Alright, bring the advice!!

[fullsizetrucks]

Harley is working out great in our house, but there is one little problem.  She is a nipper.  How do I break this in an adult dog.  With puppies it was easy and we never really had much of a problem, but she gets excited and nips at everything she can touch with her mouth.  Should I grab her muzzle when she does it and tell her no?  I am still getting to know her, and I don't want to do anything that will make her skittish, but with the child in the house, I have to break this habit.  The kid got "warned" the first night cause Harley was laying on the couch half asleep and my daughter started petting near her tail.  She snapped, but didn't make contact.  I think that it had to do with her still getting adjusted, but I don't want to assume that and then have something happen.  I know how to flip them on their backs for submission purposes, but my daughter can't, so how do I show Harley that Devin is higher in the pack then she is? 

I guess that really makes two things!

Oh, and on another note....due to the reason that she was surrendered to the shelter (too hyper), and the breed itself, I am suprised to find that now she just picks a spot in the living room and lays down.  Maybe a few mins of playing and jumping with the boys when they first come back inside, but other than that she is very calm and....well lazy!  Any ideas?

[schelmischekitty]

we have our 3 year old do obedience, sit down stay, etc.  also, with the halti leads he can walk the dogs for the most part.  it really helps assert dominance to them from HIM, not us.  as for nipping, i'd try the water bottle!  good luck!

[fullsizetrucks]

My Devin is just over 8yrs old.  She loves the dogs so very much and loves playing with them!  I am definatly going to have her do some of the obedience training with her.  It is hard for her to understand that we can't play with Harley too much till we get to know her better. 

As for the nipping...the squirt bottle and a strong command is what I think I am going to try.  I keep enough "dog stuff" right by the door, what is adding a squirt bottle to it?!  

I hope that she really is content and happy here...we love her soooo much already!  My husband is deployed and he is super excited to see her when he gets home.  Pretty jealous too that we get to spend so much time with her!!!   He really misses the furkids.  Do you guys think she would get his scent and be comfortable with it if I had him send home a tshirt or something before he got home?  That way he wouldn't be a complete stranger to her....just an idea.

[schelmischekitty]

i would think it would help, just keep it in a ziplock.  also a video, so she can hear his voice, maybe have him say her name.  this is nice for you and your kid (s) too!  our dr suggested this each time my hubby deployed.

[fullsizetrucks]

I am very happy to report that in only one day the nipping has almost stopped!  We spent yesterday with strong commands, and making everyone sit and calm down for a few seconds after they came in the house and today there has not been one instance of nipping!!!  My daughter and I spent some time last night reinforcing her place in the pack by having her stand in another room and call the dogs from me.  She gave them treats and made them follow commands!  I was very proud of her, but she has to work on her "strong voice"!  Thank you everyone for your advice! 

Oh, and my hubby is sending an unwashed tshirt home in the next package and is already insisting on time alone with her when he gets home!

[Lyn]

My hubby taught Bubba to play tug by hooking your fingers around his fangs and he'd pull. The problem was that Bubba started grabbing everyones fingers attempting to get them to play tug. Most people though he was trying to nip them. So I had to stop that asap. The water bottle worked pretty good when I remembered where I put it. LOL Otherwise a down-stay was effective too.

I'm a firm believer of getting children involved in basic obedience. It's helped immensely with 'pack order' in my house. Lola is submissive to all of us, so no problems with her but Bubba was a thorn in my side for ages, he still is sometimes. haha He was expecially stubborn with my son. But since involving him with obedience he can get Bubba to do anything. He needs to work on the strong voice too. But I stand by to help him if needed.

[schelmischekitty]

word of advice, don't get your 3 y/o to do "shake" with your big paws, it causes a LOT of trouble with getting knocked over, scratched, especially when your big paw wants to shake with a random kid at the store ha ha.

[fullsizetrucks]

Good call!  This is the place for wise words of wisdom!  I am still finding things that sound good in theory, but in reality don't work too well...for example:

Me and Hubby: Lets put a 4 inch body lift on the truck...we have big dogs and it won't be an issue. 

Just ME:  Okay, so why do I have to give the 125lbs dane a boost EVERY time to get him in the back seat?  Ahhh..lesson learned, and learned, and learned again each time we go anywhere!!!

[schelmischekitty]

lmaooooo i'll put that in my book!  i was actually considering it for my truck lmao, guess if i do i'll get a ramp!

[mynameislola]

Ramps are great.  It is the only way to get any of our big dogs into the back of my VW Beetle. The little dogs use them to get onto the beds.

[Saint and Mal mom]

Glad to hear Harley's nipping problem is being resolved! Practice, practice, practice. That'll do it!