Biting

[babygirl6152]

My pup 4 months 40 POUNDS has mouthed me, playful, all 4 of our family members discourage her when she does this.
Tonite at bedtime she was sleeping with my husband, and I came to bed after finishing my chores, took about 10 minutes. She started to snap at me as I coaxed her to the foot of the bed, then came full out snarls and bites, none broke the skin. My husband asked if she was playing, I told him she was mad and didn't move. He yelled at her to get down and u put her in the living room.
She is half american pitbull half yellow lab. I don't know how I can get over being so upset. She was basically telling me she was ABOvE ME in the pecking order! I take her for little walks almost daily on a harness and she hates it at first, then she tolerates it, then she pretty much stays with me.
So mad! This is a puppy I'm mad at but dang it Im mad!

[Ghilly]

I completely agree with Margot with regard to putting this puppy on NILIF IMMEDIATELY.  You can Google it and it will explain the training method to you, but this is going to be a large dog and, unless you are familiar with the dogs in her background, you don't know what kind of temperaments you are dealing with that may surface as she grows, so you need to get control of this situation NOW before she becomes a liability.  Four months old is young for a dog to show any type of aggression, be it because of a place in the pecking order or anything else.  I hope this is not an omen of things to come and it's just her testing her muscles, otherwise you are in for a rough ride with this one.

Ghilly

[Margot49]

Sounds like you are on the right track but everyone has to be on board with rules and training.  You have to remember this is a puppy and the brain is developing and they have short attention spans.  She sounds like she is doing pretty well and working with her will only improve things.  Nice she is learning "leave it".  When he gives the command to get it, and she doesn't, have him give it to her.  Most of my experience is with herding dogs, also had Helped with a Greyhound rescue, entirely different breeds and the Grey's are harder to train.  I showed dogs in Confirmation and Obedience for some years.  Fir the first time in a long time, I have a Chi mix here.  Very smart but my issues with her are getting her to calm down and listen.  LOL!  Busy little girl.  Have to do a lot of "no bark" training with her.  She hated the car but us getting better but it has taken time and patience to get there.  I can probably be 50% Judge Judy. :-)
Nice the Maltese and her are playing but watch the puppy doesn't get too rough due to the size difference.  
So hard to watch our animals get ill and can understand your feelings, difficult time.  Been through those scenarios more then I would have liked to.  
Hopefully, she will have a peaceful time left.

[babygirl6152]

Thanks for the advice.
My husband tried teaching LEAVE IT last night. (I also told him about NILF.)

That's always been his favorite "trick" with his dogs. She didn't understand. Once she learned to leave it, he couldn't get her to understand "okay get it" she would not touch the treat....ha
I know she's young. Yes I have a kong toy we fill with pb, she loves most of the time. Great idea, make the peace time more positive.
I am pretty strict when I teach, but very loving. I believe in being consistent. I was a preschool teacher.
Folks called me 99% Mary Poppins and 1% Judge Judy.
I had a meltdown about my dying dog last night. It's just so many emotions mixed on all 3 of my dogs. There is one blessing in this whole ordeal. I have a 14 year old Maltese who has not played for years! The new pit bull mix has found a gentle way to get her playing every day! With toys, wrestling, "kissing"....They go at it a long time, and I am totally surprised and pleased. I was afraid when my schnauzer died, new Miss Dulce would have no playmate.

[Margot49]

So sorry about your other dog. :-(.
Nothing wrong with using the crate and let her settle down.  All my dogs have known "Crate" means to go to their crates.  Does not have to be a punishment.  Give her a command and when she goes inside, praise and reward.  If you're lucky, she may decide to take a nap. :-)
Will be harder to keep her off the furniture if the other dogs are allowed up but it can be done.  Your priority now has to be your sick one.  Can you baby gate the puppy in another room so she won't bother the sick one?  You might try getting one of the big Kong toys and put some peanut butter in it to keep the puppy occupied.

[babygirl6152]

And she has several outside times, just the added outside when she's LOsinG It.....
What do you think about the kennel for Peace Time. For just a few minutes when she's not obeying?

[babygirl6152]

I read the NILF site  when you first posted about it. That's how I taught her to sit, to get her food, she has to sit, even a crumb .... that's how I'm trying to teach her DOWN.
I'm getting that same feeling about the couch although yes I have 2 other dogs that are allowed up on the couch. One is dying of renal failure probably within the week. I have to keep him away from the puppy and off the floor so you can see I'm dealing with a lot.
I also see my mother is going to have to be firmer and raise her voice. She is too soft hearted.

[Margot49]

Keep in mind she is going to get bigger.  I would NOT be allowing her on the furniture or beds, period.  That puts her on the same level as you.  Who is they? You have more then one dog?
At 4 months old, you can't be expecting too much "calm" any more then you can a 4 year old kid. :-)
Are you home all day?  If so and if you can, try to play with her out in the yard a few times a day to run off some of that energy.  It can only be for 10 mins.  Is she leash trained?  You can work in that and, again, reward her.  
I would suggest you check into some basic obedience classes but they usually don't take them until 6 mos.  you can check into some puppy socialization classes and, if you are lucky, the person in charge may be able to give you some tips.  Even though you go to class probably once a week, you still have to work with the dog at home daily.  
Do try to read up on NILF training and that may help you to understand what I am aiming at here.  
Make sure her nails stayed trimmed.

[babygirl6152]

Thanks, I'm still disappointed. The posts help reaffirm I am doing right. The only tugging with toys is holding a toy while she plays in my lap. My husband knows all this training tricks but he's worn out at the days end, and has done a good job at being alpha.
She already has been taught sit, stay. I'm working on DOWN now. My elderly mother lives with us and has been scratched several times when the dog jumps to her couch..

So here I am teaching her DOWN TO GET OFF COUCH, BUT FIRST I HAVE TO GET HER UP ON THE COUCH
Now to me, if I were a dog I'd be confused, but I just gave her treats today for doing either command, up and down,
Then we switched to a different couch and started over again. Should I award her for jumping on the couch too. They are allowed on the chairs, etc if they want to be calm but my mother cannot deal with her puppy crazies
She usually goes outside to have puppy crazies if she is jumping on mom. Sometime I put her in a kennel for time, I don't fuss I just put her in the kennel and walk away, no attention. But now that sorta makes the kennel a negative place. I do know she need to get that energy out and we have a big back yard god her to go crazy.
No more BED, that's for sure!

[Margot49]

Playful mouthing should not be allowed.  You can yelp, like she is hurting you.  You can tell her "No! Easy!" Take your hand away and withdraw attention, every time she does this.  Reward her for good behavior.
Do not allow the dog on the bed,ESP  if she is displaying this type of behavior.  Make her sleep in her bed or a crate.  I am a firm believer in crate training.  
Start some obedience commands like make her Sit/Stay when you feed her. Give the command, put the food down then a release word to eat, like Ok.  Take about 10 mins a day a few times a day to work on some commands.  Start with Sit,  when she does this, reward her.  I say short sessions because puppies have short attention spans.
Sorry, but I disagree with playing tug of war as this can actually cause aggressive behavior in some breeds.
Do look up NILF (nothing in life is free) dog training methods on the Internet.  You need to establish yourself as the pack leader and you have to be consistent.  Do not be hitting the dog.  Rewards and praise for good behavior.
She is a big puppy and also needs to learn not to be jumping on people.
Do you have children?  If so, and the dog is displaying this type of possessive behavior, I would be vigilant with kids near her food bowls and would withhold chew toys, etc unsupervised.  Work on giving her something then taking it from her with a command such as "Leave it".  She is not too young to start learning basic commands.
Hope this helps some.  Do read up on NILF.
Good luck and please update!

[veronicaalex13]

When she snaps at you hold her mouth shut and say "NO",  dont squeeze her mouth to the point of hurting her. Then you need to take her for walks, feed her and take her outside for pees. You need to be as much involved as your husband.

[Everlastingocd]

Hi,

Our puppy is now a year old (half german shepard/ half german shothaired pointer). My husband is the "alpha" and our puppy knows it. I have really had to struggle hard to stay "above" her in pecking order. It ***** that often the ones who do all the taking care of dont immediately get respect. I suggest playing a lot of tug of war and winning every time. This will teach her that you are stronger. Your husband can also help by letting you be the one to scold her. Please try not to be too upset, if she really wanted to hurt you, she would have.