Biting!

As well as Alfie is doing in others areas, his playful biting has got worse. I have tried telling him "no" and turning my back on him but this seems to excite him and he bites the back of my knees (which is getting to the point of bruising now ) I have also tried walking away but he just follows biting at my heels. Any other ideas which I can try?

Try a loud NO followed by locking in a room on his own for a while?

Paul H wrote:Try a loud NO followed by locking in a room on his own for a while?

My "no"'s have got louder but this just seems to egg him on, I cant lock him anywhere as the downstairs of my house is all open plan

Can you put him outside? Or maybe chain him to something with his lead?

It's more of a firm tone you should use than a loud tone. Volume, aggression or frustration will make him excited and make his probs worse.

My "no" works with some things, eg when he starts chewing my hair brush lol but when hes that excited and biting it has no effect whatsoever

Sounds just like how Katy can get. She will leap at me off the sofa. I give her time out in another room but sometimes that doesn't work! I have found a spray water bottle can do the trick, she only needs to see me reach for it & she will calm down. Or you could try a can with stones in it & shake it the noise should disract him. It gets so frustrating having to keep saying NO but they get there eventually. Keep it up

Logan is a bit a terror with my Dad because he doesn't seem to know how to correct him, which is strange as he's always had dogs. You have to remain calm, never shout, but speak in a firm voice. Putting him in another room for a few minutes tops would help too.

I wouldnt chain him outside or spray/shake a bottle of stones. The behaviour isnt wanted but he is being happy just a bit over exuberant. You want to keep this willingness and spirit in him as it helps to keep him interested if u want to do more training later on. The best thing ro do would be to buy a cheap stairgate and when he starts biting to put him behind it away from u. This will remove him from the situation over exciting situation bringing his levels back down. Once he has calmed down you can let him back with you. But if hes naughty again calmy put him behind the gate. He will soon realise that biting just means he gets taken away from you!

Nosipho wrote:I wouldnt chain him outside or spray/shake a bottle of stones. The behaviour isnt wanted but he is being happy just a bit over exuberant. You want to keep this willingness and spirit in him as it helps to keep him interested if u want to do more training later on. The best thing ro do would be to buy a cheap stairgate and when he starts biting to put him behind it away from u. This will remove him from the situation over exciting situation bringing his levels back down. Once he has calmed down you can let him back with you. But if hes naughty again calmy put him behind the gate. He will soon realise that biting just means he gets taken away from you!

Thank you - I do have a stairgate but he can jump over it so this wont work lol!

Nosipho wrote:I wouldnt chain him outside or spray/shake a bottle of stones. The behaviour isnt wanted but he is being happy just a bit over exuberant. You want to keep this willingness and spirit in him as it helps to keep him interested if u want to do more training later on. The best thing ro do would be to buy a cheap stairgate and when he starts biting to put him behind it away from u. This will remove him from the situation over exciting situation bringing his levels back down. Once he has calmed down you can let him back with you. But if hes naughty again calmy put him behind the gate. He will soon realise that biting just means he gets taken away from you!

Agreed and here is a link that might help

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/stop_your_staffy_puppy_biting

Lc's (Nosipho) comment is totally bang on the mark!

I missed the part about chaining up. Please don't don't that.

MatLogan wrote:Lc's (Nosipho) comment is totally bang on the mark!

I missed the part about chaining up. Please don't don't that.

I wouldnt do that Id feel awful - you know how much of a sap I am with him

Good advice Nosipho
I haven't experienced this at home myself , but growing up in boarding kennels I often found jack russels to be extra playful with their mouths . So maybe it is the jrt in him

Have you tried smearing yourself with peanut butter and gravy?

No wait, that's not right....

Paul H wrote:Have you tried smearing yourself with peanut butter and gravy?

No wait, that's not right....

EllieSmith wrote:My "no" works with some things, eg when he starts chewing my hair brush lol but when hes that excited and biting it has no effect whatsoever

When he's excitable, the 'no' probably sounds like a playful bark to him, which would make him more excitable I made a high-pitched yelping sound whenever Loki bit me, and it helped (eventually!). Now he still bites when excited, but I've gotten to a point where it's nowhere near as painful, and I can say 'no' instead of yelping now. Maybe try that? And if he continues biting, put him in another room on his own for a little while. Not long, only like a minute or so.

Yes Yelping definitely worked for me, try that, daisy knows she's been too rough when I do that and gets upset!!