>>I have a 10 month BC that has a temperment problem and hope someone can answer some questions for me.
>>She bit me 3 times when there were other dogs around (only when she’s on a leash)
>>If she’s off the leash, she will just bark and play with them.
>>She was actually foaming at the mouth and jumping going crazy wanting to get that other dog.
>>She also walks around whining ALL the time non stop. We are always playing with her and throwing the ball for her and letting her run but the minute we stop, she starts whining again. Is that from being spoiled???
>>We took her to training classes and tried different collars and that did not seem to help.
>>I am taking her back to classes to try and break her of this habit before she bites someone
>>Else.
>>Is there anything I can do to help her ?
>>Do all BC’s act this way when they are young? Will she grow out of it?
>>
>>Please, any info will be appreciated!
>>
This sounds like redirected aggression when the dog is on leash, overstimulated, and turns and bites at you out of frustration at the restraint. Try a head halter (have a private lesson to learn how to use it safely). I like the Halti, because if you train yourself and your dog to loose-leash handling. The tightening of the Halti when your dog lunges or you lift your hand holding the leash higher than the dog's head will close the dog's mouth, painlessly. This avoids arousing the dog even further, and helps her learn to control her impulses better.
Lots and lots of good training is needed with a dog this high-powered. Biting you is certainly not a good sign. You need to work on bite inhibition with her. A good trainer or behavior specialist can help you with this. I teach my dogs a positive command of "Close Your Mouth," with gentle, upbeat, but firm and very consistent handling. Over time--it takes several months or longer to be near 100% inhibition--they learn to never put teeth on human skin at all. This type of conditioning avoids the risk of making the dog worse that can happen when you use harsh corrections to stop the mouthing/biting.
A pinch collar in particular is not a good idea with a dog who behaves this way. It aggravates the defense drives and at the same time does not allow you to stop her from biting. You need a more calming training collar with a dog like this. I'd put her in a head halter for awhile, starting very soon. You might not always need it, but using it sooner rather than later, and using it for as long as necessary to get the bad habits to fade, is your best bet. Do not jerk on the leash when a dog is wearing a head halter, and do not use a long line with a head halter. It can put a powerful whiplash action on the neck.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com
