Re: Biting and barking

In Reply to: Biting and barking
Category:   Aggression
Posted by:  roberta lai
Posted on:  February 26, 2002 at 13:00:29

: Hello,

: I've recently purchased a female Jack Russell puppy who is only 8 weeks old and it is only her 4th day home.

: She's adorable and wonderful, but sometimes her biting is too rough and I worry that she will not know her own strength. I know she is still teething, but when she does bite, I think she thinks we are playing and doesn't stop. I've hit her across the month when that happens and say, "NO!" but lately, she's been snapping back and trying to fight back. I then give her time-outs for a minute or 2, where she constantly whines since she doesn't like to be left alone in a room.

: When I come back, I'm not sure what to do next. pet her to make she sure is okay, or just ignore her?

:
: This is my first puppy and sometimes her biting scares me. I just enrolled her in puppy school and will start in the next 2 weeks.

: Thanks for your help.

Response:

Hi Roberta,

Repeat after me..."Never hit my dog" "Never hit my dog"

The reason your pup is snapping back is this breed will not tolerate mishandling. Aggression on your part will bring out aggression in your dog.

Time outs are great for this problem. Make sure it's in a puppy-proofed room and don't cave in. Let her sit there and think about things for about 5 minutes. As long as you know she is fine don't go in there to check on her, wait the alloted time and then let her out.

You must be consistent. Every time she nips or bites, off she goes! If you miss even one time in correcting her this way, you will have taken 10 steps backwards.

Don't be scared about the biting this is how puppies explore their boundaries. If you show her biting and nipping only brings her a stop to the fun and isolation so will eventually understand that biting and nipping is not appropriate.