Oscar has learned something new . . just this morning. When playing rough, he would usually bite us using his whole mouth but today, he’s started taking those tiny little nips and they hurt so much worse than the full play bite. It’s like pinches – when we were kids and acting up in church, mom would reach over and pinch us. If it was a big, fat pinch, it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as those tiny little pinches.
I will have 20 or more bruises on my arm by this afternoon. I think he’s enjoyed his newly learned activity.
He is terrified of my squirt bottle because I say “NO” once and if he doesn’t stop, I grab the squirt bottle which sits right next to me on the sofa or in my chair.
He’ll learn but he wakes up with so much energy. We throw the ball, play tug-o-war and then we think he’s ready to collapse and he does . . for 5 minutes.
Before, when he got something he wasn’t supposed to have – linen, sock, paper . . he would run like a crazy dog and we would have to catch him. Often, it took both of us and often it involved him running in circles. Now, I pick up the squirt bottle and he drops whatever he has and runs to his crate.
He’s really a fast learner but there’s just so much to learn. It seems like in the mornings, I say no to him a million times. In the afternoons and evenings, he’s slowed down a bit.
Dorothy Matheson says
with my two deaf ones I have to get their eye before I can yell at them with my hands. But both want to please me so they are well behaved. Neither one ever gave play bites and it did not take them long to learn that I do not want to be licked. They lick every one else.
Melinda Connelly says
You know what Cesar Milan says: walk, walk, walk. At least two 40 minutes each day.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Unfortunately, my doctor says “Stay off your foot” so one of us can’t get what we need. 🙂 Also, we’re on our 17th day above 100 so doing anything outside is torture!
I’m counting down the days til our fence is installed and I can sit and throw a ball for him to fetch and bring back to me.
Gail Hafey says
I had rescued greyhounds that used to do that to get your attention, we called it nibbing and it hurt! Oscar is just so cute, I love that he will settle down by you on the sofa. My current 3 hounds take over the large sectional sofa and I get one corner.
vivoaks says
I know what you mean with the little pinches. My 9-month old grandson took to pinching the back of my arm when I would give him a bottle. Whichever arm was holding his head while he was drinking, he’d reach up behind his head and just pinch and pinch and pinch. I had at least a dozen bruises after one time of feeding him. My family just laughed when I showed them the back of my arm when we Skyped. 🙂
Sandra J Rea says
Judy, when training our english setter pup not to bite, we’d have a soft toy handy and when she’d play bite, we’d say “no bite” and stick the toy in her mouth. It didn’t take long for her to stop biting us. I think she wanted the interaction with us more than she wanted the toy, and to be ignored by us.
Julie Hutcherson says
What works for me is to Yip! a little yipe-bark. That’s what they do with their litter mates to let each other know they’re hurting, playing too hard.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I’ll try that. Thanks!