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Bayoucorgi · 01-08-2007, 08:18 AM

I couldn't sleep after reading these posts. First, let me say I am not a self-proclaimed dog "expert", but I have 30 years of dog training experience. I have trained competitive dogs to the highest levels of obedience and done extensive work with dog rescue and rehab. Dogs I've bred were in movies and were accepted in to Guiding Eyes programs.

This is serious. This is a 4-month old puppy biting a Junior Member as well as family members hard enough to break skin and cause wounds. This dog could become dangerous. And my years in dog rescue tell me that a dangerous dog is a dead dog.

You must get professional or experienced hands-on help with this dog. Can you contact the person who bred this dog? Are their similar issues with the parents or siblings? Can that person help you with this problem? Is there anyone who trains dogs and specializes in behavioral rehab anywhere near you? An experienced dog person should evaluate this dog in person and determine why it bites so it can be stopped.

From the dog's age and the description of the biting incidents this SEEMS like it might be a dominance issue in contrast to aggression, fear-biting, mental illness, or territorial biting. But this is not a single-incident accidental over-zealous play bite either.

The fact that the dog bites again and sometimes immediately after "correction" means that the correction is not adequate.

I am not adverse to holding the dog down in a submissive position (alpha roll), but this sometimes has to be taken to complete submission to be effective and some dogs will fight this VERY hard, and can be dangerous if you are not physically and emotionally strong enough to subdue and control the dog.

Yelping or acting hurt may work on a sensitive dog that cares that it is biting and has a conscience. This does not appear to be effective here.

First, you must decide that you will not be bitten again. No matter what.

Evaluate the biting situations. If it happens when you play with the other dog, you must crate or control the corgi while you play with the other dog. You must not have an uncontrolled situation.

Establish your "alpha-ness" and control over this puppy now. Start a puppy massage routine to touch the puppy gently ALL over its body. Roll the dog on its back, gently but firmly restraining it. If begins to get wild, crate it until it calms down.

Exercise the dog extensively. Long walks and fetch 'til you drop everyday. No tug of war or fight games.

The puppy must wear a leash and collar (that it cannot slip) whenever you are interracting with it - even in the house. This will give you an additional handle in an uncontrolled situation. If things get wild, you pick up the leash quietly and firmly and pick the leash straight up. I am NOT advocating hanging the dog. This is only to keep it from biting you.

Whenever the dog puts its mouth on you, you must correct it. No play bites, or excuses are acceptable. I use a muzzle shake. I grab the dog's muzzle firmly and shake it roughly while looking the dog straight in the eye and command it to stop. Use "out", "no", "stop", "quit", or "enough" in a harsh, even, quiet voice. You should hold the dog's collar with your other hand while doing this so that it cannot break free. Do not let go. You must win every time. You must hold the muzzle hard enough and shake long enough and roughly enough that the dog breaks eye contact first. The dog may yelp and whine and act hurt because it wants to manipulate you into letting go. I know that you cannot possibly squeeze a dog's nose hard enough to damage it. The puppy must know that you will enforce your "no mouth contact" limit. If you've ever seen a dog mom correct a biting puppy, you will see that she will bite it hard enough to make sure it understands that the behavior will not be tolerated.

I do not propose any violence or harm for correction. But sometimes corrections must be as unpleasant as the offense to be effective.

Please keep us posted if you are making progress.

01-08-2007, 08:18 AM	#12 (permalink)
Bayoucorgi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 207 Images: 8	I couldn't sleep after reading these posts. First, let me say I am not a self-proclaimed dog "expert", but I have 30 years of dog training experience. I have trained competitive dogs to the highest levels of obedience and done extensive work with dog rescue and rehab. Dogs I've bred were in movies and were accepted in to Guiding Eyes programs. This is serious. This is a 4-month old puppy biting a Junior Member as well as family members hard enough to break skin and cause wounds. This dog could become dangerous. And my years in dog rescue tell me that a dangerous dog is a dead dog. You must get professional or experienced hands-on help with this dog. Can you contact the person who bred this dog? Are their similar issues with the parents or siblings? Can that person help you with this problem? Is there anyone who trains dogs and specializes in behavioral rehab anywhere near you? An experienced dog person should evaluate this dog in person and determine why it bites so it can be stopped. From the dog's age and the description of the biting incidents this SEEMS like it might be a dominance issue in contrast to aggression, fear-biting, mental illness, or territorial biting. But this is not a single-incident accidental over-zealous play bite either. The fact that the dog bites again and sometimes immediately after "correction" means that the correction is not adequate. I am not adverse to holding the dog down in a submissive position (alpha roll), but this sometimes has to be taken to complete submission to be effective and some dogs will fight this VERY hard, and can be dangerous if you are not physically and emotionally strong enough to subdue and control the dog. Yelping or acting hurt may work on a sensitive dog that cares that it is biting and has a conscience. This does not appear to be effective here. First, you must decide that you will not be bitten again. No matter what. Evaluate the biting situations. If it happens when you play with the other dog, you must crate or control the corgi while you play with the other dog. You must not have an uncontrolled situation. Establish your "alpha-ness" and control over this puppy now. Start a puppy massage routine to touch the puppy gently ALL over its body. Roll the dog on its back, gently but firmly restraining it. If begins to get wild, crate it until it calms down. Exercise the dog extensively. Long walks and fetch 'til you drop everyday. No tug of war or fight games. The puppy must wear a leash and collar (that it cannot slip) whenever you are interracting with it - even in the house. This will give you an additional handle in an uncontrolled situation. If things get wild, you pick up the leash quietly and firmly and pick the leash straight up. I am NOT advocating hanging the dog. This is only to keep it from biting you. Whenever the dog puts its mouth on you, you must correct it. No play bites, or excuses are acceptable. I use a muzzle shake. I grab the dog's muzzle firmly and shake it roughly while looking the dog straight in the eye and command it to stop. Use "out", "no", "stop", "quit", or "enough" in a harsh, even, quiet voice. You should hold the dog's collar with your other hand while doing this so that it cannot break free. Do not let go. You must win every time. You must hold the muzzle hard enough and shake long enough and roughly enough that the dog breaks eye contact first. The dog may yelp and whine and act hurt because it wants to manipulate you into letting go. I know that you cannot possibly squeeze a dog's nose hard enough to damage it. The puppy must know that you will enforce your "no mouth contact" limit. If you've ever seen a dog mom correct a biting puppy, you will see that she will bite it hard enough to make sure it understands that the behavior will not be tolerated. I do not propose any violence or harm for correction. But sometimes corrections must be as unpleasant as the offense to be effective. Please keep us posted if you are making progress.