Stop a puppy from nipping?

[JeremyCampbell]

I know this is a hunting dog forum but if anyone can give me an answer, my guess it would be you guys,since your training dogs and all.My mom and her boyfriend just brought a four month old schnouser in there home.My mom says the dog is constantly nipping at her in a playful manner.It's becoming over welming and she doesn't know what to do.What kinds of things do dog owners do for this? Thanks

[Jcup]

I'm no pro but.. You have to be consistent with discipline. A loud "no" should work. But it has to be done every time the nipping happens. Pup needs to be conditioned that this nipping is paired with something bad. It won't be like a light switch but should slowly stop over time as long as you are consistent with the discipline. I'm sure others with more experience will chime in as well. Maybe pair the "no" with a spray bottle?

[Ufatz]

Suggest to them that whatever they do do NOT slap the dogs face. See if you can gently grab around the muzzle and loudly say NO! Or when the puppy grabs and nips try to smack it on the silly-me with a flat stick, like a paint stirring stick and say NO! The dog may never outgrow a tendency to nip but it obviously cannot be a "nip" that hurts. I've had Labs there were ten years old and would sometimes gently bite my arm or hand but it was pure affection.

My dogs like me!

It's people sometimes find me off-putting! LOL

[Pherris]

Suggest to them that whatever they do do NOT slap the dogs face. See if you can gently grab around the muzzle and loudly say NO! Or when the puppy grabs and nips try to smack it on the silly-me with a flat stick, like a paint stirring stick and say NO! The dog may never outgrow a tendency to nip but it obviously cannot be a "nip" that hurts. I've had Labs there were ten years old and would sometimes gently bite my arm or hand but it was pure affection.

My dogs like me!

It's people sometimes find me off-putting! LOL

Exactly as he said. Make sure the NO IS A STERN NO. Dogs really understand the tone of the owners voice more than the reprimand in many cases.

[onthefly]

Dealt with this with my lab, who's now 18 months.

Consistency is KEY. A "no" while grabbing the muzzle should do it after a while. If it doesn't, I found rolling the gums up on the teeth and saying "no" is more effective.

Also related... It's important to sometimes the dog on it's back and hold down until it submits. Especially now. This is asserting dominance and will make it more likely the dog will mind when it's told "no"

[JeremyCampbell]

I will pass it along to them.Thanks

[DaSwede]

If it's 4 months old, it could also be teething. Give it lots of safe chew toys/or something safe to chew on. Firm no, and then give it something it should be chewing on.

[nofishfisherman]

Couple things I've done in the past.

Grab the muzzle firmly and say NO when its nipping. If that doesn't work then try getting its lip folded over inside its mouth so that when it bites down it bites its own lip. That way the associate nipping with their lip hurting. The last thing I've tried is when they nip grab them by the lower jaw like you would bass. Your pointer finger under the chin and your thumb under their tongue. Dogs hate this and if you are consistent with it they'll learn quick enough.

No mater which of the options you try consistency and being firm is the key. When my pup was growing up I'd rough house with him to intentionally get him in the nipping mood just so that I could work on snuffing out that behavior.

[JeremyCampbell]

I stopped at my moms today and filled up a clean spray bottle with water.She is leaning towards that idea for a little while to see if that helps.All the chew toys are basically stuffed animals.I told her to get some chewier things made out of a rubber/plasticy material in case the dog is teething.Thanks again for the advice!

[corncob]

Best luck I've had is to say NO firmly and snap the pup on the nose with my forefinger.Fastest method I've found , and, soon they will play just as normal but the nipping will become gentle nibbles.

[DaSwede]

I stopped at my moms today and filled up a clean spray bottle with water.She is leaning towards that idea for a little while to see if that helps.All the chew toys are basically stuffed animals.I told her to get some chewier things made out of a rubber/plasticy material in case the dog is teething.Thanks again for the advice!

Nylabones work great. They have a variety of different toys/bones that are safe and work great.

[Ufatz]

A spray water bottle. So I gather none of the suggestions provided here were worth considering?

Some nice nylon chew bones will surely make the little guy happy. He can chew on them while waiting for his face to dry.

[JeremyCampbell]

I'm no pro but.. You have to be consistent with discipline. A loud "no" should work. But it has to be done every time the nipping happens. Pup needs to be conditioned that this nipping is paired with something bad. It won't be like a light switch but should slowly stop over time as long as you are consistent with the discipline. I'm sure others with more experience will chime in as well. Maybe pair the "no" with a spray bottle?

This guy mentions the spray bottle at the end of the last sentence.

[smackem33]

Spray bottle that's funny I have watched people spray there dog in the face at the dog park it doesn't ever seem to work. Dogs learn with two things pain and praise

[JeremyCampbell]

I talked to her again and the dog seems to be calming down with holding the mouth,spray bottle and the famous "No" is working too.She is getting more response with the "No" vs the spray bottle.

[Jcup]

Good to hear. Sometimes the behavior gets worse before getting better. But sounds like things should work out out as long as she's consistent. Also, if there is anyone else in the house or that the pup is around, make sure they know exactly what to do if the pup does the nipping to them. Consistency is key. You dont want that hard work to have setbacks because only one person in the house is following the program. (ask me how I know this...)

[Jcup]

Spray bottle that's funny I have watched people spray there dog in the face at the dog park it doesn't ever seem to work. Dogs learn with two things pain and praise

That last sentence is just simply untrue... Four main ways (of operant conditioning). Positive punishment, Negative punishment, positive reinforcement, and negative reinforcement. If you're not familiar you might be surprised what they actually mean. I wont go into detail here but do a google search and you too will learn... from (gasp!) no pain or praise. behavior is behavior whether it be human, canine, or any other animal.

[smackem33]

That is just a long way of saying pain and praise jcup

[Jcup]

That is just a long way of saying pain and praise jcup

Hardly, If you did some light reading you might understand. a stern "no" involves no pain whatsoever. Neither does the spray bottle tactic. I don't claim to be a pro but I do know a thing or two about behavior modification. Ask some of the real dog trainers on here. I'm sure they will agree.