Quote:
Originally Posted by B17_Fan
To try and curb his behaviour we have tried the shake bottle or water squirt which didn't work as it wound him up further, so that went out the window.
We tried putting him out the room to wait til he calms down. This is still quite effective.
We try and redirect his attention onto toys if he bites us, but this doesn't always work.
We try to ignore him if he snaps at us or growls.
We ignore his barking, but sometimes he barks for so long that you just can't help but tell him to be quiet.
saying "ow" when being bitten doesn't work. It makes him more excited.
It is refreshing for someone to ask actually what steps we have taken. Rather than just accuse me of not taking heed.
I'll try think of more things that we do with him. It's late and my brains turning a bit mushy! lol  |
Ok. He's only very young, and I think you are simply trying too many things and not being consistent enough.
I would suggest
never using a rattle bottle or squirting water. Both are negative reinforcement, and your timing needs to be absolutely spot on. It also has the potential to make problems worse very quickly.
I would try the yelping and if yelping twice (be very high pitched and sound like a pup) doesn't work, then stand up and ignore him, if that doesn't work, leave the room. Wait outside for 10 seconds then come back in. Do not speak or say anything else. Make sure if he does stop biting when you yelp you say 'good boy' and play with him. You need to do this, and
only this every time he bites. Every single time. 100% consistentcy.
DO ignore the barking, every single time you eventually tell him to be quiet, especially if it is longer all the time, you are just training him that he needs to bark for
ages to get your attention.
Also, bear in mind extinction bursts. If your dog is doing something that previously got him attention (biting or barking) when the behaviour stops getting him the attention, he is going to try even harder to get attention.
This explains it quite well:
Nothing in Life is Free