My Dog bites only me

[Canis-Lupess]

If you use any kind of aversion tactics like the shock tactic using the water, it is imperative that the dog doesn't think it is coming from you and that it is something that just happens when they engage in the unwanted behaviour.

That is why he still bites when you don't have the water bottle, because he realises the water comes from you.

You have to make something happen that the dog is unable to connect to you so that he believes it would still happen independantly of you.

Still, as the first poster said, at 5 months, he is still a pup and is likely to grow out of this as he gets a bit older but as the second person says, the fact that you overreact everytime will fuel his behaviour. You need to stop reacting because that is his current reward.

[catnapper]

Most people think "he'll outgrow it" don't think that! He'll grow up thinking its status quo and a-ok to do it, and will continue to do so.

To a pup, ANY attention is good attention. Hitting is the same as a caress. Yelling is the same as telling him he's the bestest puppy in the world. They don't differentiate from angry and loving forms of attention. Attention is attention.

So.... what to do? Remove ALL forms of attention. Don't look at him. Don't touch him. Don't talk to him. The moment he behaves and plays nicely with you, you quietly offer attention. He'll figure out (sooner or later - hopefully sooner) that biting got NOTHING while sitting nice got the attention he wanted.

The only way this is effective? By being 100% consistent with it. Not 99% consistent. You have to ignore him EVERY time in EVERY way. Sounds easier than it is. Basic concept, hard for us humans to follow through and do. Don't yank your arm away from him.... thats reinforcing the biting by playing tug of war. Let him grip on and pretend you don't notice a 50 pound puppy hanging from your tearing sleeve.. go ahead and read the newspaper, watch TV, but don't pull back. The moment he drops your sleeve, reach donw and pet him and tell him what a good little puppy he is. Tugging on your pant leg? Continue to make dinner as if he's not there. The moment you try to pry yourself from him, you're reinforcing and REWARDING the behavior you're trying to stop. He thinks its a game and you're the best game player in town.