Help me! Too Much Biting

[Sandra]

Hi There,

I've now had my 8.5 week old F1B goldendoodle for 9 days and although she keeps us up at night and cries when we leave the room, we expected all of this. What I didn't expect was the biting and nipping. It started 2 days after we got her and I feel like it's getting progressively worse. I don't think her biting or nipping is ever mean, more playful and especially when she is excited or has been outside. She is always going for our toes, ankles, hands, everything.

I'm a first time dog owner and so is my husband so I'm looking out for some suggestions, we tried everything suggested online (everything that isn't physical, we aren't supportive of grabbing her muzzle or smacking her nose).

I'm reaching out for some help, support and encouragement! Did your doodle bit and nip when they were a puppy? How long did it last? Did anything help?

I know socializing her with other dogs would help but she won't be fully vaccinated for another few weeks but I can't wait that long. We have a trainer coming to our place on Thursday, because it's bothering me so much but that's 3 days away!

Help me nip the nipping in the butt! I don't want to live in constant fear of my 10 pound fur ball!

Thank you so much!

Sandra momma to Lily

[F, Calla & Luca]

What helped me the most was a time out when nipping occurred. Either by using a crate or leasing the puppy to something, usually a door knob. After a short nap he was civilized again.

[Nicole and Teddy]

Oh goodness- I know how you feel! Teddy was a bad biter- to the point of drawing blood - until almost a year old. We tried it all too (giving him appropriate chew toys, stopping play, etc). The two things I found that worked best were, as you said, socializing him with other dogs- I think he realized our pain after he began playing with other dogs who were too rough, and using time out- so playing with him until he got too mouthy and then stepping away and ignoring him for a few moments before resuming play (we used the leash so we were able to step away without him charging after us)- rinse and repeat several times! ;) This was definitely the hardest part of the puppy phase, but it does get better so hang in there! :)

[Sandra]

She won't stop chewing on her leash! haha

At what age did Teddy stop biting?

[Nicole and Teddy]

Oh yes, Teddy would go to town on his leash too, but mostly he wanted us to play with him. Turning my back on him, taking whatever toy we were playing with, and ignoring him really seemed to pique his interest- enough so that he would stop what he was doing (including leash biting) for a moment or two. Then I would resume the game- but as soon as he bit again he would get another time out. This seemed to work- they are really smart so they catch on quick! Hmm, I hesitate to tell you when he actually stopped biting for good as sometimes he still does! Ha! He's two now-mostly it's about training the human and I'm ashamed to admit I've been pretty lax lately! Good luck! :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Use a chain type leash.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I used one f those for a while.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hope the trainer can give you some suggestions. All puppies nip, but the older they are when they leave their litters, the easier it is to work on that.  Puppies learn bite inhibition from their mothers and their littermates between 6-8 weeks, which is one reason that they should never go to their new homes before the age of 8 weeks. It's actually against the law in half the 50 states to sell a pup before 8 weeks old. 

[Sandra]

If we knew puppies learned bite inhibition during 6-8 weeks we would have never taken her a week earlier. We feel a bit silly about how excited we were to pick her up at 7.5 weeks instead of 8.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I would try to set up playdates with other dogs who are vaccinated and healthy, and owned by people you know and trust. If you wait until she is fully vaccinated at 12 weeks, you will have missed much valuable time for other dogs to teach her what she likely didn't learn from her mother. 

[Sandra]

All my dog owner friends are scared to bring their pups around. I'm not sure if it's for the safety of my puppy or theirs.

This is a good suggestion - must research and convince people to come by with their puppies!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

You may want to check local doggie daycare centers for 'puppy romp' sessions they may offer for puppies after their 2nd set of shots (around 10 weeks old). My 2 both attended 1 hr puppy romps once a week for a couple months. It did wonders to socialize them with both other dogs and other people.

[Sandra]

This is amazing, I didn't know it even excited, I found one in my area and I have her registered now.

Thanks!