Corgi ...Snapping Turtle

[HAnn521]

I have a 9 month old welsh corgi. She is trained to a degree...she listens and learns very well. However, one problem still remains. She began to nip, snap, ankle bite at a very early age due to her instincts as a herding dog. Now biting and nipping has become her way of play, greeting, and everything else!

She greets new people and other dogs with her mouth wide open ready for a nip at fingers, feet, ankles. She wouldn't dare hurt anyone or another dog, but she thinks this behavior is fun play.

I have tried catching her in the act, popping her on the mouth and telling her NO!, but this isn't working as she is a smart and stubborn dog. Punishment rarely affects her.

Please give me some tips of your own on getting her to stop the biting and nipping! (if you have any)

[Peghead]

Hi HAnn521,

We have a 15 week old Staffie and are having exactly the same problem with her. The more we tell her off the more she tries to nip and bite so I've been trying to do some research aswell.

Apparently they only do this because they know it'll get your attention, the same as dogs that bark all the time, so if you don't give them your attention the theory is that they'll stop the behaviour. We're in the process of trying it and its seems to be helping, but its easier said than done!

If she nips you walk away from her and ignore her for 30 seconds - this means no eye contact or talking, not even a "No", so that she'll realise when ever she nips she gets ignored. If you're playing with her a she starts try swapping your hand or whatever she's biting for a toy and give her lots of praise when she bites the toy. If she carries on biting you then leave her alone and ignore her again.

It's supposed to take a few weeks for it to work, but we've been doing for just over a week and it seems like its starting to sink in with our pup. The problem is getting everyone else (family, friends) to reinforce what your doing otherwise it won't work as well.

I know how disheartening it is because you know how loving and cuddly your own dog is, but when they behave like that round other people it makes them look nasty even though they're just playing.

I hope this helps! Good luck!!!!! : )

[Trillipse]

teeth out.

[shaneystar]

Hi HAnn
How is Mazy!! Corgis are renowned for nipping .They were bred to herd cattle.My Mum had a couple many years ago now and they used to the same .Found this on the web for you.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pembrokecorgi.htm. Not a lot of help but interesting.
Shane sends Mazy a woof!!

[shaneystar]

That link does not work....Botheration! They say this site is not for the public domain but the address is
www.dogbreedinfo.com/pembrokecorgi.htm

[Kimmiebear]

When she nips you can try giving a loud (and i mean loud) ouch! sound like a child would if they really get hurt. Then completely ignore your dog. No eye contact and no talking after the ouch. This tells the pup that "That hurt, so I am not going to play anymore!" Make sure that everybody is on the same page with you when you train this or your dog could get very confusing signals.

[kandipop]

We tried the best method... sit in a chair, place your dog on its back between your legs. hold your dog by placing your thumbs in the arm pits of your dog and place your fingers across the neck to prevent the dog from biting or nipping your hands. Do this in such a way that you effectively pin your dog down between your legs but not too excessively otherwise you may cause harm... .
Restrain your dog for no longer than 30 mins or until your dog becomes relaxed and no longer struggles or cries.
This method enhances the fact that YOU are the dominant pack member
and NOT the other way round.
This DOES work and makes your dog better behaved and more sociable to be with. However, as with all things dog related, it does take time. My pup has stopped nipping after doing this just twice and is a lot more affectionate as she now knows her place within the family pack.

Any dog that nips or bites is NOT trying to get your attention... the dog is asserting its authority over YOU!

Give the above a try it has been proven by Professional trainers to work.
Always remember punishment never works because your dog doesn't understand it. Never Hit Your dog as this will make things 10 times worse.
Good luck and hope this works for you as it has for me :)