bitter apple spray

[bunnaaay5]

Can someone please tell me where I can buy bitter apple spray because the little puppy keeps nipping at my hands!

[woofgang]

Don't think it will help!! When we got our first puppy, the breeder gave us a good tip BUT it only works if you have short fingernails.

When the puppy nips, tickle the roof of his mouth with your finger and say calmly "gently" Puppy will gag a bit like you would and ease off. When he has learnt the command, you can use it to teach him to hold other things gently and not chew at everything. If the little chap (girl) is teething then do give her sometthing that she can chew on.

If puppy nipped his mum too hard, she would growl and push him off then ignore him which you can also try, but be gentle with the push off as puppies are easily hurt.

[drgnrdr]

You did not say what kind of dog you have, how old they are, or what you've tried already.(And Bitter Apple is only effective for about 95% of dogs, your putting a band aid on this problem with it, you'll have to have the stuff on your hand for awhile).But here goes a general answer with what you've given..You need to do what other dogs do, yip like you have been mortally wounded, a high pitch "YIP!!!"( or if they don't respond to high pitch one try different tones until you find a response) and when they stop and look at you, some will lick your hand in an appeasement ritual, which is good, (make sure you hand is not in their mouth, when you put toy in there) and find a toy and put it to their mouth and then PRAISE them for chewing on that. Try not to have any rough games (wrestling, slapping around their face, getting down on floor with them, acting like another dog on floor...etc) with your puppy, make sure NO ONE rough plays with them. Any time you interact with the puppy have a toy handy and put that in their mouth, if they try to chew on toy and get your hand "YIP!!" and take yourself and toy away, game ends. Puppies need to stay with their mom and litter mates until they are minimum of 8 weeks old, it's better if they stay there till they are 10 weeks old, but most people don't wait that long to get rid of them, it is more finacially better to get them off before the shots and feeding them solid food comes around, but it is a detriment to their development, that we suffer for, their mates and mom would teach them the major part of mouthing inhibition, but now you have to do it.

Leaving game tells them to back off the bite or fun stops. when they stop biting you praise them big time with the game, let them know what is the acceptable behavior not just what the unacceptable stuff is, they won't know unless you TEACH them. Find a class (PR) in your area.

[drgnrdr]

Oh sorry, where do you live, bitter apple is at your closest pet store if your in the USA but if your in the UK or somewhere I have no ideal unless they have a pet store (or whatever they call it over there) near you. If you try to use it and your dog likes it, stop using it, they can get sick from ingesting to much of it.

I realized when I posted that I didn't answer the original question.....apologies...by gones...

[bunnaaay5]

Thank you for all your help. I have tried to tickle the roof of his mouth and doesn't seem to have too much effect. Stupid Thing!

I have "Yip" as per the second comment and he does look at me with his stupid face, so I am hoping that will help my case. Only time will tell.

He is a 5 and half month old Springer Spaniel so I beleive that he is going to be very active when he gets older! Fantastic!

He can't quite make it through the night with regards to the toliet, but he asks to go and stands by the stairs and then by the back door which is great, that is if you don't sleep through it!

It's all a learning curve and hard work, but he is a lovely dog and thanks to your sugguestions it is making it easier and interesting. I start dog training lessons shortly which will be a great help and a clicker is in the post! Bless him

[drgnrdr]

After YIP, if he looks at you and maybe licks your hand or wants to lick your face, he is offering an appeasement gesture for hurting you, give him a calm "good boy" and then....Don't forget to put a toy in his mouth and PRAISE him for chewing on toy. If he has a habit of coming up and chewing on you, have a toy handy and before he can even get to your hand, put the toy IN his mouth and praise him when he chews on it. This shows him what you want, they don't know unless you teach them. good luck...