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Dog always biting / chewing...Any advice most welcome |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,978
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Dog always biting / chewing...Any advice most welcome
My Parents have a lovely little Staffie. She is well fed, well exercised, lots of toys to play with, has a great gentle temperament and always people in the house fussing over her, so don't think she's bored. But she just has to be ( playfully ) biting all the time. Whether it's your glove, scarf, your hand, your shoe, bag, the table leg, anything in front of her and she will have a go. The vet says her teeth and jaw are fine, no teething either as she's now 15 months old. My Mum and Dad have tried lots of things with her but she'd still 'nibbling' at things. Does anybody have any idea as to why she is doing this? Thanks for any advice.
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 553
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My friend has a staff about the same age, she's terrible for mouthing through sheer excitement. She likes to "carry" your hand around when you go in and insists on putting any body part in her mouth lol. She keeps a tuggy rope by the door and we shove that in her mouth when we go. It gives her something to carry and you can have a game of tug at the same time to keep her occupied.
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#3 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: woking
Posts: 21,660
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Sounds ike you haven't stopped the baby mouthing tbh. When they are very young squealing and removing yourself from them works pretty well but at 15 months it may be a bit late for that.
Personally I think at this stage I would consult a properly qualified behaviourist and get some help with the training. Try and get someone from here as they do the best work I believe http://www.apdt.co.uk/ |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,696
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Quote:
Sounds ike you haven't stopped the baby mouthing tbh. When they are very young squealing and removing yourself from them works pretty well but at 15 months it may be a bit late for that.
Personally I think at this stage I would consult a properly qualified behaviourist and get some help with the training. Try and get someone from here as they do the best work I believe http://www.apdt.co.uk/ They do need a phenomenal amount of exercise, too. I took up running with my last staff so he'd do a 3 mile run every day but then was good to go another 3 miles and another, half an hour later! They can be obedience trained or you can do fly ball with them - many people don;t think of staffs as 'that kind' of dog but they are so agile and intelligent! Not saying the mouthing is down to boredom but minimising boredom always helps, eh? I'd do what mollipops recommends - find an experienced trainer to give advice. |
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#5 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: London
Posts: 24,323
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My bull terrier is around five months and did have this issue with biting & strong mouthing.
Mouthing is natural and tolerated in inter-dog play - biting is not. A dog or puppy that is bitten by a playmate will squeal and end the game immediately. In my case this included putting him in another room and closing the door. He learned very quickly. The next step is to put a stop to all mouthing altogether - and this is much more difficult. I'm at a stage now where he knows that I don't want him to mouth but it's so natural to him that he seems to be getting frustrated when I tell him to stop. I distract him away from mouthing me by giving him toys and chews. When he is mouthing and biting the toys and chews he gets affection. He's cottoned on to this and if I am sitting on the floor he will go and fetch his rawhide bone before coming over and laying beside me. He has made a co-relation between his chewing the bone and me giving him affection by stroking. As with most things puppy-related it all takes time and patience. Remain calm and in control at all times. |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,696
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Quote:
My bull terrier is around five months and did have this issue with biting & strong mouthing.
Mouthing is natural and tolerated in inter-dog play - biting is not. A dog or puppy that is bitten by a playmate will squeal and end the game immediately. In my case this included putting him in another room and closing the door. He learned very quickly. The next step is to put a stop to all mouthing altogether - and this is much more difficult. I'm at a stage now where he knows that I don't want him to mouth but it's so natural to him that he seems to be getting frustrated when I tell him to stop. I distract him away from mouthing me by giving him toys and chews. When he is mouthing and biting the toys and chews he gets affection. He's cottoned on to this and if I am sitting on the floor he will go and fetch his rawhide bone before coming over and laying beside me. He has made a co-relation between his chewing the bone and me giving him affection by stroking. As with most things puppy-related it all takes time and patience. Remain calm and in control at all times.
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#7 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: London
Posts: 24,323
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Wow cosmo has a bullie as well! Thought the odds were I'd be the only one! They're all 'interesting' characters, bullies.
![]() Yes he's a right character. Everything from laying on his back snoring like a bear to bashing head first into door frames without apparently feeling any effects. Very loving and affectionate dog. Loves people. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,696
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Quote:
He's a cross breed (Staffie/BT).
Yes he's a right character. Everything from laying on his back snoring like a bear to bashing head first into door frames without apparently feeling any effects. Very loving and affectionate dog. Loves people. My grandad ratted with his bullies right upto the 1930s or 40s. Our staff once was off lead and, before I had even seen the rat, had found it in a field and killed it instantly. Amazing how those instincts are still there. It was my niece's first time walking the dog and she was horrified. He never did it before or again - but every time he passed that spot he'd always look for The Rat.
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,978
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Some great info and advice from everyone. Many thanks. I will pass all this onto my parents and hopefully the 'mouthing' will stop. Just to let you know, I didn't mean she actually 'bit' you, she just likes to have your hand and anything else in her mouth. Bless her
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