12 week old puppy likes to bark and growl at me when corrected or for no reason

[Brenda Bayer]

I got this puppy from my son, it is in my house on a trial basis. She seems pretty smart and is getting the basic commands sit,down off, quiet ect after only 5 days. I am concerned in two areas. First of all the dog is mixed breed from what I was told German shepard and brindle lab she is brindle in color and I am concerned she might be part pit bull. One problem I am having is that she sometimes barks growls and bears her teeth at me when I correct her. I dont let her on the couch for instance and today I repeated told her off and down, after about four times of telling her to get down and taking her off the couch she bared her teeth at me jumped aroud barking and growling, I corrected her when she did this by telling her no and she would try to bite me and come at me.When she tries to bite I take her by the collar firmly grasp her mouth hold it closed and tell her no bite. Is this normal behavior for a puppy to act crazy like that? Problem 2 is I have two younger disabled children 7 and 8 and the puppy thinks it can chew on them and everyone else how do I get the puppy to listen to them and not to bite hands and jump on them,Icant keep a dog that bites, will she grow out of this??

[Lyssa]

I am not sure that holding the puppy's mouth closed will stop the biting behavior. It might encourage the biting; she will get some attention (albeit not good) for her actions. Dogs don't like it when you forcefully close their mouths. That frightens a dog and it may provoke snapping/biting.

My pup tried to mouth a lot about a month ago (when he was 10 weeks-12 weeks). But I found out he lost some of his baby teeth and just needs teething bones, so I try to stop him when he does mouth my other dog. I have a coffee tin that holds our loose change; I shake it and firmly say NO and that stops both of my dogs from playing rough. If they continue I place whoever started it (usually puppy) in the bathroom for 1 minute. I then let him out and if he continues playing rough I do it again. I keep doing this, and coffee tin, until he can sit properly without jumping around.

He still sometimes tries to jump around and bite his leash to go outside. But I just ignore it until he calms down and sits for me. I will not put the leash on him when he jumps or mouths.

Any type of larger breed dog will bite/mouth as a puppy (that I have seen, ofc this is not all cases). I grew up with some labs who did that as young pups and even a Cocker who did it as well.

***I am not a Dog Behaviorist so if anyone has any other insight please post - or if I had a method wrong ty***

[Delilah]

I held Delilah's mouth closed and said no bite too. If I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't. A friend would just say 'ouch!' in a high pitched voice whenever the dogs teeth touched her skin and that seemed to work. I think it may be a pit thing, when D. is excited she opens her mouth like she's smiling big and puts her mouth near you and sometimes the teeth touch skin and I say 'Ow' and she moves. She's not trying to bite, the bullies I know nip alot but its not aggression just play. Unfortunately for our safety we have to teach them not to do it. And give lots and lots and lots of chew toys. I recommend raw bones, they last. And you should see Delilahs teeth, super white and never had a cleaning.

[Lyssa]

Yes I've read to do the "ouch" thing. I have tried it but it's really funny. He stops but looks at me really funny then tries to jump and lick me to make sure I'm ok, LOL. I will keep trying if he nips but you're right. Since he will be a big dog and is a "bully" mix it's better that I can prevent any type of biting that could go the wrong way. BTW I would do this with any large dog and this includes my lab (but I got her when she was 1 y/o no nipping from her).

[Delilah]

First off, if the German Shepherd doesn't concern you why does the pitbull? She is mixed with a lot of intelligence, loyalty, energy, and I believe both breeds know someone has to be the leader and if the human doesn't do it, she will. It has only been a week, don't give up. With patience and consistency she will be a great dog. Messing with the children should never be allowed--disabled or not. When my pit mix was about 4-5 months she growled at my daughter and I fimly held her in a lay position with a sharp NO! I then completely ignored her and hugged, kissed and 'petted' my daughter. She started licking my daughter and then I went overboard praising her for it. She has never growled at another kid since. You are new to her and I think it's good to focus on the positive--giving lots of praise for behaviors you like. Focus more on good behaviors than bad unless its something serious like the kids. You have been blessed, with the right training she can assist you in caring for the kids! But if you dont have the time to give her the training she needs (which would be completely understandable with the children) find a local rescue--one that specializes in shepherds or pits.

[Brenda Bayer]

She does seem very intelligent and loyal, I carry treats in my pocket all day and constantly praise her when she listens. If I tell her no when shes going to chew on something she listens and stops and then I praise her. she sits and waits for her leash to come on and off at the door.I have a large crate which she enters and leaves all day, at night I tell her cage and she goes in. She dosent cry at night and had very few accidents in the house. I have her on a feeding and potty schedule which is working very well. I think my son and his friends played with their hands with her that is why she is always trying to mouth and I am constantly correcting her sometimes- she listens immediately and sometimes she ignores me and I have to pull her down and i hold her mouth shut for a second tell her no bite. Is holding her mouth shut and telling her no, wrong; when she insists on continuing to bite when I tell her not to? I have lots of services for my children and they are in school all day since I am currently home most of the time it is an ideal time for me to train a pup but I really want to do it correctly and there seems to be such a variety of training techniques out there. My son couldnt keep the pup in his apartment so thats how I ended up with her. I couldnt see another animal going into the already crowded shelters.Perhaps I am more worried about its temperment as far as a shepherd or pitbull is concerned. I had shepherds in the past and am unfamiliar with pit bulls ,my shepherd was very friendly to everyone with a great temperment It might be mixed with a brindle lab but which is what he told me but my son isnt sure. I would like this pup to do as well. I will try the holding her down and ignoring trick and also the can trick, but is it better to use the same reprimand or a variety of them?? I agree with you on the idea of positive reinforcement, but will she listen to the children when they tell her no or just me?? I want her to learn to listen to anyone that corrects her.

[Belles]

Hi Brenda,

I think you posted this in another spot too.. I commented over there. It's confusing when there are more than one post going for the same topic. Anyway, good luck with the puppy. Maybe I've confused you with someone else. I think my brain turned off a half hour ago. LOL