I recently joined this group asking what sex puppy I should get, I ended up deciding on male because I fell in love with a certain puppy when I found it =). So far he's been great, he's really smart, really sweet except...He's the worst puppy as far as biting goes that I've ever had. He ALWAYS wants to bite me when we're playing and I've had multiple times where he has bit me in the face, and not because I foolishly put my face in front of his hoping he would kiss me while we were playing. I've raised puppies before, but I've never experienced anything this bad. Is this normal for berners? I mean he's only 10 weeks old so he's still just a baby, but it's just so bad that playing with him and being around him is almost intolerable. I got him from a reputable breeder, not a puppy store and she had kids so maybe they played too rough with him? I don't know, I really need help with this because I've been told when he gets really bad to yell at him as a warning, then put him in his crate and walk away for 5-10 minutes. I've been doing this for over a week and I know it takes a lot of time, but NO progress whatsoever. Just any advice or at least tell me if this is normal for a berner. Thank you ^.^

Yes this is very common for Berners. They're very mouthy and there are many threads on here about nipping pups. Do you crate him? I always had luck putting Molly in a 'time out' either in her crate or putting her leash and collar on and attaching her to the staircase or somewhere until she calmed down. Also try something like a bully stick for his teething. Good luck and enjoy him

Bernese can be a mouthy breed. Crating is and can be a good thing as can gating off but I don't feel tying a dog to a staircase by collar and leash is a good idea at all especially a puppy. Long house lines can be a good idea.

Take a look at this article a much better way in my opinion.

The Bite Stops Here by Dr Ian Dunbar

Just out of curiosity how come? I actually got the idea from a behaviourist I've worked with before. It worked wonders for us. She was never near the stairs but was tied to the railing at the top nowhere near the opening. She explained it to us as a time out, very similar to one in a crate.

Near the stairs or not leashing a puppy or dog to anything is in my opinion not agood one.

Would you leash your child to an object because it was doing something undesirable ? Or find a better way to get the message across that what it was doing was unacceptable ?

If I went to a behaviourist that made any suggestion like that I would be heading for the hills. Never needed it with my large male Berner when a puppy and he was bad for nipping and biting.

When I lost him to illness at 41/2 I was really glad that all the training he received was kind and positive.

Seems we will agree to disagree on this one.

No, I wouldn't leash my child to anything obviously. And as much as I love my Berner, she is NOT a child or human, she is a dog whose brain works differently than the brain of a human therefore, the methods used are different. I'd be offended to think that anyone thinks the time with my dog isn't positive or surrounded with love. I've built enough of a positive relationship with her over the past two years that even when she does need corrected she is never shy or timid. We spend quality time together and work as a part of a team through agility and frisbee. I've been complimented a lot on how positive I am with her while learning. Everyone's dog is different and the approach needs to be different. What is right for me and my dog isn't necessairly right for you and your dog and vice versa.

As you say it is your prerogative to train your dog how you like and if she is dealing with that kind of training good. It is dangerous to recommend that training to anyone else with any breed of dog if for instance it was a rescue and they have no or very little history this could turn out to be dangerous especially if the dog has been leashed up and abused or abandoned.



I still stand by my remark about your behaviourist if this is the best he/she can do to alter a behaviour it is a bad one and very old school. Here in the Uk most people would run a mile from a suggestion such as that.

I am bowing out of this debate on this particular subject now as I heartily disagree with this method of training and that dogs do not think or feel the same as humans so do not deserve the respect or time the same as us. It is known that dogs have sentinent feelings. They show fear, they show happiness, sadness, fear of being left alone a lot of the feelings we also display so that is why training should take these consideration into account.

Good luck with your dog I am pleased to hear she is doing so well.

Wasn't trying to start a debate- just felt like I needed to defend myself and my dog as you made it sound like doing this would create a shy, timid dog lacking confidence, which my girl certainly is not. My behaviourist did meet and work with the dog a lot before suggesting this - she knew her personality was very similar to my Berner's now - full of herself and not only confident....borderline cocky

Fair enough. Have just re-read my posts I haven't as far as I can see mentioned about it making a Berner timid or shy of course it could but in your case hasn't which is a good thing.

But I do worry about this type of training always have always will and no need to defend yourself no more than I do in my beliefs.

You have discovered for you it works but it may not for others and is a dangerous way to teach a dog as I said of any breed whether rescue or bringing home from a puppy.

I am pleased to hear your dog is full of confidence keep her that way it doesn't take much and sometimes you do not even see the problems that set it off. Ollie was a shy timid Berner had been from day one of bringing him home if I had trained him the way you have your girl I would have never manged him a 10 stone + shy timid Berner is no joke and for that reason I worry over the training techniques that are taught to some people especially Bernese they are a breed on their own when it comes to needs of training and care.

I luckily found a very good trainer who understood Ollie although had never personally had a Bernese in for training he listened to me and about the breed and although we couldn't cure him we learnt a good way to manage him and I learnt to read his body language very quickly. He stressed out very easily so we learnt to avoid situations like that.

We also feel as he had so many health issues which we did not know about till post mortem this also made him the way he was. This is why I am trying to discourage the tying up of a dog on its lead to a stair rail or such like.

There is some bad breeding going on now in the breed and it is producing some shy timid Berners and they are ending up in rescue so that is why I am saying you have to be careful how you train and the methods of training. It has workd for you but for many it may not and get them into a situation they cannot handle and the dog ends up in rescue or worse still put to sleep.

There is nothing personal agianst you in what I am saying. I am trying to point out the bigger picture thats all.

I think alot of berners are nippers.

mine is a year and a half and still tries a nip now and then with my youngest son( she nips at his shirts or pants but never actually him)

We pretty much cured her nipping by COSTANTLY putting her in her crate each and everytime she tried nipping. If it was 100 nips a day she was put in her crate 100 times a day. EXTREMELY frustrating for us but glad we took the time because now she is pretty darn good except that ocassional nip to my sons clothes( I think she does this just to see what he will do)

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