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!

Comments for Great Pyreneese Mouthing

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 07, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
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
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		He's a baby
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.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Great Pyrenees Questions.

CLICK TO FOSTER A PYR
PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE


Breaking News

RSS

  1. Maggie - Courtesy Posting

    Feb 22, 19 09:21 AM

    Courtesy Posting - ADOPTED We are so happy to announce that Maggie was adopted out of the shelter! DOB: 5. April 2017 Sweet Maggie, the big white fluffy,

    Read More

  2. Athena

    Feb 21, 19 06:25 PM

    *ADOPTED* There is something about these dogs that their fosters snap them up. Athena needed daily treatment to get her fistula under control. Her sweetness

    Read More

  3. Henry

    Feb 21, 19 06:23 PM

    *ADOPTED* It's not a surprise that Henri's fosters adopted him. They did the same thing last year with Snow. They were happy to have a male dog in the

    Read More

  4. Butler - Courtesy Posting

    Feb 21, 19 06:21 PM

    *ADOPTED* This boy was popular. We don't usually get seniors in but this boy needed a place and he found it. Congratulations to his new mom! She is retired

    Read More

  5. Yuki

    Feb 21, 19 04:09 PM

    *ADOPTION PENDING* Yuki has been in my foster care since early September. We are surprised that no one has given her time to adjust to a new family life.

    Read More

  6. Coat - Eating his own coat.

    Feb 20, 19 06:38 AM

    Hey, We have a wonderful 1 year old GP, but here lately he has started to eat his own fur when it sheds. I have not one clue as to why???? Can anyone

    Read More

  7. Yuki

    Feb 20, 19 06:27 AM

    *ADOPTING PENDING* DOB: March 24, 2015 Other Animals: Cats, chickens, other dogs so far Children: Yes Yuki is a beautiful girl and quite tiny for a

    Read More

  8. Behaviour - Bullying

    Feb 15, 19 06:42 AM

    Hello. Norman is a year and a half now, I got him at 8 weeks old from a farm where I met his brothers and parents. He is my first great Pyrenees and

    Read More