[rimfirematt]

I have researched previous topics on this board and elsewhere dealing with this problem. Lip pinch and snout hold just makes him more aggressive. Ignoring doesn't work either. Placement in Kennel for timeouts aren't working... My hands are getting raw and he is really clamping down on my kids. They are to the point where they are scared of him and don't want to be near him. You cant have any physical contact with him with out him mouthing/biting back.

He has a ton of chew toys, toys. He is getting exercised.

So far not biting people is the one thing he cant figure out. I could tolerate a little mouthing but he will grab a finger and shake his head, curl his lip and lunge and clamp down... its not pleasant

Im still wating on my mertens DVD, but it sounds like I have tried those solutions. Its getting really hard for me not to give him a smack. which is about the only method I haven't tried.

 

[BobCameron]

I have researched previous topics on this board and elsewhere dealing with this problem. Lip pinch and snout hold just makes him more aggressive. Ignoring doesn't work either. Placement in Kennel for timeouts aren't working... My hands are getting raw and he is really clamping down on my kids. They are to the point where they are scared of him and don't want to be near him. You cant have any physical contact with him with out him mouthing/biting back.

He has a ton of chew toys, toys. He is getting exercised.

So far not biting people is the one thing he cant figure out. I could tolerate a little mouthing but he will grab a finger and shake his head, curl his lip and lunge and clamp down... its not pleasant

Im still wating on my mertens DVD, but it sounds like I have tried those solutions. Its getting really hard for me not to give him a smack. which is about the only method I haven't tried.

I would get this pups attention quickly with a very stern correction. Don't hurt him but make it strong enough that he gets the point immediately while remaining very calm. Don't panic, he is a pup and just does not know what is permissible and has to be taught. Just my opinion but, the next time he curls his lip and lunges at you or any of your family, knock the piss out of him. He will get it.

 

[Norse]

Is it a lab or something else?

 

[bshaf]

Agreed, he needs to get the point. I thought the other thread covered the lip pinch. Make it count. Or immediately confine him... Basically no one wants to play with him when he bites. Do whatever you have to do now as it will probably only get worse.

Until the lip pinch thread, I misunderstood and always previously used to jowl on the back teeth... The front top k9 pinch worked very very well.

 

[ErinsEdge]

You are not doing it hard enough. It may seem mean, but biting your kids or having to rehome him is the alternative.

 

[mikec]

I was just going through the same thing and was using the back teeth for lip pinch. I could push as hard as I could and mine wouldn't make a peep and would be back at it. I switched to the k9 and the slightest pressure she will wimper and I would release pressure. Biting/chewing has stopped substantially. You have to make sure you keep on it everytime his teeth make contact with skin.

 

[DMA]

You can also put the pup in a submissive position for a time out every time he does this. I've seen the mother dogs just hold them down with one paw when they get fed up.

 

[Rainmaker]

http://www.retrievertraining.net/fo...et/forums/showthread.php?120245-New-Golden-puppy-new-Dog-owner&highlight=biting

 

[Rhenee Fadling]

When you grab that little snout and firmly have hold, are you getting in that little face, and saying a command such as "NO". Your post doesn't make clear the command you're using. This pup, as others I've had, needs to learn the command "NO" and soon, you don't have to be a jerk but it needs to learn "NO" means stop what you're doing NOW. You can redirect the pups attention after you've corrected to a toy or another ACCEPTABLE activity. Coming back for more will happen, be firm and consistent in your response, BE PREPARED for how you will respond to this unacceptable behavior. Time outs are fine but not as a form of punishment. Scenario would work as pup is excited, gets a hold of a hand or back of leg, firm snout hold and in your face "NO", redirect to something acceptable, praise IF Warranted.

The no command is important. the pup needs to know it's boundaries, it looks to you for leadership, not dominance but leadership. This is an important step in that relationship.

 

[wraithen]

I may be a minority in this but it sounds like you are being a bit soft. If you are using the lip pinch and not getting a reaction then you are either not applying enough force or the dog doesnt care. My pup bit me hard once and I instantly went to my normal reaction. Sharp backhand to the nose. Not the snout. Not hard, just swift and directly to the tip of the nose. I then rolled him on his back and yelled no and got in his face. The whole ordeal literally took about ten seconds before I let the pup up. He looked back at me as he walked to his crate, never had a problem with it since and were good friends. You have to be in charge of the dog or it will fill that role for you. If you have the opportunity to know when the pup is about to bite then bop him. He will learn quickly that even thinking about biting someone will cause discomfort.

 

[ErinsEdge]

My take on the responses is the advice that is being given has been tried and every once in awhile there is an alligator puppy who keeps coming back for more and someone is going to get hurt. Many litters are easy. All the touchy, feely, positive, No!, turn your back, stare them in the eyes, squirt bottle crap doesn't work on some of these pups. Kim and I have corrected hundreds of pups. I feel the frustration of the owners being told to do the psychological crap. The mom's just don't down them, they bite if the pup doesn't get it. You obviously haven't had one of these alligators and it was easy for you to correct. The kids are scared. Lead them to the answer that makes it stop. or if they really hurt the kids they may end up being euthanized. It's getting to be a waste of time giving advice on here that works.

 

[Breck]

When you do the tooth pinch. (thumb pushing upper lip against tip of canine tooth) if you press firmly enough you should see a response. Squeal or wine or something.
For a tough guy in addition you could try dominant down. Put pup on back with hand on chest and hold them there until they submit with no squirming or bitting and muscles relaxed.
Another thing to try vs tooth pinch is to put puppies paw in its mouth and squeeze mouth until you get a response.

 

[rimfirematt]

Aligator puppy is right. He comes back at you with jaws popping when you lip pinch him. Maybe I'm not doing it hard enough as I rarely get a reaction other than aggression. Also I'm not sure I'm doing it fast enough. Little sucker really moves his head around fast. And I think by the time I get ahold of that lip he thinks we are playing a fresh round of bite eachother.)l

 

[Tobias]

Nancy is right on. Sometimes I will pick a pup up from the scruff and the butt skin and just hold them off the ground and look them in the eye..then carry them that way to the crate and unceremoniously dump them in. LOL.


Also - in all your other activities, make sure he is the subordinate. He should go through doors after you, should wait to eat his meal (don't bother him while he is eating, and don't let your kids bother him while he is eating..once you give him permission to eat, leave him be), leave his kennel only when you say so, etc....

I have heard that spitting in a dog's mouth is also a way to show dominance. Never tried it myself, or seen whether it was true, but apparently goes back to the bitch cleaning the pup and forcing their mouth open to lick the inside of their mouth.

 

[Breck]

Aligator puppy is right. He comes back at you with jaws popping when you lip pinch him. Maybe I'm not doing it hard enough as I rarely get a reaction other than aggression. Also I'm not sure I'm doing it fast enough. Little sucker really moves his head around fast. And I think by the time I get ahold of that lip he thinks we are playing a fresh round of bite eachother.)l

.
You should be grabbing pups snout from the rear so thumb and index finger are towards nose and your palm is over the eyes.
Should not take much to grab quickly and get it done.

 

[polmaise]

Aligator puppy is right. He comes back at you with jaws popping when you lip pinch him. Maybe I'm not doing it hard enough as I rarely get a reaction other than aggression. Also I'm not sure I'm doing it fast enough. Little sucker really moves his head around fast. And I think by the time I get ahold of that lip he thinks we are playing a fresh round of bite eachother.)l

FWIW . My advice would be for You 'Not' to attempt any of the suggestions mentioned ! You don't have the skills.
Go see a reputable trainer asap.
Regards.

 

[ErinsEdge]

FWIW . My advice would be for You 'Not' to attempt any of the suggestions mentioned ! You don't have the skills.
Go see a reputable trainer asap.
Regards.

My experience has been just because someone calls themselves a pro, doesn't mean they know how to correct it, and in fact they do it wrong also. I think Rimfire is motivated to figure it out and will do the correction himself.

 

[polmaise]

My experience has been just because someone calls themselves a pro, doesn't mean they know how to correct it, and in fact they do it wrong also. I think Rimfire is motivated to figure it out and will do the correction himself.

My experience is 'reputable' and 'Pro' don't go hand in hand ,neither does mr or mrs nice nice guy on a forum.
If Rimfire is already by admission have a situ of ''play a fresh round of bite each other'' , then It would be easily to conclude that your prediction would be wrong although very supportive

 

[Gauge123]

My last alligator didn't respond to rolling the lips. Rather than pulling away from the bite I would push my hand into her mouth and if possible press down on the tongue or up on the roof of the mouth.

You problem is that even if you figure out how to keep him from biting you, he still might bite the kids.

He will grow out of it. You never said how old the pup is, but usually after the permanent teeth arrive the constant biting is MUCH better.

You might have to limit interaction with people until he can behave in a few months.

 

[emmylan]

spray bitter apple directly into the pup's mouth when he starts to bite. You can also spray hands with the bitter apple. This has worked very well for bitey pups. Keep a few bottles around the house so you can grab the spray quickly when you need it.