Chihuahua 3 mo old - His biting hurts!

Question
Hi. I just got a male chi pup a month ago at 8 wks.  In the beginning he was understanding not to bite me bc I would say ouch loudly and walk away and ignore him. Then as he grew that wasnt working (he would follow me and bit my toes) so I started to put him on his back pulled his scruff and said no firmly.  That didnt work bc he would just bite at my hands as they were holding him down LOL  Now he is kind of listening to NO but his biting hurts and I dont know what to do to stop this. He usually bites after I bring him in from the outside and start PLAYTIME with him for half an hour. During this time I try to say NO and substitute his toys for me hands which sometimes works but ultimately he wants to bite my hnads as soon as they come close.  If it didnt hurt as much then I wouldnt mind patiently training him but the pain is getting more as he is growing. THankfully, as of now, he is only biting me, and I understand he is playing but sometimes he wants to take my hand in his mouth and shake it like im a rag! thats going too far! and he doesnt growl but lately as he has been playing with toys and my hand a little growl will come out. I want to properly socialize him and I take him out 2-3 times a day for a walk and I have trained him to pee pee inside and out although he sometimes pee pees inside the house (which is my fault) I introduce him to strange people animals and noises when were outside...Please help. He is 3 months old.

Answer
Hi Rita!!

Lots of people getting Chi pups this time of the year and I'm being inundated with questions just like the one that you're asking.

First off, don't pull his scruff like that or lay him on his back like that.  I think he's interpreting those actions as meaning that you want to play HARDER.  This type of behavior is just so typical for pups because it's the type of play behavior that they would exhibit if they were still with their litter mates.  I always try to encourage people to wait and get a pup when they're about 12 weeks old because they learn limitations and boundaries when playing with their litter mates and mother and the play biting isn't quite so bad when you get them.  And, YES, he's doing it when you bring him in the house and start PLAYTIME with him because that's how pups PLAY!!  Shaking your hand like a rag is also just play.  You, my friend, have become his play mate!  Hearing a little growl is no big deal when a pup is playing like this.

I like what you were doing before when you told him "NO" firmly and then walked away and ignored him for a short time.  Be sure to make it a really short time because his concentration span just isn't all that long at this point.  In addition to doing that, I would like you to do TWO more things:  I'd like you to pick up a toy (preferably a soft stuffed animal toy) and begin playing with him with it when he begins to bite your hand in play.  When he plays with it, I want you to praise him BIG TIME with lots of "good boys" and kisses.  I want him to HEAR how pleased you are.  And, if he ignores the toy and goes after your hand, I want you to say, "NO", look directly at him for a moment and then walk away and do something else for a maximum of five minutes.  If you have a particularly GOOD play session and he keeps going after the toy when you offer it, I want you to give him a healthy treat like a baby carrot or something so that he REALLY gets the idea that he's doing what you want him to.  Dogs really live to please their "people" - it's just getting the message across as to what pleases you that can be difficult with these wee ones.

Tanya, I think you're taking a HUGE risk by taking this pup out for a walk and introducing it to other people and dogs at the age of 12 weeks.  He hasn't had all his shots and he's very suceptible to disease right now.  You have plenty of time to soialize him in the future when he's been fully innoculated (contact me sometime later about info. on not vaccinating every year after the first year).

All in all, it sounds to me like he's doing REALLY WELL for such a young pup.  Keep him at home until he's had all his shots and work on substituting a toy for your hand at play time and I think you've got it made!!

Jo Ann