Mouthy puppy

by Donna
(Brooklyn)

He looks like Groucho Marx. He loves to chew!!

My pup is a 7 month old rescue who has gotten less mouthy since his adult teeth came in but when he is excited or during play, he tends to bite a bit.

He is a little dominant but he is good in a lot of ways too. I've tried the stand up and ignore thing but it doesn't work, especially if he is jumping up and biting my coat.

He never does this with strangers and absolutely loves people and other dogs. He only seems to do this with humans he feels comfortable around.

What is the best thing to do???

Thank You,
Donna


Hi Donna
This 'mouthyness' is very common, and does tend to peak during teething, however if left untreated it will usually continue into adulthood, which is a problem.

Nipping and mouthing is usually either attention-seeking or dominant behavior (sometimes a bit of both)and it does sound as though your pup is tending towards the dominant.

His jumping and nipping is a way of expressing or exerting control over you, he doesn't do it with strangers as he's not as comfortable or confident around them. You (and your family) are his 'pack' and he's attempting to dominate within that pack.

This is normal, and some dogs are more dominant than others, it's not aggression at this point and once controlled his behavior should improve overall.

If the ignoring and walking away isn't helping, you need to try something a little stronger. There are a couple of things you can try that are generally effective.

One of the easiest things that you may not have done yet is to buy some Bitter Apple spray (available at most pet stores) and spray your hands, arms, coat, pant legs etc. This tastes nasty to dogs and they're less inclined to bite and chew on things that have been sprayed. It helps a bit.

Secondly, I suggest you go out and buy a few of the tiny breath-sprays that you get at the pharmacy or Walmart etc. Keep one in your pocket at all times and use it in this way ......

There will be times when you know your dog is most likely to be jumping and mouthing, for instance when you come home after being out, first thing in the morning, at play times etc. At those times be prepared and have the little spray hidden in your hand, cap off, ready to use.

When your pup jumps up and starts to bite, give him a quick spray right on his tongue, or in his open mouth. You need to be very quick and accurate, and it may take a few tries to master this! Do avoid spraying near his eyes or nose, just directly into his mouth.

Try not to let him see the spray if possible, he needs to associate his biting you with the nasty taste, not the taste with the spray. However, if you find this too difficult don't worry too much. As long as he gets a quick 'squirt' every time he bites, you'll soon see the mouthing start to decline.

Be very patient and consistent, and do this EVERY time he bites, and he will 'get the message'. It may take several weeks, or it may be much quicker than that, a lot depends on your dogs' personality and how stubborn he is.

Very occasionally you'll find a dog who actually likes the taste of the spray, in that case try something like cinammon-flavored spray or even a small spray bottle with a mix of vinegar and water or one of the small, lemon-shaped lemon juice squeezy bottles. Anything he doesn't appreciate the taste of.

In very resistant dogs who continue to bite and mouth in spite of the above tactics, an electronic dog collar that uses either a tonal correction, or a mild static impulse correction may be the best bet. These rarely fail, and are not cruel or painful if used properly, but they're a lot more expensive than a couple of breath sprays!

I'd also encourage you to enrol your pup in a basic obedience course just to help head off any more dominant behaviors and increase his respect for you. As male pups mature they can 'flex their muscles' so to speak, and try to dominate when possible. It's important to nip that in the bud, and make sure that your pup knows exactly who's the 'alpha' (that's YOU) in your home.

Best of luck with him, hope this helps you out some.