Biting...

[tons_911]

So, Jolie still bites a little, mainly when she is in a hyper mood... I know most of the time it's because she is playing but she is 6.5 months old, and she can bite sometimes a little hard depending on what you are playing.

I always so No bite, without using my hands and she stops, but I am worried if little kids play with her because Jolie is soooooooooo sweet, and loves kids that she will think they are playing with her and she will nibble.

and when I mean biting I mean nibbling more then anything

[Ann]

Yes I know what you are talking about Toby does the same thing but I guess the thing is if we keep an eye on them and jump on them when they do it it will eventually sink in.

I had a little christmas party with friends at my place on Saturday and a couple of my friends have children. Toby got excited when people turned up but then he settled down straight away which was really good. Then a little later in the night he was sitting up with the chidren on the lounge and he started getting excited and bitting and the children got a little frightened I went up to him and told him to drop down he did as he knew I was not happy with him then he stayed by my leggs the rest of the night.

So I guess it is just a case of showing them that your not happy and then they know not to do it. But I'm working on him not doing it at all.

Oh bye the way he didn't hurt the children they were just a little unsure I told them he wouldn't really bite them that he was just playing.

One thing though I think we must remember that they are dogs not people so we as their owners must keep them under control around others.

[Mai Tai]

I agree with Ann.  We, as owners are responsible for our pets' behavior.  Mai Tai got real nippy about 3 weeks ago, and my children were upset.  Again, just as you said, he did not bite, but actually nipped or nibbled, but it still hurt.  We would give a little high pitched yelp just like a littermate would to let him know he hurt us, then we would stop playing with him immediately.  As soon as he calmed down, we would play again, and if he licked us, we would praise him like crazy.  Now he likes to lick us, a little too much, I think, but it is much better than nipping...LOL.  My only real problem with Mai Tai is that he HATES HATES HATES to be left alone, and will pee, poop and vomit, if I leave him for more than an hour and a half or so.  I feel so bad for him, and I am not thrilled about the big clean up when I get home.  I have tried to get him used to us leaving by leaving him alone for small periods of time and gradually increasing the time we are gone, but so far about an hour and a half is his limit.  Any ideas?  I do not intend to leave him often, but sometimes I do have to be out for about 3 to 4 hours on rare occassions.

[Ann]

Could I ask if you leave a radio going or some thing that makes some sort of sound or do you have a big soft toy like a stuffed dog.

When we go out we leave the radio on and i went to a second hand store and bought a stuffed dog for five dollars (it looks like a sheep dog). Toby likes to cuddle up to it if we are gone for long periods. One thing though is if you do buy a stuffed toy make sure that there isn't anything that your puppy can chew off and choke on.

[Mai Tai]

I do leave the tv on for him for noise so he does not think he is all alone, but it does not seem to help.  I will have to try that stuffed animal thing though.  I will let you know how it goes.  Thanks