Molly BIT AGAIN

[Jill and Molly]

Well I thought we were turning the corner, and I think I am wrong. Molly has somewhat slowed down on the nipping, but it is still definitely present. Just last week she backed me in the corner(I was making lunches) and she just started barking and jumping at me with mouth open and wanting to bite. I will admit I was nervous. Now tonight my husband and son went in the basement to play ping pong and they took Molly with. They did also bring some of her toys with. Everything was going well. Then out of nowhere Molly, lunged at my son and jumped on him and BIT him in the butt. Then she kept coming at him with mouth open. My husband reached her and grabbed her and took her out of the situation. My son was crying. One because it hurt, and two because I honestly is hurt with his feelings toward her. He so desperately wanted a friend to follow him and be loyal. And she is NOT! We are in school and she is doing ok. SHe is very smart. But at home she CONSTANTLY jumps on my kitchen cabinets, and also jumps up toward my kitchen table. I tell her no so many times I feel like a broken record. When you are sitting at my kitchen table she jumps up in between your legs and I swear she is gonna bite you in a spot that isn't appropriate. She just bites!!!!! I NEED HELP!!! I really don't know what to do. She will be 14 weeks on Friday and if this doesn't stop with the biting us, she can't be a part of our family. And that breaks my heart. I am not a quitter! I can handle the jumping on cabinets because I pray that that will cease one day but this biting just not so sure of. My husband and i were both raised with dogs and this behavior is very UNLIKE the puppy behavior we experienced. PLEASE ADVICE NEEDED!!! And when she sees us she is so happy, but within minutes of us petting her she bites. We have a calm house, we are a loving family, this just doesn't mesh with our personalities!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I think molly is biting for attention.  She is only 14 weeks old and needs lots of training and attention and a whole lot less freedom.  Here are some positive ideas that usually work.

If you cannot pay attention to her at least some, crate her.  When she is not in her crate, put her on a ten to fifteen foot line.  Go to Home Depot or similar and buy fifty feet of thin tough cording and three snaps.  Make three lines.  When she is out of the crate she is on a line

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Hmmm ... the rest of my reply did not appear.  But you are getting good advice.

 

Molly should always be on a line of in her crate.  She needs less freedom.  The line will help you keep her under control.  A sharp tug as she jumps up - on the counter, to bite etc accompanied with no tells her what that "no' means.

The ping pong game was disaster in the making in you just think about it.  Bouncing ball, moving people, noise - "its a game" thinks Molly, "I want in on it".  Unless you are actively playing with her on her line or she is asleep or playing with a toy, on her line, put her in her crate.  Play lots with her in short bursts of 10-15 minutes, then give her a toy ro play by herself for a short while, then crate her.  If you have given her time, then you won't and shouldn't feel guilty about crating her.

Encourage your son to keep her near him with the line.  Teach him how to play with her, this will bond her to him as he desires.  Good dogs are made, not born.

 

 

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Maryann - love the comment "good dogs are made, not born" - so, so, so true.

[Jill and Molly]

You might be right about the ping pong playing. But we can't stop our life as a family either. So I guess next time leave her upstairs in her crate barking...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

That is exactly what I would do.....she'll stop barking when she realizes it doesn't get her what she wants.

[Adina P]

Hi Jill,

Your Molly sounds A LOT like my Rosco at that age, except he ONLY bit me.  Granted I didn't have children at the time, but when he bit me he left bruises.  And he would get into a biting mood seemingly randomly.  None of the typical stuff worked on him.  He would just get in these moods and that was his way of having fun.  I'm fairly well convinced that it was my concerted effort in obedience training that did the trick.  Keep in mind, though, that I didn't get serious until he was nearly 1 year old.  It was about at the year mark that I suddenly noticed he'd quit biting me!  It also helped that a few months prior I married my husband who had another young dog that allowed him to get his wrestle on =)

In any case I think Molly's behavior IS fixable but you'll have to make her life like boot camp every day.  She doesn't naturally make good decisions yet so you need to make these decisions for her.  If she has enough freedom to jump on counters without much of a consequence for doing so.  She has shown you that the word 'NO' isn't much of a deterrent to her ... you might as well yell "JUMP" for all the good it does.  She needs to be kept on leash and you need to give a firm jerk on her leash when she attempts jumping along with that "NO".  If she continues, march her to her crate for a break and let her out again later. 

When you are eating dinner, crate her or leash her to some piece of unmovable furniture close enough so she can feel near but far enough so she can't reach any humans to bite. 

I think if you are willing to put in some serious work into her you can come out of this with a wonderful dog.  But she might be very trying in the meantime...especially since it seems she scares you too. 

[Adina P]

P.S. Have you brought up this behavior to the trainer in your classes?  Does she take it seriously?  If she does not or isn't helpful or doesn't seem to understand the desperation and your immediate need of some help, maybe you need a different trainer.  One thing to look forward to is that there will come a time when she's a bit more solid in her obedience (not yet) and even if she still feels like jumping and biting you will have trained her well enough so you can tell her "Molly SIT" when she gets in that mood.  Then she will sit.  Then you can praise her.  She's not got enough self-control yet to be able to sit on command in the middle of a mood...but she will in a couple months if you work hard on her obedience.  Then gradually through that hard work where you demand a lot from her and show her you in turn are trustworthy and consistent...THEN she will start to respect you so that your 'NO' is meaningful to her and she just doesn't want to go there with you.  But that comes with time and hard work.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I had similar problems with bruises and nipping. Fortunately, When Luca was about 6 months old he started classes and I learned some ways to handle these episodes.

[Jill and Molly]

I was just now in the kitchen. I played ball with her for a half hour, then let her outside to run the yard for about 15 minutes. Then I sat at the kitchen table and did Valentine Cards. to which she jumped up under the table putting her head where it doesn't belong and bit me. This is crazy. I honestly just got through crying. I am just so fed up. My son wouldn't go near her today, I heard the boys next door say she kind of mean. And you are right when I say no it means nothing to her. I have even held her mouth and said no to which it means nothing as well. My last dog was so good, NEVER bit anyone, not even playing she would release. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My thought is that as soon as she came back inside she should have been crated.  She got her playtime and exercise...then it was time for her to just "chill". 

[BG and Gavin]

I can feel the frustration in your post.  She is giving you a very hard time - no doubt about it.  Please try the suggestions given and give it some time.  I know it is hard work, but give it time to change.  Explain to your son that she is a baby and needs to learn her manners.  I am sorry she made you cry. :(

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Part of this problem is that Molly is just a baby and it is normal for them to bite and jump etc, but with training and time, they will improve.  In addition to Maryann's suggestion, you need to NOT accept bad behavior - I mean that you need to correct her (your NO's may not be firm enough in tone).  I would say NO and remove her from whatever it is each and every time.  If you take the time (I know this is immense right now), you will be able to get across to her what is acceptable.  Our site creator, Adina's huge red doodle, Rosco, was a real biter. If she doesn't pop in her with a suggestion or two from her experiences with Rosco, go to her page and ask her what she did that helped.