puppy started growling at me

[bethz123]

Hi have a 10 week old male rottie pup. I got him when he was 6 weeks old. He is always biting. I cant even pet him without him getting all excited and start biting. I have tried just about every method Ive heard of and read about to correct him but I think its getting worse. He listens to me in every other aspect that i have tought him but not biting! Well today he kept biting my feet when I would walk so I bent down gently grabbed his snout and told him No Biting! Well he started growling at me and trying to bite even more. If he was bigger and did it I would have been scared by it, but I kept telling him no. Does anyone have any advice for me?

[jazzie23]

I had similar problems with Jazmin (I got her at 5.5 weeks, which is too early to get a puppy). When you correct him and he retaliates with a growl scruff him by his neck, raise him and give him a very stern "NO BAD DOG". Then release and ignore him for a couple minutes. You need to let him know that this behavior is unacceptable and never show signs of fear (he's your pup). Bu scruffing him you're not hurting him, you're doing what his mom would do to correct him. Jazmin won't even dare growling at me now, she's 4.5 months and a wonderful puppy.

When he tries to bite you while playing redirect him to a chew toy like a nylabone (there are different kinds out there, my pup loves the edible one with ridges, they have different flavors) or a plush/squeky toy (Jamzmin adores all her plush/squeky toys, when he starts chewing on it praise him like crazy. You should praise him anyways whenever you see him playing with his toys.

Also with getting a puppy at 6 weeks, your puppy missed out on many things his mom and his littermates would have taught him. Have you been socializing him? He needs a ton of socialization, take him to the pet store with you, let people approach him and pet him, take him to the dog park and so on. Socialization is crucial in order for him to be a good pup. I take Jazmin everywhere, to the pet store, friends and family and dog park on regular basis and she's turning out to be a social butterfly.

Congratulations on the pup and welcome to the forum!

[bethz123]

Thanks Jazzie. I have tried grabbing his scruff thats actually when he tried to turn and bite me. How long should it take for him to get the idea. Its sort of confusing to me because I want to teach him right but everyone has different ideas on how to deal with biting. I havnt socailized him with other dogs yet or taken him out of our yard. The vet advised against it until he finishes his parvo shots. Parvo is real big in our area. So i will be taking him out after that. Do you think it helps to stops biting his family if he can play with other dogs?

[jazzie23]

It took Jazmin a few times (probably 8-9 times) before she got the idea, you will notice as he will stop retaliating. This method was given to me by a trainer that me and Jazmin were seeing. We're done now, but she will start obedience classes once she's spayed. Remember you're not hurting him and you want to nip this behavior in a butt before he gets bigger and it escalates.

Follow thru with everything, do not repeat commands, execute them immidiately. If you tell him to sit and he doesn't do it, you sit him down, same with down, stay and so on. Always have him on a leash when training, it makes executing commands easier since he's in your reach. Spent 15 minutes daily on basic commands.

Rottweilers are very samrt dogs and they thrive on training and knowledge. He must respect you and everyone in the household. Have you looked into any training classes or trainers in your area? It is never to early too start training and if anyone tells you otherwise they're full of baloney. Since he's a puppy you want to concentrate on positive reinforcement and take it slowly, do not expect too much - be patient but persistent and stick to your guns. Once he knows that YOU are in control, you and your puppy should be in sync.

Yes, you must socialize him with other dogs, I don't think it will stop the bitting. If you don't socialize him he might become dog aggresive and teritorial. He also might develop food and toy guarding. Do you want a dog that you can't have around other dogs?

Going back to bitting, every time his teeth go on your skin grab his upper or bottom jaw so his lips overlap his teeth and squeeze, he might squeel. Again you're not hurting him, you're creating an uncomfortable feeling which he'll associate with bitting you and eventually stop. I praise Jazmin for licking - so she's an official licker (better than being a biter). My rule is NO TEETH ON SKIN, ever.

I am not an expert, but I do have experience with a situation like yours and Jazmin's training has been a success up to this point, so just passing on everything I've done to help her develop since she didn't have that oppurtunity with her mom and littermates.

[jazzie23]

You might read these forums for more information, they will help you understand many things you might have questions about:

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/puppy-development/44486-critical-periods-canine-development.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/puppy-development/45994-age-bringing-your-puppy-home.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/behavior/9263-dominance-explained.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/behavior/5159-dominance-what-etc.html

By the way you are in a great place with many experts. This forum helped me to get through many things with my pup. Do you have any pics of the rugrat? Post them in the gallery.

[BostonRott]

I would get into class ASAP with an experienced trainer (not a pet store class).

Part of the problem is the age at which you got your pup......valuable lessons in bite inhibition within the litter were not learned b/c the pup was sold WAY too early.

[bethz123]

thanks for the advice. He does real well with my other commands so far. I will definately get him into classes though as soon as he finishes all his puppy shots.

[mrsgrubby]

Different trainers have different methods. I personally would never scruff shake a rottweiler puppy, and the trainers I deal with do not teach that method.

As you noticed, you pup gets more aggresive when you do it.

However, I would do as Jazzie 23 suggested and be very, very consistent with trying to redirect him to toys, and also ignoring him for a few minutes after each incident. he needs to learn that the fun stops when he bites. If you need to, put him in "time out". he will learn that biting equals no fun

[bethz123]

thanks all for the advice. He has not growled at me since then. i did start sqeazing his upperlip against his teeth like you mentioned and it seems to be working. i still get nips when he feel really playfull but i have not been allowing it. THis is my first rottie pup so if any one has any other tips they think would be helpful, im all ears. thanks again.

[Ravenscrest]

I would reconsider squeezing against his teeth as you are going to have to look at his bite and don't want him to think he's being punished when you do so . I have found on a very hard puppy if you take your thumb and press down on his nose- just behind the black flashy part ( the balance of your hand under his jaw - with a stern ( not loud) no will work as well

[Ravenscrest]

oops that should read "fleshy" part

[moondog]

There are different approaches to the same problem because each puppy is going to respond better to one than another. My weapon of choice when my dog was a little needle toothed terror was a stuffed toy to redirect her and keep her chompers well stuffed. I never crossed a room without it!

Scruffing, especially in anger, stimulates a puppy more and a stimulated puppy is going to be a more adamant puppy about whatever is going on in his head when the scruffing occurs. Best to redirect or simply stop all activity until he settles.

[mrsgrubby]

I agree with moondog. Try redirecting the behavior rather than "scruffing" "alpha rolling" "squeezing muzzle".

And add in lots of excercise. A tired puppy is a good puppy.

[Phyrebrand]

Originally Posted by mrsgrubby

And add in lots of excercise. A tired puppy is a good puppy.

Ahhh...you have captured my philosophy precisely.

[abhims]

problem with my dog is after i've tired him out ..and i'm talking about 1.5 hour walks in the hills. He gets a second wind when it comes to biting and growling. The funny part is though as soon as he has caught my hand he let's go ..and rolls over and starts pawing the air with both of his front legs? Has anybody seen this kind of behaviour? What does it mean?