My dog is jumping up and biting my arm

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

I've been the owner of a 5-month-old Siberian Husky for two weeks now.

Don't worry, I've done plenty of research on the breed and I know they're high-energy, stubborn as a mule, and real escape artists.

My problem is that for the last 2 or 3 days (especially in the evening), my dog goes absolutely crackers; he starts jumping up at me (which I ignore) and ends up biting my arms.

I eventually tell him "no", and then he starts whining, barking at me, and biting even harder. I should mention it doesn't seem like aggression, but more like he's telling me off.

The last time he tried to bite me, I looked him in the eye and grabbed him by the scruff like I was advised to do. It worked for two days, but now he couldn't care less and just carries on.

What should I do? I'm torn between positive reinforcement, which just seems to amuse him, and a firmer approach, which seems to frustrate him, especially as my goal is to stop him from becoming dominant and aggressive.

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    • ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks for all the replies. Today I switched things up. I usually take him out in the morning for a toilet break and some play (about an hour), then every 2 hours to avoid any accidents in the house, and a 45-minute to 1-hour walk in the evening before finishing in the garden for a final wee and a bit of play. I’ve moved his playtime to the evening after his walk, and he’s a bit calmer now. At the moment, he’s responding to commands like sit and give paw... but he doesn’t really know his name yet; he only reacts about one in three times. The barking is starting to settle down, but the nipping is still an issue—he eventually gets bored after 10 minutes of being ignored. How can I make him understand which behaviours are a problem for us without frustrating him or making him feel rejected?
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Huskies aren't escape artists as long as they're being walked properly.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    If you look him right in the eyes, he’ll see it as a threat. In the evening, keep a toy next to you and as soon as he jumps up at you to nip, put the toy by your arm. If he bites the toy, tell him 'get it', then take another toy and wave it about. As soon as he lets go, tell him 'drop it' and give him plenty of praise. Keep repeating the exercise until he’s got the hang of it.
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    Jador
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    Exactly the same as @Blingbling.

    The evening is often when a puppy has their "mad moments". They’ve often spent the whole day on their best behaviour, staying calm and quiet, but there comes a point where they just need to let off steam. Have you noticed if you’ve taken him out less during the day when he acts like this? At 5 months old, your pup has finished the "eat, toilet, bit of play, and sleep" phase. He’s entering a stage where he needs more stimulation and his needs are growing. You need to step up his training and his need for exercise. Take him out as soon as he starts getting hyper. Then play with him and do a few training exercises.

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    Blingbling
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    Your puppy is looking to play with you. This is completely normal and ESSENTIAL at his age.

    So, whatever you do, don't discourage his urge to play. You'll only end up making him miserable and frustrated.

    On the contrary, you should make the most of these moments to build a real bond with him. It's the perfect time to teach him that he can play with you, but that he mustn't be too rough.

    It’s actually by frustrating him that you risk making him aggressive.

    Of course, you need to take him for regular walks and socialise him so he grows up to be a happy, well-adjusted dog.

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