8 month old biting my kids

[Jodi Riseberg]

Ozzy is the most wonderful puppy.  Loves to run and play with other pups but also VERY mellow at home snoozing away wherever the family is hanging out.  However, he has recently "bit" or nipped I like to say my 2 kids on 2 different occasions.  He does not like when my 12 and 9 year old wrestle and play rough- he always starts barking right at them (and never really barks except when doorbell rings)- then my 9 year old stopped and got of couch and walked away but Ozzy was still barking at him and my son turned away and crossed arms, and he bit him on the bum.  Please tell me this is just puppyhood?  He has done this twice....it's like I can tell exactly when it is going to happen and if I don't intervene quickly enough, he will bite.  I don't want my kids scared of him!  I hold his snout tight together and say no bite very loudly.  Anyone else have experience with this?  thanks!

[Deborah Brown]

It sounds like Ozzy is over stimulated and can't calm himself down easily.  When he is in the "zone", he's not going to think about what he is doing.  He is just reacting.  My advice is to intervene as soon as Ozzy starts barking.  Can you distract him?   remove him from the room?  Perhaps you can teach the kids to take their wrestling to a safe location?

I wish I could say Ozzy will outgrow this and he likely will BUT you need to prevent the nipping.  Don't let it get more intense and become a full out bite.  Ozzy has made himself the playground monitor.  This is what he would do with other puppies - try to break up what he thinks is inappropriate play.  I've seen it many times with my 3 dogs.  Two are wrestling and one is barking or trying to separate them.

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

That is awesome advise!  I love your interpretation of him being playground monitor.  Very insightful! 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Exactly....I really think that he's just overstimulated and he's reacting to the excited energy from your boys.  I would not allow that kind of play around him right now...just remove him while they're wrestling.  You don't want him developing this as a habit....so better to prevent it in the first place.  When you get upset and hold his snout shut he is not understanding or connecting this to the excited nipping...that's just more excited energy to him.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Nailed it! Great advice!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

When Spud was 8 months he used to bite me in the butt when I went to the basement, started a sweeper, a leaf blower, a blow dryer......Its playing, it's power, its herding, it's a dog thing, it's the age. But make no excuses, it's time to be able to tell the dog you don't like it
Time for you and your entire family ( all of you) to attend an obiediance class. I know you will all enjoy the expierance including the dog.
Here is what we still have to do- we put a toy in his mouth :)
I say, ' Spud, I have to go to the basement' and he grabs a toy. If someone comes to the door, I give him a stuffy.
We also have a toy just for the sweeper.
It works like a charm. Maybe eventually, it will help you too

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

That muzzle lock down is not a good method and is rather old style, not effective training. Please don't use this method

[Kris and Sawyer]

We have a playground monitor as well! :-). Sawyer hates it when my boys wrestle but I think it is more that he is trying to protect my younger son. I agree he is probably also overstimulated. Our trainer said they should be on leash (preferably with prong collar) most of the time while they are still puppies, then you can easily correct them.

[jenn D]

I have similar issues without the biting part. Our dogs, especially Jake, will get incredibly worked up when my son gets wound up and and runs, tackles his sister, etc. I think it's normal that some dogs get revved up when they see kids getting super excited or even playing (sort of) like dogs (aka wrestling). The opposite even happens with the kids (the dogs start playing exuberantly and the kids get amped up). If it happens at specific times in your household (luckily I have 2 periods like this a day that seem to occur at certain times) maybe you can separate the dogs and kids for awhile. For instance, when my dogs are wrestling like crazy in the morning I send my kids off to make beds, brush teeth and hair and get ready for school. Let the dogs have their rompy time. When my son is amped up after school I give the dogs downtime in my room with a favorite stuffed treat.

I personally think its really hard to teach a puppy not to join in the fun when kids are wrestling etc. this is especially true if your pup is just starting to learn basic commands and is still young. They think "play time woohoo!" Moving the temptation sometimes is your best bet. And I know that's easier said than done. Some days all 4 of mine are going crazy (2 kids and 2 dogs). Then it's time for a long walk to the park so everyone can get out that excess energy.

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

my 1 year and 8 month old goldendoodle does this too!!! he gets rowdy.. my husband wrestles with him which I don't like.. he never tries it with me because he knows mommy doesn't play rough.. but now when he gets all wound up you cant stop him.. if you go to grab him by the collar for a time out when he gets too rough you almost cant even grab him because he is snapping and his lip is all the way up showing his teeth..it is kind of scary.. he has been in obedience since as young as he could be..and this type is behavior is never addressed because it doesn't happen in class.. he is the head of the class!! but this snapping and biting I thought would be over at this age.. it is NOT NEARLY as bad as when he was younger..but im worried as he gets old it will actually get worse and he will become more dominating and really will bite me or when I have kids bite them... he is not at all afraid of us..not even when he goes to time out..he comes out as confident as ever!!!!!!