Sporadically biting my son

[Yolie]

My son has Cerebral Palsy and can't walk or talk. When I put our new puppy, Onyx, on the bed with my son, Onyx is so gentle. He licks Travis and snuggles next to him like they're old friends. However, when I hold my son in my lap, Onyx starts to bite at his fingers and feet. Sometimes I don't notice right away, and Travis can't tell me...when I see what's going on, the more I say "No!" or "Out!" which works in other scenarios, the more worked up Onyx becomes. A relative told me to keep a rolled up piece of newspaper handy and pop him on the nose, but that's against everything I beleive in.
I usually end up putting Travis back on the bed. But I don't want Onyx to think he's won. I want to know how I can get Onyx to be as gentle with Travis when I'm holding him, as he is when Travis is on the bed. Any ideas?

[Meeps83]

It sounds like he's trying to play with your son. I'm guessing that Onyx is very young?

Keep him on a leash and don't give him access to your son's fingers/toes. Work on teaching a settle command by rewarding him when he is being calm and quiet. Stepping on his leash helps keep him in one place. At first just place a high value treat on the floor so that he doesn't move. Once he lays down calmly for the treat, start saying in a calm, soothing, and low key voice "settle".

I think they usually pick up on it pretty quickly. Once he has mastered "settle" work on teaching him "place" or "mat". This gives him a location to go to and settle.

He'll get it and it will take a little time. I don't have any experience with Cerebral Palsy and dog training so I can help you with the right now portion, but there are some experienced trainers on this board that can hopefully help you more with that.

Just curious, but are you hoping to use Onyx as a service dog?

Welcome to the board!

[Yolie]

It sounds like he's trying to play with your son. I'm guessing that Onyx is very young?

Keep him on a leash and don't give him access to your son's fingers/toes. Work on teaching a settle command by rewarding him when he is being calm and quiet. Stepping on his leash helps keep him in one place. At first just place a high value treat on the floor so that he doesn't move. Once he lays down calmly for the treat, start saying in a calm, soothing, and low key voice "settle".

I think they usually pick up on it pretty quickly. Once he has mastered "settle" work on teaching him "place" or "mat". This gives him a location to go to and settle.

He'll get it and it will take a little time. I don't have any experience with Cerebral Palsy and dog training so I can help you with the right now portion, but there are some experienced trainers on this board that can hopefully help you more with that.

Just curious, but are you hoping to use Onyx as a service dog?

Welcome to the board!

Thank you Meeps83. Yes, Onyx is young. I just got him and he's only 8 weeks old. I didn't have any plans on using him as a service dog. But being that Travis is an only child, I thought that having Onyx around would help stimulate Travis.
I will work on those commands. Onyx is my first puppy so I'm completely in the dark here.
Thanks again, this forum has been most helpful!

[Tanya]

I HIGHLY recommend a good solid puppy class. Made to help socialise puppies in a safe environment and help support the owners with normal puppy stuff and give you tips and tools to work with the pupy. Ideally a good dog training schools VS pet store classes (but some pet stores can have good classes, just make sure environments is properly sanitzied before puppies go in and that you do'nt let the puppy walk in the store itself adn ensure "trainers" are properly trained,e ducated and knowledgable)

[Yolie]

I HIGHLY recommend a good solid puppy class. Made to help socialise puppies in a safe environment and help support the owners with normal puppy stuff and give you tips and tools to work with the pupy. Ideally a good dog training schools VS pet store classes (but some pet stores can have good classes, just make sure environments is properly sanitzied before puppies go in and that you do'nt let the puppy walk in the store itself adn ensure "trainers" are properly trained,e ducated and knowledgable)

Hi Tanya. Being that I am a first time owner, I already signed us up for classes at a local training school. I need just as much, if not MORE training than Onyx. LOL Thanks!

[KenZ71]

Travis is one very lucky boy! A pup will grow up to be his best friend.

Maybe spray some bitter apple, available at pet stores, on Travis' fingers & toes? This will give them a bitter taste so Onyx will avoid them.

[doubledip1]

Instead of saying no, we whimpered at Luna like she was hurting us. Worked like a charm, and helps with the neighbor's teething nut of a pup too ;-)

[emma_Dad]

Wimper or noise like you're in pain. Then redirect with appropriate thing to chew on like a bone or toy.

[kimbersmom]

Just a heads up- if Onyx is only 8 weeks old, he hasn't entered his Labrador land shark phase. Some lab puppies don't bite, but a lot of them become very mouthy at about 10 weeks. There's a sticky in this section called Puppy Biting that you may want to look at. With Travis's special situation, it's important to be prepared if Onyx turns into a piranha puppy!

[Yolie]

Travis is one very lucky boy! A pup will grow up to be his best friend.

Maybe spray some bitter apple, available at pet stores, on Travis' fingers & toes? This will give them a bitter taste so Onyx will avoid them.

Thanks, I will definately look for the bitter apple!