Help With Biting

Bethany89 · 04-19-2012, 05:43 PM

This is so frustrating. My 2 year old bites our dog. We don't understand it at all. We have tried all that we can think of, so now I ask for advice. It happens so fast. He is a huge part of our family, so locking him away isn't an option and not fair to him. He is so wonderful with her; he cries but never has snapped back at her. He loves her; they play all day long, then out of nowhere, she bites him - hard! He will cry and hide from her for awhile.
We have tried telling her that biting is mean and makes him cry. Usually, she hates to make people cry, but doesn't seem to care if our dog cries. We have tried time outs, restricting playing with the dog, taking away the tv or whatever she is enjoying at the time..
She bit him tonight, so now she can't hug him or play around with him because of it.
We have even spanked her because of it; yes I know its terrible, but we are so baffled. Clearly, it didn't work as she just bit tonight. Its just the dog! She doesn't bite us. I called my mother in tears because I am so frustrated. We love our dog and I hate to see him get hurt because he loves her so much and I know she loves him.

Is this some kind of sign that she wants attention? Or... I don't know! I watch her like a hawk now with him, but she is so quick, I usually can't stop it.

So, lovely ladies, some advice? Or virtual hugs are nice too lol. I can't just wait for this phase to stop. I don't think he will, but you never know with dogs, he could bite her back. And whats sad is, if he did I understand why he would! If someone bit me all the time, heck I would bite back too. But, we don't want this to happen so please give us some new ideas as to how to prevent this or how to get her to understand that biting is bad.

ETA: I forgot to mention, my mother told me that she also pinches her dogs. Is this somehow connected? Those dogs can be mean and would for sure snap, my mother usually keeps them away from her. Why does she do this to dogs?!

Kiara.I · 04-19-2012, 06:00 PM

I know you can't lock the dog away, but is it possible to put a baby gate between them so that the dog is in part of the house and your daughter is in the other?

Bethany89 · 04-19-2012, 06:17 PM

The way our house is set up virtually impossible otherwise he has no access to his food or her no access to food lol plus.. She can get over gates and open doors lol.

Bethany89 · 04-23-2012, 04:17 PM

Anything else? Locking away or separating is not an option.

ArmsOfLove · 04-26-2012, 10:57 PM

You will have to supervise her and be very vigilant to keep her from biting the dog. She's too young to understand what she's doing or why you want her to not do it. Some children bite because they're upset, some because they're happy, usually it is related to teething. You might get some help by treating for teething pain. You can try some hyland's teething tabs if you want to avoid sugary tylenol stuff and if she doesn't have any dairy issues

If you catch her about to bite you can use gentle pressure under the chin with a sideways finger (practice on yourself, it really takes very little pressure) while you move her or remove the dog.

does the dog get upset when dd bites?

04-19-2012, 05:43 PM	#1
Bethany89 Rose Bush Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 396	Help With Biting This is so frustrating. My 2 year old bites our dog. We don't understand it at all. We have tried all that we can think of, so now I ask for advice. It happens so fast. He is a huge part of our family, so locking him away isn't an option and not fair to him. He is so wonderful with her; he cries but never has snapped back at her. He loves her; they play all day long, then out of nowhere, she bites him - hard! He will cry and hide from her for awhile. We have tried telling her that biting is mean and makes him cry. Usually, she hates to make people cry, but doesn't seem to care if our dog cries. We have tried time outs, restricting playing with the dog, taking away the tv or whatever she is enjoying at the time.. She bit him tonight, so now she can't hug him or play around with him because of it. We have even spanked her because of it; yes I know its terrible, but we are so baffled. Clearly, it didn't work as she just bit tonight. Its just the dog! She doesn't bite us. I called my mother in tears because I am so frustrated. We love our dog and I hate to see him get hurt because he loves her so much and I know she loves him. Is this some kind of sign that she wants attention? Or... I don't know! I watch her like a hawk now with him, but she is so quick, I usually can't stop it. So, lovely ladies, some advice? Or virtual hugs are nice too lol. I can't just wait for this phase to stop. I don't think he will, but you never know with dogs, he could bite her back. And whats sad is, if he did I understand why he would! If someone bit me all the time, heck I would bite back too. But, we don't want this to happen so please give us some new ideas as to how to prevent this or how to get her to understand that biting is bad. ETA: I forgot to mention, my mother told me that she also pinches her dogs. Is this somehow connected? Those dogs can be mean and would for sure snap, my mother usually keeps them away from her. Why does she do this to dogs?! __________________ Bethany - Proud Mother of Caelyn (01/28/2010), Brayden (07/04/2012) and our doggie Buddy (05/2010) - Partner to Andrew

04-19-2012, 06:00 PM	#2
Kiara.I Rose Garden Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Pacific South-West. You know, north of the Pacific North-West Posts: 12,922	Re: Help With Biting I know you can't lock the dog away, but is it possible to put a baby gate between them so that the dog is in part of the house and your daughter is in the other? __________________ ENTP fits me to a T, though it took me forever to figure it out! DYT Type 3, Enn. Type 1 (hold that thought...enneagram crisis...might be a 7!) Sparks (9) ; Spitfire (8); Sprite (4.5)

04-19-2012, 06:17 PM	#3
Bethany89 Rose Bush Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 396	The way our house is set up virtually impossible otherwise he has no access to his food or her no access to food lol plus.. She can get over gates and open doors lol. __________________ Bethany - Proud Mother of Caelyn (01/28/2010), Brayden (07/04/2012) and our doggie Buddy (05/2010) - Partner to Andrew

04-23-2012, 04:17 PM	#4
Bethany89 Rose Bush Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 396	Anything else? Locking away or separating is not an option. __________________ Bethany - Proud Mother of Caelyn (01/28/2010), Brayden (07/04/2012) and our doggie Buddy (05/2010) - Partner to Andrew

04-26-2012, 10:57 PM	#5
ArmsOfLove Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 79,607	Re: Help With Biting You will have to supervise her and be very vigilant to keep her from biting the dog. She's too young to understand what she's doing or why you want her to not do it. Some children bite because they're upset, some because they're happy, usually it is related to teething. You might get some help by treating for teething pain. You can try some hyland's teething tabs if you want to avoid sugary tylenol stuff and if she doesn't have any dairy issues If you catch her about to bite you can use gentle pressure under the chin with a sideways finger (practice on yourself, it really takes very little pressure) while you move her or remove the dog. does the dog get upset when dd bites? __________________ Crystal "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." Maya Angelou

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