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aggressive playing
by gary lachappell
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
I would like to know how some of you handle your maltese when he/she gets in the mood to nip and growl while playing? Do they always keep biting your hands and scratching your feet? This seems to happen especially when we are getting ready to go to bed.
DISCUSSION:
My little one has done the same thing. I think she gets her days confused with the nights. Just like some new babies do. A firm NO and a toy to replace my hands has really worked for us. She really loves to chew, so a hard hallow bone works good. You can get them at your local pet store. I put treats inside for her and she would rather have this than my hands or feet. I also place her in her pet taxi with this on evenings she wishes to remain up and I am ready for bed. Good luck with your new little on.
Tina and Cricket
Read Alex has a new play. He likes to play rough sometimes. As long as it is a playfull growl it doesn't matter. It's their way to express themself. When he starts nipping to hard (he forgets from time to time) I tell him NO BITING. Then he stops and licks my hands and fingers. We let him have his fun for a while, and when he doesn't stop by himself, we tell him THAT'S ENOUGH NOW. He is pretty good at lessening.
Janine
My Chelsea is quite the play biter. She loves to go after my hands...she still has her baby canines and I bet you know how that feels! I tell her "no bite" and place chew toys in front of her instead. I think a lot of it has to do with age and teething (she's about 5 1/2 months). Chelsea is the most "active" Maltese I have owned (she's my 3rd). When she settles down and comes out of her "puppy crazies" she is very lovable and enjoys cuddling her head next to my neck. I think I may have an active year with her! It scared me at first because my other Maltese were not like that and I was afraid she would be mean. I soon realized that this was an irrational fear. I don't worry any longer. I just learned that she has a higher energy level and it's the way she plays...for now! Good luck!
Kristi
Hi Gary, I laughed at your post. Baby does this almost every night. Its our special time together to rough house and play. If she gets too carried away I yell "Ouch" and she gets this funny startled look on her face as if to say, "I'm sorry mom, I didn't mean to hurt you" and calms down and plays more gently. I guess I have never viewed this as a problem just as a rowdy playtime with my little rascal. Incidentally, Angel my 6-year old used to do this too when she was much younger but now has mellowed and stopped the puppy playfullness. I'd say enjoy it while it lasts.
Gaeti
Hey Gary, Kelley does the hand thing at bedtime. We keep a stuffed toy on the bed and play tug with it instead of the fingers. Arthur goes after toes when he's excited. We throw toys for him to fetch and it takes his mind off the toes. The "ouch" really works. They aren't being mean, your baby just wants to play and is treating you as a trusted and loved member of his pack.
Dottie Starr
"BOO" is our 8wk old maltese. She is extremely playful yet I'm a little baffled by the tone of her voice...she sounds like a squealing ,growling raccoon...? Can you imagine....(I'm embarrassed by this...she really gets loud) She only does this when I pick her up; sometimes I 'm not even playing with her......Is this normal? Anyone out there experience this with their maltese???
Dea
Dea, I wouldn't allow that behavior to continue if I were you.
It's one thing to be playing noisily and growlingly, but when it's over and you want to pick her up and she growls, tell her
"AHEM" (like clearing your throat) in a gruff voice. As SOon AS She Stops... praise her.
anneh
Dea, I never heard a squealing,growling racoon but my Little Luca makes a horrible sound when he's playing really hard. The first time I heard him I thought Buster was killing him. When I ran into the room, there was Buster just lying there with a shocked look on his face & there was Luca running around the room like a maniac.
Maureen,Buster&LittleLuca
I was curious to know if this was a normal behavior seen in these types of dogs ( I've never had any small dogs before); Indeed I will have to work with her although, with my past experience she seems to express her anger even more when I try to correct this. (I pick her up and when sshe starts to growl I gently pet her and try to calm her...which eventually works...Is there something wrong with her? Sh e appears to want a lot of attention and she gets.it...we..play on the floor, I allow her to sit and play on my lap etc what else could a dog want other than lots of food all the time????
Dea
Please don't re-enforce your pet's bad behavior by picking up and *calming* and petting him after he has growled!! When he does it say, in a gruff voice, "AHEM" (like clearing your throat) and then give him the cold shoulder for a few minutes. Read my post in *Frustrated..biting... by Stephanie" earlier in the questions and responses. The situation isn't exactly the same
but the solution is. Stop coddling your dog and treat it as a dog (albeit a lucky and loved one). When owners coddle their dogs, they set them up for failure. Dogs want love, but the way you give it to them is through LEADERSHIP, DISCIPLINE and ROUTINE. Starting early (preferably at 8-16 weeks of age) with this prevents corrections and unnecessary harshness.
anneh
I agree somewhat with Anneh but I think the main problem is you are roughhousing with your dogs and that sets you up to have them act this way. Then you don't like their behavior. I never rough up my dogs - of any breed. We whisper, toss toys, wriggle fingers at them, other types of gentle petting and training too, but never rough housing. You teach your dogs bad behavior that way.
Mary Lou
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