Dog people...Need help: Biting and Chewing

[Bottomfeeder]

Hey guys, I know there are a good number of dog people here, and I need some help.
My dog (11 month old Italian Greyhound/Terrier mix) has a problem with biting. It's more play nipping, the only time he actually bit (scratched) someone was my friend was teasing him. But still, we need to make him cut the nipping habit.
Also, he tends to chew on things...pillows, blankets, shoes, remotes, phones, etc, as well as eating things he finds outside, like chicken bones.
Does anyone know how we can get him to kick the above actions? There is a trainer coming tomorrow, but I would like to know what you guys would do.

 

[fishy12]

its natural for pups to teth or wht ever its proper spellind is.
Not rlly sure nvr had a problem with it

 

[smpage]

When my chihuahua used to bite I just bit her back. Ended the problem right then and there.

 

[phillydog1958]

tell your friends to stop teasing him. teasing provokes biting. he's a pack animal and you need to take charge and become leader of the pack. right now, he thinks he might be the leader. take charge. also, he needs some chew toys. he's still a pup, at only 11 months. don't buy the leather chew toys. buy the nylabone. leather can be chewed to the point of your dog swalloing pieces. when he chews on an item that you don't want him to chew on, you've got to give him a stearn "NO!"

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

Terrier breeds nip, there's no way around it - any level of excitement is going to get that kind of behavior. They are a herding breed, they nip at the ankles of animals to keep the herd together.

As far as chewing things up, you just need to be assertive and on top of it - if you aren't around to correct the action the moment it's happening do not bother. The second you see that kind of behavior going on administer a correction.

If you correct an animal after the fact it sends a mixed message and they don't understand what they're doing wrong. Then when you go to correct an action after catching them in the act they think you're just doing it for the sake of doing it.

If your friends want to tease the dog they deserve a bite IMO.

If you don't have time for this kind of training you can always send the dog to a trainer for two weeks as well. Which may or may not help.

 

[Tropicalfishking]

He could just be bored. Try some training, you know like, sit, lie down, paw, shake.
Get some toys for him to chew on. When you see him chewing on something you don't want him to take it away and put one of his chew toys right infront of him. When he chews on that toy that you gave him give him a treat. That way he know that he will get a treat when he chews on his toys, so it is positive. Then slowly give treats less often.

It worked for my australian shepherd.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

tell your friends to stop teasing him. teasing provokes biting. he's a pack animal and you need to take charge and become leader of the pack. right now, he thinks he might be the leader. take charge. also, he needs some chew toys. he's still a pup, at only 11 months. don't buy the leather chew toys. buy the nylabone. leather can be chewed to the point of your dog swalloing pieces. when he chews on an item that you don't want him to chew on, you've got to give him a stearn "NO!"

We try the "NO" part, and it usually only stops him for a minute or two. In his defense, he was a shelter dog until now, and so has had no training whatsoever. And I agree with the teasing part as well. I can say now that my dog and my friend will have a little vacation from eachother (well, my friend's family is now afraid of the dog...go figure.)
Oh, and he has a few nylabones. He actually destroyed one.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

[phillydog1958]

We try the "NO" part, and it usually only stops him for a minute or two. In his defense, he was a shelter dog until now, and so has had no training whatsoever. And I agree with the teasing part as well. I can say now that my dog and my friend will have a little vacation from eachother (well, my friend's family is now afraid of the dog...go figure.)
Oh, and he has a few nylabones. He actually destroyed one.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Good Luck. I'm sure the trainer will help in a trememdous way.

 

[phillydog1958]

By the way, as you know, nylabones come in various sizes. If he chewed his nylabone up too easily and with not much effort, it might mean that he needs a larger nylabone. The bigger the nylabone, the more effort it will take to chew it up. you want them to last for at least a few months.

 

[nomad]

research the "clicker" method (based on reward). that's how we turned our dog around.