puppy biting

[Kathy Brady]

My 10 week old pup--whom we've had for 2 weeks-- has started biting me. Mostly it's just nipping, typical puppy play, but at times, he growls and then bites me. I've tried yelping (I'm not really good at that), but he's not the least apprehensive about continuing. Does anyone have any tried and true suggestions?
Kathy Brady
New Milford, CT.

[Liza, Halle and Finn]

My Kachi is 7 months old tomorrow, and he still does this, and it's really getting old! I've been told that both breeds (poodles & goldens) are mouthy, so that's why doodles are prone to it. We've done the yelping, the scolding, putting bitter apple on our hands, the holding his mouth closed, saying 'No bite', 'Bad dog', you name it, and he still does it. Not all the time, but if he doesn't want you touching him (like to wipe off his paws, or brush him, he'll start to bite at your hands). Everyone says, "oh you better get that under control", but I haven't heard a suggestion yet that has worked. I know consistency is key, and he truly is much better than he was when he was your pups age, but my feeling is that he shouldn't do it at all! Maybe someone here will have a fool proof method!! Let's hope!

[Adina P]

Kathy, If you search through the "Forum" (see tabs at the top)...search for these key words: biting, nipping, nip and with each search you'll find past discussions. Also go to the Puppy Madness group and look at ALL the discussions there is some good advice on nipping there too (click "view all" at the bottom of the listed discussions). My Rosco was a nipping monster but i'm unable to write a lengthy response at this time about him.

Suffice to say that your yelp needs to be the sound you would make if shark RIPPED your arm off and should be followed by an immediate consequence--even JUST leaving puppy alone and friendless for 1-2 minutes. CONSISTENCY is key--their brains' attention span is TINY so repetition with consistency will win over time.

[Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran]

What seemed to work well with Casey was more of a behavior modification technique. (The yelping worked once or twice, but then not so much.) I would say "NO!" in a firm voice and then playtime was over. Once he figured out that if he bit me, we were done playing and he got no attention, he learned pretty fast not to bite. Every now and then he would gently "bite" almost to test to make sure that he wasn't supposed to do that, and when he was told "NO!" he would lick my hand almost as if to say "Sorry!"

What's interesting is that my husband didn't do this with Casey, and now as an adult he thinks Brian's a chew toy - and he never bites me. Ever.

[Marianne *OZZY & ZOEY]

My 6 month old doodle has the same habit. It is his way of getting attention. The best thing to do is turn your back and give no attention...they catch on to that very quick...If it continues on, because it is play to them, put him in the crate with a toy or treat and IGNORE. They hate that but you still show love and they will get the NO BITE quicker than you think. Try it...nothing to lose and all to gain.
You can also shove a toy in his mouth to show him the difference. They are still learning at this age.
Hope it helps!!!!!

[Leslie and Halas]

A trainer told me to squirt a couple of drops of RealLemon (lemon juice) in his mouth when he starts biting. I had already tried all of the other usual suggestions like yelping, stopping play, etc., but nothing worked more than a time or 2. But Halas really hates the lemon juice. Now, I only have to pick up the bottle, and he starts rubbing his face on the floor like I already squirted him. Or I can just say "lemon" if he starts to get rough, and he immediately stops. I didn't want to resort to something like that, but I was out of ideas, and it's just a drop or 2. In fact, because of his reaction, I only really had to squirt him twice. This one worked like a charm for us. He was probably 10 or 11 months old when I started doing this. He started the nipping when he was very small, and I messed around trying all of the other ideas for months. I was hoping he'd just outgrow it, but he hadn't, and I didn't want it to turn into a big problem, so I tried this idea, and it worked. He's such a sweet boy, but he'd get too tired, and he'd start to get cranky. Being cranky would lead to him playing too rough, and since he was tired, I guess he wasn't paying attention to any of the consequences.

[Leslie and Halas]

I should specify: It's a drop or 2 in his mouth or at least close. I wouldn't do it if there's a chance of getting it in his eyes. I don't know if it's the scent or the flavor or both, but he just hates lemon. My mom was using lemon oil on a wood lamp the other day, and Halas didn't want to get anywhere near the rag or the lamp. I think he even growled at the lamp later.

[Kathy Brady]

Thanks Leslie. Do you literally pour it into his mouth (just the couple of drops) or do you put it on your hand or whatever body part he's biting? I'm definitely going to try this. Tully gets crazy when we play at night and that may be part of the problem as well.

[Kathy Brady]

Thanks for that info. I tried bitter apple with my previous lab and that big dope actually liked it! My breeder said that dogs hate vinegar, but so far, Tully is not averse to it. I'll try the lemon and then the bitter apple if need be. Thanks again!
Kathy

[Sandy]

I had to use Bitter Apple at lunch today. Toby is a little nippy, but he actually "hurt" my thumb. I think it's just in play, but still......I grabbed my Bitter Apple and sprayed some into his mouth/snout. He backed way off, and hasn't tried again since. I have tried lemon (you have to be very accurate), and water (which seems to tick him off, but only for the moment). I'm really hoping the Bitter Apple does the trick.

[Leslie and Halas]

I put the drops in his mouth. I think I put a little on my arm once, but it didn't work as well for me as putting a couple of drops in his mouth. I tried something else on my arms one time, maybe Bitter Apple, and that only worked for a few minutes.

The first time I tried to put a couple of drops of lemon juice in Halas' mouth, it was pretty easy, because he had no idea that he wouldn't like the lemon. The next time, he knew he shouldn't be biting, so he tried to nip and run away. So that time, I think it got it more on his whiskers than in his mouth, but he seemed to hate it just as much. My mom had to do it one time at her house, and I think those are the only 3 times that we've really had to squirt the drops. Since then, having the lemon (it's in a lemon-sized plastic bottle), or saying "I'll get the lemon" does the trick. And I'm having to do that less and less. It used to be that he'd get cranky and too rough for a little bit each night. Now it's probably only every few nights that it happens.

And I left the lemon juice in the lemon-shaped bottle that it came in. I didn't want to use a spray bottle, because I was worried about spraying too wide of an area and getting it in his eyes. He moves so quickly sometimes that he'd probably put his eyes right into the path of the spray. With a couple of drops right in the mouth, he rubs his face on the ground for a few minutes, and then comes right back to play, but doesn't try to nip or bite. A couple of drops shouldn't be enough to make them sick, but should be just enough to make them realize, "Yuck! I guess Mommy doesn't like it when I chew on her."

Several years ago, my parents and I had 2 huskies, and they loved Bitter Apple. They seemed to think it added flavor to otherwise bland items like books, coffee tables, etc. I see that you said your lab liked it, too. I think most dogs dislike it, so I don't know why some are attracted to it. But that might work, too. I think I tried it a couple of times with Halas and it only helped me temporarily. He was quite a bit younger then, so maybe it was related to the comment below about their tastebuds not being fully developed early on.

If you try the lemon juice, let me know if it works for you. I was amazed, because I had tried everything else, so I'm curious to know if it works for someone else.

[Liza, Halle and Finn]

I just tried your technique w/ the lemon juice, and it definitely worked. He smacked his lips like it was gross, and that was the end of trying to knaw(sp) on mommy's hand. He then barked at me to get my attention, and he got a little taste for that. After that, he was a prince, just sitting next to me on the couch while I finished what I was doing! I'm not naive enough to think he's cured of all nips & barks, but maybe a few more reinforcement tastes will be all it takes! Thank you.

Ps; Like you, I tried the bitter apple, and he wasn't fazed!!

[Leslie and Halas]

Glad it worked for you! If he's like Halas, he'll remember, and you won't have to do it too often. I was kind of surprised that Halas didn't walk away pouting about it, but like Kachi, he just quit chewing on me, and continued on with the evening. He didn't even seem mad at me for doing it to him, so I guess they really associate the lemon with the naughty behavior, and not with the person holding the lemon. Keep me posted on how often you have to do it.