Puppy Biting Question

Your puppy needs formal training by a professional so he can learn how to be a good pack member. I cannot overstate this enough. Invest in the training now while he is young; it is sooooo much easier to do this now at his age than once negative behaviors are ingrained later down the road. I would also highly recommend a one-on-one trainer, instead of a class with other dogs and owners. Our friends did not do this with their puppy and now they have a full-grown biting/nipping dog that they refuse to get a handle on. We no longer go to their home because of it and we also forbid their dog to come to our house (their dog bit our daughter).

LeeLee is exactly right. Your dog thinks that the kids are beneath him in the pack pecking order, so if they try to take his bone (or if he thinks they're going to take it), he's going to bite or growl.

Your dog needs to be properly trained to help learn and reinforce his place in the pack (your family). It makes a world of difference.

I also recommend reading "Good Dogs, Great Owners" by Brian Kilcommons. It's truly one of the best books out there on dog behavior and training. And don't go to the pet store for training by someone who makes barely above minimum wage. Go to a local facility whose whole business is working with and training dogs. Do your research and find one that has good reviews.

ETA: I couldn't disagree more with Gamma. Sorry Gamma.

You should be able to reach into your dog's bowl ANYTIME and not worry about what the dog is going to do, because the dog should show deference to any human. Even a baby. It takes time and training to do this. Starts from puppyhood. Pulling the bowl away. Putting fingers in the bowl while he's eating. Taking a toy or bone away and giving it back.

Teaching your dog deference is the most important part of training, IMHO. It's the reason your dog listens to you.

Our dog was a year old when we brought her home, and was food aggressive. I took her to training classes to work on her deference and confidence (a dog who knows the rules is like a child....consistency brings confidence and good behavior). We worked on deference at home and trained at least a half hour a day after we exercised. All the while, I worked on her with the food. Taking it back, putting my hands in, even putting my hands in her mouth. Today....not a bit of food aggression. I put down the bowl, and she sits and waits for me to give her permission to eat. When I say "okay," she may eat. But if I lean down, because she's been taught to defer to me, she'll look up at me to "ask" what to do.

All done with training.

From the best dog trainer ever, Dick Russell:
http://www.dickrusselldogtrainer.com/Puppy_Biting.html

Puppy Biting

Puppy Mouthing (chewing on his owner’s body) is a continuation of your puppy’s exploring the world with his mouth. It is also part of the way that puppies play with one another. So, it is normal and it is natural. If our skin was thicker and if it was covered with thick hair, puppy mouthing would probably not bother us. But, puppies have needle sharp teeth and we have thin, bare skin. Mouthing is aggravating. Puppy mouthing is best stopped by a two pronged approach. The first is to make his mouthing as unpleasant for your puppy as it is for you. The second is to not do things that encourage him to chew on you.

Making Mouthing Unpleasant For Your Puppy:
The best deterrent to mouthing is to shoot your puppy when he does it. Get a water pistol. Fill it with full strength white vinegar. Do not dilute it. Use it just as it glug-glug-glugs out of the bottle. Any time that your puppy puts his teeth on you, squirt him in the mouth with the vinegar. This is a mild punishment. You must keep the water pistol with you. You can only change a behavior while that behavior is happening. If you need to cross the room to get the pistol, you are too late in punishing. Your puppy will not make a connection between being squirted in the mouth with the vinegar and his chewing on you unless you squirt him while he is chewing. Probably it is best to keep the water pistol stuck in your belt. You need to look like Roy Rogers walking around in your house.

Some puppies are not deterred by the taste of vinegar. If yours is not, I suggest that you go to a drug store and get a squirt vial of Banaca Breath Spray. Most puppies that can tolerate the taste of vinegar, do not like the taste of Banaca.

Quit Encouraging Your Puppy To Mouth:
We all have a tendency when ours puppies mouth us to push them away. Since his mouth is what is bothering us, this is where we push. We are, actually, giving him a handy target. Also, when we pet our puppies, we pet them on the head or chest. This is an invitation to him to chew on us. Much better to pet him on his back. A puppy especially enjoys being petted and scratched where this tail attaches to his body. Doing this gets your hand away from his mouth.

Puppy needs consistency and discipline and everyone in the family needs to be on the same page. I would recommend enrolling the puppy in some beginner obedience classes that emphasize positive reinforcement for good behavior and appropriate corrections for undesirable behavior. And I would have any kids that are 4 and up attend as well and listen to what the trainer is telling them. Kids need to understand that sometimes, if a dog has a bone or other coveted item, they are better off just leaving the dog alone. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend a good trainer in your area. I know you said you don't you need one, but you might be surprised. And sometimes kids listen better to certain "authority figures" than Mom and Dad.

I agree with LeeLee - get one-on-one training asap.

In the meantime I would teach my children that it's generally a bad idea to go face to face with a dog. Dogs view that differently than we do. For us it's affection; for them it can mean aggression.

Dogs are ALL about body language and mostly non-verbal communication (with the exception of barking/whining). Your daughter may be better, naturally, at reading your dog's body language and he can read hers as well. Your sons might not read it as easily - boys can be less intuitive with that stuff sometimes (though I've got one son who is great at it).

I don't allow guarding behavior with my schnoodle, but she's 10 lbs and easier to control. If she ever does a warning growl I handle it generally instead of my sons, though they have gotten more comfortable doing so.

I would not ever leave my children alone with him until you get some professional advice. He could have done major damage to your son's face.

Good luck.

You might look into getting him trained. But I agree with Patricia your son was petting him when he had his raw hide and that's not a good time to pet a dog. Your daughter is probably not as roudy as the boys so she does not give off the same vibe to the dog I would say.

IMHO, the dog is responding to your young daughter better because she has not acted like a littermate and because the dog senses that she is smaller and more fragile than the boys. Dogs are very intuitive when it comes to babies. The dog does not see her as a threat or anyone to be leary around whereas your boys, with their noise and roughhousing, are seen more as people to be careful around. Your little dog is protecting himself.

The ONE thing that jumped out at me about your post was that the dog nipped your son on the nose. Children should NEVER put their face that close to a dog's face. It's just not safe.

You have 3 kids, including a 2-year-old, are building a house on your site, and no one can play outside because of the mess. And someone in your family thought it would be a good idea to get a puppy at this time?

Sorry, it had to be said.

Get a handle on this puppy now. Especially watch out for the 2-year-old's face being at the same level as this puppy and all other dogs. Dogs translate putting a face in a dog's face as aggressive and short kids are common targets.

Proper training should include the dog being leashed at all times so you can get immediate control over him when needed. He can drag the leash around the house. You should also take him, yourself, AND the older kids to a dog training school for regular classes. You need to train the dog (under direction of a trainer) so that the dog respects YOU. But you probably won't have the time...

Some of this sounds like young dog/puppy behavior, and being consistent will take care of it.

As for the dogs reaction to the boys, versus your DD, it does sound as if they are lower in the pack ranks. The best way to fix that is to have them also work with the dog, the dog needs to know that they are to be listened to.

My one dog hates that my 3 year old can boss her around, she looks at me like "really?"...yes really. I don't mean make her sit there and let her put dresses on her (although she does do that), but on walks she is expected to mind her. In the house she is expected to mind the kids. All the dogs actually.

As for dog bones. I do not trust my dogs with their bones around the kids, they get their treats separate from the kids. Not because they have ever done anything, but because the dog doesn't always realize that they aren't trying to steal it, and they have no way to say 'back off' so they will nip and sometimes bite, but be a great dog in every other way.

The boys are going to have to understand that they are going to have to be part of the training. While they do want him to be a playmate, they will probably find that taking part in his training to be rewarding and a bonding experience. There are books and youtube videos everywhere, and that would be a good start.
I grew up breeding and training terriers. I even trained my cats to fetch, roll over and speak- lol. Puppies are going to nip and mouth, and sometimes in unpleasant places. I've been scratched, nipped, and mouthed on the nose, hands, toes, etc. It's pretty typical puppy behavior. I have never had one of my mature dogs do that. Just make sure that they boys know how to handle a mouthing situation when it happens, and that they have to be firm in making sure the dog knows it's unacceptable- that there are boundaries. Puppies are just animal children after all, and they have to learn their place in the family.
A trainer may help- I honestly wouldn't know. I've never used one. But it firmly believe that children can be excellent trainers if they know how and can be consistent and patient.

You don't touch a dog when it's interested in food. They see it as an attack. Even being petted.

I'd say try the vet and see if they have any ideas. They might offer some training classes in your community too.

Sounds like he was protecting his bone! Talk to a postive trainer in your area. He definitely needs lots of exercise with those breeds. Can you all go a park or something to get out if you can't be in your yard. Hand feeding can help, hand feed at least part of each meal. Work with a trainer first so there is super?vision, but can you reach in and remove food from his bowl or take his toy. Again both things not to try if you don't already without a trainer. Also yelp loudy if he gets mouthy and walk away if needed. Lesile McDevitt has a great puppy book that is wonderful for full development and calmness etc in a pup.

I would say probably not aggression, but reaction to the kids. Are collar grabs ok?If he is nipping at clothes it is probably part play, possibly herding behavior also. If he tries all movement should stop from the kids. I'm sure a lot of it is just puppy behavior though and play. Good luck and hope the house is done soon so you can settle in.

Talk to the pet store about training.

The puppy is still a puppy and learning not to bite. That said, your son was petting him while he had a bone - basically approaching while eating. That's something that should be avoided.

I would also watch the boys and how they interract with the puppy vs. how your daughter interacts. If they are too rough or are not playing well with the dog, then the BOYS need to be trained as much as the dog - which puppy training may help with, especially if the family is involved and not just parents.

I would contact a trainer, they can properly assess your situation and guide you on the best course of action. It sounds like all is needed is more guided structured training.

I just have to put it out there, but some dogs that have food aggression will always have it. They can/will be fine in all other areas, but not when it comes to food. In fact a lot/most rescues when assessing dogs do a food test to determine proper/ suitable placement.

I have never had a dog, even when a puppy, that had food aggression. I would be cautious since you have children in the home.

Good luck!