Need advice, please!

[Nicole]

I have been reading posts for almost a year now, and have learned so much from all the great advice on this site. I now need help, as I don't know what to do with my Labradoodle Winnie.  This might get lengthy, so bear with me, please. Our Winnie just turned one on Christmas Eve.  We got her from a shelter in February.  We saw her on petfinder, and after speaking to the shelter lady, we drove three hours to bring her home.  The lady told us on the phone,that she was eight weeks old. When we got to the shelter (all three kids in the car with us) we knew right away that this was a bad situation.  It was a house in very bad condition, and there were dogs tied up everywhere in the yard, some dogs were just running free.  The woman immediately came out of the house to greet us, otherwise we might have just backed  out.  When we entered the "shelter" it was clear that this was a hoarder operating as a shelter.  There must have been at least 60 dogs loose in the house.  It was impossible to walk without stepping on any.  Amidst this chaos she pulled out this cute fluff ball puppy.  My mind was racing.  I knew I should walk away, but my heart was breaking for this little puppy and my children, in the middle of all these dogs.  I then came to find out that she breeds these dogs for profit, so she can operate this "shelter"  The mom we were able to meet.  She was a very sweet dog.  Dad was tied up a long distance away from the house.  We brought Winnie home, thinking we were rescuing her from the rescue.  We took her to the vet.  She had ear mites, worms, and kennel cough.  We also found out that she was actually only 6 weeks old. Since then we have loved that dog.  We have had her in obedience classes, we train her at home and the kids play with her everyday. She also goes to doggy day care once a week.  The trouble is that Winnie loves our dog, but seems less excited about us. She has never enjoyed being petted, and does not seem bonded to us.  ALthough she always wants to be in the same room with us. As a little puppy she was very mouthy, leaving nasty marks all over the kids and me.  Now she is 12 months old, and is still mouthy.  I don't think she bites aggressively, it is always during play, or when the kids want to snuggle with her.  She does not break the skin but does leave bruises. Is there anything, given her history that we can do to teach her not to bite?  We worked diligently on the puppy mouthiness, this is different though.  I have never owned a biting dog.  We love her but I worry about my children, and other kids in the house. I don't want to give her away, the kids and I do love her, but I worry this might get worse. Any advice, please?

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

My doodles were neither one cuddly at one year old.  My three year old is now very cuddly and the 2 and 8 month year old is definitely starting to want to cuddle some.  Roo, the three year old is very mouthy and it increases with excitement and has been taught to "go get" his zogoflex bone to hold in his mouth.

 

I heartily endorse Leslie and Wellington and Bingley's advice.  Follow it to the letter and ask for more detail if you need it.  It is extremely common for retrieving breeds to be very mouthy for at least three years.  

 

Thanks for saving one dog.  Winnie is a lucky girl. 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Nicole - I want to applaud you for asking for help and committing to working through these issues with Winnie. Training will help immensely.  She is still such a puppy and as she grows and you do more training, she will end up being pretty perfect, I am sure of it!

 

Stay positive!!!

[Nicole]

Thank you for all the encouraging words.  It really does help to know that this is a fixable problem.  It does give me the hope I need to keep on going. And I will definately use everybody's advice.