View Full Version : Puppy biting
Gardenarian
1-31-16, 1:30am
My 4.5 month old border collie is teething and chews on anything she can find. We let her lick our finger but if she starts gnawing we YELP loudly and back away, ignoring her.
This evening I was sitting on the sofa when she just bounded up and bit me, hard, on the nose (drawing bood.) I didn't think; I just smacked her on the rump and shoved her away. I feel so guilty for hitting her! She just got on the floor and started chewing her bully stick but I feel terrible.
I've had Italian Greyhounds for the past 25 years and if you even raise your voice they get anxious. I can't believe I just swatted her that way. The dog trainer said to never do that.
I'm giving her lots of belly rubs but keep thinking she'll always remember me as the one who smacked her. :(
That was an honest impulse on your part--I wouldn't feel guilty about it. I definitely don't feel you did her any psychological harm--and she may have learned something from the experience! Chances are she'll learn quickly--border collies are extremely smart.
I remember how frustrating the puppy stages were when we were training our border collie mix, but frankly, she was very good at reading our emotions and she got in line sooner than I expected her to.
Border Collies are a herding breed so nipping things is highly instinctual. I have two Australian Shepherds and an Australian Cattle Dog so I'm quite familiar with this behavior. My dogs play rough with each other -- chasing each other, nipping each other, etc. Every now and then, they forget they aren't allowed to do the same with their humans and have to be corrected. I suspect a single smack on the rump won't impact your puppy negatively. Keep her a job to do regularly and I suspect you'll be just fine in your human-dog relationship!
I reacted likewise back in the day when my nursing baby bit me. He never did it again. It was an instinctual reaction and I felt bad for scaring him. But it worked. :)
I keep thinking about how mama dog would have reacted. If she had been bitten, she would have snapped back just as you did. Let it go. You need boundaries for pets and that response sometimes is needed. Biting your or anyone's nose is absolutely unacceptable and puppy better learn that fast.
My husband was bit by our cat once when the cat was in a rage about another cat on the other side of the door. Husband on instinct bit the cat on the ear and did not let go until the cat let go of his hand. Worked and the cat never ever bit him again. Did not hurt him(draw blood or anything).
iris lilies
1-31-16, 10:09pm
OP, I'm sure you did the right thing. I remember someone in my bulldog club who was very good with her dogs saying "Winston got snotty with me and nipped my nose, so I bit him back--harder." and Winston never bit her again.
Gardenarian
2-4-16, 2:23am
Oh, thanks so much for your replies!
She did seem to get over it very quickly, no lasting damage.
My nose recovered too :)
awakenedsoul
2-4-16, 8:46pm
In your post you said that you yelp and back away if she gnaws on your finger. To me, that's giving her the message that she's the pack leader. I would look her right in the eye, growl, and take command. I've also found it helpful to roll the dog on her back, make eye contact and correct her, strongly.
my parents adopted a pretty unsocialized 1 yr old Pit. The dog was so freaking strong, i could not walk him without being dragged down the street on my belly, lol. He was super energetic and would nip to get you to play but it wasn't like a nip from a regular dog, it hurt, he loved to roughhouse but he hurt people without meaning to. It was clear training was in order and fast. The trainer had him trained in 3 sessions, I don't remember a lot of it, but my dad needed to become the pack leader, if he misbehaved or bit too hard they had to squirt him a bit in the face with a water bottle, and judicious use of treats for good behavior. The water bottle (I hated that, thought it was too mean) worked like a charm. Eventually you'd pick it up and he would immediately cease the behavior. His favorite playmate was my 8 lb brain damaged mini-dachshund but I'd have to squirt him because he would carry Mitch around in his mouth like he was a toy. Mitch loved it. It was cute when they got tired and this teeny dog would curl up under Sam's neck and they would snooze.
too much caffeine, sorry, bottom line- water bottle worked, lol
Gardenarian
2-5-16, 2:17pm
We're starting training in a couple of week. I know I need it! I actually pulled a muscle in my back yesterday because she was tugging at the leash so hard.
(To be fair, she's generally excellent on the leash. There were 2 squirrels dancing on the sidewalk in front of us.)
We're starting training in a couple of week. I know I need it! I actually pulled a muscle in my back yesterday because she was tugging at the leash so hard.
(To be fair, she's generally excellent on the leash. There were 2 squirrels dancing on the sidewalk in front of us.)
Good call! Border collies are smart and will respond well to training.
My dog is a border collie/lab mix and has a number of border collie attributes, and I adore her. She's so smart and fun to play with. And when I walk her I do have to be firm with her when it comes to squirrels and bikes. She used to try to herd the cars that were driving out of the neighborhood in the morning until she realized it was a lost cause.
A marrow bone every day is real calming, as is the chance to run hard and to play with other puppies.
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