Frustrated w/biting!

Archived Message

Frustrated w/biting!
by D'Arcy & Bijou
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
My 5 mth old male, Bijou, started growling and biting this week. It happens when I'm doing something he doesn't want - picking him up to come inside, putting him in his cage when I leave, etc. He has torn my skin three times now! Any other time he is an absolute angel! I am so frustrated w/him. I've cried over this - does anyone have any suggestions? Our vet suggested muzzling him w/our hand but now he just gets more aggressive when we try that. I don't know if this is a phase or becoming a habit. I thoroughly enjoy reading these discussions so I'm hoping someone can help me w/this!! Thanks.

DISCUSSION:

I suggest you enroll him in basic obedience training.
RC

I 'm pretty sure that Bijou has reached adolescense and he is being rebellious among other things. Be on the lookout for other misbehaviors such as house soiling, "selective" hearing, "for-getting" any obedience commands he may have known, unnecessary barking, etc, etc. This stage can last from one or two months to several months and you will occasionally feel like he's a little jerk. I suggest that you handle it by giving him some leadership from now on and this is how: Whenever he wants something such as petting, food, treats, on the bed or couch, to go outside...he should "earn" it by doing what you ask. This can be "sit", "stay", "down" or anything he knows. If he doesn't know anything shame on you! Now's a good time to learn. Remember, he gets nothing unless he earns it. Continue this for six weeks and you'll have a new dog! I realize this sounds a bit harsh, but do you get free meals and board? Don't you have to pay your way? So should he. Okay....so do it for two weeks FAITHFULLY.... then let me know how he's doing! And no coddling.
anneh

I hope nobody thinks this is too harsh, but this is what worked for me with Nitro when he went through his biting phase. I would GENTLY pick him up by the scruff of his neck AND support his bottom with my other hand (so that his weight was resting in my hand and NOT hanging from his neck). I would look him straight in the eye and give him a firm "no". He would look away, look back at me, look down, look back at me with kind of an "I'm sorry" look, then kiss my nose. I would then pet him and place him back on the ground. I only had to do this a few times. Just to be clear, I NEVER allowed his weight to hang from his neck. I only held the scruff of his next to get his attention and to let him know biting/growling was more serious than just a simple "no".
Sharryl

I have had some problems with Noah, too. He is 16 months old. Anneh is right. I make Noah earn things. He has had obedience training(thank goodness!)and occasionally challenges me. I never let him get away with it. Another thing that has helped is to make him tired. A good walk or a run around the yard can really take the edge off my little rebel, and soon he is back to his sweet self. Dare I say D-o-g? We should always think, dog first, fur baby, second. If I treat Noah like an adorable fur baby for too long, he starts challenging my leadership.
April B

My 5 month old little Tasha also has a tendency to bite when she gets excited. About 3 weeks ago, I had a private dog obedience lesson and the dog trainer showed me something called a "cuddle". You lay the puppy on her back between your legs with her face closest to your body and gently hold her jowls until she calms down. You talk gently to the puppy and say "Good Dog" or something similar. Tasha normally will calm down and become submissive within a few seconds. After you are done, you put her in a sitting position in front of you and stroke her back. If she is still biting and struggling when I try to lay her on her back, I just increase the pressure that I am holdling her jowls a little bit (it doesn't take much and she calms right down). According to the dog trainer, you should be doing at least 10 cuddle lessons per day. They only take a couple of minutes each. If you don't have success doing this yourself, it is worth investing in a private dog obedience lesson because they will show you exactly what to do. Good Luck!
Rosemary and Tasha

I am really puzzled by these posts about Maltese biting. This is the most non biting breed you can imagine!! How is this happening? Can some one enlighten me? Mouthing as young puppies is easily controlled by the 'muzzling with your hand gently' as mentioned. When you do that you must have one hand over the shoulder so the dog can't pull away. But after that stage I never heard of a biting Maltese - adolescence or not. Unless perhaps the dog has pain somewhere- see the Spanky archives for a devastating case.
Mary Lou

What Rosemary is suggesting (roll-over) was popular years ago, but with the advances in dog behavior education and positive re-enforcement training, many of us no longer use this method since it is a correction (negative). We feel it is better to prevent problems rather than correct existing ones...hence, puppy training at a very early age (usually age 8-16 weeks to begin with). When puppies are very small, we do practice putting them on their backs (submissive position) while making it pleasant by petting etc....they're never held in that position against their will.
anneh

D'arcy, I know what you are going through. Have just been there. My 10mth female malt, started this about 3 mths ago. Only when it was time to pick her up to put to bed. She didn't draw blood, but almost. The growling and snapping was REAL serious, and the first time scared the live out of me. I got to hate the time to pick her up to put to bed. She didn't want to do what I had in mind - simply. I tried special treats to get her up - she would roll on her back and the minute I tried to pick her up it would start. She would let me rub her tummy, pet her etc., but the moment I slipped my hand under her - WHAM. I tried going out of the room and making noises in the kitchen - sometimes that worked as the curiosity got the better of her, once she was up I could pick her up. However I found that to contiunue to pick her up was the best way, the moment she growled and started to snap at me, I said NO very sternly, then a very light tap on the nose, and NAUGHTY GIRL. Once she was in my arms I would give her a cuddle, and pet her and say GOOD GIRL, and then put her in her basket and pet some more. It has worked for me, she still growls a little, but has stopped snapping, Istill say NO, naughty girl, when she does. But it is getting much better - thank God. It was almost at the stage that I felt I needed a stiff drink before I embarked on the whole going to bed process. She liked what she was doing, laying on her cushion and did not want to be disturbed, and let me know in no uncertain terms. I had suggestions like picking her up by the back of the neck, like mother dogs do - she weighs 10.5lbs so that was not an option, besides no matter where I touched her, other than rubbing her tummy and petting, she would snap. I hope this helps - Good Luck. Jan
J. Palmer

My trainer has us hold our Maltese against our chest with their backs to our chest and growl at her when she has any unexceptionable behavior. They stop when hearing the grumble in your chest. Due to the Maltese being so small it doesn't have a big effect rolling.
Tracey W

My 2 boys are angels, no problem picking them up - except Diesel who flips over onto his back (submissive behaviour i think) but even then, will stay in that position and allow me to scoop him up. HOWEVER, my brother's malt, MOMA is a crazy woman. She doesn't like to be touched almost everywhere on her body. I don't know if it's a game for her, but she does like being picked up. She is choosey however, and if she's already comfy on her blankie, best leave her alone, she'll mosey over to the bedroom herself when she's good and ready. What's really "funny" is that she's supersensitive about being touching (i mean even the lightest lightest tap) on her rear end or her paws. You cannot examine her nails without her growling and giving you serious warning. However, when she bites, she's careful not to actually hurt you, just a warning on her part. The rear end however, is a totally different story. To prove it to me, my brother snuck up behind her as she was walking and tapped her lightly on her rear end - to which she responded, by literally flying in the air and flipping 180 degrees, growling and snapping at him all at the same time. It's really funny, she's quite aggressive, but most of it is in fun. she loves games where she has a treat and wants you to pretend you're going to steal it from her. If you dono't play with her, she'll pick up the treat, walk over to you and place it right in front of you and sit there and wait for you to move. Hilarious and goofy.
btd

BDT: I hope your brother has had or will have his malt checked by a vet about the sensitive rear end. She could have something as simple as an anal gland impaction. Or...it could be that he's encouraged her aggressive behavior by laughing or otherwise showing approval when she displays her bad temper. At any rate, I hope she never ends up in the pound for hurting someone.
anneh

Oh no, my brother and his wife couldn't live without their MOMA. He has brought her in several times for anal glands squeezing. It's an unpleasant thing to do for us, so he takes her to the vet. She occassionally gets into our of her "sccoting" episodes, at which point, if it continues, he will bring her in. Although aggressive and definitely the "leader of the pack" of her family, she's not harmful. She likes to play aggressively (which yes, my brother does encourage) - but she never actually bit anyone. Instead she tends to go after the air next to you. Wait, i remember one time, he told me she did make contact with him (not bleeding) and when he yelled out "ouch" - she was very aware that she made contact and expressed herself very apologetically. She was in no way reprimanded for this action, since as i see it, it was his fault for provoking her. For her, it's a game she loves to play, whethor it's for snacks or for a stuffed toy. If you don't play with her - she'll just sit in front of you and keep nudging the toy until you pick it up and start playing with her. She's a wonderful dog and they treat her better than they treat each other (just kidding,....no, really). She's highly adored by the entire family,...along with my boys. But thanks so much for your concern.
BTD

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