Advice wanted: 8 month old poodle nipping

**sweetlittle** · 02-24-2008, 05:56 PM

We have an 8 month old male poodle that we got one month ago from a shelter. He has been a great addition to our family and very nice. He is great with us but this week he has been getting nippy. And today we have had company that he nipped at, two children! He has not broken anyones skin, thank goodness. This just started and I want to "nip it in the bud" so to speak. Any advice???? Please help. I don't want to have a dog that will nip at children with our house hold. Thank you so much!

**PrairieRose** · 02-24-2008, 07:59 PM

I have a poodle that doesn't care for children. She won't nip but just won't let them get close enough to her to touch her. I would be quick to pick him up, hold him by with the scruff of his neck (not supporting his body weight in this manner but to subdue him like his mother would) and tell him in a harsh NO! Bad boy! and then put him in his pet taxi or kennel for a time out. It might be a good idea to keep him in the kennel when children are around. I *think* he's just being protective of your family honestly but it is a behaviour that you can't tolerate. You might also check into obedience classes near you. Poodles are such great pets, I hope you can work this out. He's extremely smart, isn't he?

**Persimmon Lace** · 02-24-2008, 10:20 PM

He's still a puppy so I would sternly tell him no and make him submit. He's still looking for someone to be his pack leader so to speak and that needs be you. If he gets that way with family members it needs to corrected immediately. We do use the "bite" method of Cesar's for Bella and it works for her.

We raised poodles and they will "take" over and show dominance so that needs to be corrected, taking him for walks and making sure he knows his position in the family. If they were screaming at him or lunging or something he may also have thought they were playing and it was a play nip. Both kinds of nipping need to be stopped. But both kids and puppy need to be instructed on how to play with each other. My parents showed us how to play with our dogs what to/not to do and our dogs were well trained. We did the same with our kids as well.

**sweetlittle** · 02-25-2008, 09:08 AM

Thank you for your posts. I appreciate them. This is the first time I have had a poodle. First time I have had a small-dog puppy. I've had older small dogs (from shelters) and I grew up with large dogs so this behavior has been somewhat of a mystery to me.

He plays very nicely with our children and we haven't had any trouble with him but when these other children were here and the kids (ages 3-8) were running, screaming, and acting crazy he wanted to join in. He was running beside them, wagging his tail and nipping at their hands and backs. I understand that he is wanting to play but I can't tolerate that behavior! I grabbed him right after he nipped the little girls back and forced his head to the ground and sternly told him no. I held him in this position for a short time because I thought that he needed to stop and this would show him "dominance"....was I wrong? maybe I should as Prarie roses stated to hold him by the back of the neck. I'll try that next time. I can see that he wants controll and does what he wants more than other breeds I've worked with.

Any other advice? I'd gladly take it.

**mommy4ever** · 02-25-2008, 09:33 AM

The nipping is play. He wanted to rough house. However he needs to learn when rough play is acceptable. We have a small dog too, well 20lbs, not tiny, but not big at all. The only people she can play like that with is my hubby, and FIL. I don't like playing that way.

If he is having trouble learning that, there something called a head collar, you can use it for learning. Our dog is horrible on a leash, but with this one she is at my side and not pulling. Because if she does, it turns her head to look at me..lol.

Our dog is showing things we don't like. It's a dominance thing, so we put her on the leash in the house. I was being very firm, and keeping her leashed to me for part of the day to show her I can and will control her movements when she's disobedient, nippy and snarly, with 4 kids I don't blame her, but she's a dog, not a person. With a younger dog, they recommend just leaving them on the leash and be within reach to control inappropriate behaivior. Free movement, but say he's about to jump to greet some one, (normal behaviors, but not always appreciated by guests), you take the leash and tug, it turns them to you and you can tell them sit-stay. Same with the nipping. If he starts playing rough, pull the leash and sit-stay.

But it sounds these kids encouraged thebehavior, unwittingly, so he saw something new and wanted to play rough too! Not being bad as perhaps unaware.

**mommy4ever** · 02-25-2008, 09:34 AM

YOu took control of the situation, so you weren't wrong. Poodles are very intelligent..lol. TO the point they can be difficult to train if you aren't persistent and consistent. So you did the right thing.

**SewCrafty** · 02-25-2008, 10:23 AM

Here you go http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/ I think Cesar Milan is the BEST!

You did the right thing. But I think what he does is put the puppy on his back and holds him down, just like his momma would do when he is being bad. When he relaxes and 'submits' to you, then let him up. May take a few minutes, not more, remember he is a baby. Good luck, sounds like you have it under control.

**Persimmon Lace** · 02-25-2008, 11:17 AM

I also used the leash with my dogs in the house and could correct behaviour with a gentle but firm tug and a firm NO! The only thing about the scruff of the neck on small dogs is that they are delicate and I would use a different approach like the leash. He'll get it. Bella was a chewer/nipper and very hardheaded but we used Cesar's techniques and worked on her. Nothing like being a 100% heinz 57 terrier! But she's smart and she's figured out what the limits are. Just remember he's still in puppy stage and trying to learn about the pack!

**AmeliaM** · 02-25-2008, 06:28 PM

I have actually nipped my dog's(and cats') ears when they would bite and they actually learned that it hurt. They do have a play bite ,but they only do it w adults(like when we play w them). My dog is almost 9 and she will start to lick a kids hands if they are pulling on her or she'll get up and move. Also if he was ever picked on by kids before you got him that could affect his behavior though he is young enough to learn it's a no-no. It does sound like he's just getting super excited and playing rough. Dogs play bite and growl when they are playing esp as puppies. Have the kids play w him in a calm matter also...they are obv more all over the place than your kids and he doesn't know them as well....so they are new playmates and some dogs will 'forget' their manners in the excitement(my dog is terrible for not wanting to greet people or animals...even when I have her outside on a leash and she's going potty...I've had so many people laugh at that)