Nipping puppy

[diane493]

Our 10 -12 week old puppy is chasing our 106 lb (old) black lab a few times a day and nips at his 'ankles' or the hair that hangs in the arm pit area.  Scooter doesn't like it at all, but he's a great dog and just will run down the stairs (Daisy the pup can't do 'down' stairs yet).

I've never had a puppy and an old dog at the same time and don't know how to stop the behavior.  I'm clapping my hands and saying 'Daisy! No!'.  She does stop and look at me but generally this goes on for about 10 minutes or more.

Suggestions?

[diane493]

I put  pennies in a tin and shook it when she began the nipping a few nights ago and she jumped.  It was very loud so I took out all but a few pennies.  Now even the picking up of the tin stops the behavior AND, in the last two days she has spent most of her down time in my lap!  

I've tried to take her out each day even if it's to Home Depot to walk around.  It's too cold to walk outside and no loose dogs for socialization. Yesterday we went mid morning for a visit at the vets office.  I have several friends who work there so I can  just drop in and let her sniff and meet other animals.

She's going to be awesome!

[Megadodger]

Don't put her in a crate for doing something bad. A crate is supposed to be a good place. A place they can go to rest or be away from what scares them. A crate is a womb, it's a home.

By socializing your dog with other adult dogs, the other dogs will correct her for her behavior if you do not know how. I sharp noise will often distract them. If she continues in ten minutes, find her something to keep her busy. A food puzzle or something that she would have much more interest in. If the lab is moving around and the pup is showing interest in his heals but hasnt done it yet, and you can see the decision on her face clap/snap and say no.. Then give her the distraction again.

Puppies learn from being corrected. They don't often "grow out of it" without being taught otherwise. Seems like your lab needs to tell her off.


(I am not promoting a fight. A correction from another dog is often a single snap, a bark, or a growl. That is all. This tells the other dog that enough is enough.)

[diane493]

I considered something like vinegar but don't want to hurt her eyes.  

[diane493]

My lab is a male.......   LOL

Doing pretty good!  The water bottle just sits 90% of the time and another 5% of the time I just have to say 'Daisy NO' and pick up the bottle.

We've fixed the dangerous area of our backyard so I take them both out to run.  Daisy is sleeping long and hard at night!

Thanks for your help.
Diane

[Jerry_NJ]

You're welcome.  The spray bottle is a good idea, thanks for posting.  I suppose an escalation would be to put something mild but objectionable to the do in the water.  If the dog finds water that way, great.  I'd consider the spray a improvement on the news paper approach, but both are negative feed-back which I think can be incorporated wtih positive feedback in training.

Well, I'm sure the puppy found you old lab a very poor mother and was just trying to punish her : )

Wishing continued progress toward a totally  happy relationship between your two dogs.      

[diane493]

Hi Jerry,  I had a small and empty spray bottle and began yesterday saying 'NO Daisy' and then a quick spray to her face with water each time she would jump to grab Scooter's hair or knees. It only took a few sprays and she could just see the bottle and would go grab a toy instead.  Looks like she's going to be easier to train than I feared.

We got her thru the animal shelter. She'd been fully vetted but I suspect had been separated from her litter mates way too soon.  The family who turned in the litter had claimed they were 8 weeks old, but I think she was 6.  We got her 2 weeks after surrender and the first thing she attempted was to nurse on my old male lab!  

90% of the time, she plays well.  It seems to be first thing in the morning, right after a long nap or just before bed that she gets a little wired up. I've also noticed that's also just before a trip outside to poop.  

Thanks for your help!

[Jerry_NJ]

I would try separating the dogs by putting the nippy pup in a crate/cage or small room...something the dog doesn't like, every time there is a nipping episode.

I am not opposed from negative feed back, above being the softest, I'd also consider a swat with a lighly rolled news paper, something that makes more noise than hit.

I would worry that the pup many not just "grow out ot it" as dogs like to be dominate - usually the larger dog, but not if the larger dog is particularly docile. This isn't what I'd expect a Black Lab to be, but shows how little I know.