Can you help me stop my dog biting, and bossing me around?
Hi all
I'm at my wits' end, and am looking for advice about stopping my dog from biting my feet. He is a cross-breed of Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen x JRT. He was brought over from Spain, aged 1 (approx), as his first owner wasn't able to look after him, and so kept him chained up in the house, apparently. We've had him for nearly a year, and he's just turned 2. He came to us toilet trained, and knew 'sit' and 'down' commands.
On the first few days, no biting. First couple of weeks, he was biting quite a lot. After 2 months, my partner and I couldn't walk around the house without him biting at every opportunity. We sought advice from the rescue charity, and walked around the house in wellies all day, every day for a month! This did not stop the biting, he just started biting around the knees and hands instead.
Over the next several months, he almost entirely stopped biting my partner, but it is as bad as ever for me. We've been working with a dog behaviourist, who has helped with some of the regular training (leave, stay commands, etc), but the biting just won't subside. He also does the same to my mother, and mother-in-law. The only time when he is truly calm around me is when i'm on the sofa, or laying in bed!!
Some examples of when he bites me are when:
- I'm in the kitchen
- We see a dog on our walk, then its owner and the dog walk away
- We're playing ball and he returns it to me
- I'm walking around the house
- When I put on my shoes before a dog walk
It's not aggression with bared teeth, it's more bossiness. I feel as though the best solution is to ignore it, but it's SO painful, I can't. I fear this is making the problem worse, but don't know how I can react any differently. I tried putting chew-stopper spray all over my shoes and legs, but it barely affected him, and was more a mere inconvenience, and soldiered on regardless!
HELP ME! I love him, but the thought of living like these for the next 10+ years is making me feel very sad. Does anyone have experience of this situation?
This may sound mean but its how i got my dog to stop doin that...lay him on his side on the floor against ur knees, place 1 hand on his shoulder firmly holding him to floor, use other hand to cover his eyes & mouth heading head to floor and lean down and bite the tip of his ear
he might whine or whimper, but ive found that by doing this u establish dominance, and with most pups or dogs that do what urs is doing, they are looking for guidance/leadership in what do/how to act. Thats what the lead dog in dog packs does to say behavior is unacceptable, they nip them....
Me personally I would get a muzzle. Every time the dog tries to bite u put the muzzle on then take it off and keep repeating it over and over every time he tries to bite. The dog will learn hey if I bite or try to bite I get that thing put on my face as punishment.
I have never had an experience like that, but I'm cringing at the thought of my German Shepherd or Labrador Retriever doing that. I know that HAS to hurt, especially on a repeated basis. I can think of maybe one time total that that has happened with either dog. My stern "No!" made them stop.
I would strongly suggest getting a lead. Dogs' noses are so sensitive, and I've yet to meet a dog who just loves to have it on. If you put it on whenever he bites you, he'll (hopefully) associate biting you with being forced to have a lead put on and knock it off. I haaate using them but they work.
Personally any dog that has bitten me (mine or not) I have bitten back and bitten hard. Sometimes it takes a while for them to understand. Or you can rub oragel on his gums if he does it.
Just hit the dog. SHow dominance