Biting or mouthing(HELP)

[Mary & Lilly]

Lilly is fabulous 97% of the time, but OHHHHHH that 3% of the time.

I know she is teething but we as a family are having a very hard time with her biting.  I have been reading posts on what to do when she bites.  Nothing works:(  We are a scarred up mess!!  I will find a trainer in the area, but want to know how all of you that had puppies who did this survived, and lived to tell about it:)  She will all of a sudden bite, and draw blood, run at you and attack the back of your legs or heels.  If she has grabbed something out of the garbage and you try and take it away, you take your life in your hands. Help us to help Lilly!!!!!!

We have had Boxers and Lhasa's and boy are these dogs different.  We love her to pieces, but she is going to tear us to pieces.

[Julie Taylor]

Our sweet Shaka did the same thing. All my son's clothes have holes in them! Argh! Frustrating. We found a trainer in our area. Our day to day is much easier now. Shaka will be 6 months old this week! Find a trainer, to end your woes. Thinking of you! Julie

[Mary & Lilly]

Thank you Julie. Shaka is gorgeous!!

[Debbie & Gibbs]

We have a few problems with Gibbs inappropriately biting robes, shirts and pants (while you are in them). Fortunately, we can raise our voice and say drop it and most of the time he drops it. Sometimes, he does get his nose flicked and that usually straightens him up. We took Gibbs to the vet last Friday and the vet did say that he was a very head strong puppy and probably needed a good dose of whose the "boss" by being put on his back so he understand his position in the pack. Gibbs isn't really that bad, he just really didn't like having being poked and proded, so you might try when Lilly is out of control that she be put on her back. I had to do this to my female Westie for a couple of years and she understands her position in the pack now. Penny is now almost 8 and probably about twice a year she has to have a refresher course on whose the boss. Keep us posted on how it goes.

[Susan and Bentley]

Thankfully at 8 months old we have almost grown out of this.  But my trainer had told us,during this time, if they start to bite at your legs, feet, etc. to stop walking and stand still.  They think that you are a toy.  She even suggested no loose pants, and even though Bentley was a puppy in the summer, and I like to wear skirts, she said just to wear jeans and sneakers.  I didn't always do that and I paid for it - he would jump at my skirts and just pull - and of course bite at my legs.  She also said not to flail your hands around bc they also, think you are a toy.  Hide your hands when she's in a biting mood.  Bentley liked ice cubes for a while, empty water bottles were great!  But you're right, nothing really worked.  But we did start yelping when he bit us, he would stop for half a second.  This supposedly teaches them to bite less hard.  This did eventually work.  He still likes to bite on our hands sometimes but it does not hurt - the baby teeth are also much sharper than the adult teeth.  If all fails, put her in her crate or just behind a gate, away from you, for a few minutes to calm her down.  Good luck - it's a tough time!

[KLN]

Susan is right...once they lose their puppy teeth, the bite hurts way less. I know the objective is for them not to bite at all but at least you know that once all the baby teeth are gone, at least the bite will be a bit more tolerable. ;0)

[KLN]

I was JUST yesterday at my vet saying "oh my gosh, this is my third puppy and I do not remember the play biting and crazy energy with my other two!" He said, golden, golden, golden...it's the golden retriever in them...they are just hyper, playful dogs. Finley is 10 months now and I will say he's gotten a bit better...there is light at the end of the tunnel but I think it takes time, patience, and a good trainer. Good luck! They are super adorable and loveable but you are so right about that 3% of the time. ;0). Hang in there!

[Linda Yingling]

What has helped us through this is a citronella collar with a remote. Ours has a warning button that emits a sound and 2 more buttons that spray at his chin. We got the unscented refill. Our trainer recommended this and we put off getting one for a while, we thought we could train him out of it. The trick is to give him a treat when you put the collar on, then try not to let them see you using the remote. Found mine on the internet radio fence.com. Well worth the money!!!!!

[Michelle & Ruepunzel]

Our little Ruepunzel is 4 months old and loves using those chompers on our hands and feet! Boy does it hurt! We visited the vet for her vaccinations and the vet said to try "Yelping" like a baby pup. If we do this, Rue stops immediately what she's doing and kind of lowers her head like she's sorry and starts licking. It has cut down at least 50% of the hard biting she used to do. The other 50% we try to give her an ice cube to munch on or something else that's cold. When she's too hyper and crazy, we put her in her crate for 5 minutes and she's usually a different dog by the time she comes out.

 

Good Luck, Lilly sure is a sweetie! :)

[Julie and Max]

Teaching bite inhibition is helpful also. You can look up different ways to do it, but basically you teach them to have a soft bite. I did this by hand feeding and only giving him the food when he took it gently.  No biting is obviously the final goal but Max doesn't bite hard at all now when he does bite which is rare. I think a lot of exercise helps too. One thing I found with Max is it was just getting over excited. It also got him attention when he bit (the law of the soggy potato chip, a soggy potato chip is better than no potato chip). So I did a lot of time outs. Also what Suzan said, if you can't time out at that moment, stop moving, stand dead still, fold your arms across your chest and do not look at the puppy at all, tilting your chin up. Just stand there until they completely stop. Yelling and flapping your arms is pretty much seen as you joining in the game to the puppy and since they love your attention pretty much more than anything taking it away should help. Don't play fight with the puppy ever, and reward for calmness with treats and affection. Good luck. :)