Dutch Shepherd Forum

Scenerio:
Odin on leash in living room with us. He is chewing on his goughnut and I am sitting on floor watching tv. He stops chewing on toy,comes up to me playful and i pet him. Before I knew it he bites me on the side of my breast - OUCH!! It was a firm clamp bite. I yelled ow because it hurt and he let go. I got up and he did it again on my thigh. It was all play, but still. I was so taken aback, i did not know what to do that we put him to bed in his crate. No bite mark damage. The whole thing happened so fast and I did not expect this at all. He has only nibble groomed me in the past. I need a

All play is still a test of limits. Likely, he really is just playing with you, but any show of hesitation or fear will be taken advantage of. I think putting him to bed was a great idea. But IF it happens again (and I hope that it never does), I would sharply say NO and put him up rather gruffly...making sure he knows that he is in trouble. Inappropriate interaction results in social isolation.

Thanks for your input Christie. Your advice is appreciated and will keep it in mind if it happens again. He is very playful and starting to feel at home now, so the honeymoon is nearing its end.

Also, remember the black/white thing (as in everything has to be)...nibbling shouldn't be allowed, either, as it's on the same continuum; it's all mouthing behavior.

One of my favorite old-timer's sayings that I never forget: Never do once what you don't want to do twice.

Yup...honeymoon is definitely over<g>

Merlin bit me once when I first got him too, I put him in his crate and it was heartbreaking to him. He hasn't bit me again since then. Hopefully you putting him up so quickly made him realize that you were upset with him.

Went through it with Sadie too, nip it in the bud early !

Me too and it did not go very well for her. She also was isolated. and not treated all lovey for a bit afterwords as well (guilt trips are part of my southern heritage). It definitely made her think and it did make plain my need to draw a line and not let her put a toe over it...

Looks like you are getting some good advice and are on the right track. Have you started formal OB training yet? I think you said you have a trainer if I remember correctly. Make sure you establish all rules and boundaries in and outside the home and not just nipping/mouthing. OB before petting, food, inside, outside, leash on you name it.

I let my dogs play bite or mouth me, they usually just grab or nibble on clothing, but if they ever get me hard enough that it hurts that's a major no no and they know the fun immediately stops and they're in poo poo.

It's possible he just doesn't have the bite inhibition and what was meant as a playful nip came out much harder then it should have. With some dogs yelping/screaming helps, with some it only gets them more amped up, with some a simple light smack might do the trick, or just a time out.. all depends on the dog.

whk9k9 wrote:Looks like you are getting some good advice and are on the right track. Have you started formal OB training yet? I think you said you have a trainer if I remember correctly. Make sure you establish all rules and boundaries in and outside the home and not just nipping/mouthing. OB before petting, food, inside, outside, leash on you name it.

Hi Trudy,
Yes, you are correct; we have a master trainer that specializes in k9 protection and ob, among other things. We plan to use him in the near future for Odin. In the meantime, we are focusing on the basics with him and keeping him in a structured environment, which he is responding well to. Someone has clearly spent time training him because he knows all the basic commands and responds well to direction. He’s just a bit rusty and that’s what we are focusing on.

We cannot believe how lucky we are that we got such a great dog!!

Awesome to hear. Keep up the good work!

sounds like he is just testing his boundries Good advice was already given, I would stick with that