liability issues. Now teaching them with distractions, yes a great place to do it and for simple obedience/potty training. Not behavioral issues.
 

rottnpagan

Rottweiler Queen
Joined
Oct 27, 2005
Messages
364
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia
#27
The only thing that two trainers can agree on, is that the third trainer is doing it wrong.

Remember that. :p

Puppies are puppies, and he's testing you to see how far he can get. You need to teach him bite inhibition. The easiest (IMO) way is to calmly say 'Too bad!' in a low voice, tuck your hands under your arms, and turn away, breaking all eye contact and communication. Ignore puppy until he settles down, and then you can go back to him. If he doesn't listen, take it a step further and leave the room, making sure of course, that puppy is safe. When puppy stops nipping, you can re-engage him.

It's far easier and better to stop this NOW than to let it continue and try to stop it in a fully grown dog. NEVER let a pup do what you don't want an adult dog to do.

Best of luck!
 
Last edited:

amymarley

New Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
719
Likes
0
Points
0
#29
Lexus,
I don't understand why you quoted me on that? He may or may not be a biter in coming years. That is something neither of us can know.... In most cases, it holds true. There are several factors that can come into play... the dog himself, the owner, the way the owner is training the pup, the reaction, the reinforcement and several other factors as well. I hate given "proven" advice over the internet, because I am not there to see the dog, test the dog, train the dog, find the triggers that may make him/her a "biter." I always suggest that the owner find a rep. trainer in their area, that you trust and work with them. I also encourage people not to aquire a certain breed, unless they have done tons of research and know how to "handle" that pet. I don't think anything I posted above was wrong. You, nor I know for a fact that this dog will be a biter.... For the owners sake, I hope not. To the owner, just find as much as you can, and do what is right for both you and your pup. Hopefully you both will find common ground.

Take care, Amy
 
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
151
Likes
0
Points
0
#30
Amy,
I think Lexus was agreeing with you :) Many people believe that a mouthy puppy is going to grow into a viscious dog. Lex -and me and you too - assert that mouthy puppy doesn't always equal aggressive dog.
 

amymarley

New Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
719
Likes
0
Points
0
#31
Chithedobe said:
Amy,
I think Lexus was agreeing with you :) Many people believe that a mouthy puppy is going to grow into a viscious dog. Lex -and me and you too - assert that mouthy puppy doesn't always equal aggressive dog.
Depending on "how mouthy" the dog is.... which can be good (or bad) training and can be postitive when used correctly. I may have mis-uderstood Lexus... Sorry if I did. I my own experience.... with our animal shows, we rescused the "mouthy, ball aggressive, etc..." dogs. They were the types that were great for our shows, and loved to work. As for pets, I have relatives that have part (a lot part) wolves... I have worked with wolves in the past also. They are awesome, but not for everyone. They do have a different "presence" then a lot of domesticated pets, but then again, so do a lot of purebreds... Wolves, bless their heart, just have their own "personalities." It's a lot of work, and a lot of patience...but I would go for a really experienced trainer and work with him or her to get the most postive results.
Amy
 

PFC1

New Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
302
Likes
0
Points
0
#32
rottnpagan said:
The only thing that two trainers can agree on, is that the third trainer is doing it wrong.

Remember that. :p

Best of luck!
HA HA HA!!! Very funny, and too true.

rottnpagan said:

It's far easier and better to stop this NOW than to let it continue and try to stop it in a fully grown dog. NEVER let a pup do what you don't want an adult dog to do.


I couldn't agree more. Just remember, there is no magic bullet. Nothing works immediately. It takes lots of repetition to see the positive results.
 

amymarley

New Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
719
Likes
0
Points
0
#33
PFC1 said:
HA HA HA!!! Very funny, and too true.



I couldn't agree more. Just remember, there is no magic bullet. Nothing works immediately. It takes lots of repetition to see the positive results.
So wrong, I respect and refer a lot of other trainers....but I guess you could say that about a lot of professions.

I will call out someone (trainer) when I feel they are way off base, but there are some great ones out there. The one post where a PetSmart trainer had a member here put a cotton ball of bitter apple and hold it in the dogs mouth, yes, I spoke up... That's bad. But don't think that I think I am the only good trainer out there. And I can think of more than 3 animal trainers out there that will AGREE....

I have spoken here many times when members have had problems and asked them to consult a good trainer. To me, that statement was uncalled for, but are allowed to speak your mind, but if you are not in the profession, then your words don't speak much, unless you just met a lot of bad trainers out there.

And yes, there is a magic bullet out there...you just havet to know what your doing...if not, it's very easy to poke fun out of someones profession.
 
Last edited:

amymarley

New Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
719
Likes
0
Points
0
#34
Also, just because you can't "train" your dog yourself (which is o-kay) don't bash trainers out there who don't have problems with their dogs. Don't bash people just because you don't know how to handle your dog correctley.
I know MANY people who love their dogs and just don't know how to do it right.
 

Lexus

New Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2005
Messages
166
Likes
0
Points
0
#35
animalbiz said:
Depending on "how mouthy" the dog is.... which can be good (or bad) training and can be postitive when used correctly. I may have mis-uderstood Lexus...
No problem! I was just agreeing with you (and 110% at that!) *thanks Chi!*
 

madeydog

Hyper Hounds
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
13
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
45
Location
Ohio
#36
bitting

I know this will sound crude and weird but when madey was a puppy and she would bite my wife would put her hand back in madey's mouth then clamp her jaw shut and bit her on the ear not real hard just enouph for her to know it hurts and she stoped bitting after like three times she even takes scooby snacks from your mouth very gently and she is a very hyper dog she did the same thing to bandit when we got him and he would put his mouth on your arm to play and he stopped real quick I think they understand it ya know they are smart he also now takes treats from our mouth gently.
Valerie
 

Members online

Top