Dog nipped someone today

[Lynand]

I have 2 dogs, brothers, brought up together and now 5. Dachshund chihuahua X. One of them occasionally nips men. If man comes to the house I pick him up until he's stopped barking and then distract him with treats. He's then OK although a workman recently had his finger bit when he reached out to pat him as I was holding dog. Today out for a walk with DH he chased and nipped a runner leaving a red mark and a hole in runners leggings. Other people had passed perfectly OK. He just seems to take a dislike to some. Is a muzzle the only answer?

Right first things first, stop picking him up around men as it reinforces him they should be feared.

When guests come, shut the dog in another room. Even if he whinges and whines.

Do not let him off his lead and if you use a flexi lead make sure it's pulled right in when you walk by.

I would also start using a muzzle yes.

Use a basket muzzle and not a fabric one though.

Basket still allows them to pant and you can push treats through the gaps. The fabric ones are not as good and are should only be really used quickly on the vets

You sound completely out of your depth OP with regards training and acceptable dog behaviour. I take it you're also not aware that having two puppies growing up together usually results in behaviour problems either?

Stop minimising your dog's biting by calling it nipping and start taking the situation seriously. You need to get professional help for this before he get you and himself into deep water.

Before you do anything else get him into a muzzle - you need to train him to get him used to wearing it - stop letting him off the lead around other people and stop rewarding his biting by picking him up and treating him when he goes to bite. If you know that he's likely to bite men, don't encourage the behaviour by picking him up around them and allowing them to attempt to stroke him. Take him out of the situation and shut him in another room when strange men are around.

You need to get a behaviourist to work with you asap. Biting people is serious and just because your dog is small does not change the seriousness because what happens when the dog decides children are now targets and not just men.

You should be using a muzzle right now and then working out with a trainer how to stop it.

He bites and you don't have sufficient recall. Get him muzzled and on a lead, allowing him to bite and injure a runner is appalling. Also, my posh running leggings cost £40 and I would be expecting you to pay for that.

Why on earth wasn't he on a lead and muzzled if he bites? You know he's done it before and you still think it's acceptable to put him in situation where he can do it again.

I don't blame the dog. He's an animal. You're his owner and you're responsible for him at the end of the day. If you know he bites, then you need to do something about it!

This is an old thread!!!

This thread is a year old @adaline