Aggressive Biting? :X
Toby has been more than just nippy lately. If he doesn't get his way, I put him on the leash in the house and restrain him from going anywhere, and then he usually mauls on my leg and feet and once he gets free, he jumps up and bites my hands like crazy. Or he has a fit and rolls around on the floor yelping and trying to aim and bite me. Hes been good for a few days, but a over the last weekend, he spazzed out and bit me so hard I was bleeding in 8 places on my hand. I noticed once I took him for his walk, and ran around with him outside, he was a little more calm for the night, but he really hates when I restrain him, or touch him in places he doesn't like ( tail, paws, belly, back ).
Whats a good way to deal with this behavior? Is it common in Shibas? I know they can be aggressive, but i've been doing using lots of dominance techniques against him and it doesn't seem to be working. I don't want him to go into his 4 mos old stage and be afraid of me, or make a habit out of this.
I want to curb this behavior right away. Suggestions?
Comments
Hmm...thats not good that he's biting you so hard it makes you bleed. First off, I would suggest to make a loud "OUCH" when he attempts to bite you. This should startle him and make him stop. Do you know how old he was when he was taken from his mother/siblings? If he was taken away too early, it could be possible that he just doesn't know how much is too much.
I would really use constant training to get him used to being touched in area's he doesn't like. I would use positive reinforcement for this. Example, pretend you are giving him an exam, like a vet would do. Go slow, especially if he really dislikes being touched in a certain area. I would check his paws and give him a treat just for letting you touch for a couple seconds. touch his back, treat him, touch his belly, treat him, etc. When he starts to get used to it, you can do it for longer periods of time and then treat him. This will make him see this as a positive experience. This is also good because im sure he will be at the vet to get exams, so its always nice when he can just stand there and take it without a problem...im sure you vet will appreciate it as well.
I wouldn't restrain him with a leash. That could make him see the leash as a bad thing. If you haven't mastered the basic commands of "sit, down, lay, leave it" I would start training him. If he is doing something you don't like, I would say "leave it" in a firm voice and then tell him to do a down or sit and then praise him for doing it. You should really just try to re-direct him. Keeping him restrained will only make him want to do the bad thing more.
Like most cases, you won't see instant results. But the more consistant you are, the faster he'll learn and obey.
Good Luck!
I always used the 'oooo' or 'ouch' technique with Jake when he bit me with those little sharp puppy teeth. Today, he doesn't bite. Seems to me that Toby's escalation of drawing blood would require a good slap on the muzzle to divert the behavior. Of course, that may just be my auto reflex.
I think all dogs react to sounds and just the tone of our voice projects our intention, i.e., if I try to get Jake's attention "where are you?" in a baby voice I am sometimes ignored. It just can't be that urgent. I can ask the same question "where are you?" in a distressful way and he's right at my feet. In my baby voice Jake will roll over, lay forever as I rub his belly, neck, chest, feet, nose, ears, while I tell him he's getting 'muscle massages'. In a distressed or angry tone, Jake's gonna run and I'm not gonna catch him.
Shibas have limits just as we do and we have to learn each other's limits without breaking the spirit of them or ourselves.
Step back, take a deep breath, and do not allow Toby to draw blood again.
About these spots where you were bleeding? Were they deep puncture wounds or more like scrapes? I ask because young puppies have razor sharp teeth and sometimes bites from them will cause bleeding, even if they aren't a hard bite. I think it's important to figure out if this is truly aggressive behavior, or just an only puppy who is trying to use you as his playmate, and playing inappropriately or in an overly assertive manner.
By restraining him on the leash, do you mean that you just put him on the leash and make him stay by you when he is being naughty? That is not a bad thing to do at all, as it helps you keep an eye on your dog and puts you right there for correction.
If you are playing with him and he is biting you can yelp at him, or you can turn your back and walk away, stopping the play session. You can also try replacing your hand with an appropriate toy when he is getting nippy. As you noticed when you take him outside and tire him out, he is going to behave better at night. Puppies need a lot of exercise.
I wouldn't yell a word. I yelp/squel, very loudly, like his littermates would. As Romi stated, this should be loud enough to startle Toby. If he doesn't respond and try to keep nipping, turn around, fold your arms and ignore him. If he tries to get your attention again, turn around (in the same spot) and keep continuing until he stops.
Be consistent with this. EVERY time he tries to nip, repeat. If he tries to nip other people. Show them this technique. He'll get the message eventually.
Alright lets see here. Lots of respondings. c___c; Hmm.
Well, we got him around 9 weeks old, I believe. Toby only had one other brother. As for what he knows, he knows sit, stay, down, come, and my release word. The only reason i'm restraining him to laying down beside me with his leash is that my friend also owns a Shiba and she said that it really worked for her and her dog is absolutely obedient.
Where he bit me, they are scrapes for the most part, but you can tell that he bit me pretty good.
The scratches are all over both my hands and have scabbed. I feel like he is trying to be somewhat assertive, though. Hes launching, jumping at me, and screaming when he does it. Also when hes mad, he usually tries to dart through the door openings/stairways before me, but I go back and correct him so he knows his place.
Hmm. I'll try all these suggestions, though. I'd like him to behave a little more. My parents are just getting overly sick of his biting, but its hard to reinforce when I go off to work and my parents know absolutely nothing about training him, even though I tell them all the time what to do.
I'll tire him out a lot more tonight, and see how it goes. Since he is crated during the day, i'm sure he gets lots of energy to burn off and gets frustrated when no one wants to play with him. I do take him for a nice long walk, too.
How old is he now and how long is your walk in the am?
dogs are walked for at least 45 mins in the AM with lots of hills then
they get crated or are alone in house to sleep all day, then after
dinner they get about an hour to walk. Its just better overall with
their temperment and energy levels stay in check!