>>Hi all, just wanted to say hello. I'm happy to find a web forum that likes doxies! My wife and I have a 12 week old mini-doxie named Bailey. She is the love of our lives. But she can be a stinker! She loves to bite, and when she gets really wound up--she bites our hands! And sometimes really hard. We tell her no, and give her a toy to chew on. But sometimes she snaps at our fingers. I think she thinks we are playing with her--but I'm not sure how to correct this behavior. Could anyone give us tips?
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>>Also, she jumps at our faces too. If she is sitting on the couch, she sometimes jumps up and snaps at our faces! I'm not sure why she does this, but I think it is just more play. What steps can be taken to correct this--or is it just puppy nature?
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>>Thanks everyone!
>>Katie and Gabe
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>>PS here are some pictures of her on Christmas day. I need to upload the latest ones.
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I work on the teeth-on-human-skin problem over a period of time rather than looking for a quick fix. This seems to result in the best effects on the dog's temperament. Several things help. One, don't yank your hand away--let it go limp. That stops the stimulation to the dog's instinct that makes the grabbing happen in the first place.
Making a sharp "Ouch!" sound works with some dogs. Follow that by no play for a few minutes. That's what another dog would do. No hitting, no yelling, just a brief time out. It's fine to direct the dog to her own toys during the time you do not play with her, but don't jerk the toys around for her--she's on her own because she put her teeth on you.
I also teach my dogs to let me handle their mouths, gently holding the mouth shut for 15 seconds. I work up to this over time, starting with just a second or two. It's gentle and it is started at quiet times. It is not a punishment. I pair it with the words "Close Your Mouth," and PRAISE. I also encourage the dog to "kiss" me WHILE I'm restraining the mouth with my hand. This is a gentle, pleasant few seconds, not a struggle. The end result is that my dogs learn not to put teeth on humans, and to lick or show affection in other ways instead.
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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
