I need your opinion please!!!!!!

[Snowy's Mommy]

Hi all,

I am very upset and I need some opinions on this...

Yesterday my Snowy was munching on his rawhide chew in our living room and I came up behind him to pick him up (I think that may have been the problem, coming up from behind him and startling him)--he turned around and nipped me very hard! He has NEVER done that to me before!

Has anyone else had this experience with their baby? I am upset over this. He has nipped my Dad before because he was holding him while he was getting a trim, but that is all.....

Any opinions are much appreciated.

Thank You,

Jordan

[ilovehounds]

If he has never nipped you before I think maybe you just scared him and without thinking he nipped ????? I have never had this problem so Im not much help but thats my guess.

[3-greys-and-a-mutt]

Doggiemom (Angel) had this exact same question a couple of weeks ago. Click here http://petoftheday.com/cgibin/ultima...c&f=2&t=000165 to see what everyone responded to her concerns!

[Stenograsaurus]

One time my dog was barking at the front door because my husband's nephew was there. He was not familiar to my dog because he had moved away and was just in town to visit. I walked up to get my dog to put him outside to let the nephew in. I didn't say anything, just reached down and tapped his back end. He turned around and bit. He got my hand. As soon as he looked up and saw it was me, his ears went back and he started hunkering down. He felt so bad. His eyes were so huge. I, too, was upset but after realizing that he had never showed any aggression towards us before and he had no idea who was touching him from behind and there was a stranger at the front door, he was just scared and startled. He had never showed any aggression towards us after that either. Under the circumstances you described, I wouldn't worry about this one incident.

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Hi, we have had that problem with Perry, at first when someone grabbed his behind he would turn around and nip, he has done much better now after getting scolded. However when he gets very excited, like going for a ride, getting his harness on he will nip a little, never hard just a pinch. We have never had that problem with Daisy.

[Snowy's Mommy]

Thank you all so much!! Your responses have made me feel much better!!


Jordan

[Logan]

Jordan,
I think you have gotten good replies here and I also think you already figured out the problem yourself! I would just reiterate that as nice and gentle as my dogs are, I would never do a "surprise" anything from behind when they have a bone! But I do want them to allow me to interrupt their chewing, anytime I please! The only time I have ever even seen Lilly growl or snap was at my mom's little Boston Terrier when he tried to take her bone. She would let me take anything out of her mouth, but I always approach from the front, and let her know what I'm doing! You probably just startled him approaching from behind.

Glad you feel better!

Logan

[ August 13, 2001: Message edited by: Logan ]

[DiannaL]

Originally posted by Snowy's Mommy:
<STRONG>Hi all,

I am very upset and I need some opinions on this...

Yesterday my Snowy was munching on his rawhide chew in our living room and I came up behind him to pick him up (I think that may have been the problem, coming up from behind him and startling him)--he turned around and nipped me very hard! He has NEVER done that to me before!

Has anyone else had this experience with their baby? I am upset over this. He has nipped my Dad before because he was holding him while he was getting a trim, but that is all.....

Any opinions are much appreciated.

Thank You,

Jordan</STRONG>

I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and they are the most gentle dogs you could ever imagine. They are lovable, affectionate, never growl or bite, EXCEPT, when he has a raw hide. Don't try to take it from him. He becomes a totally different dog. He still doesn't growl, but if you try to take it from him, I'm convinced he would bite. He's not like that with anything else. I think the true animal instinct comes out in them with raw hides. There was a time that dogs had to fend for their food, so it must relate back to that.

[TollSettFK]

What kind of puppy is this? My puppy nipps at me a lot. It isn't with bad intentions, it is just telling you that he doesn't like that, or he is scared. If your puppy ever bites, the best thing to do is hold it's muzzle together and firmly, in a low, growy voice say "No bark!" It helps me. Some people say to hit on the nose. Don't. It will then be scared of your hand. Mayby that's why your puppy nipped at your hand?