How Do We Stop The Nipping Madness??

[Tasia Lung]

As a brand new puppy with those sharp little teeth Maggie was a total vampire. My arms were scarred and marked, but she was so stinking cute, how could I be upset? This attitude I'm afraid has led to a 70 pounds year and a half old vampire! She doesn't really bite and it doesn't actually hurt, but her first instinct is to put your hand/arm in her mouth......it's sooo annoying...especially for strangers and ppl that may not love her like her mom and dad.  We've tried everything from a simple "No" with a stern face to (at my vets recommendation) biting her back (gently of course) which actually helped for awhile, but Im sorry Im not going to walk around biting my puppy.  Any other ideas?!?!

[Leslie & Axl Sacks]

Same problem with Axl.  When you find a solution PLEASE let me know.  I'm the only one he does it to.  He wears his collar for the electric fence inside the house sometimes but the remote to beep him or possibly "zap" him is NEVER handy when the situation arises. 

[Adina P]

You mean you literally put your mouth on your puppy and bit her?  The vision of that makes me laugh and imagine a lot of fur in your mouth.  I don't think that will work ANYWHERE near as well as it would if you were a dog...your reflexes simply aren't fast enough and your jaw not nearly as strong. 

I think you have to respond as though it was a HUUUUGE offense and something that can NEVER EVER happen again. 

But first, the thing that makes the BIGGEST difference long term in a dog-person relationship is obedience training.  Unless she has had quite a bit of obedience training and you have the mutual trust AND respect that brings, you won't get as far because a firm NO or firm correction won't be as meaningful to her.  I would start there and in the meantime be ready to grab that muzzle and SQUEEZE hard with a loud NO when she mouths you or anyone.  If you're not willing to do that, then what the 'positive only' type training usually recommends is to scream loudly like she just mauled you and turn your back to her.  Make her think she SERIOUSLY just hurt you.

By the way she is adorable =)

[Tasia Lung]

Adina.......yep....they told me to bite down on her floppy ear. Of course I didn't do it hard enough to hurt her at all, I suppose it was just the response that was supposed to startle her into submission, but eventually I think even she found it hilarious....lol. I think you're right about the respect thing.  I've never been much of a disciplinarian....shes too darn cute...Jason has warned me time and again that she will walk all over me and she does.  I know I need to establish that I'm the boss, but I struggle with being firm with her. I will try harder because it's not cute to have a big unruly puppy....:(

Leslie........had we found a male doodle, we were totally going to name it Axl....I love it. If I find anything that helps with the nipping I'll let you know, but it seems like we're going to have to be the boss when it comes to these cutie pies. 

[Adina P]

Discipline doesn't mean MEANNESS :) It just means establishing rules, rewards for doing right and consequences for doing wrong. When a dog understands the consequences and that she has control over whether she earns that or rewards...then SHE is choosing not you. If she knowingly breaks a rule with an understanding of the consequences then she has CHOSEN the consequence so you shouldn't feel bad about implementing it consistently. It is INconsistency that is mean because then the dog feels like she has no control over her life because sometimes undesireable things happen and sometimes they do not for the same choice and it is all random.