Re: [PyrNet-L] Mouthing

[wetheri@emmanuel.edu (Ann K. Wetherilt)]

Brandy, I really like Doug's suggestion and can see that it would work for
most puppies. If you have a *really* persistent nipper, you might have to
be a little more insistent! Paddington, at 8 weeks and the next month,
loved to nip, and those teeth were really sharp! And he was incredibly
persistent with it--even the "mother knows best" technique of holding him
on his back until he gave in was only marginally effective. He soon
learned what he had to do (go limp, "surrender") to be released! Then
right back to nipping. Our trainer suggested that, instead of the
instinctive reaction of pulling away when he nipped, we should instead
actually push our hand, leg, whatever body part, further *in* to his
mouth. It worked like a charm. He really didn't like it, and we never had
to go to her next step, which would have been to push in and actually put
a finger further back in his throat. We always had an acceptable chew toy
handy as a replacement, and within a week or so there was no more biting,
or even mouthing.
Good luck!
Ann, Peg, Paddington and Ivy Rose