Lab pup nipping & biting - 8 weeks old

SarahSassy

Hi All

We have a gorgeous new pup and since he arrived last Friday my OH has been at home with him full time. He is learning loads and was a bit of a monkey and nipping my OH at the start. he has since gotten the pup to stop doing that to him but when I get home from work, he is very excited to see me but starts the nipping again. I have tried putting my finger in his mouth to stop him and it does for a while. Its only excitement and I dont want to be the big bad person coming home and giving out to him but I dont want him to get into the habit of acting like this for me.

Otherwise, he is very well behaved.

All thoughts welcome.

thanks

spurscormac

If he bites too hard, just let out a yelp and pull away.
This simulates the same thing a littermate would do and teaches the dog how much force he can apply.

Thats what we did with our little cocker & you can man handle his mouth all day & he wont bite.
He still likes to have a nibble at our shoes at times, but doesn't use any pressure at all.

Also, at a young age, their baby teeth can be very sharp and scrape you, as they loses these teeth and get their adult ones, you'll see that they are not as sharp at all.

jen_23

+1 to the yelping. That's how pups know the playbiting is beginning to hurt littermates.

Also you could have a toy handy to give him when he starts nipping to show that he is allowed to nip/playbite this and not your hand.

SarahSassy

Its not sore and I am not scared of him and I do know its just playing but I want him to be socialised and not doing this to people he meets. Just looking for tricks to get him to stop nipping.

jimmyn

I'll add my voice to the yelping. It can work well, and you should see how you get on with it.

Some pups however, just stop for a moment after you yelp and start back at it again. If this happens, put the dog in his crate, or outside, or leave the room yourself. No more playing for 10 mins or so.

Some people have success curling the pup's top lip over his top teeth, so that when he bites, he's only biting his own lip. This may also help to get the message across to him.

This is perfectly normal behaviour for a pup this age, and nothing to be worried about. This is a good time to get him to a puppy socialization class too. It really helps to make a well balanced friendly dog.

SarahSassy

Ok thanks all. will try that. He has been taught not to do it with my OH but didnt want to just come home and be the big baddie and be constantly giving out to him when he does it to me.

He stops for a second when I say stop or yelp and then carries on. will try the getting up and walking away.

funkyjebus

Yelping is the only way. All professionals will say the same. You should allow him to bite you to start (altought I could be too late to introduce this method now the he doesn't bite your OH) and only yelp if he bits too hard this is so that if in later life he bites someone he'll know not to bite to hard. Once you think he has that then anytime you feel his teeth get you yelp like it hurt and ignore him for a few. Won't tke long before he gets it.

I can put my finger into my 5 months old pup's mouth and he'll move his mouth.

I repeat this is the only way to go about this and if this behavour goes unchecked you will have real problems. It should take about a week or two and he'll be out of it.

As with all training, consistancy is vital.

li-evo7

I have an 18 week old lab pup myself! he was dreadful at the nipping when we got him and if i pulled away and said no or used my finger as a signal to him while I said no he would try it more thinking it was a game. What I found great was always having a chew toy or anything else he could play with beside me.Any time he would come over and try nibble me i would grab the toy and distract him with that. Now he only does it the very odd time if he is excited. A small tap with a newspaper works sometimes too if he persists;)Dont use your hand to tap him or anything cause that will only make him want to nip it as then he will regard your hand as something that annoys him.

Sigma Force

Our pup is 5 months and still nips a bit usually when he's full of beans or a bit grumpy when he's over tired but he's gotten so much better. He was nipping like bad for ages never thought it would end just did the usual yelp and ignore or offer his toy instead.
Trick is to always have a chew toy handy so get loads of them and keep them in every room, some high up out of reach, so you can offer them to him instead some at the front door too because they tend to get over excited when someone walks in.

Chewy things like Kongs and ice cubes help too.

Satyr_The_Great

www.citizencanine.ie

run by Emmaline Duffy - Fallon, a GREAT dog trainer, done wonders for my dog. Also try this site, www.ohmydog.ie Emmaline is a resident there and offers free advice, but I reccomend her puppy kindergarten glasses and her obedience classes, EXCELLENT trainer and easy to get along with.

maroongael

[ If this happens, put the dog in his crate, or outside, or leave the room yourself. No more playing for 10 mins or so.

[/quote]

I'm not sure that putting the puppy in the crate is suh a good idea. He'll associate the crate with punishment and thats not what you want.

I would suggest a yelp, firm NO and then pull away from your puppy to show disapproval

SarahSassy

Thansk All. I did have a bit of progress last night and this morning. I do think its only play and hate having to correct him everytime he comes near me but he does do it every time he comes near me.... Catch 22

jimmyn

I'm not sure that putting the puppy in the crate is suh a good idea. He'll associate the crate with punishment and thats not what you want.

Yeah, that's a fair point. The crate should not be a place of punishment.

I was thinking more in terms of those times when the yelping has no effect (all it did was wind up my Golden even more), and when it's not practical for you to leave the room (maybe you've got work to do in the kitchen etc). Something needs to be done to get the pup off your ankles. Confining him with a nice chew toy or puppy kong might be the easiest way to save your sanity. There's nothing like a puppy nipping at your heels to test your patience.