Help with Aggressive Puppy

[Dawndan92]

Once again, I come to you all for some guidence. I currently am fostering 7 pit bull puppies for my neighbor. They all seem to play, growl, nip and bite like normal puppies will. However, there is one puppy who gets very aggressive. He bites the other puppies so hard that he draws blood and I have on several occasions had to separate him from the other puppies by prying his mouth open to get him to release the puppy.

Today, I was playing with them all on the floor. Now, he tends to like me to pay attention to him so I was picking him up and cuddling him which he is very receptive too. However, when I put him back down he immediately came at me and put my whole finger in his mouth and clamped down and began to shake his head. Needless to say, beside the pain, I was in shock. I could not get him to release. I tried prying his mouth open with my other hand to no avail. He finally released after I covered his nose so that he couldn't breath through his nose and took a big breath through his mouth.

My finger is bearly scratched, but has pins and needles sensation for over the last hour or so...weird. Anyway, I am concerned about this puppy. He is absolutely adorable and very loving. Just has moments when he "loses his head"...okay frequent moments:) Any advice you can offer would greatly be appreciated.

[SWAMPER]

Spend Some More Time With Him ,as Far As Him Whipping The Other Pups Its Natural But You May Need To Seperate Them

[DryCreek]

Try this.....any time the pup bites.....yell, and I mean YELL, ouch,hey, or whatever,at the pup and then stop paying attention to it for a bit. Praise him when he behaves as well....Pups get excited and need to learn they're limits....try to train them like their mother would....I find it works best....Good Luck

[RIVES PITS]

Sounds Like He Is The Alfa Of The Litter Do Just Like Swamper Said Spend Alittle Extra Time With Him And Treat Him Like A Mother Would Pups Are Eager To Learn And Sleep

[SouthernDixie]

Try this.....any time the pup bites.....yell, and I mean YELL, ouch,hey, or whatever,at the pup and then stop paying attention to it for a bit. Praise him when he behaves as well....Pups get excited and need to learn they're limits....try to train them like their mother would....I find it works best....Good Luck
This is true, I've done it and we also learned it in obedience classes. If you yelp like a hurt pup would, it will scare them for one, but teach them that what they did is painful and shouldn't be doing it. But you need to do it every time even though you sound pretty weird doing it! lol

[Rocky H. Balboa]

You have to nip this quick. If you do not, he may turn out a people biter. You must place yourself and the pup (how old?) in the situation when the biting occurs. Even place your finger in his mouth. If the crying does not work (like Drycreek suggested), try hiting him on the nose (don't knock him out either) and say NO! in a firm voice. When he releases, do it again. Do it several times until he tries to take your finger out of his mouth (rather than chomp on it!). I think he may not listen to the crying on your part(assuming the pups he does this to cry and does not listen to it). You should hit him with your fingers (on the nose or bridge of it) rather than the palm.

[DryCreek]

This is true, I've done it and we also learned it in obedience classes. If you yelp like a hurt pup would, it will scare them for one, but teach them that what they did is painful and shouldn't be doing it. But you need to do it every time even though you sound pretty weird doing it! lol
Yes,LOL it does sound weird.Had a pup on the couch(yes I'm a softy for babes)when I was eating dinner....pup tried to sniff my plate and I turned towards it,and made a growly barking sound-got a weird look for that from my mate-but the pup never tried to sniff my plate again.Just laid behind me till I was done....so I gave him a treat....Keep it simple and the more natural the better.Think like a dog:)

[Dawndan92]

Thank you all so much. I will try all of the suggestions. I really think he just doesn't understand that he needs to let go! And, I certainly have no problem yelping, yelling or whatever I need to do to make this puppy a healthy, well behaved pet.

[misterdogman]

Put him on a chain, he will grow out of it. lmao.

[mistabud]

You have to nip this quick. If you do not, he may turn out a people biter. You must place yourself and the pup (how old?) in the situation when the biting occurs. Even place your finger in his mouth. If the crying does not work (like Drycreek suggested), try hiting him on the nose (don't knock him out either) and say NO! in a firm voice. When he releases, do it again. Do it several times until he tries to take your finger out of his mouth (rather than chomp on it!). I think he may not listen to the crying on your part(assuming the pups he does this to cry and does not listen to it). You should hit him with your fingers (on the nose or bridge of it) rather than the palm.
he might be a man biter? LOL! this is a pup we are talking about. thats like saying since he likes to fight the other puppies he must be game. again this is a puppy we are talking about. what do you expect from puppies?

[Zoe]

Puppies are so easily molded at this age. I would always have a toy with me while interacting with him and redirect him to the toy and PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE! Give him a positive outlet for his need to use his mouth.

[GD2]

he might be a man biter? LOL! this is a pup we are talking about. thats like saying since he likes to fight the other puppies he must be game. again this is a puppy we are talking about. what do you expect from puppies?

YES IT IS A PUP BUT THAT IS THE PROBLEM U THINK OH ITS JUST A PUP AND ITS CUTE THAT IS WERE IT BEGINS AND IF U DONT DO SOME THING ABOUT IT KNOW THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS LATER BIGGER ONES AND THEY WILL BE HARDER TO FIX.

[nappydawg]

you can send him to me and i will raise him right and love him and call him tiny