Great Pyreneese Mouthing

by Haley
(Tulsa)

We have a seven month old Great Pyreneese with a little bit of Anatolian in him. We got him at six weeks, and mouthing and biting has always been an issue. From the beginning, we would try all sorts of different tactics to get him to stop biting, such as yelping and stop playing with him, using tea tree oil or bitter Apple to deter him from biting, grabbing his nose and giving a firm no. He has basically stopped, but when playing, or when he's really excited when people come over he begins mouthing again and has bitten hard enough to hurt. He also does this when he is being scolded, and will begin to get aggressive. He especially does this when he grabs an item he's not supposed to have and I take it away. When he does this, I make him go in his crate as a time out , and when time out is finished he doesn't usually resume the behavior. He's a very sweet dog, but he can be very dominant and possessive, I'm not sure if this is him trying to exercise his dominance. I hoped that he would outgrow this behavior, as I have wracked my brain trying to figure out ways to make him stop biting. It worries me, as he is already way too big to be doing this, and although he is being playful when doing it, I worry as he gets bigger that he could really hurt someone. Thanks so much for your help!

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Aug 07, 2016
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by: Great Pyrenees Club

Six weeks is too young for a pup to be taken from its mother. Eight weeks is when they are ready to go to their new home.

Those 8 weeks are crucial for it to be with its mom. They are learning many things including the crucial bite inhibition. Mouthing can usually be worked with but biting is a problem.

You have been doing some of the right things.

Do not punish a dog by putting it in its crate. They do not understand this. That crate is to be his safe place.

Do not grab his nose. Never be aggressive or scold your dog since, with guardian livestock dogs, as you have seen, leads to aggression right back.

Bring in a positive-reinforcement trainer to help you learn how to manage your dog. They can assess his behaviour and work with you.

Ensure it is a positive-reinforcement trainer (uses Dr. Sophia Yin, Dr. Ian Dunbar and Bev Hurst's training methods - clicker training)so that it's reward for good behaviour and redirect for unwanted behaviour. Never is their punishment involved.

Best of luck.
Aug 08, 2016
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by: Anonymous

could he be teething? Would a kong toy frozen with some peanut butter (Note: make sure it is xylitol free) make him feel better? Don't punish him. They are too sensitive.

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