Dear Biting: Biting or “mouthing” is normal behavior for puppies and because they don’t have hands to explore with they use their mouths. While you can’t stop this behavior you can teach the puppy “bite inhibition” which lets him know when he is being too rough. It is best to teach this before the pup is four months old, so you better hurry up!

A Big Game

You must step in and take the role of “pack leader” to teach the pup that his boisterous playing and nipping is now unacceptable behavior.

Since biting is a game you must learn the rules of the game. Puppies learn from experience. We cannot train them to understand when biting is too much. This natural learning comes from seeing what the “reaction” is to the object they are biting. A startling yelp from mother says “too hard, knock it off.”

Leader of the Pack

Let’s say he comes up to you and nips at your ankle. It hurts! Let out a loud “ouch” directed at him. If he comes back for another nip, yell “ouch” even louder. Make an impression that you are unhappy. If he comes back for a third nip, simply walk away and ignore him. If he is nipping at your fingers try folding your arms. This will signal him that “If you can’t play nice, we won’t play at all.”

If your pup is persistent and comes back again for a nip, this time grab him by the scruff of his neck and give him a little shake and a firm “No.” If he returns again, grab that scruff and give him a firmer shake. If he still doesn’t get a clue and comes back once more (remember this a game to him) grab him and hold him until he shows a sign of submission, such as ears back, a relaxed body or just being still for a few moments. The pup may squirm and shriek at the prospect of being held, but you must not give in to his objections. Just wait it out and he will settle. When all is calm, release him and tell him he is a good boy. He will test your limits so be prepared.

 

Dear Lisa: I am the proud mother a female five-year-old Chow/Lab mix and a 2 year old male Boxer. Both my husband and I work and they spend the day together alone. The Boxer has decided that any pillow, couch, bed, blanket, clothing etc. is the best chew toy in the world and one day he dug a hole in the center of the mattress on our bed. Within a few days he had destroyed the couch cushion as well. Of course we can’t catch him since he only does it when we’re not home so it’s very difficult to correct him. I believe if we crate trained them he would be much better. My husband is adamant that we not crate train. He thinks it cruel to leave them locked up like they are in prison. How do we stop our child’s bad behavior? – Boxer Battles Boredom

 

Dear Boredom: First, how do you know it’s the Boxer who is bad if you’re not home to see it? And second, putting a dog in a crate for his own safety and for your own financial well being is not cruel, letting him destroy your furniture, eat dangerous materials that might require expensive surgery when his digestive tract gets a blockage is cruel.

Crate Training

Do yourself a favor and put each dog in their own crate. Set them up side by side so they can see each other for company. Or, you can purchase a large ex-pen – sort of a playpen for dogs –and leave them in there if your husband won’t allow the crates. This way they are safe yet not confined to a smaller area.

Also, it sounds like one of your dogs may be developing separation anxiety. and is destroying items when it kicks in. You may want to connect a behaviorist for a consultation visit to know what signs to look for.

Identification

If you really want to catch the real culprit, you may have to either install a video camera or look in the window and monitor a “planned” trip to see what happens. Once the destructive behavior beings, step in to stop it so the dog won’t eat anything bad. Once you have identified the instigator of destruction, you can see if it is only one dog or if the other one also joins in just for fun.

              

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Director of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.