Struggling big time- Biter to the max!

[Amber Anderson]

Hi! I am finally writing a post out of sheer exhaustion of my situation. Puppy biting they say, yelp they say, ignore they say. NONE of this works. Possibly bc I don't think this is play puppy biting. My 12 weeks doodle bits me constantly. He is so excited to see me when I come home (he's been home with my husband so not home alone or locked up) that he attacks every inch of me, my clothes, my feet, my bags my hands...jumping, snapping, biting, barking. I cannot get him to stop...then once he settles down, any time I come to give him attention it starts up again, biting intensely (that doesn't mean hard- just means jumping and biting (not nipping) over and over every part of my body. 

Ignoring is a joke! He would just jump all over my back side biting and humping. He goes to puppy class- The trainers have taught me a trick which holds his lip skin against his teeth and say no bite- this makes him mad and snaps at me again the second I let go. 

Anytime my hand comes near him, he bites it. No matter what. Even when I'm training with treats.  

"no bite" makes him even more mad and he lunges at me. 

He doesn't do this to my husband by the way. 

I don't know or think its aggressive, but if I don't stop it it could become it! I'm getting to the point where I'm a little afraid to interact with him...can he sense this? 

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I read book after book, I try to do everything right. Its getting the best of me. 

I love him so much- I hate that I only want to be around him when he's sleeping :( 

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

Such great advice!  I should have been on this site when Skadi was the puppy from "hell".  I also had "puppy remorse".  We took over Skadi when she was 3 months old...our grown kids got her and couldn't handle the "puppy" behavior...I lived through the bad times and by the time she was 6 months old it was like someone threw a switch and she settled down.  So, basically I had only to endure about 3 months of "terror".  Hang in there ... take lots of pictures so you can look back and congratulate yourself for "surviving"...they are so very worth the effort.

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

I found this video that should be really helpful.   I did this and it worked really well. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c77--cCHPyU

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

You have been given a lot of good advice.  This behavior is quite common in retriever type dogs ( poodles are retrieving dogs also),   This is attention seeking behavior and you are inadvertently reinforcing it.

I personally like the scruff of the neck.  Always, always, always have a soft toy in your hand and an extra in your pocket if necessary.  Put  it in your mailbox, or near your front door if necessary. If his ear flap is long enough put it in his mouth when you take your hand out and let him bite on that.  Bend down to greet him and stay down for a bit - he has missed you. Clip a leash on him when you need to stand up and move away so you can control his chasing and nipping behavior.

 Best of all: put a very high value small treat in your closed fist, and let him make the decision to earn it by sitting and waiting for you to turn your hand over and open your fist and say okay.  This will only take two or three trys.  Be tough, and don't flinch or say anything, let him figure it out.  If he actually puts a open mouthed tooth tip (not a nose, or closed mouth) on you, raise your hand, say "ouch" loud, but not with excitement, as he backs away lower you closed finger down fist again.  Do this at the door only after he his consistently shown good decision making in a less excited setting, when you have been home awhile.  Then you can transfer this good decision making to the door, with no attention, just stand with eye contact (as much as possible), no sounds, until he backs away or preferably sits.  Then bend down and give attention - quietly but lots of it, stand immediately if he gets to excited.

Be patient, consistent, and know that hands with "bite" marks are the sign of a puppy owner.  If he really chomps down you will know it and that is a whole different issue.