LuvtheShiloh
Forums Regular
Most of the time Shiloh takes food/treats from my hand nicely. Except when she's super excited about it...then kujo takes over and she takes my fingers off. How do I curb this behavior? Help please!
Those puppy teeth hurt!
- Thread starter LuvtheShiloh
- Start date
Ann
Moderator
Try feeding her a treat on the flat of your hand so she can't grab your fingers. It's the way we give the horses treats, and I've found it works for my treat biter too. He has to carefully and nicely take the treat if it's on my flat hand and can't bite.
Someone else may have a good method for retraining this behavior. I've tried several, but mine still grabs with his teeth if given the opportunity, so the flat hand method works for me.
Someone else may have a good method for retraining this behavior. I've tried several, but mine still grabs with his teeth if given the opportunity, so the flat hand method works for me.
corbinam
Moderator
I've heard that you can say "Gentle" or something like that, and if she snatches, she doesn't get the treat. Tell her "ouch!" then try again. I found it worked really quickly for Lexi because she knows the word "Ouch" (I use it when she accidentally touches me with her teeth when we're playing). But, when she's really amped up, she'll still snatch.
I don't know if this will work when there is already an issue, but we teach puppies with a piece of big chicken and only let a little show out of our pinched three fingers and we keep pushing out a little more as they take it nicely from the very tips of fingers. They nibble at it and learn they get it without snapping.
Oh and we say, "take it nicely"
Oh and we say, "take it nicely"
My method is very similar to RonandJan's. I am having the same problem here with Jasper,but every day it gets better.He gets so excited,that he will gobble your hand if you let him.
So the treat is in my hand,between my thumb & index finger.I make him sit,and my hand is put forward towards his mouth,only letting just a bit of the treat show.
My pinky finger is the closest finger to his mouth at this point,and I reinforce "take it nice".When I get him to nicely touch my pinky finger without being a maniac,I offer him the nibble of treat,but very slowly.I don't give it all to him. Still saying "take it nice".
Trapp has the most soft mouth I have ever seen in a dog.He will ever so gently take a treat,like tiny nibbles,he is always careful not to even let his teeth touch a hand.
I do also feed treats in order of pack dynamics.Earnhardt,Trapp,Jasper.I make Jasper sit,no wiggling allowed.
Oh and the other thing is that you can never be afraid to get nipped. If you pull your hand back fast or drop it, you are going to get teeth.
And Michele is very true when she says, in order of your pack if you have multiple pups. They can get snappy if that rule is not followed.
And Michele is very true when she says, in order of your pack if you have multiple pups. They can get snappy if that rule is not followed.
LuvtheShiloh
Forums Regular
Great ideas! Thanks ya'll. I tried the treat in my palm, and she still manages to be "fierce" with trying to take the treat 
. I've also tried putting the treat in between my thumb and forefinger, but I think I'll just let a little bit less out at a time. I don't have multiple dogs (not yet anyways! but shhh don't tell my boyfriend that 
) so don't have to worry about pack order quite yet!
. I've also tried putting the treat in between my thumb and forefinger, but I think I'll just let a little bit less out at a time. I don't have multiple dogs (not yet anyways! but shhh don't tell my boyfriend that ) so don't have to worry about pack order quite yet!Great ideas! Thanks ya'll. I tried the treat in my palm, and she still manages to be "fierce" with trying to take the treat
When you do try it,and your pinky finger is closest to her nose,if she lunges or gets excited,just gently take your finger,ever so lightly touch on her nose,and say "take it nice". It kinda redirects them and they are paying attention to that pinky finger for that split moment,you will have her undivided attention.
This is when a clicker comes in handy,as you will mark the calm behavior.
Then when you offer the piece of chicken by turning your hand with the chicken in between the thumb & index,and she takes it nice,click again & praise.
romeosangiovese
Forums Enthusiast
I read somewhere to hold a small spoon with the treat. If the dog bites hard, it's not too pleasant for them when they chomp down on a metal spoon and they learn very quickly not to! lol!
The way I did it was just to hold the treats so the dog can't get it right away and if the dog bites down hard I say PAIN! and walk away with the treat in hand still. If the dog licks my fingers holding the treat or mouths gently I release the treat into the dog's mouth. This takes the dog a while to get it tho', so be prepared for sore fingers!
The way I did it was just to hold the treats so the dog can't get it right away and if the dog bites down hard I say PAIN! and walk away with the treat in hand still. If the dog licks my fingers holding the treat or mouths gently I release the treat into the dog's mouth. This takes the dog a while to get it tho', so be prepared for sore fingers!