How Do I Stop My Dog From Biting?

[kayleigh_b]

I have a 11 month old lurcher and he keeps biting me and my parents. We have tried so many things: tapping him on the nose, distracting him with a toy, ignoring him and pushing him away. He comes back harder when we push him away or tell him off and he ends up using us as the chew toys. I'm sick of this behavior and shouting at him, it has no effect. The only reason we haven't got rid of him yet is because he can be really sweet and affectionate at times. We can't really afford a dog trainer so I was hoping somebody could give me advice on what to do.

[pastafreak]

He's still very young, and is testing you...and his teeth...;-) I have a lurcher also,and when she gets very excited she can be a bit nippy. She was worse when I got her as two year old rescue. I tried pushing her away...but what worked was to simply get up and walk away from her. Pushing him away serves to do the opposite of what you want...you are giving him attention for bad behaviour.

[pastafreak]

The OP is looking for advice...not jokey answers. There is a section for jokes.

[2sp_]

My mum's dog took to biting ankles. I bit him back (lightly) on the ear. He didn't like it and stopped biting. (I really didn't hurt him, no skin was broken and he just yelped a little.)

[pastafreak]

"drag it in the shed"....?

[andres]

-Try turning your back on the dog. Ignore it for a little while .Don't even say ''stop it'' or you will be giving it the attention it is seeking.

[Tilly2]

When Tilly was a puppy she used to bite all the time especially if we were playing 'rough'. I was told by a dog trainer that if I squealed loudly everytime she bit me, she would then know she had hurt me and would eventually stop. It worked for me and her.

[Cannedgranny]

Did you get the dog from a reputable dog breeder? Otherwise that may be a lot to do with the dog's behaviour. Just a thought.

[2sp_]

He's just trying to find his place in the pecking order of your pack.

You need to assert your position as leader and he should soon calm down.

[pastafreak]

Cannedgranny....the dog is a lurcher. Not a pedigree. So quite likely a rescue or bought/adopted privately.


@ divebuddy....still...putting it in a shed? Anyway...the question was about biting,not how the dog copes with being left.
Sorry if I'm going on about the shed...but my lurcher was rescued from one.

[Cannedgranny]

Oops, my ignorance. Thought a lurcher was some breed of dog. Never heard the expression before.
sorry.

[NoMercy]

Every time the dog bites you, bite it's ears. It worked with mine.

[boxtops]

This is a lurcher http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurcher

[ladybirder]

Tilly is right. When your dog bites you make a high pitched loud squeal. Really loud. That is what his litter mates would do. And this is what a decent behaviourist would tell you to do. Don't bite it and don't drag it anywhere, least of all a shed.

[woofgang]

don't bite it, don't drag it anywhere, if you squeal that may trigger it to try to bite again as human squeals can sound like rabbits. What training and exercise do you give him? What mental exercise? have you taught him to settle down when you ask him to? Where did he come from? what is his history? how long have you had him?

[ladybirder]

Woofgang, the wonderful Victoria Stilwell advises the squeal.