My dog nips people when picked up. How do I stop this behavior?

Situations like this are complicated and it's hard to give the best advice without being able to observe the behavior and walk you through things. Sometimes this can be true aggression. Sometimes this is related to Emma not wanting to be moved/handled. The latter can sometimes be treated with counter conditioning to provide a more positive experience that Emma will want to happen and thus will respond to. True canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. Because of this, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Best of luck.

Is he being aggressive or playful when he bites? Some dogs do not like to be carried. So, this could be normal for him. If you really want to be able to carry him in the future you have to be persistent now on handling and carrying him. I suggest you work with a professional trainer. Puppies are sensitive at this age and if you try to do this on your own you may imprint some very bad behavior that will be extremely difficult to correct later on. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Unfortunately aggression is a very complex topic and one not likely to be fixed without a trainer. Because it is multifactoral- Dobby’s temperament, your temperament, Dobby’s experiences, your experiences, the environment- your surest, fastest and safest bet is to work with a trainer or behaviorist. Basically, the trainer will watch you and Dobby’s, paying attention to how you react to each other and the environmental stimulus. The trainer will then work with both of you to modify both of your behaviors to meet a common goal. The humane society can often recommend a trainer/behaviorist. Otherwise go online and read ratings and reviews. There are several different training methods so you will need to find the one that works best for you and your pup. You should also pick up a book about canine behavior and training so that you can learn to read his body language. I hope this at least points you in the right direction. Please post again with any further questions.

It sounds like Beau needs some guidance on what is and is not considered appropriate behaviour for a dog. Dogs use their mouths to play and to explore the world around them, but need to learn that it is not ok to bite humans. It is important to help his develop bite inhibition and redirect him to an appropriate activity, as well as to teach him that biting humans means they won’t play with him until he calms down. Visit the following links for more information on how to work on these goals at home https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mouthing-nipping-and-biting-dogs , http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1731 . I also strongly recommend working with a reputable trainer to help set boundaries for Beau. Visit https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/behavioral-help-your-pet for information on how to find behaviour help near you. Regular exercise and enrolling Beau in a training class to help him burn off some excess energy and learn how to play appropriately are also important steps you can take to help him succeed.

I am very sorry to hear that Swae Lee is biting you when you try to pet him. Gentle Biting is a form of play with young puppies such as Swae Lee. He will eventually grow out of this behaviour. However in the meantime you can gently and calmly say no when he bites. As well as stop interacting with him for a short period. Over time Swae Lee will learn to stop biting. Do not strike Swae Lee or use a harsh voice, as negative reinforcement of this nature is proven to be unhelpful and may even lead to developing an aggressive dog. I hope this answer was helpful and that Swae Lee learns to stop biting soon.

I would recommend keeping Nina off the furniture. She is seeing it as her territory and is defending it. Keep her to the floor and people on furniture at least until she realizes she's not the boss. I would strongly recommend basic obedience training classes as well to get a good behavior foundation. The website and books by dr Sophia Yin may also be helpful. https://drsophiayin.com/product/perfect-puppy-in-7-days-how-to-start-your-puppy-off-right/ Best of luck and thank you for using PetCoach.

Biting is normal puppy behavior but it is something you want to try to get under control quickly. There are a few methods to deal with biting and my favorite is to imitate another puppy. As soon as Apollo puts his mouth on you, 'yelp' and then walk away from him. Completely ignore him until he calms down. As soon as he does so, give him calm attention and encourage him to chew on something like a toy. If everyone is consistent with this behavior, most puppies learn quickly because they want their human's attention. That being said, not all puppies are cuddly. They are individuals just like people. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.