Skip to content

Nipping

Behavioral Issues
  • Anne has gotten quite bitey lately! If I go to pet her after she does something good she'll nip at me playfully or if I have a treat in my hand she'll nip at it to get the treat.

    Now, I know the normal way to deal with dogs doing this is to stop play immediately and turn away, maybe say ouch when they nip… and then they should feel bad that they stopped play time because they nipped. I've been doing this anytime she nips, but I don't really think it is connecting.

    If she nips at me and I stop playing or petting her and turn away she sort of just goes "whatever" almost instantly and goes to find something else to do. She doesn't really seem to be affected by me withdrawing my attention because she bit.

    Does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with a particularly bitey basenji pup who loses interest quickly? D:

  • Don't give her the treat then.

  • Since she is wandering off and not continuing to push for your attention it sounds like she is reading your turn away corrrectly. When you turn away from a dog it is a distance increasing signal.

    When you turn back and invite her back to you, what does she do?

    Remember she is still young and learning self-control. This sort of behavior is related to your other post about her having difficulty holding body position for extended periods of time. She is still learning self control.

    I like Levels because it breaks the training up into smaller parts, http://dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Levels/ByLevel/1Level.html

Suggested Topics

  • Nipping

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    B
    I agree. She is such a friendly little gal.
  • Nipping

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    B
    Thank you I will.
  • HELP! Kipawa nipped twice in 3 days

    Behavioral Issues
    31
    0 Votes
    31 Posts
    16k Views
    P
    I haven't commented so far as my advice ould be similar to the others. Please let us know what Therese and Kevin suggest, it may help others as well. I hope you had a good weekend.
  • Otis just nipped my son…

    Behavioral Issues
    135
    0 Votes
    135 Posts
    38k Views
    MacPackM
    You chose an alternative that was very hard for you, but gave Otis a wonderful chance at a new life is a situation better suited to his temperament. I do not call that failure, quite the opposite, you made for success for Otis. Sometimes love just isn't enough to overcome situational issues, but you found a perfect solution. Thank you for the update, I had been thinking about you but didn't want to ask.
  • Nipping / Biting

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    8k Views
    eoyE
    Wow thanks sinbaje!
  • 0 Votes
    35 Posts
    14k Views
    RockysWomanR
    @sharronhurlbut: I think its up to us, the b's owners to make sure the kids have respect for the dogs we have. So true! We live three doors down from an elementary school so every day when kids get out (or on weekends… lots of kids in the area come to the playground) they love to "pet the poochies". Our Papillion eats up the attention, but Rocky stays in teh back ground. We've had kids run up to him and he will put himself between me and whomever is coming, but (luckily) he's very good with younger kids (ie infant - 5 years). Anything older than that he has little tollerence for. But it is up to us, the B owners, to remind the kids how to approach the dogs; to make sure the dogs are not over-stimulated or over-whelmed; to make sure it is as controlled a situation as possible. A difficult task with a swarm of children, but necessary. And if you can't do it, take the "poochies" back in the house until the cast of thousands clear out.