Puppy Problems: A Case Study
Veronica writes: I have spent a lot of time training our 16-week old Golden Retriever, Ralph, including using your book (very beneficial) and taking him to puppy pre-school which has reinforced the training that you advocate. But I still have two problems.
Firstly, he will not stop biting and nipping us (me, son 13, daughter 16, and husband). And secondly, he hurts our little 7-year-old Yorkshire Terrier. He sits on her, bites her and altogether harasses her. I am concerned that he could innocently kill her.
I have tried everything and although he is better than he was, he is still biting and won’t stop when you say no. I have tried pebbles in a tin. He just looks at it and carries on.
I have tried growling at him like a dog, yelping like another pup being hurt, you name it I have tried it. He just carries on.
I give him masses of positive reinforcement all the time which he loves, but still he continues to bite. He has even bitten me aggressively when I have tried to get something off him that he is not allowed to have. I now hold him by the scruff of the neck when I do this so he can’t bite me, and that seems to work.
I am getting desperate.
He comes up to us for a pat and when you pat him he bites your hand. He bites our socks, he bites our ears, he bites my daughter’s long hair. He is relentless. Everyone is getting frustrated with him. Surely he should have got it by now!!!
I probably should add here that my son is inclined to encourage him to bite because he likes to play with him, which is probably not helping.
What can I do?
Kingdom of Pets Replies:
The two elements crucial to raising a well-behaved dog are thorough obedience training and consistent use of the Alpha Techniques.
It’s great that Ralph has been to puppy preschool. I recommend you continue obedience training at home too, giving Ralph lessons for at least 10 minutes a day.
I also recommend that you read and use the Alpha dog techniques as set out in our bonus book, ‘Secrets to Becoming the Alpha Dog’. If Ralph knows that you are in charge, and that he is at the bottom of the pack, he is more likely to listen to your commands. Also, in the wild, the bottom-ranked dog would not try to nip or bite the Alpha! The Alpha techniques will teach him some respect and manners.
The Biting problem - solved
Any corrective training will be limited in it's success unless you can get your son to stop encouraging Ralph's biting behavior. The actions of your whole family need to be consistent with your training. Ralph is currently being confused because he is allowed to bite sometimes, but not others.
Explain to your son that unless he works with the rest of the family to stop the biting, the problem will only continue. And as Ralph gets older and bigger it will get worse. If each family member works to the same rule book, you will soon have a much better behaved pet.
When Ralph bites, use a throaty “AHHH” and calmly remove him from the area for a 3 minute time out. Ending the play session in this way every time he bites will soon make biting disadvantageous for your dog and he should soon stop.
Giving him alternatives
Young dogs love to chew and explore and learn about things by putting them in their mouths. Make sure he has lots of toys including sturdy chew toys, and rotate them each day so he doesn't lose interest. When he starts teething make sure he has plenty of teething toys to help ease the discomfort. This will help Ralph stop chewing you and everything around him.
Make him Drop It
Avoid trying to take things from Ralph's mouth. This can cause him to clamp down even harder and can provoke an aggressive outburst as he protects what he regards as his. Include the ‘Drop It’ command in your training, and use that command as a first step.
Ensure Ralph is getting enough exercise (suitable for his age and growth stage) and that he has a good supply of toys. Sturdy chew toys with a food treat in the centre will often keep a dog occupied for hours!
Keep your Yorkie safe
Ensure your Yorkie has a safe place to retreat to - a crate is ideal because she is smaller than Ralph so can hide in smaller spaces. Always praise any positive interactions between your two dogs. If Ralph becomes too rough, immediately remove him to another room for a 3 minute time out. This will teach him that when he gets too rough the fun is over.
If you leave them alone during the day, keep them in separate areas of the house. Read the section in the main book titled "2 Dogs in the House". It will give you some valuable guidance.
All the best,
Daniel Stevens and the Secrets to Dog Training Team
"Secrets to Dog Training - STOP Dog Behavior Problems!"
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/
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