SO Frustrated!

[Rebecca Chynoweth]

Hi, I am new here. I have been reading all the discussions for months in preparation for our ALD's arrival 4 weeks ago. He is 14 weeks.

Cooper has generally been quite good, goes potty outside (when I take him, not letting me know on his own) accidents occur and know they are my fault. 

He sleeps in his crate like a champ - so no complaints there.

But his biting and attacking my 8 year old completely unprovoked, attacking the drapes, all cords, and furniture legs are making me seriously question what I did in getting a dog. 

He is more aggressive with my daughter than I think is normal for a puppy. We are going to training classes once a week and I am having the trainer come to the house to help me address this.

She can not even walk in the same room with him and he jumps up and bites at her, rips her clothes and will not let go of them. He barks when she pets him, lunges at her when she looks at him. She does not chase him or is not rough with him in ANY way, she is very careful around him. She feeds him most meals and we work on training together. When I am close by he is better with her.

Cooper does this with me also, but with way less intensity. Maybe I have just had a bad day but I am not enjoying him lately. I researched and read so much so maybe I am just disappointed that my fantasy of a great family dog is not a reality yet.

He goes in his pen for a break when things get too crazy, I also am trying the coins in a can. He has 100 toys, bully sticks, frozen towels to chew on. We walk 30 mins a day (less lately due to the very cold temps) play fetch and work on training several times a day.

Yes, I am joining the puppy group. Maybe I am venting more than anything, I know he is young but I feel like all I do is yell and pry open his jaws when my daughter is around. He is good during the day when it is just the 2 of us. I am sad because she has been waiting for a dog for years and she can not even pet or play with him. It's beyond frustrating for all of us.

Rebecca

[Jen and Annie]

First, welcome to doodlekisses, there is a lot of information here - and second, I know what you're going through - we went through these same scenarios with our pup. She is 8 months old now, and although at times she still mouths us - she has much better control over the pressure she uses with her jaw, and it rarely hurts anymore...
This is what worked for us. When he nips or bites, have your daughter shriek or yelp out as though it really hurts. She should walk away from him... You should do the same. The puppy will begin realizing that human skin is really quite sensitive and that he needs to be more gentle with his mouth. If he bites hard, playtime ends - and that isn't good. Have toys nearby - when he bites or nips - replace your hand (or whatever he's biting) with a toy - and when he begins chewing it - tell him what a good boy he is. You will be amazed with how much less pressure he applies when he does nip. Puppies will nip and bite for awhile... but I promise you it will get better - from the age of 11 - 16 weeks, I was on these forums daily looking for help. Consistency is key.
Puppies have little more than their mouth to explore the world around them - and they just need to learn that humans find their biting is painful.
This is now a distant memory for me, but I promise you I was seeking advice when Annie was around the same age. I thought she would turn out to be a biter - as I mentioned - she tends to still use her mouth, but its just a light grasp - no pressure in her bite. I credit the consistency of yelping in pain and leaving the area. Puppies want to be near you, so if you show him that biting is unacceptable - he will soon learn.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Rebecca, I know others will chime in, but this is a stage they all go through, unfortunately, and it really does pass.  Fudge was like a shark with teeth.  I am a firm believer in time outs in the crate when a puppy gets too wild and out of control.  I would have your daughter give him a bully stick the minute he even looks like he is going to nip her. He probably thinks she is a playmate and puppies can play rough.  I tried the high pitched squeal, turn the back, etc. and nothing worked with Fudge when she got all wild, except putting her in her crate with something to chew on. Meanwhile, I think Cooper probably needs a lot more exercise. It is important, also, for you to stay calm and in control when all this is happening, because the yelling could be egging him on. It is so hard because they are so darn cute, but those teeth are so sharp :) Good luck. It is going to get better.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Time out was all that worked for me too but I never gave Luca something to chew on then. He would take a nap and return to his sweet puppy self.

[BG and Gavin]

I echo everything the others said.  It will get better.  We had to use time outs a lot too.  Gavin was pretty good with me but used my husband as a chew toy.  Exercise, times out, putting something in his mouth before attempting to handle him, keeping him on a tether in the house and continued training.  Teach him "off" by holding a treat in front of his nose and when he goes to take it say "off" right in his face.  Once he pulls back, say "ok" and hand him the treat.  Practice and then use this command if he lays teeth on you.   My land shark is the most easy going guy you can imagine now and a registered therapy dog.  It will get better - this stage will be over before you know it.  Hang in there!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

My first reaction to all of this is that he needs more exercise. He needs a good hour  or so each day romping with other dogs to get it out of his system. 30 minute walks and some fetch in the yard just isn't enough. A lot of people don't like dog parks, but when I started taking Sophie there every day it really helped with the high energy and craziness. If you don't like dog parks you could find like minded puppy owners for play dates or a nice doggy daycare. The advise from the others is great too. The only other thing you need more than anything is patience. It will pass. I had moments of extreme frustration with Sophie too. Just keep at it, it sounds like you are doing a great job.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Be assured you are not alone.  We have no children in the house, but our latest puppy was a biter and would jump up on people and bite them with his sharp little teeth.  He bit my mother and my FIL (both in their 90s) and frequently nipped my husband.  He did not nip at me which was fortunate.  He also was a little older when we got him, and a little wilder.  Our other doodles did not nip at us, but they were also larger dogs.  Be consistent with whatever you decide to do with him because you don't want him further confused.  I would always say "ahhh" and raise my arms when he came toward me but my husband would put out his hand and the puppy would take it.  Now the dog dances with me and hasn't nipped anyone in a long time.  They do get better with age.  Good luck.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

The good news, this passes rather quickly.  I see a typical puppy, a young child, and a very tired mom.  To tell  you the truth, we see this so often around here. 

There really is NO cure.  This is a puppy. Just like babies need to suck, puppies are given a survival instinct to bite.  You can't stop a baby from sucking. Would you want to?  And, you can't stop a puppy from the puppy biting.  It passes very soon.   Just when you think, you can't handle one day more. It is gone.  And you are on to another challenge.

Sounds like you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing.  Stay with your trainer and do include your very young child.

When it gets to tough~~~ take a time out away from the puppy.  Right now, this may be more often than not.

Have lots of things around to place in the pups mouth. He needs something in his mouth!   I had things coming out of my bra. I was armed and prepared.  OW

[William]

Hello just chiming in too, I totally agree with the other post! Both my doodles went thru this stage and this does pass! :-)
I guess it's just a part of growing up puppy. What really worked for me was whenever they would nip I would say a firm NO and stopped whatever play was going on between us. Eventually they caught on and realized the nipping was not an enjoyable thing and they stopped. Hang in there it does get better - With the right training (and repetition of), it will curve this behavior.

[DJ & Chance]

When Chance was about 14 weeks old, I noticed that I no longer wore bandages due to accidental puppy nips.  I agree with the advice that other DKers have given to you.  Hang in. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Oh, I remember this stage well. I was more tolerant than my DH who during this 3 months of age to around 5 months of age, he looked at me and said as serious as the day is long, "I want our old lives back". Of course I sad "too bad" this is our lives now and it will get better.

Guess who is Daisy's best friend now, that's right, Daddy.

Time outs and lots of exercise is the key. We used to throw the ball endlessly down the hall (she was so cute and little then now the hallway is just a few steps for her)...be careful though cause that is when Daisy had the most accidents, she would forget herself and just squat. We started doing 10 minutes of ball, potty, 10 more minutes and then rest in the crate.

Hang in there, I promise it gets better, your 8 year old will be his best friend but also one of his bosses soon.

[Dee & Chloe]

Rebecca, I went through the same thing with Chloe and felt totally frustrated because nothing the trainers, books, etc. suggested seemed to work. The low point was when she hit a vein in my hand and it began to spurt all over the floor and then to my horror, she started licking it up. I too thought "what have I done?" My friend who came over to put a pressure bandage on my hand still calls her the vampire  dog! It did pass but I made sure I had lots of bandages around and started taking her to the dog park to work out some energy. One thing that worked for me that the second trainer showed me how to do, was to get  her sitted between my knees to sort of restrain her and  then talk to her softly to calm her down. If she started to nip again, I would grab her by the scruff and loudly say no. Then if she continued, she went in her crate for a time out. As everyone said, the stage does pass. I have a closet  full of clothes destroyed by Chloe and my cleaning lady wore her same "holy" clothes every week to come to my house!  Chloe is now 21 months and each day our bond and love for each other grows.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Welcome to DK.  Doodle puppies are so cute but they are not for the faint of heart...so vent away.  This stage will pass but more exercise and both of you working with a trainer to begin to give this little guy some boundaries will help.  I always looked at training as building a foundation.  You don't always see results right away but one day it all falls into place and your crazy puppy becomes a great dog.