I need someone to translate dog for me?

Claire

Hi I need some help please. Cooper went through a big biting phase and has settled a little now but he will still try to chew on everything including me and BF. Sometimes when we tell him "NO BITING" he will then paw at us and whine and sometimes half heartily snap at us as well.

I'm just not sure how I should respond to this behavior. He is not being overly aggressive when he does it but he certainly isn't being submissive either. He even did it to Bruce(BF) last night and snapped at the same time(Bruce is definitely the "alpha dog" in our house).

We have recently been letting Cooper in the lounge room and even up on the couch(which is where this happened) since he is better with the biting, normally he is restricted to the kitchen by a baby gate. I'm just wondering if he is getting too big for his boots and needs to be put in his place or should I just leave him.

He is 17 weeks old and still has all of his baby teeth. And other than this we don't seem to have any other dominance problems.

DanniGirl

DukesMom · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:07 am Post subject:

What she said! Get control over this now.

weimdawgs · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:10 am Post subject:

It will be much easier to get control over him now while he is little.....let him know who is in charge.

oregonweim · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:13 am Post subject:

Not to sound mean but when any dog does that I like to put what my wife refers to as the fear of god into them. I don't yell, but allow myself to feel 'emotionally' angry (even though I'm not Very Happy

), give them the look and if needed physically correct (eg, pulling firmly off couch; holding collar to the ground/pinning them). Easier to correct now. Miles still nibbles, but he does not do any type of 'dominance' biting.

nicwithcandy · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:28 am Post subject:

I know with our training, there is no physical contact, so grabbing, holding down, but the one thing I do is, I put Luca's lip under his tooth and make him bite himself, I know it sounds mean, but it works. He's gotten MUCH better with the nipping. He does it when he gets excited

Claire · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I just wanted to double check this was definitely bad behavior and not just having a hissy fit before I gave him what for. Now i will just have to wait and see if he does it again. He has never really shown any other signs on trying to dominate us. But best to nip it in the butt now before he gets any bigger. Thanks again.

What about if he does it with other dogs. He will paw at them and whine/bark if they won't play with him.

oregonweim · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject: