Growling/Biting when taking things out of puppies mouth

[Sammy88]

I've been reading in the archives, but I haven't come across the problem I am having with our 10 week old Rottweiler puppy. The problem I have with her is that whenever she is outside she trys eating mulch, rocks, dirt etc. When I go to remove it from her mouth she will growl and try to snap/bite my hands. She has bitten me once. I tell her "No" in a firm voice and just take the item she shouldn't have away. What can I do? Is there another way I should be handling this? Is she just testing me with the growling? I have to take the things away because I don't want her getting sick, but I also don't want her biting me or anyone else. Is this normal puppy behavior?

[harleychik66]

Your girl is guarding what she thinks is hers. She's a puppy and has no idea what is acceptable behavior yet. What she is doing is normal.

I'm suprised you didn't find anything while searching. Try puppy biting, or resource guarding. This should net you a plethora of posts.

Leash her to you when you are outside or even in the house this way you can monitor where she is at and what she is doing. Keep a pocketful of treats and always carry a toy. When she picks up something she shouldn't have, which shouldn't happen as often if she is leashed to you, trade her for a treat. Give her a gentle tug of the leash, enough to get her attention. Remember she's only 10 weeks old so you don't have to yank. Say "no, leave it" . Make sure to praise her when she lets go of what she shouldn't have. If after she take the treat and starts biting at your hands redirect her to her toy.

Remember to be consistant on this. It takes awhile for pups to realize what is expected of them.

[Zumie05]

I couldn't let my puppy outside off a leash until he was around 4 maybe 5 months old. And goodness never alone outside otherwise I'm sure he would have eaten something that would have killed him.

He would swallow rocks, rip up the plants, eat sticks....All of his outdoor adventures required that he stay on leash so I could make sure none of this stuff happened. Puppies will get to a point where they don't feel the need to pick everything up with their mouths. Seriously, my guy would pick up everything in his path and try to eat it when he was younger.

Don't worry, this phase will go away once your girl learns that rocks and dirt really aren't that interesting. By keeping her away from them she shouldn't get the chance to develop a bad habit of eating rocks and dirt.

When she does get stuff in her mouth, you have to play the trade game which will teach her that she doesn't have to resource guard. Read up more on resource guarding, that is what she is doing when you try to take things away from her.

[L Peterson]

How Alpha are you Sammy?
Dogs, like humans have a sensitive area back in the back of the mouth behing the teeth, lift the lip and slide your fingers along the gum to the L of the jaw, press in firmly while your other hand is on the zigomatic ridge (the ridge at the back of her head/topest of the neck, come up with one specific command to use consistently, and inform anyone else you want her respecting of your command words, consistency is crucial. If she growls or locks onto said item in her mouth grasp firmly the loose skin on the back of her neck, lift her front feet off the ground and shake her, firmly, once, twice, and growwwl firmly , ggrrr,no, drop it (insert your consistent command), no, grrr.
Dont be such a woosie, these are intelligent, dominant dogs, be firm, loving, and lead, she needs you to be calm, confident, and consistent. Also, does she get enough exercise daily? This is an awsome time to bond-Run like puppies together! Once in a while, gently, flip her onto her side and stroke her neck and side while calmly insisting she stay until calm and still, then release her, this asserts that you are dominant over her, and trustworthy. Love your puppy, and have fun, she wants nothing as much as to please you.
-For the love of Dogs,

P.S. I've had many dogs throughout my life, many breeds, Rottie's are the most conceptually intelligent breed I've known, my pup gets mentally bored, make up some challenges for your pup; show her a treat, then put it under a shoe-box, a piece of kibble, a clear plastic bottle, have her watch you put kibble into bottle then invert it-kibble falls out, do it again, then help her to take the bottle into her mouth and tip her head. the more you play with cognition, the smarter she will become.

[L Peterson]

Sammy;
Its me again,Laura, Hey, my bad, I missread your young pup's age, I read 10 months, your girl's 10 weeks, barely off the teet, and missin mom! The accountability I refered to in my previous e-mail is too much for 10 wks., yes, to the scruff shake, but gently, same L of the jaw, same grrr, no, but geltly, and redirect. Have a favorite squeekey toy to sound, or a rope toy, or something wonderfull and trade. If you have her attention fully, show her the " no, no", then in "happy" voice, show her the "yes, Yeah", again, show the "no,no" then the "happy, Yes, Yeah" and give it to her, remember exercise, a dog brought to fatigue, daily is a dog without behavior problems, and be consistent with your verbal commands and expectation, dogs dont do moods, welcome to the pack, and God Bless.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Sammy88

The problem I have with her is that whenever she is outside she trys eating mulch, rocks, dirt etc.

Puppies explore the world with their mouths....all puppies will pick up things that interest them and it's perfectly normal puppy behavior. That said, there are things they need to learn to leave alone and that's where you come in.

Originally Posted by Sammy88

When I go to remove it from her mouth she will growl and try to snap/bite my hands. She has bitten me once. I tell her "No" in a firm voice and just take the item she shouldn't have away. What can I do? Is there another way I should be handling this? Is she just testing me with the growling?

She's not "testing" you, she just doesn't want you to take the item away and is saying so. Of course, you still need to remove it so she doesn't swallow something that could harm her and working with her on learning to "Out" and "Leave it" are lessons you need to be teaching her starting now.

Teaching "Leave It": Have your puppy on leash and a bunch of small treats. Drop a treat on the ground and say "Take it", drop another in a different place and say "Take it"...repeat with 5-6 treats, saying "Take it" each time....then drop one my your foot, cover it with your foot so the puppy can't get it, and say "Leave it". The puppy will try to get it, but won't be able to. Wait, and the puppy will look up at you (in confusion, LOL) and at that precise moment, you say "GOOD Leave it!!!" and reward with a treat from your hand. Do NOT let the puppy get the treat under your foot, pick it up and start the game again. Repeat 2-3 times, a couple times a day. If you practice this faithfully, your puppy will learn to look at your eyes when you say "Leave It". ALWAYS reward when your puppy gives you the behavior you want. And....always have treats on you!

Teaching "Out" using the Trade Game: You do begin by luring, offering a visible treat in exchange for releasing an object in their mouth - start with toys first. Once your puppy catches on to that, you then ask for the "Out" first, then produce a treat that has been in your pocket and not shown to the puppy beforehand. I've found for things they really would prefer to hang on to, putting my hand under my dog's chin while saying "Out" gets her to release it every time.

Work on those basics, using treats, and your puppy will learn that to work with you is much more rewarding than to work against you - and hopefully, you will learn the same - to work with your puppy is much more rewarding than to work against him....and that's when things start to come together.

[spawn207]

I seem to be having the same problem with my 11 week pup, like Sammy88. He doesn't growl at me when I try to take things away from him and he also let's me put my hand in his mouth to remove whatever he may be eating from outside. I do have a problem with the leash, when I see him going for something he's not suppose too, I have to pull on the leash to redirect him but it doesn't seem to help. I have to pull on it a couple of time or even remove him from the area. I do like the approach of Leave it, I will try that with him. The "Out" technique, can I use the drop it term to release objects.

Also, how long before he stops with the biting, it's really getting out of hand.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by spawn207

The "Out" technique, can I use the drop it term to release objects.

Sure, you can. As long as you're consistent with the word(s) you use, you can use any word you want and it will work just as well.

Originally Posted by spawn207;817746I

... my 11 week pup. Also, how long before he stops with the biting, it's really getting out of hand.

You have a few more months to go yet, and your puppy will likely be worse during teething - make sure to provide lots of chewies. The more consistent you are, the better things will go for both of you.

[Sammy88]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I started trading a treat or toy and that has worked! I even tell her "drop it" or "give" and she drops what she has in her mouth.