I have not said "Max has a bad history". Juleze has said it.

Now lay off me people. Juleze has said the puppy is a biter. Bit her sister. Her sister carries him a lot.

I did not say it. And I did not say the dog has a bad history.

I Did Not Say That.

When Lily was a puppy she was the size of an 8 week old kitten. Very tempting to carry her around everywhere and cuddle her all the time. I was advised to treat her like a big dog from the start. Would I allow the behaviour if she were the size of a doberman? She was bitey, but we would stand up and walk away if she did it. Redirect her to a toy and it did work.

I think you have to put more work in when they are young and then you can relax it when they get a bit older.

JULEZE:


Since you've asked for opinions: I would opt for bite elimination.

You might enjoy 'gentle' biting but someone else might not. Most kids probably won't. If you teach your dog that it's fine to bite 'gently' then he may well do this to someone else!

He should be learning that it is NEVER OK to bite - full stop.

I think Tabitha and Sarah are spot on with what they say.
I believe you said that in the beginning it didn't hurt, his teeth were only small, so the consequences of what he was doing didn't seem to matter initially. He got away with it, carried on and things just got worse and more serious as nobody effectively taught him any different. As Mailka has said I think this problem does go back right to the start when you first had him and did not treat him like a dog. He was cute, was carried around and you allowed him to get away with being a bit of a brat. Little cute puppies and small grown-up dogs are often allowed to get away with behaviours that would not, or could not, be tolerated from a larger puppy. Just imagine a Rottie or a GSD being carried in someones arms and snapping and biting at people On a smaller scale it is exactly the same thing with a little dog, but you can't bundle a Rottie up and carry it out of the room easily when it kicks off. Have you thought that he might actually object to being carried around?
Maybe you are now at the stage where you need to ask a sympathetic professional to see you and your your dog to establish how to proceed for the future. Also, I think I would consider a muzzle for him when children are around, particulary if you think he is becoming jealous of children on your knee, which he now thinks is his place. I would keep him off your knees, the furniture and out of your arms and would keep him on the floor.

(theres only one person having a tantrum on this thread or 'laying into anyone )

I have to say (risk of getting shot ) I do remember answering the OP before on a much older post and I suggesting that he wasn't carried about, but the OP seemed to find it a ''confusing reply'' so I never bothered again.

I agree with all the members that have said ''you wouldn't want a large breed doing this so why allow a small breed too''

Having Mojo has taught me one thing... that we have people here at times and they seem to get upset when she is told No, Lie Down Sit etc., I think some people see her as being small and the Awwwwwwwww factor kicks in, but Mojo's teeth IMO are just as painful as the Border Collies.

I think that's whats most likely happened here with Max too, a small furry thing that is funny and playful, people have given mixed messages to, has developed into a cheeky chap which pushes boundaries due to the mixed messages he received when younger. Its easy I think to fall into the trap of carrying small dogs about and giving into them and I personally read the older posts of the OP just that way...sorry no offence intended, but I feel that's where the problems of today possibly come from.

Hope its gets sorted anyway but there has been some brilliant advice given IMO

Julia the whole idea of teaching bite inhibition is to teach the puppy to gradually decrease the amount of pressure it applies until it doesn't apply any at all (which I am sure I explained in my original post) .
This way it learns that it must never sink its teeth into human skin, a very valuable lesson if say a dog has to undergo some painful treatment/accident where the normal reaction would be to bite down hard though pain or fear .
When teaching bite inhibition some people allow mouthing of hands during initiated play to continue, some don't (total elimination).

I note the original link I posted in the old thread has been removed, if you Google 'Teaching Bite Inhibition' I am sure you will find a number of versions including the original by Dr Dunbar.

See the parts of your post I have highlighted above, I think you have addressed the reason for the continuing problem youself in your post.

Teaching dogs correct behaviour is not something which should be taken lightly, one day it could save their lives.

Thank you.
I've been looking for someone with a puppy, but I haven't gotten anyone yet. The dogs around are not dogs I want max around as they are stray dogs.

Thanks for your opinion.

I do appreciate your kindness. I've started being strict about it again...although I must confess that if we both lived alone, he would have dropped this habit a long time ago, as we weren't all singing from the same page. I'm looking at moving out with him, for a month, to prepare for my ACCA exam (I scored 49% in what was supposed to be my last papaer ), once I get back from my vacation.

I recall the step by step advice given on that link, and also copied it and sent to my mailbox, as well as my mom's at that time.