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  1. #1
    Real Retriever sipsi's Avatar
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    Unhappy Biting makes training impossible!

    My 12 week old girl Latte is not too bitey unless she is overexcited. BUT when I give her treats from my hand, she takes them so hard! This makes training sessions unbearable for me. When I am luring her into the position, instead of following the treat, she paws and attacks and bites my hand. She learned the ''sit'', ''down'' and ''shake'' commands but not reliably. Every training session ends up with a pain on my scratched hands. I am starting to feel that I can't teach her commands that she should have been mastered so far because of this situation. I taught her ''default leave it'' and ''no mugging'' but nothing helps me in this situation. What should I do? Please lead me

  2. #2
    Best Friend Retriever SoapySophie's Avatar
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    Hold the treat with your thumb and index finger and slowly bring it to her nose when she's sitting nicely. Be prepared to pull it away if she snaps for it. We would repeat and whisper the word "gentle" while slowly bringing it back to her nose. If she was gentle, she would get the treat. If not, no treat - pull back and try again. It will take awhile, but she will get it. We would feed her entire meal to her this way for awhile.
    Sophie: Born July 28, 2014
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  4. #3
    Real Retriever sipsi's Avatar
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    I did that. If she snaps for it, I don't let her take the treat. I say 'gentle' and she takes it a little bit slowly. But when it comes to tricks like roll over and play dead, luring involves and she begins snapping. It's like she takes the treats coming towards her gently but she snaps for the ones going away. It's always like this even with low valuable treats.

  5. #4
    Best Friend Retriever SoapySophie's Avatar
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    Maybe you're going a little quickly...too many tricks too soon?
    Sophie: Born July 28, 2014
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  7. #5
    Real Retriever sipsi's Avatar
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    I guess I am. I am always nervous about being late for teaching her tricks. I must slow down a bit. Thank you so much.

  8. #6
    Best Friend Retriever Sue's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SoapySophie View Post
    Hold the treat with your thumb and index finger and slowly bring it to her nose when she's sitting nicely. Be prepared to pull it away if she snaps for it. We would repeat and whisper the word "gentle" while slowly bringing it back to her nose. If she was gentle, she would get the treat. If not, no treat - pull back and try again. It will take awhile, but she will get it. We would feed her entire meal to her this way for awhile.
    Pulling it away will make her lunge for it. And that is not what you want. I get so peeved at my DH. He can take a gentle treat taker and make them into a lunger, because he's so fearful of them snapping (even if they don't), he pulls it back, causing them to lunge for it.

    Sipsi,the best way is to hold the treat entirely inside your hand, closed up into a fist, with a tiny bit of the treat sticking out between your two middle fingers. It's harder for her to bite you that way, as it would be if you were holding it between two fingers. Put it right up to her mouth, so she knows it's there, but with the top of your fist in front of her. It's harder for her to munch on your fingers that way. Tell her your word (I use "Take it nice" but gentle works fine). She should either nibble it out, or you can open your hand flat so she can take it from the palm of your hand, if that's easier for you. Of course, don't release it until she's taking it gently.

    Work on that, without using it for a training reward. By that I mean, work on this individually. It won't take her too long to realize that if she calms down the treat will be forthcoming. Then you can graduate to using the treats for training.

    Good luck, I hope this was somewhat clear.
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    “It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”

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  10. #7
    Real Retriever sipsi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sue View Post
    Pulling it away will make her lunge for it. And that is not what you want. I get so peeved at my DH. He can take a gentle treat taker and make them into a lunger, because he's so fearful of them snapping (even if they don't), he pulls it back, causing them to lunge for it.

    Sipsi,the best way is to hold the treat entirely inside your hand, closed up into a fist, with a tiny bit of the treat sticking out between your two middle fingers. It's harder for her to bite you that way, as it would be if you were holding it between two fingers. Put it right up to her mouth, so she knows it's there, but with the top of your fist in front of her. It's harder for her to munch on your fingers that way. Tell her your word (I use "Take it nice" but gentle works fine). She should either nibble it out, or you can open your hand flat so she can take it from the palm of your hand, if that's easier for you. Of course, don't release it until she's taking it gently.

    Work on that, without using it for a training reward. By that I mean, work on this individually. It won't take her too long to realize that if she calms down the treat will be forthcoming. Then you can graduate to using the treats for training.

    Good luck, I hope this was somewhat clear.

    Couldn't be clearer! Thank you Sue.

  11. #8
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    Sue hit it right on the head. One thing you really have to keep in mind is you are deal with a baby, and you have to teach them everything. When they are with their litter mates, eating is a competition, they will bite and snap at each other to get as much food as they can. A puppy doesn't know how to take food gently, you have to teach her. As Sue said, teach her this first before you start using the treats to train. Baby steps!!!!

  12. #9
    Real Retriever sipsi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by barry581 View Post
    Sue hit it right on the head. One thing you really have to keep in mind is you are deal with a baby, and you have to teach them everything. When they are with their litter mates, eating is a competition, they will bite and snap at each other to get as much food as they can. A puppy doesn't know how to take food gently, you have to teach her. As Sue said, teach her this first before you start using the treats to train. Baby steps!!!!
    I totally get it. All I need is patience, I think

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  14. #10
    Senior Dog CraftHer's Avatar
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    Patience and consistency. You may think you're not making any progress, but be patient and consistent. Then, one day, she'll do it. Also, keep training sessions short and always end on a high note. You're doing a good job.

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