Biting Puppy! :(

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Okay, so we've had our puppy for a week and a half (his name is Fezzik :). Our main problem is...biting! When we play with him, he decides to bite us, our hair, or toes, anything. How to make it stop? Also, ever since we brought him home our other dog has not liked him very much. Fezzik will start chasing the other dog (who is 7 years old) and he corners her and she starts growling and Fezzik starts biting him. Fezzik doesn't see the growling as aggresiveness, he still thinks she is playing, can anyone help? Thanks guys, we love him soooo much and to have these problems resolved or start a process to resolve them would really help us out. Also, how do we get him used to walking on a leash? Everytime we try he just sits there and chews on it.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yep, sounds just like our puppy.  He is now about 16 months and it is getting better, but he was definitely a biter when he was younger.  We would sternly tell him "No" and have him go outside, but he would be jumping up and licking the glass sliding glass door.  My husband seemed to have bandaids on his hands and arms constantly.  He did not jump up and bite my hands (thankfully) but he loved to jump and bite everyone else.  He also would chase our older dog (5 years old) and nip at his heels to get him going.  The older dog actually got into a couple of angry fights with him and he stopped bothering him so much.  Walking on leash is still a challenge and both dogs follow commands and will sit, stay, and come when there are other people on the trail.  I finally resorted to the chain cinch collars that dig into their necks if they pull on them and they seemed to understand that it is their pulling that makes the collar tight.  They walk much better with these collars.  It is a challenge, but it does get better.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

My first suggestion is if you haven't already done so you should join the Puppy Madness group as there are a whole bunch of people there with the same problems you are currently facing.  But, to address your biting issue, you can keep a soft toy handy and anytime he tries to bite you just put the toy in his mouth and say no bite.  Everyone in the house needs to follow the same rule.  The biting is a problem until the puppy teeth are gone which is around 5 months or so.  As for the older dog and the play issues, you can try keeping the puppy tethered to you so that you can control how much he annoys the older dog.  Or you can get an exercise pen to keep him in when you can't have your eyes on him constantly.  The older dog should be able to teach him the ropes of what is ok and what isn't.  Many of us have these problems when we foster.  Our dogs get to teach the fosters the rules of the house.  Sometimes it takes a little bit, but they eventually get it.  As for the leash training, if your puppy is treat motivated you can try coaxing him with treats to walk on the leash.  Just have someone hold it to his nose and then walk a few feet away.  When he walks on the leash to the treat he gets it.  Repeat getting further and further away.  Don't let him chew on the leash.  If you have to, get a harness for him so the least is on his back and not where he can reach it.  These are all issues that every single one of us have faced and we have all survived, so you will as well.  The biting is a tough one, but it goes away fairly quickly.  I would suggest you make plans now to get into training as soon as possible once he has his appropriate shots.  We have all learned so much by going to obedience classes.  It is good for the puppy, but even better for the puppy Mom and Dad and the rest of the family.  He's a little cutie. 

[Leslie J]

Some puppies can be real biters!!! I suggest that you take a look at the Puppy Madness group:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness

and the Multiple Doodle group:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/multipledoodlesordogs

Even if you other dog isn't a doodle, it will have some good information for households with multiple dogs.

BTW, Fezzik is adorable and I'm sure he'll outgrow his naughty antics :)

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

All typical puppy stuff !!!  Both my doodles did the exact same thing.  Fezzik look just like my Oliver when he was a baby.  The biting thing still goes on a bit when my two get excited with play.  When they start the play biting I immediately stop the play.  When your puppy starts biting while playing or any other time put a toy in place of your hand and a fimr NO will help.  Puppies just want to play, eat and sleep.  Sasah was 10 months old when I got Oliver, he was 10 wks old, to this day he still annoys her when she just wants to sit or sleep.  Ollie still has very much the puppy in him at 16 months old.  Your older dog will get use to the new puppy in due time.  I had a 7 year old Shih Tzu and got a puppy Shih Tzu and after a while they were the best of friends.  It took about 6 months.

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

you will need all the help you can get if your puppy is anything like mine was.  I immediately started reading and trying everything, because the backs of both my hands were all marked up from my darling puppy bites.  What a test of patience!  But around 5 months old, it was like somewhat threw a switch and she calmed way down and the biting almost came to a complete halt.  It was great!  I finally could untie her in the house!  Yes she was that nasty...when you walked by her she would try to bite you! 

Today she is 15 months old and very very sweet.  Does she still bite?  Yes, but she does it very gently and if I yip just for the heck of it, she licks my hand. 

Hang in there and get lots and lots of support and great advice from this site and trainers. 

 

 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

What to do with a puppy who is craving your attention and playtime?

 

Don't give him any if he's biting :)

 

Remember YOU (and your family) are the best and most fun of all the toys in the house.  Taking it away (for 20 seconds or so at a time) sends a clear message to your pup!  If he bites too hard, the game is finished!

[Bryce P]

I agree it is just play mouthing. When he gets his mouth on you, yelp. If that dosent work spray bitterapple on your hands.

[Jen & Ember]

Yes, I remember this well. Ember is 4-1/2 months and just came out of this phase. I remember thinking I'd need some sort of professional intervention because it was so awful!! I read somewhere that a dog's bite is set by 20 wks, and if you don't curb how hard they bite by then that they won't be able to regulate their bite in the future (like if a child accidentally trips and falls on the dog when it's an adult). I have no idea if this is true, but it scared me! So... Each and every time I would yelp and get up from playing with her when she nipped to the point of it hurting. If she put her mouth on me and it didn't hurt, I kept playing. She slowly stopped nipping to the point of pain and I started yelping and jumping up for the nips that didn't hurt. Now, she never nips when I'm playing with her on the floor. We're still working on when I'm standing up and she's excited... she jumps up and bites my butt!! And when I run away she thinks I'm playing... so... there's that. :) 

 

She is also exposed to 2 11 & 12 yr old dogs that are NOT interested in playing. She doesn't get it. She tries and tries to get them to play... pulling on their ears (which they don't appreciate), barking until they bark back, biting on their legs... you get the picture. I try to let the older dogs stand up for themselves, but they don't always so sometimes I intervene by making a loud noise and clapping, then redirecting Ember to a new activity. 

 

I have to say that the biggest help has been having her in doggie daycare 2 days a week. She is learning SO much about how to play nicely. I don't know if this is an option for you, but if you have a good one in the area, it could be a valuable resource. 

 

Good luck!!