I tried the bitter apple on my hand, it worked one time but she forgot about it 15 minutes later and we were back at it. She is a persistant one. Glad it worked for you though!! Cuddles are sooo much better than mouthing!

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Bitter apple never worked with Tayla either. First taste she found it yucky. Second taste was not as offensive and after that I think she acquired a taste for it. Strangely what has worked the best for us is a sound that we make....psssssst. Kind of sounds like air escaping from a balloon or can of air. Stops her in her tracks and since we've been doing it once or twice is all it has taken to get her to be much better at not biting hands. Had I known that 8 months ago I could have saved a lot of money on band aids and not been so badly bruised.

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Barb, Rick and Tayla (STAR Puppy)



Cheyenne (CGC) and Jesse (CGC) who will be always loved and never forgotten.

How long do you hold the sssst part? LOL...I tried doing it last night but maybe I didn't do it long enough or loud enough hahahaha.

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Maybe 2 seconds. I don't know why, but Tayla is disturbed by the sound (not afraid, but concerned). Maybe her prior owner had a Cesar Milan thing and made that sound with punishment, but she just doesn't like that sound. I can't say it terrifies her, but it gets her attention like nothing we have done before and she immediately stops what she is doing and will not go back to it either. So if she is biting Rick's hands I will turn away from her like I'm watching tv and make that sound. She stops what she is doing and looks all around for where it came from. She will come over to me and I smile and tell her she is a good girl and give her some love. She is much calmer after and will go play with a toy or chew on something, but she doesn't go back to biting. Since we discovered that sound over the weekend I've used it maybe 5 or 6 times and these have been the best 5 days that we've had her. She is out of her crate longer, hasn't had any timeouts and seems to amuse herself better.

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Barb, Rick and Tayla (STAR Puppy)



Cheyenne (CGC) and Jesse (CGC) who will be always loved and never forgotten.

That is such great news! Happy for you and your hubs, and Tayla!!!

Maybe when you are make the pssst sound Tayla thinks you are going to tell her a secret and thats why she comes to you! LOL!

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4/1/2000 ~ 1/7/2011

Bailey Missing you Loving you Forever and ever.

I like that. I do tell her a secret. I tell her I love her and she is going to be the best dog someday.

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Barb, Rick and Tayla (STAR Puppy)



Cheyenne (CGC) and Jesse (CGC) who will be always loved and never forgotten.

...for you and Tayla!!

Well, the training, tricks and treats -- my new 3 T's -- have continued to work on Maisie's and my walks today!! She has turned into a bit of a treat hound, looking for them whenever I tell her she's a good girl or say, "Good!" which is our marker word, but I can live with that.

As to bitter lemon -- Maisie thinks it's yummy, too -- She even likes tabasco. But another trainer suggested Vicks Vapor Rub. She told me that 95% of dogs hate it and Maisie did -- but so did I. I did put it on her leash for a while and it helped. (She's never been a land shark, though, so I'd probably try it if I was desperate.)

Thanks again for the "3 T's" suggestion, Michelle!

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[SIGPIC]

Just an idea you might want to try. I got Sawyer (now 8mo.) a gentle leader front harness. He doesn't like it much but I use it anyways when I take him on walks, car rides, Pet Smart , dog park. It is much calmer with it on. We went to a friends for lunch the other day. He was way overexcited so I put his harness on and leash. He calmed down. Then last nite I had 11 ladies for dinner most he didn't know. Again overexcited wanting to get into everyones face as they entered. So again I put the harness on and leash. Held him like that for about 5 mins. again calmed down. Not sure why it works but it must signal something in his brain. Anyway its worth a try.

Oh wow, I am NOT alone!!!! I walk Brew to pick up my son from school everyday, today was terrible!!! He was jumping up, biting at the leash, chest bumping the back of my legs, trying to bite my butt. I have holes in all my pants now right on the bum, same cheak every pair. Today he started doing like a wild bucking bronco thing at the end of the leash jumping and spinning. So many kids wanted to come up and say hi to him, but I couldn't allow it he was just far too excited and I'm sure he would have nipped someone with those puppy teeth.

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I Brew

Tayla was our first puppy as we have always adopted older dogs. I'm sure she will be our last. If this is starting to be her "I'm growing up into a good girl" phase I don't ever want to repeat these last 8 months. If she continues to be good all my bruises should be gone in another week and I might be able to break out clothes that don't have holes in them. There is a novel idea.

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Barb, Rick and Tayla (STAR Puppy)



Cheyenne (CGC) and Jesse (CGC) who will be always loved and never forgotten.