BOSTON TERRIER MALE PUP BITES CONSTANTLY

by Richard
(Japan)

He's 2 months old; we just got him 4 days ago. I bought a good medium sized crate today for his "den" and have a pen where we put him when he bites. He has started biting hands, feet, and face hard enough to draw blood. In fact just a few minutes ago he got a good bite in on my hand.

I'm trying the Ouch! No! approach and putting him in the pen when he bites, but it doesn't seem to help. I've got plenty of chew toys but he quickly loses interest in them. It's like a little Tasmanian devil is in the house now.

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BOSTON TERRIER MALE PUP BITES CONSTANTLY

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Jul 31, 2008
 Biting BT
by: Sandi

Boston Terriers do like to chew alot. I have plenty of bones and chew toys (as a matter of fact, Miloh has his own toy box) When I first got Miloh, he was 2 months old also. I have never allowed anyone (including the grandchildren) to ever use their hands at smacking or mistreating him in any way. I did not want him to be afraid of my hands. That allowed me to start using 'sign language' to train Miloh. So whenever he would nip at me, I would wave my hand back and forth around 5 inches from his face and with a very stern voice "no". Now that he is older and he is doing something that he shouldn't be, I just calmly say 'Miloh' and wave my hand. He stops whatever he is doing and sits down.
They are very smart dogs, you will need to stay up with your commands and they do quickly learn no. Also, even if he is nipping you and not really hurting you while playing, you will need to teach him no, that even nipping is not acceptable.
Boston Terriers love to please their owners. But all at the same time, you have to show him you are the boss.
May 23, 2008
 I WILL
by: RICHARD

The training may be making some headway. He is still biting, and harder at times than I'd like, but overall I'd say today has been a better day. I've been trying to observe what he's doing when he bites, looking for rational to it. If he's in a playful mood and we don't drop what we are doing to play, he will bite feet. If we do play with him and he gets worked up he bites hands and the more play the harder the bites. He has also taken a fancy to a specific spot on the stairs where he can nibble at carpet along the sides of the stairs. I sprayed the area with a "stay away" training aid from Hartz, but it doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest. I had better luck with apple cider vinegar. I think another week of steady training might break him of the worst biting. In the meanwhile, it seems potty training him has gotten off track or he is purposely marking that area. I want to get the biting under control first and get potty training fixed next.

He's a very high maintenance pup.
May 22, 2008
 Oh My!
by: Piglets Mom

Sounds like you've got a real problem. I know Puppies love to "play bite" but if he is leaving marks and your kids are afraid of him, that is a little more that playing...This is so out of the ordinary for BTs. Keep puting him in the cage, if he bites the bars he stays in all day or all night. He will eventually learn that ill behavior gets him put in there. He is full of puppy right now, so trainging may be a little more difficult.
May 22, 2008
 How old is he?
by: Richard

He's right at 2 months and we do have a separate open top pen that I made for him. That's where I was putting him when he got out of control. Then he started to bite the cage bars. Honestly, I've never had a puppy act like this before. The kids are already scared of him and disapointed that they can't cuddle him. All the literature I read said that BT's were great with kids, obviously no one has met my pup yet. I have more puncture bites on my hands in 1 week than I'd care to count.
May 22, 2008
 Eeeevvviiilll
by: Piglets mom

Do you have somewhere else to put him, other than his crate when he is being mean? If you had a differnt place, you could do all the things that you are doing in a firm voice, carry him by the nape of his neck and put him in his "time out" crate.Dont use his training crate though, he will then start to associate bad things with his crate. My BTs will go to their crate now to sleep during the day without being told it is bed time. They love it although they have free rome of the house and blankets in every room to lay on(yes,they are spoild) :) they prefer the crate. How old is he? Most BT's just want to please their human and be loved on by them. He may think that you are just playing with him.
May 22, 2008
 PIG EARS NOT WORKING EITHER
by: richard

I tried the pig ears, beef rawhide chews, teething biscuits, toys, and a rope. He chews on them a bit and then starts looking for fingers and socks stuffed with toes again. I don't know what's gotten into the little guy, sometimes he's just fine but then at night he turns Eeeeevil.

Saying Ouch! and a firm No! just makes him back up a bit then attack from another direction. I was told to carefully grab the nape of his neck and say no, but that sends him into a frenzy. Once he rolled over on his back in a submissive pose, but now he's back at it again.

I'm running out of sock, toes, and patience in that order. I even tried apple cider vinegar to put the taste off. He must think it's BBQ sauce though because he's after my feet even more today.
May 21, 2008
 Pig Ears and Raw Hide
by: Piglets mom

My older BT was a biter and we started giving her and the little one Raw hide, Pig ears and any other type of chew bone. They both love them and Ruby no longer bites. BTs love to chew. Try the pig ears and watch your little tasmanian devil calm down before your very eyes :O) HA!
May 20, 2008
 Biter
by: Jayme

My Boston was the same way. She was a biter for so long. Someone told us to get pig ears so we did. She loves them and chews on about 3 a day. It keeps her from biting on us, furniture and anything else that can get ruined. I hope that helps.

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