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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Puppy advice

23 replies

Redshoes55 · 06/08/2015 14:00

Have a divine and adorable 11 week old puppy. Yorkshire terrier.

I know they all nip away and bite everything at this age and that's fine. She has loads of toys but aibu in not doing anything to teach her to not nip us? Or will she just grow out of it.

Going to classes as soon as she can go out. Never had a dog before so advice appreciated.

OP posts:

asmallandnoisymonkey · 06/08/2015 14:07

A good technique when she nips hands is to say 'ouch' really loudly and in a high pitched tone and pull your hand away.
You should be teaching her not to mouth or bite at clothes, your skin or shoes - say ouch and then give her a toy to distract her. Mine's going through the same stage at the moment and this technique is working well!

TheWitTank · 06/08/2015 14:08

I didn't let any of mine nip, mouth hands or jump up, even at a very early age. My friend let her labrador mouth hands/arms/legs as it was "funny" and "cute" as a weeny puppy. It isn't so funny or cute now it's huge and has massive teeth -it hurts, a lot. It's far easier to discourage and train at this age than deal with an older untrained dog. Don't let it nip.

Frillsandspills · 06/08/2015 14:08

When my bichon was a puppy he nipped a lot, we found moving our hands away and saying 'no' rather firmly worked but you do have time persistent. I do think it's something they grow out of with the aid of trying to stop them too!

Original poster

Redshoes55 · 06/08/2015 14:12

Right ok will try that technique of ouch. I don't want a rough dog.

Yes Tank I have banned any rough play with her from the teens and we all need to be in board with this don't we?

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asmallandnoisymonkey · 06/08/2015 14:14

No you def don't want a rough one - though terriers to have a tendency to nip and if you don't discourage it when they're young they'll just do it that much harder when they're older.

Everyone in the family needs to do the same thing and in the same way. It's what the mother would do when the puppy gets too rough with their biting so it's not mean, or unnatural or weird - it's something the puppy will have encountered before!

SnapesCapes · 06/08/2015 14:14

Our spaniel was 12 months when she came to us as a rescue but she still nipped like a puppy would, so we would turn our backs on her and stop playing every time she nipped. She learned very quickly that it wasn't a response she wanted, so stopped nipping.

She still occasionally does that thing where when you're playing and rolling around the floor she'll put her mouth around your hand or arm, but the second you say 'no' she'll stop and look contrite because she knows she's gone too far.

MakingBaking · 06/08/2015 14:19

Some dogs find yelping encouraging as it's an interesting reaction. I think a lot of dogs do respond and stop after yelping but what worked best for ours was to just stand up and walk away. Or withdraw hands and fold arms then look away for ten seconds or so which halted any interaction and took away the attention. They grow out of it to an extent if they never get rewarded for it, but discouraging it now will make the phase shorter.

Check out the Doghouse for more info :)

TheWitTank · 06/08/2015 14:20

Yes, absolutely -you all need to follow the same rules and techniques. Enjoy your new pup!

asmallandnoisymonkey · 06/08/2015 14:21

Yeah I guess it does depend on the puppy. I've never had a problem with the ouch technique with any of my dogs but it's definitely worth using the technique that works for your dog!

TheWitTank · 06/08/2015 14:22

We also do the turning our backs at jumping up and standing and walking away at any rough play, nipping or mouthing. It very quickly sinks in that none of this behaviour leads to enjoyable things like attention, play or treats.

Original poster

Redshoes55 · 06/08/2015 14:29

Brilliant thanks guys and for the link Making will check out.

Ok training starts today! It's like having a toddler really. We have only had cats before so all new but very lovely.

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WilburIsSomePig · 06/08/2015 14:31

We did the stern 'No' and turned our backs on our lab when he was tiny. He was incredibly 'bitey' and it hurt even when he was only a few months old. He's the softest big dog I've ever had now.

WilburIsSomePig · 06/08/2015 14:32

Oh but you do know we need to see pics of him right?

Booboostwo · 06/08/2015 15:01

I've taught this technique to a lot of dogs, a very small minority of them get wound up by it,but it works well for the rest:
When the puppy bites your flesh, say your had, screech a very high pitched noise like a puppy would do when hurt, do not pull your hand away (that makes it a chasing game). Most puppies will stop and look at you to figure out what is going on; the puppy gave a playful nip but you screamed blue murder. Repeat each time to teach the puppy that humans are very sensitive. They learn bite inhibition fairly quickly.

If the puppy is biting clothes, shoes, etc think very hard about whether you will find this funny for the next 15 years. Most people do not. He distraction is your friend. You need a lot of different chews, spread all over the floor and at easy reach at all times.

She should be able to start training classes shortly after her booster vaccinations but you may need to book well in advance. I would recommend you use a trainer that uses positive reinforcement methods. And don't forget the importance of the first 14-16 weeks for socialisation...and photos please!

Original poster

Redshoes55 · 06/08/2015 15:30

Brilliant will do and see if I can add photos. I can't describe how utterly adorable she is.

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Summerisle1 · 06/08/2015 15:35

Terriers are bitey little buggers (have a JRT) but for sure, consistent bite inhibition training works. Yelping worked on SummerDog when he was a pup as did the stern "NO biting" and ignore method.

As Booboo says, now is the time to put a stop to habits that will get ever less acceptable over the years. Consistency is the key though so yes, everyone needs to be on board with the training. Also, bite inhibition tends to be an 'at home' training method rather than something you can wait for training classes for so start now!

Pictures soon please!

ArendelleQueen · 06/08/2015 15:44

YANBU to put a total stop to it. We did a high-pitched "ouch", turned our backs and walked away. He hated not having attention, so it worked quickly. I wouldn't give him a toy straight away as I was worried that he'd associate giving a nip with getting a toy.

BabeRuthless · 06/08/2015 15:51

We have an 18 month old terrier and I withdrew my hands and all attention when she nipped me as a pup. DP however likes to play rough with her so they have a fine old time while she gnaws away at his rough, hairy hands but interestingly she never, ever does that with me. If she does get too rough with DP the playing stops so she has learned her boundaries. They do calm down as they get older I promise!

musicalbingo · 06/08/2015 16:12

Yes, you should be addressing this.

My family owned three Yorkshire Terriers (they were show dogs, crufts and all that guff) and we had a 4 or 5 litters throughout my childhood / teens. We also had other breeds too.
My parents trained the YTs differently as they have very specific temperaments and need to be training carefully as puppies. The main reason they having a reputation as yappy snappy dogs is to do with poor or incorrect training/unsuitable environments when young and it is v difficult/almost impossible to break these habits when older.

Right now your puppy wants to play. all. the. time.
Your fingers and hands are basically toys, when she biting she is displaying play behaviour. From what I remember when kept with the litter they learn to not bite too hard as the litter self regulates biting (the other pups make a distinct yelp) so without the litter it can become an issue.
It's important your "ouch" or "no" is loud and high pitched anything else is kinda useless

When we had "a biter" we had to keep hands and fingers away and not give ANY attention to the puppy when they displayed biting behaviour - literally ignore them. no eye contact - nothing.
We also did not substitute in a toy to bite as it displays the behaviour rather than discourages it.

All she wants is attention and to play. The sooner you teach her that biting stops any form of attention/play you will break the habit.

ps. I am very jealous. My parent had several breeds but these were my favourites - they are an utter delight! Enjoy your puppy

maninawomansworld · 06/08/2015 16:23

Every time she nips, withdraw your attention / affection.

As soon as she nips just say firmly ' NO' once, remove your hand or whatever she has nipped, get up and walk calmly away from her ignoring her completely.

Get on with whatever you were doing before and then a few minutes later you can re engage with her. It will soon stop.

ArtyKitty · 06/08/2015 16:35

We tried the yelping technique. It just got her over excited! Although today (as a giant nearly 6 month old) she accidentally jumped up and hit my jaw, making me bite my tongue. I yelped in genuine pain and she instantly lay down with her ears all soft and apologetic, so maybe its just that my acting skills weren't convincing enough back then! In the end we just folded are arms and stopped playing. Never bites now!

Original poster

Redshoes55 · 06/08/2015 17:26

Brilliant thanks so much for the posts. She's so cute it's hard to be hard iucwim but I absolutely see that it's in her best interests as no one likes a snappy bitey dog.

Right now informing teens and a dh who adore her that it's getting a bit tougher time for the greater good.

Funny but I did cc with my kids without a qualm! To be fair the puppy is cuter than the kids ever were!

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Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 06/08/2015 19:16

I have no advice. I just saw the word puppy and had to open the thread.
I don't know anything about puppies I just coo at them.
Can we have a picture

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