ankle nipping posted by Susan M

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hi Susan~ This is typical puppy behavior. Everytime your pup grabs your pants, stop & ignore him. I know it sounds weird but your pup really wants to play & wants your attention. So by stopping & ignoring you are taking away the 2 things he really wants. If he's really persistent with the nipping step over a baby gate or go behind a door for 30 seconds or so.
Remeber to reward him for polite non biting behavior.


Anyone have any tips on stopping Sam from grabbing our pants leg as we walk? It's done in play, but very annoying, and I want it to stop. He still has some issues with being nippy and mouthy when playing (he's a 13wk.old Scottie) but yelping and removing myself seems to help with that.
I tried the water gun a couple of times, but he thinks that's fun!
Susan

[Susan Medlin]

Hey Melissa,
I took your advice this morning when Sammy grabbed my pants! His reaction was so funny--he grabbed and pulled,(that didn't work) so he nudged me, (that didn't work either) so he backed up and barked! The look on his face during all this was too funny! It did seem to work, tho, I finally walked away, and he just followed along!
Thanks,
Susan

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hi Susan~

What you experienced is called an extinction burst. Biting your ankles has always worked for Sammy in the past; Sammy bites ankles, Sammy gets attention. This morning he didn't get attention so he tried even harder to get your attention, little stinkers aren't they? Continue to ignore the ankle biting & everything else he might try & you will exceed in extinguishing the annoying ankle biting ;)
Hey Melissa,
I took your advice this morning when Sammy grabbed my pants! His reaction was so funny--he grabbed and pulled,(that didn't work) so he nudged me, (that didn't work either) so he backed up and barked! The look on his face during all this was too funny! It did seem to work, tho, I finally walked away, and he just followed along!
Thanks,
Susan