Kimber biting or nipping Husband

Brittany

You would think that would be a good thing right?

Kimber never bites or nips me. If we are wrestling he will mouth my hands and stuff but as soon as I say enough he stops. Apparently he will nip or grab my husband's leg as he is walking past Kimber. I keep telling him I don't know what I can do because he NEVER does it to me. How should we handle this. Nic, my husband is worried Kimber will do it to one of the kids.

Just a side note....Kimber got out the other day and was running through the woods behind our house. I didn't have my boots on so I asked Nic to go get him. He was calling Kimber and Kimber WOULD NOT come. I watched for a few minutes and my husband finally gave up and started back to the house. I headed towards the woods and called Kimber to come and he came right to me.

The kids have told me that Kimber will not listen to them but I thought it was just because they don't communicate properly to him.

So I guess maybe the real problem is that Kimber only listens to me.

What do you all sugget?

Criosphynx

LOL sounds like my house. The dogs wont do anything for kev unless Iam not present. If he cues them and Iam here, they look at me.


For the nippy stuff, Chili was doing that to me. I basically stopped moving when he would do it, as he viewed it as a game. I also would take the pair of pants off and wave them around and reward him for not biting them.

Brittany

Thanks Crio. Should Nic be the one to wave the pants around and reward him?

MySoulmateEmmy

To Emmy I am also "number 1" per se. I just think it is because 1.) I am more consistant than BF 2.) If I tell her to do something, she knows she better do it (for the most part) with BF, he is kinda oh ok whatever. 3.) I'm "her person" especially since I came with her to VA when we moved.

She and him both are slowly learning to listen to eachother, though it is a reallllly snail slow process. :P.

I dunno what to suggest though sorry

~MSE

Gone2Dogs

I would suggest WORK.
If it were me I would sit down with a family council and figure out what days of the week we were all gonna spend as a family working with the dog. EVERYONE needs to be on the same page or the dog will stop obeying at all. The kids need to communicate clearly. No one can be lazy and not follow through. This could easily lead to a dangerous situation.....like what if you weren't home when he got loose? What if he does start 'nipping' the kids? Or the kids friends? He is becoming a pushy adolescent and needs his paradigm realigned before it gets too far off the path. Back to basics with everyone involved.

Criosphynx

if the pants are the trigger. For chili they were...if the trigger is simply human movement, then you'll have to move around just under the level he nips, reward and build from there.

I agree that the best case scenario would be to have him work with him more. But I know how that goes...you can only make other family members as interested in training as you can.

I found it easier to get my SO to understand the dogs ignore him because he doesn't work with them, then it is to get him to train them (basically zero) so at least hes no longer frustrated with them because he understands why they ignore him now.

fawkese1

you don't have to have them do anything really crazy to work with him tho... everyone should be able to get the dog to sit and maybe do a few other things... is there a trick or command that kimber really enjoys? clover will shake paws with just about anybody for example and he will sit for anyone in my household, most of the time (i'm lucky tho, i have a fairly cooperative household) maybe you could just pick on or two things that your hubby or the kids could work on him with, make it fun for everyone... i think that would help...

Brittany

I think I need to work with the family more

Kimber will sit for my daughter but that's it. But is because of the way they talk to him.

If Kimber grabs a toy they scream "KIMBER DROP IT!!" I laugh and walk over and say "drop it, Good boy!" I have tried explaining to them that yelling does not make him listen anymore. If anything, it probably gets him excited.

I told Nic yesterday I need to make him a list of commands. If Kimber jumps on him he says down and pushes him down. So I told him don't push because you are playing when you do that. Especially since I let Kimber jump up during play. I said turn your back and say off and then PRAISE! Nic always forgets to praise.

So I think I need to educate everyone more on how to handle him. He is a great dog but if they don't know how to handle him.....

When we are at the vet Nic was holding Kimber and he was jumping and being rowdy. Nic was getting frustrated. I said what would you like him to do and he said sit and be calm. I said THEN TELL HIM THAT!!! He doesn't know unless you tell him LoL.

So yeah definitely need to get going on training the humans.

Mikey

I think your doing great

I know exactly what you mean-I've yelled at Dave for that with Mandy (Mikey does not jump up) -Mandy expects that she will sit quietly when someone comes in but she has to be fussed on immediately-otherwise she will jump up to great and get the fuss. Dave will just walk in and ignore her-and then she jumps so he has her get down and then ignores her-I'm like 'your pretty much teaching her TO jump on you if you ignore her when she's down' I kept at him and he got it. He also forget to say goodbye to her and she'll mope for hours if someone does that. I've sent him back into my parents house to say goodbye to the dog on more then one occaision lol

Get a clicker and teach hubby what to do I'm considering clicker teaching Dave as most of his training has been aversive/dominance based lol

Brittany

Aww poor Mandy!

You think he'll work for doggie treats?

I am working with Kimber to sit if wants anything. I will not pet him or give him a treat unless he sits. Which he is doing really good. The process server at work ALWAYS brings treats for them. Kimber will run to him and sit down. The main problem is with strangers. If he jumps on someone I will say Kimber Off and the person will sorta hang on to him and pet and say "awww he's okay!" I am sure you know what I mean. So then I am like now what? LoL