PLease help! Mouthing and biting - what is normal for puppies?

[Tracy Casaceli]

We are 1st time dog owners and our much-loved Ranger just won't stop biting as playing. I tried everything but, bitter apple.

He is a great all around dog with sleeping and crating and he is house broken so far so good.He has learned several commands and is usually quite calm and balanced.

 

We need to know what is normal for a 13-week-old puppy. He wakes up and he greets me with snuggling in my lap and immediately starts biting my hands. I say NO and replace with a toy. He is not getting it. He loves using his mouth to play. When he gets very excited he starts biting hard and growls while playing.

 

Does this end? Usually when? We are doing the replace and I pinch his lip but, that has very little affect on him. We have tried the ignoring, yelping that it hurts. We love him to pieces but, this is getting frustrating. He'll bite my pants and feet, etc. 

 

We are open to any suggestions. 

[Carol]

I'm sure I will have to get the bottle out again for our new girl! It's just one of those stages but thankfully they get over it!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I think mouthiness is very common for puppies.  Our puppy was nipping all the time, so I started to just insert my thumb in his mouth and push down on the lower jaw with my thumb.  He stopped nipping very quickly and now uses his paws to slap at me.  He really just wants to play and mouthiness is the most natural way to play.  It also seems to get better as they get their adult teeth (about 5 months).  Hang in there.

[Kimberly Daisy Kalli]

We redirected with toys first when Daisy (who is now 2) was that age.  If that didn't work then we immediately did a quick training session to settle her down.  We also used a short time out if she was really wound up.  I also agree about the bully sticks... they work wonders.  We are doing all the same things with our new puppy and it seems to be working. 

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I actually wouldn't push down on his jaw or mouth as a deterrent from puppy mouthing/biting. Redirecting is much more positive and there is no chance of accidentally injuring your dog. Bully sticks are made of beef tendon, not rawhide, and are more digestible. As with rawhide, please only buy product from the USA and not imported. You don't need to give the bully stick for hours at a time either, just 15 minutes or so should relieve the need to chew. His baby teeth will start falling out around 4-4 1/2 months and the adult teeth should be in by 6 months. While the teething stops, there is still that need to chew until at least a year.

It does get MUCH MUCH better....and you will have the best dog in the world. :-)

[Tracy Casaceli]

UPDATE!!!!!

I'm so impressed with the responses and the support from my fellow doodle lovers! It is all the caring that makes me think what would I do if I didn't have this forum.

We have instituted the time-out and it worked like a charm. He hasn't bitten me since Saturday morning. He also did not bite/mouth my son's friend when he came over yesterday! He has been putting some different toys in his mouth himself and uses his paws more. Wow! Doodles are so clever! Even when he is excited in the morning he lays in my/son's  lap and chews on a toy not on my or my son's hands.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Carol]

Freezing the bully sticks....great idea! Thanks Megan.