My dog play bites too much?

i have a 1 year old rottwieler male who is about 115 pounds, very well built, and obviously strong jaw muscles. The problem is the more he likes the more he bites. When i first got him he never play bit me, now that he cant leave me alone he playbites alot, and being a strong dog it really hurts, almost breaking the skin. i tried everything but he thinks im playing. Any suggestions?

My dog play bites too much?
Your dog seems to believe that you are another dog in his pack, and not necessarily the pack leader. You need to correct this pronto. If he does it to someone else, you and he could be in a world of trouble.





Yes, what he's doing IS play biting -- when he sticks his butt in the air like that, he's inviting you to play. The same thing when he nips you on the butt. And since he thinks HE'S in charge, you're supposed to respond to him.





First, STOP playing aggressive games (wrestling, tug of war, etc.) with him. Anytime he wins, it establishes HIS dominance over you as pack leader. That's the last thing you need.





Second, when he play bites, don't yell "owww". That doesn't mean anything in doggy language. Instead, yelp very loudly in a high pitched voice, just like a puppy would. In that way, you let him know that he's hurting you. Do this anytime his teeth touch you anywhere. Chances are, as soon as you do it, he'll start to lick your hand to make sure you're okay.





Do it consistently, and this bad habit will be history within a few days.





P.S. If you're just looking for a "chew" toy, get him a knuckle bone. They're cheap (about $5), good for the dog (removes tartar) and all dogs seem to love them.
Reply:When he bites (in play) stop playing and get serious and tell him no. After a couple times of this he should get the idea that when he bites the fun ends.
Reply:Mine does too.
Reply:Be as rough with him as you can. Don't hurt him badly, but growl at him and look him in the eye, and don't blink! He will understand that you have had enough. Trust me, that was the way I broke my adopted dog of its biting problem. It WAS NOT playing...
Reply:Yeah, keep your hands out of his face. Start disciplining him now that he is young.
Reply:When he bites, show signs of distress. Frown and say Oww! like it really hurts. Pull your hand away and turn your back to him like you are really wounded. Most dogs love their guardians and do not want to injure them. Once they realize you are hurt they will usually release or soften their grip. It worked on my dog.
Reply:I use a spray bottle with a water %26amp; vinegar mixture usually half and half and when he starts to play bite squirt him in the face and say NO firmly, it may sting his eyes alittle but will not damage his eyes at all, keep this up and always have that bottle handy and he should soon learn.
Reply:Your dog isn't playing. He's dominating you. He is using force and bites to make you do things the way he wants them. He initiates play, gets to pick the toys, ect. You need to establish leadership with him. If you are not the boss, he will be, because doggy rules say there MUST be a leader.





For stopping the biting, every time he gets too rough, say very loud and in a very LOW tone "OUCH!" Don't use a high tone when you say this, because by doggy rules, high tones mean accepted behavior, and low tones sound like a growl, a warning to knock it off.





Immediately after saying OUCH, stand up and walk away from him. This shows that he went too far, and the boss doesn't want to play that way. You won't hurt his feelings any. Many owners take the initial resistance that a dog shows to dominance by an owner as his feelings being hurt. In reality, once he knows that you are the boss and will enforce the rules, he will settle down.





Rotties are known for being a dominant and protective breed. If you don't show them who is boss from the start, they will dominate you. This is why he can't leave you alone - he sees himself as your protector and your boss. Turn that around, and he'll give you breathing room too. A good way to go to keep up the idea that YOU are boss, is regular walks and obedience training.
Reply:I would say that the odds are good that you played hand and mouth games or tug-of-war with your baby when he was a pup. Bad Daddy! Now you have to stop him. If you find yourself in a tug-of-war with a dog, make sure that you win.


This big baby is top-dog, leader of the pack in your house and you have to take back the status that you have lost. If you don't, you're going to find that the problem escalates, sometimes out of control.


Find yourself a local, reputable trainer and sign up for the Basic Obedience course. Make sure that you bring this problem up as something that you want to correct and your trainer can lead you in the right direction.


This is not just one problem, it is caused by an accumulation of a number of things. Your body language, the games that you encouraged him to play, who leads through a doorway and the list goes on. You can't make a near adult dog just quit one behavior without correcting the causes of that behavior. You need more help than can be given you with a single tip.

mayflower