File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Puppy training help

So I have a puppy. She's part mastiff, part rotweiler and part American Staffordshire. She's very intelligent but incredibly stubborn.

We've almost got her completely house trained, but the big problem is biting. She plays way too rough. What are some good ways to stop this?

I'm pretty much the discipliner. I'm the one who leashes her (which she also fights endlessly. How can I make her not hate being leashed?!) and the one who is trying to get her to stop biting so now she is more loving to my parents and rather blah to me.

Any advice would help. In before joke posts.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
I have my own stubborn English Bulldog Puppy.

Here is the deal:
Puppies are stubborn.
She plays too rough because she doesn't know she has limits. When she goes too far tell her 'no' (or whatever your 'bad' command is) and walk away from her.
If that doesnt work after a week then pin her down until she calms down - then let her up and play with her until she goes too far and pin her down again.

My dog stops dead cold and drops her head/ears when I say 'ow' because she knows thats too far. 'Ow' being something a child would say if she ever plays too rough with a kid.

You're going to have a big dog and you don't want her doing whatever she wants.


How do you leash her? Most dogs may fight at first but you just have to be more stubborn then she is. She will eventually run out of energy (while she is young) and give up caring about being leashed. Let her toss around all she wants. Don't cave in.

She is a puppy... she is going to bite everything. No getting around teething buddy. This was when training her to submit to 'ow' really made the most sense.

She loves your parents because they let her do whatever she wants. The easy way to get her on 'your side' is to be the only one that feeds her. A puppy only knows 3 things. Play, Sleep, Eat.

Watch dog whisperer. You would be amazed at how many dumb fucks out there have dogs they cant control.
>> Anonymous
Thanks for the advice! Yeah, I've been using "No!" as the ow command. I'm going to get after my parents for being too 'let's spoil her!'.

So when it comes to the leash just keep fighting her? I'm always worried she'll get hurt pulling on the leash.

Teething I don't mind, she can chew this place too dust. It's just the biting. I mean she's only a puppy but man can she sink those buggers into you.

I'll stay vigilant! I'm also going to look into some obedience classes, once I'm working again. I figure that'd be a good, safe bet.
>> Anonymous
>>157308

If she gets spoiled now she will always be spoiled. So if she begs and is given food she knows IF she begs she GETS food.

For the leash, let her tire out.
Another 'fix' is to use a treat scent to get her mind off the leash. If she hates the leash then the only thought running through her head is how much she hates the leash, which only makes her hate it more.
When a dog is born the nose is the only thing it has in the world, then the ears, then the eyes. The nose is the quickest way to a dogs brain, then the ears, then the eyes.

If she is teething/ nibbling - thats fine. If she bites you too hard, pin her down. Do not accept biting as an acceptable behavior.
>> Anonymous
haha tahts cute.
>> Anonymous
Make the leashing accompanied by fun and nice things for your pup. I.e. when you put on the leash/walking collar (you should have 2 collars, one for household use, and one training one, usually chain-link, that way she knows one is for business) give her a treat, just for allowing you. Use words to go along with this, such as Walk, Outside, w/e. "Wannagoforawalk?" and giving her a treat as soon as the leash is on. Also, accompanying the leash with other nice things like play, just play with her as soon as the leash is on works well too.

Biting is easily stopped. You and your family are the pack leaders and must establish that role, this is especially important since she's part mastiff, rotti and AmStaff, breeds in particular known for aggressiveness if not trained properly. You need to establish the fact that YOU are in charge, NOT the puppy, and YOU need to establish the rules, since she does not know them. If she bites you, you give her a firm "No", you never yell or hit your dog, since especially with those breeds mixed in, will highly result in a more aggressive and angry/fearful dog. You give her a firm "No", and walk away. Do not give her attention, she is playing with you, she wants your attention, and if she bites you and realizes she gets no attention since you walked away back turned on her, she'll realize that biting=no fun, and stop doing it. Along with saying "No", this can be easily fixed. The first couple times, or one that is particularly a hard bite, take her and pin her on her back saying "No" again, then walk away.

Believe me, the simple task of walking away works wonders, puppies don't want you to walk away from them coldly and pay them no attention. Soon she'll figure that out and stop biting.
>> Anonymous
Argh this really isn't working. She starts snarling and growling and biting and I say "NO." and I walk away. She just doesn't give a fuck, she'll either chase after me, nipping my feet, or just go play with the floor. It has no affect on her what so ever. It's getting to the point where you just can't play with her because she's so rough :(
>> Anonymous
To add to that, now when I go "NO" she just snarls and barks at me...
>> Anonymous
Bumping for help... It sucks not even being able to pet my puppy.
>> Anonymous
>>157633
Your problem is very common, and sadly, you will have to do a lot of research. The links you find when you open the Google search link are very helpful! I suggest you read through them. There is no quick fix. :(
You sound like you really want to make an effort, and I am certain you will be rewarded!
Good luck.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nipping+rough+puppy+training&btnG=Google+Search
>> Anonymous
A lot of it comes with time too...be consistent and patient.
>> Anonymous
>>157711
I'm trying, I really am. But I just can't -do- anything with my puppy. I can't pat her or she'll bite me, I can't play with her or she'll bite me, can't let her sleep with me or she'll bite me. Every day she gets bigger and stronger and her bites get more painful. It's just very headache worthy... I'm trying the whole 'pin on her back' thing, but her claws are sharp and she can draw blood kicking and struggling
>> Anonymous
>>158101
Do what the one guy said about ow. If you're playing with her and she bites you go "OW!" and walk into another room where she can't get to.
>> Anonymous
>>158101

Seriously, it sounds like your puppy needs physical punishment when doing bad things. Have you tried coating your hands/other things she bites in Bitter Apple spray?
>> Anonymous
>>158114
She doesn't care. It doesn't bother her in the least. She just bounces off to play with the carpet.

>>158134
I -really- don't want to have to smack her on the butt or anything. Spraying something on my hands is an idea though...
>> Anonymous
It kind of sounds like she was taken away from her siblings/parents too early and didn't learn that biting hurts. When she bites, give a REALLY high-pitched squeal. Even if it didn't hurt, sound like you just sat on a javelin or something, then -refuse- to pay attention to her until she chills out. It feels kind of dumb to do, and it'll take time, but it will be worth it because it teaches her that hurting people gets her what she doesn't want (being ignored) without needing to hurt her back (which just teaches her to be afraid of you). All puppies go through a bitey stage, and all of them need to learn it's not an acceptable form of play. How much stuff is she given to chew on? Might be a teething issue, too. Give her something to chew on every day.

If you're worried she's not going to love you as much because you're the disciplinarian, make sure you're the one who feeds her. She'll see you as the leader then because you handle probably the most important aspect of her life. Also, try to get the rest of your family on board with you. Consistency is an absolute MUST in training for anything. If one person does something and the other person doesn't do it, the whole point is lost.
>> Anonymous
>>158183
As for the leash issue, make sure you never pull. Is the issue that she's afraid of it, or just that she doesn't want to follow your lead? For fear, build up a positive association with the leash. Just put it on her and have her come to you while she's dragging it behind it-- tempt her with treats and reward her for doing this. Then gradually move up to her doing this while you're holding the leash, and then doing this while you're walking and holding the leash, etc. Eventually she'll start enjoying the leash. THEN the issue of pulling while on the leash (if that's a problem for her-- it probably will be in the future, it usually is for dogs at some point) can be addressed. Start walking with her, and whenever she pulls, stop immediately. Once she's stopped pulling, praise her and start walking again. At first it's going to be like baby steps, but eventually she'll get the point that pulling gets her no where.

When you're trying to get her used to the leash, DO NOT scold her or pull on it. That will just reinforce the idea for her that the leash is a bad, scary thing.
>> Anonymous
>>158183
Sorry, I'm a tard and didn't notice where you said that acting hurt didn't phase her. I think it would be a good idea to contact a professional. Does she ever get out to the dog park to take out her hyperactivity on other dogs, also?
>> Anonymous
bite her
>> Anonymous
Professional help will help...along with socialization classes.
>> Anonymous
Spray your hands and arms in bitter apple spray before you attempt to play with her. Most (9 out of 10, or higher) dogs hate that shit with a passion, and it will curb problem biting quickly. You can also use a lemon or orange slice. Just say "no" and squeeze it near her face if she's acting too rough. It's the poor man's version of the remote control citronella spray collars and shock collars, and it works well for most dogs.
>> Anonymous
>>158183

My voice has a low register so I can't really do the whole "squealing" gig.

So I just fucking roar at her instead. Won't she just as easily stop if she thinks I might kill her for it as she would if she thought it hurts me? (Which it fucking does. Holy shit, them puppy teef are pointy.)
>> Anonymous
>>158347
This is not the OP, I am. Don't pull on the leash? Okay, I'll stop doing that. Honestly I could care less about anything but the biting. Now when I "NO." her she literally fights back. She barks and growls back at me. If I point at her and say no, she bites for my finger.

As for professional help, can't really afford it. Well, heres hoping things just improve with time..
>> Anonymous
>>157306had a lot of great info.

In addition, I would consider moving to a type of leash called "Gentle Leader".

http://www.gentleleader.com/pages.cfm?id=29

Basically, the one I use for my Lab fits around the snout and, although she was a PITA at first, she's taken to this quite well. One key, as Ceaser puts it, is to define who the leader of the pack is. One way in which you do this is in your style of walking. Never let the dog pull you around, or guide. A short leash is your best friend; walk confidently, requiring her to take your pace and direction. She'll break in eventually, but it does take quite a bit of time.
>> Anonymous
Well, this worked for my animals, although for dumb-as-brick pets, it might not work. I had a leather glove, and I would fight it with the glove. Of course, nothing ever went through, and it was all in play, but the pet could be rough with it as much as they wanted. When I took the glove off and let them calm down, I would pet them, and eventually they learned that the glove was "playtime" and biting the hand was bad.

Or, you could try the other faggot 'soft and gentle' approaches to teaching your dog.
>> Anonymous
>>158349
Ermm, with how big of a breed she's going to grow up to be, that sounds REALLY BAD. Like she's going to have dominance issues some day. It's not going to get better on its own. Buy books and do whatever you can. It won't be free, but you really need to get on top of this issue now.
>> Anonymous
group obedience classes now, b4 you ruin the childhood of the puppy and the life of the dog and you end up putting her in a shelter b/c shes too much of pain in the ass.

What is cute or acceptable now becomes horrible once she gets big.

As for the biting, a yelp, a really loud one when she bites, like you just stubbed your toe, then turning away from her and ignoring her and not playing with her works, you need to make sure everyone in the household does that and ignores her, if even one person is letting her bite, she will not learn.

As for no-ing her, take her gently by the scuff of the neck and pick her up and move your hand slowly side to side, it is not a "shake" and you should never scream the no in anger or shake hard. Stern and you have to catch the action as it happens, otherwise its hopeless to no her after the fact...and never train or interact with the dog if you're angry, it'll pick up on it and have issues, if u really are pissed, put it into the crate and take a few mins to chill out...

But if she is so stubborn that it doesn't work, take the class with her asap, you'll learn how to train her and she'll be socialized to others, which is esp important with bigger breeds that are harder to control and are prone to barking and jumpin on ppl and other issues...

Its rare that a dog will just "grow out of it" more often then not the dog just ends up abandoned b/c it was a pain the ass, or living its entire life locked in its crate or in the back room when the guests are over...

Plz try to take a training class, even 1 class will make a huge difference, since they can show you the right and wrong ways to encourage and train the dog
>> Anonymous
O and roaring at her, its a surefire way to get a dog with dominance and anger issues, a owner has to be calm and gentle and cool, animals pick up on these abuse issues like regular kids.

try to at least go to some obedience class, I am sure the local shelter must have one, or even try a local ASPCA or some kind of animal care group in your area, they tend to be free since prevention is half the battle and they don't want to get a 1 year old mastif-rotweiler
>> Anonymous
>>158433
>>158442

LISTEN TO THIS ANON, EVEN IF HE CAN'T TYPE
>> Anonymous
I'll be looking into obedience classes very soon.
>> Anonymous
This pup needs a good neck shaking session. Obviously stupid dog does not know you are in charge. If the puppy bites you than grab it by the neck very hard and shake, then keep her pinned to the floor until she stops struggling. The key is you can't let them up until they submit and aren't clawing anymore, even if her claws get you. Wear a sweater when you do this so it'll hurt less.