Biting !
My Mini Schnauzer is 1 year, 3 months old. She still has what others call "puppy bites" but I'm worried that she won't grow out of it... and she's starting to hurt!
I have plenty of bones, ropes and other things for her to chew on, but she is always biting my hands. I've read the previous posts on biting and googled it.. and when she bites I yelp like a puppy and ignore her--but it only seems to excite her more. High pitched noises excite her.
Over the past few weeks she's actually starting to hurt. I read somewhere to say, "Close your mouth" and gently hold her mouth shut while praising her, which I've been doing for the last couple months, then as soon as I let go she nips at me again. However, when I say "close your mouth" she settles down a bit and maybe doesn't bite as hard, but she still puts teeth on me.
One thing I've noticed is when she wants to play, or wants something (like a giant ham on the counter) she will stare at it and click her teeth, like.. bite the air. If she wants to play she will look at me, then bite the air, as if to say "Come ON, throw the ball!" I don't know if this is related...
Her biting is always in play or excitement, it's never mean. I just don't know how to combat it. I've yelped bloody murder and she just doesn't seem phased. Any suggestions?
I have plenty of bones, ropes and other things for her to chew on, but she is always biting my hands. I've read the previous posts on biting and googled it.. and when she bites I yelp like a puppy and ignore her--but it only seems to excite her more. High pitched noises excite her.
Over the past few weeks she's actually starting to hurt. I read somewhere to say, "Close your mouth" and gently hold her mouth shut while praising her, which I've been doing for the last couple months, then as soon as I let go she nips at me again. However, when I say "close your mouth" she settles down a bit and maybe doesn't bite as hard, but she still puts teeth on me.
One thing I've noticed is when she wants to play, or wants something (like a giant ham on the counter) she will stare at it and click her teeth, like.. bite the air. If she wants to play she will look at me, then bite the air, as if to say "Come ON, throw the ball!" I don't know if this is related...
Her biting is always in play or excitement, it's never mean. I just don't know how to combat it. I've yelped bloody murder and she just doesn't seem phased. Any suggestions?