Help with biting

[Peggy Jensen]

I am here once again with my ongoing saga of my Mickey, 3 yr. old mini-schnauzer. If I could get this one major problem under control, everything else would be wonderful! He is just cutest doggie in the whole world and I love him very much, but I don't know what else to try to get him not to bite when you have to do something he doesn't like. For example; and this is a little gross, he had some very loose stools, and since he is due for a grooming the hair back there is a little bit long and of course you can imagine the mess. Well when we came back in the house I tried to clean him up a little, bit - there is just no picking him up to go in the tub so that was out of the question, well I was going very slowly and trying to touch him closer to the area a little at a time, he did snarl and growl a couple of times, the next time I reached for him he nailed me good, I mean came at me after I jumped back and bit down hard. I didn't yell or punish him in anyway other than to leave the room (to wash off the blood and put on some ointment and band-aids). I have been practicing the NILIF and he is doing pretty good at minding, sitting, staying, coming when called, not pulling on his leash, etc. But this biting, I am sometimes very frustrated with it, and what I am really afraid of that he is going to bite someone else that just happens to touch him in the wrong way.
I'm wondering if I need to get some heavy gloves, like they have at the Vet's or the groomer sometimes uses, and just hold him and pick him and let him bite, most of the time once he is up and in the tub he settles down, but I don't know if that is a good way to go.
Any opinions?

[Amber]

I've heard that if you jump back every time he does it, then he's going to learn that THAT is the behavior to do every time someone is doing something that he does not like. Does that make sense? lol...it was a little wordy...

Anyway...Heavy gloves may help for a little while, but he'll be able to tell the difference and may still go after you when you don't have the gloves on. Is there someone that could help you by putting him on leash and holding it so that he cannot bite you when you clean him? That is a modified version of how we do it at the groomers. We don't use muzzles or leashes (or gloves unless really necessary). One person holds and the other person grooms (or cleans in this case).

I was watching Cesar Millan's "The Dog Whisperer" this morning and that is what he did. There was a West Highland Terrier who didn't like his butt touched...every time someone touched his butt (didn't matter who), he bit them. Cesar put the dog on a leash, held his head forward with one hand, and touch his rear end with the other. By the end of the session, the dog didn't mind it at all. She could do it during walks and everything.

You may want to try it.

[Alberta Hanko]

Hi Peggy - I can understand your dilemma with Mickey. My Linus did not like to be touched in many places, feet being a biggy, hated to have his collar held. He would grab our hands, not bite down, but I have to admit it sure made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I worried that he might bite sooner or later. We have worked with each area, by feeding him the very best of treats (chicken liver is a real favorite) cut into tiny little pieces, and would very slowly work towards the area, and click and treat for him being calm. Took a few session with the first one--feet. Now when we run into a snag we work on it right away, and he gets it quicker. I am able to cut his nails with no problem, and I practice grabbing his collar (not roughly just quickly) as part of our training exercises. With Mickey you should probably desensitize him to a muzzle (Renee Premaza has an article here about that), and pop treats in through the muzzle--so you won't get hurt while you are training him to enjoy your touch. Ah now if we could just get him to walk calmly past other dogs and men :-).

Alberta & Linus