How do you get an Daschund to quit biting?

United States
January 3, 2009 4:59pm CST
We have just recently rescued an Doxie who is 4 years old. He came from a home that was provoking him to attack and bite people not in play either. we have a muzzel for him and have been working with him with out it and reinforcing that fact that no growling or biting by tapping him on the nose when he does it and prasing him when he dont. Any one have any other ideas for me? Help!!
2 responses
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
18 Jan 09
It's going to take time to teach him not to attack and bite. You're going about it rather well as long as it's a light tap on the nose. If he has a favorite treat have it handy when he doesn't bite or growl and give it to him and make a really big fuss over him. If you're expecting company, crate him. There is no point in courting disaster. Another idea is rather than tapping him on the nose, if you have an empty soda can put a couple of pebbles in it and tape the can closed. When the dog growls or attempts to bite shake the can at him. The noise seems to make more of an impression on him than tapping him on the nose. Dachshunds were bred in Germany to hunt badgers, so they are pretty rough dogs and dauntless too. So tapping him on the nose might not make too much of an impression...plus it might be an irritant to him and make his giving up the behavior less possible. Hope I've helped a little bit. Good luck!!!
@pdoyle (7)
• United States
5 Jan 09
That's a tough one, especially since he was trained to attack and bite. I have a Doxie who sometimes bites someone he doesn't like. Since he is crate trained when he does bite someone he gets a time-out in his crate and a smack on the nose. I also try to head off the problem by crating him when people come over that he doesn't know.