Problem: My puppy keeps biting my calves during walks

N
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Hello,

I've had a 4-month-old Bichon Frisé for 2 months now, and for a little while, whenever I'm out walking him (I take him out 6 times a day for 20 minutes each time), he grabs my leg and starts biting me really hard. He growls and even bared his teeth at me once. I'm not sure how to react when he does it... at first, I used to stop and tell him to sit, but he just starts up again straight away. I've had a look online and some people suggested ignoring him, which is what I've tried, but it hasn't worked either; he just carries on. I can't quite work out what's wrong; I keep thinking something is bothering him, but I don't know what. One day, since he wouldn't stop biting my calf, I picked him up to head home and cut the walk short, but that was even worse because he tried to bite my fingers and bit me so hard I bled. Even though he's only 4 months old, those puppy teeth are razor-sharp...

Sometimes he starts by jumping up at my legs, and as soon as I stop, he stands in front of me and sits down, looking at me as if he's waiting for something. Then, as soon as I start walking again, he bites me really hard.

Also, when he wants to go one way and I want to go another, he pulls on the lead, and when he sees I'm not giving in, he comes back and starts biting me again.

I don't know what's got into him; during walks, I let him sniff around and I don't tug on the lead to make him follow me. Yet, there are some days where everything goes perfectly well.

I hope you can give me some advice.

Thanks :)

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19 answers
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    • BeletteCommutatif9330
    Belettecommutatif9330 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi, I’ve got a Staffie puppy who keeps biting and nipping at me and tugging. Does anyone know why? He’s 3 months old.
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    Docline
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    Hi, I’ve got a Staffy that keeps biting and pulling at me, does anyone know why?

    You need to provide the right information if you want a proper answer.

    You haven’t mentioned the age of your dog or the circumstances of these "bites" (the term is likely an exaggeration, as a real bite from a Staffy would land you in A&E...)

    A dog that pulls is always because the owner has never learnt how to handle a lead correctly, let alone how to teach them to walk to heel.

    Everything in life has to be learned.

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    BeletteCommutatif9330
    Belettecommutatif9330 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi, I’ve got a Staffy that won’t stop biting and pulling at me. Does anyone know why?

     

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I reckon you’ll get this sorted fairly quickly if you work on your attitude and the energy you’re giving off. Your dog needs to sense that you're confident and see you as the leader.
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    Docline
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    LOL, at that age they’ve got needle-sharp teeth and nails almost like cat claws. Sometimes in the evening I notice marks on my forearms (I’m getting on a bit, so my skin marks easily); I’m not always sure exactly where they came from. She only really hurt me once – I let out a high-pitched yelp and she froze instantly.

    Actually, the perfect toy for when she has her mad half hour is a little scrubbing brush with really stiff bristles. I tickle her with it a bit and she goes at it with everything she’s got, "fighting" the brush. It’s often hard to keep a straight face with such a little devil in the house...

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    N
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    Your messages have really put my mind at rest! I’m going to follow your advice and see how we get on. I was quite worried by his behaviour as it was the first time he’d actually drawn blood. And thanks @kikaah for the trainer recommendation 😉
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    Docline
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    In my view, if a dog bites, you put it in its place. Not a bad explanation, Sbaar, but if I may say so, if they keep it up, they need a smack—quite quickly. A measured one, obviously; it's not like I've pulled out a Viking club to crush him, just a controlled smack. And you give them a stern look while saying, "Oooh, that’s very bad" in a cross voice. Then you point your finger and teach them "stop". Very quickly. All of this, as Sbaar says, with a firm but gentle hand. Yes. Except in this instance, I really think using the word "biting" is a bit of an exaggeration for the situation. At the end of a walk, I put my old girl (who's nearly blind and completely deaf) back on her lead, and the 4-month-old Bichon stays right next to her so he can "bite" the part of the lead that's dangling. And when I put the lead on the puppy, he’s obsessed with trying to "bite" both leads at once while we're walking. It's more a case of needing to mouth anything that moves—it’s just an age thing and has absolutely nothing to do with aggression.
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    Kikaah
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    If you're looking for a good dog trainer or behaviourist, there are plenty of Facebook groups that act as a directory for them, a bit like the Yellow Pages ^^

    Your puppy’s behaviour is completely normal, but if you aren’t sure how to handle the less pleasant moments and want to get off on the right foot for a healthy relationship, it could be really useful for you.

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    In my view, if a dog bites, you have to put them in their place. Not a bad explanation, Sbaar, but if I may, if they keep it up, you need to give them a smack pretty quickly. A measured one, obviously—I’m not talking about getting a Viking club out to bash them, just a controlled smack. And give them a proper stern look, saying: "Oooh, that’s very baaad," in a cross voice. Then you point your finger and teach them "stop". Very quickly. All of that, as Sbaar said, with both kindness and firmness.
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    Docline
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    He hasn’t got any behavioural issues, honestly! He’s just a perfectly normal puppy for his age.

    My puppy is a right little pest; luckily for me, I’ve got two adult dogs she can pester all day long, so she leaves me in peace. She goes and bothers the cats too; she gets a good swipe from them that makes her yelp, but she just goes back for more, time and again. I reckon she’s still got a few weeks of this phase left in her.

    Sometimes I think to myself that I really feel for people who get a puppy without having an adult dog at home to help with the training...

    Translated from French

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