What exactly should I do?

[Jenny & Henry]

OK, I am back at the nipping with my kids and now he's doing me. This is tougher because of the little ones who simply adore him.  We are doing the tree, and ignoring him but NOW he just jumps on the back of our legs, biting our pants, doing little playful growls and that cute little head shake like he might just get our pants off.  HA  It's adorable of course, but I know it won't be in six months.  When we walk away he just keeps biting at our pant hems, he don't care we're moving.  I think it adds to the fun in his eyes. 

 

So, do we just keep standing still till he loses interests?  Do I remove him from playtime completely?  :(  This just started yesterday and when I say "no bite" and move him or nudge his head away he thinks I am playing and he gets all the more excited.  I know it's been talked about but I was out in the yard thinking "now what do I do?"  Do I just tolerate it to some level while reiterating what we would LIKE him to do?  So many puppy questions.  I don't know how my mom raised so many well behaved dogs now that I am doing this for my first time as the Mom.

 

Took some new pics today!  He's such a good lil pup!

[Chelsea and Bailey]

My trainer told us to stick your hand as far as you can in their mouth and squeeze the lower jaw, not to hurt, just enough so that he cant move it, and then sternly say "No Bite".  This stopped our pup almost immediately.  Also as for the jumping, if it is in front of you they said to lift your knee up when he jumps, they will get the hint fast.  If it is from behind with the pant legs I would stop moving, immediately sternly say no!  and make them do a sit stay, if they can at that age. I also would do a tap on the nose at the same time.. None of it is done to hurt the pup, but it gets the point across fast, and like you said when they get bigger it wont be so cute, especially when they knock over the little ones!

[NewfoundlandNic]

OMD, he is just gorgeous!!!

 

As for the nipping, my old dog Parker went through a very mouthy/nipping phase when she was a pup. She used to nip at the back of our knees - playing and trying to "herd" whoever was around together (she was a Lab x, proably with some Border Collie, hence the herding instinct). Anyway, I was and am still a huge advocate of clicker training, which is all positive reinforcement. I did a number of classes with Parker and she was an amazingly smart and well behaved dog, but when it came to the nipping and jumping on people it didn't work. We tried ignoring and that didn't work either. What finally worked was stamping my foot very loudly and saying "NO" very, very forcefully. I also kept her on her leash a lot during the early training period and I would restrain the leash very closely under my foot so she couldn't really move for a half minute.

 

I don't know if this is an accepted practice on DK, but it worked wonders for us and I was reminded of it last week when I visited a friend with a 9 month old doodle. She warned me her pup was really jumping on people and asked me to ignore her when we entered the house. I did, but after a few minutes it was apparent this little girl was not giving up easily. Instinctually I stamped my foot and said "NO" and she immediately sat, looked at me and waited for me to make the next move - which was giving her lots of praise and a belly rub. My friend was impressed and has started doing that with her dog now.

 

Good luck! Good thing these little stinkers are so freaking adorable. I am sure I will be asking for lots of help/reassurance when we get our pup next week.

 

Nicole

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Jenny...he's too darn cute to do anything bad:) He is most likely looking at the kids as part of his "pack". Try spraying the pant legs with bitter apple. It could deter him until he loses interest. Also, be firm with the "no bite" and a minute or two of time out wouldn't hurt. Sometimes they get so caught up in the "fun" they can't settle on their own. Removing him from the immediate situation will help calm him down.

Although Lucca's not a human kid...I am going through this with Izzy (6 months). When she gets excited she pounces on poor Lucca (big brother GD 2 1/2 yo) and bites his ears. I have to give her time-outs because she is crazy at times. Instead of saying "no bite" I'm saying "take a break"!!!

[Daphna L.]

 

My puppy, Hunter did the same thing.  It is called "mouthing or biting".  When Hunter was mouthing I would yell ouch to let him know he was hunting me and redirect him to a chew toy.  It took awhile, but eventually it became controllable. When Hunter got out of control and ouch did not work he would get time out in his crate.  Just enough time to calm down and then I would let him come out again.  Do not be afraid to repeat the time out. I would also recommend a puppy social.  Petco has them.  I go to the Petco on Route 1 in Edison.  It may sound silly, but it has helped Hunter a great deal to learn to play with other puppies and he comes home exhausted!!

 

Hope this helps, hang in there, it does get better.

[Jenny & Henry]

THis is why I just love this place.  Within an hour I have gotten such great repsonses and help.  Thank you all so much, I am gonna put some of these into effect and see if he starts to get it. 

 

He definitely is seeing the girls as his pack, he is much more rambunctious with them.  Also, his super nippy spurts are happening outside when he is getting his energy out.  We take him out like 3 to 4 times a day for short play spurts at his will and energy pace.  I am looking forward to some warmer weather and play times. 

 

He can sit and we are working on lay down.  He's doing pretty good, my smart lil man!  :)

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

He is a little guy and I would not under any circumstances pick up my knee or put my knee in his chest. Even if it is done gently, this is just another movement that is going to give your dog the idea your wiggling around and playing. Look at how small he is, if you lift your knee suddenly, where are you going to hit him? As far as sticking your hand in his mouth as far back as it will go....again I think there are other more positive methods. It is waaaaay too easy to misjudge and injure your pup.

I, too, am a BIG advocate of clicker training. It is positive, fun and effective. The puppy learns very quickly with clicker training and it can be done effectively by kids and adults.

He is absolutely precious. I don't know how old he is, but even working with a PetsMart trainer could be a very positive experience for you and your baby. :-)

[Jenny & Henry]

Is there a book you can recomend on starting clicker training with a puppy?  We have taught him sit already and are working on down.  I have never done or seen anyone do clicker training so I am clueless.  I do want to keep the nipping the nip process positive for him.  I know what he's doing is normal puppy behavior and I don't want to scare him.  I don't even know where to start with the clicker.

 

Do they sell the clickers at Petsmart?  I don't remember seeing them but I wasn't specifically looking either. 

 

Thanks so much for the suggestions, everyone has been so helpful.  I feel much more in control.

 

 

[Aimee Santa Monica]

I love watching all of the  Kikopup clicker training techniques online-      She's great!  This is how i trained my 2 pups!

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup#p/a/F09632A4A4BD3DDC/2/PRT6r6d79OU

 

[Aimee Santa Monica]

http://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup#p/a/F09632A4A4BD3DDC/2/PRT6r6d79OU

[Jenny & Henry]

Thanks!!!  I am gonna check them out.

[Aimee Santa Monica]

He's so cute! :)   Yeah, turning away and keeping still did not work for me or my kids!  Those teeth were sharp!  That phase came and went ! Thank goodness!   What worked for me & kids, was - we tied his favorite stuffed toy to a rope & whenever he was over stimulated to bite us, this diverted him biting us! It worked for us! And i would also give a small treat whenever he was chewing on his toys, too.

[Bug]

someone on a different dog internet site was asking for help about her puppy not leaving her toddler alone and someone suggested she teach the dog "leave it" and linked to this video. not sure leave it will work for you since your children are older but maybe it can give you some other ideas. some variation on leaving the children alone until everyone is a bit older and can play together in a better way maybe?