Lab that won't stop biting !!!

TFP

I have a beautiful 13 week old black lab .. and I know and expected the puppy nipping and biting to be annoying but after nearly 6 weeks of continious biting it is getting tiresome. His teeth are razor sharp and if you are not careful he can draw blood.

Every time he nips, I let out a yelp and walk to the other side of the room. However it does not seem to deter him, he will then go for something else that he knows he isn't allowed to bite and when I intervene he will have a nip at me again! When I then ignore him, he will bark and bark until he gets the attention again (which is a problem late in the evenings living in a semi-d !!)

People keep telling me that it will soon phase out, but at this stage I can't even lie down with the dog without him attempting to bite at me. He has his toys (not too many but plenty), at this stage knows what he is allowed to bit but insists on using my flesh as a pin cushion!

Other than this issue the little fella is a pleasure, toilet training really only took a couple of days (I really don't know how but it did) and he is as friendly and playful as anything when introduced to new dogs and family.


Has anyone any advice !!

peasant

I'd say you just need to be a bit firmer and more outspoken in your protests ...he doesn't seem to get the message and probably thinks that your yelping is part of the play.


Can you growl? (without sounding stupid and going into a giggly-fit?)

Then grrrrowl your "NO"'s until he gets the message

bugler

I'm interested in this topic. I really like dogs, though unfortunately wasn't allowed one growing up.

I'm not aware of what the discourse these days is on training dogs. But whenever I've been reading about the breeds I'd like to own eventually (usually large pastoral dogs, though not exclusively) it seems some of them can have dominant personalities and will need to be shown who is boss in no uncertain terms. Which I always assumed to mean that any serious challenges to your authority (i.e. aggression, biting other than nipping) should be met with physical force. Am I completely wrong? Is this is acceptable as hitting your child these days?

As a non-dog owner I immediately thought TFP's reaction to the biting was not a good one. It seems too submissive. My reaction would have been a very loud and definite "NO" "Stop" etc., but if it persisted then a good whack. I know there are certain places not to hit dogs (the nose..?).

Sorry for going off on one TFP, hope you get your answers here!

peasant

bugler wrote: »

Am I completely wrong?

yes

read here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055222869

Weidii

I know it's not nice to slap a puppy, maybe buy a water sprayer bottle to spray him when he does bad things like this. It doesn't ave to be a big thing, maybe like a small (cleaned out) body spray bottle or something. My friend has a dog who barks alot, and if he even produces the spray bottle the dog ceases altogether.

Teach him while he's young that it's not acceptable to bite, as when he's older if he bites you or someone else (perhaps a child) he may have to be put to sleep. So do it for his good

muckety

We had some success with this problem in a springer by growling as the first response suggested. Needs to be consistent so if there are others in the house make sure they take the same approach. Sounds like he was very young (7 weeks?) when he came to you so would not have had time to have learned from the litter when to stop biting.

TFP

he was just about 8 weeks when we collected him. His litter was only himself and his chocolate brother so this could be a factor as he only had one peer.

I tried the growling last night and it seemed to work for a short while until he then went over to my wife and proceeded to do the same. She reacted the same way as me. He then decided to look for something that he knows he isn't allowed to bite and started chewing as if to intentionally annoy us.

I will try again tonight and see if he settles down quicker !!

When should I expect him to start loosing his teeth ?

peasant

Get him a dedicated chew toy (hard rubber is best) and every time he chews on something he shouldn't, tell him no, take the item away and replace it with the chew toy.

TFP

peasant wrote: »

Get him a dedicated chew toy (hard rubber is best) and every time he chews on something he shouldn't, tell him no, take the item away and replace it with the chew toy.

He has his chew toys and at this stage he is well aware of what he is allowed to chew and what he isn't. Immediatly after getting told off he will head for the coffee table, keeping his eyes trained on one of us so we know where he is !!

LisaO

As you said, all puppies do this but labs can be very mouthy! My 3 yr old black lab learnt it is not acceptable but will still chance his arm (paw?) when playing with me or OH & trust me it really hurts when they're that big! Try to teach him there are better things to chew than you & rest of family. Invest in some really challenging chew toys. Kongs are brilliant, the kind you can stuff with treats, so that he really has to work at it. Also, the knotted, twisted cotton ropes are very good & kind to teeth & gums. Are you teaching him any basic obedience yet, like sit? With my guy, the rule was always that he had to sit & keep his teeth & paws to himself before he got a fuss. If I went to stroke him & he went to nip I took my hand away, made him sit & started again. Keep at it, be consistent & he will soon learn. Labs are smart dogs & very eager to please.

muckety

If he is chewing the furniture (coffee table) try putting white pepper or mustard on it where he chews. It doesn't look great but will help protect it and discourage him from chewing where he shouldn't.

Unless you get one like ours who seems to like mustard.

cr1272

Sounds to me like he needs a bit of socialisation with other dogs, to learn what is and isn't acceptable behaviour.

I would suggest training classes, where he can interact with other pups / dogs.

www.dogtrainingireland.ie would be a good starting point, if you are in Dublin.

TFP

thanks a million for all your advise.

We have got some of the kong toys and he does love them but still loves flesh aswell !!

As far as training goes, he already obeys 'sit' and 'out' and also 'no' for some things. It is just a matter of persistance with the nipping !

I am trying to introduce him to as many dogs as possible, even when out on walks he seems to be very friendly with all other dogs and he spends hours most saturdays and sundays playing with my dad's little terrier.

I have noticed that he becomes 'naughtier' coming closer to bed time. I don't know if it is in anticipation of us leaving him for the night or if he is just cranky with tirdness.

for anyone interested below is a link to the little messer

Sammy

peasant

The nipping is a nice game ...made even nicer by the fact that a) you don't like it (so he can test how far he can go) and b) you're trying to evade the nipping (so he can play "catch" at the same time).

Tell him "NO" very firmly and if he doesn't stop, tell him "NO" again while you swoop him up and put him outside the room (the hall wil do fine).
Do that quickly and without much ado (particularly without further comment or speeches) and leave him to simmer for one or two minutes.

Then let him in again and send him to his spot (a spot) and ignore him for another short while. (ignoring means not looking at, not talking to, no peeking either). Then call him to you and act normally again.

As soon as he starts nipping again ...repeat the procedure. If you don't see success, extend the isolation and ignoring duration ...he'll learn quick enough.

(He should react to the first, firm "NO" soon enough)


This is natural dog behaviour where misbehaviour results in temporary exclusion from the pack, usually very effective.

Don't overdo it though ...excluding him is a fairly severe punishment and should not be used for every single little offence.

The nipping is a serious issue though and can't be allowed to go unchecked.

TFP

Thank you all for your advise, it seems to be working the biting has almost dissappeared but .. I am looking for more advise !!!

He really does seem to crave attention, cannont stay in another room when we are around, won't stay out the back for even 5 minutes while we are in the house and in the morning like an alarm clock he will bark from 7am until we go down to him.

I understand that he needs to get outside to go to the toilet in the morning but surely barking constantly from when he hears our first step up stairs until we get down to let him out isn't normal!!

I don't want to give the impression that we are trying to ignore him and don't have time for him in our lives, it is just we really miss the odd 20 minutes alone time !! For valentines evening we couldn't settle on the couch at all .... he just wanted attention .. even after an extra long walk in the evening !

michelleans

Have you got a crate for him? Or even use his bed. You can train him to go there on command and stay there until you release him. This can be used while you're cleaning up, eating dinner, ie times you need some space.

During the day when you are at home, does he follow you around the house? Do you allow this? Preventing him from following you around, i.e. close the door will help with this clingy behaviour. When entering and exiting the rooms it's good to ignore him too. He must learn that you are free to do anywhere and do as you please in your house.

If you go downstairs while he is still barking, you are telling him "when i bark my owner comes down" so wait until he quietens down before going down to him. If that's not possible get up 15 minutes before the barking usually starts. Prevention is better than cure!

Good luck

TFP

michelleans wrote: »

If you go downstairs while he is still barking, you are telling him "when i bark my owner comes down" so wait until he quietens down before going down to him. If that's not possible get up 15 minutes before the barking usually starts. Prevention is better than cure!

Good luck

I tried this morning but it was a solid twenty minutes of barking and no let up. I live in a semiD and at that hour of the morning I am hoping I am not annoying the neighbours. Unfortunatly I would love to get up before the barking, but I seem to think he is awake waiting for my foot to leave the bed before barking!!

I thought initially that he was just barking due to a full bladder, but this morning he played around in the back garden for a few minutes before emptying his bladder !!

I am now closing doors after me and generally wandering for wandering sake around the house to see if he will follow me, that seems to be working but the morning barking is frustrating. I can't even roll over for 10 minutes in the morning !!