Molly BIT AGAIN

[Jill and Molly]

Well I thought we were turning the corner, and I think I am wrong. Molly has somewhat slowed down on the nipping, but it is still definitely present. Just last week she backed me in the corner(I was making lunches) and she just started barking and jumping at me with mouth open and wanting to bite. I will admit I was nervous. Now tonight my husband and son went in the basement to play ping pong and they took Molly with. They did also bring some of her toys with. Everything was going well. Then out of nowhere Molly, lunged at my son and jumped on him and BIT him in the butt. Then she kept coming at him with mouth open. My husband reached her and grabbed her and took her out of the situation. My son was crying. One because it hurt, and two because I honestly is hurt with his feelings toward her. He so desperately wanted a friend to follow him and be loyal. And she is NOT! We are in school and she is doing ok. SHe is very smart. But at home she CONSTANTLY jumps on my kitchen cabinets, and also jumps up toward my kitchen table. I tell her no so many times I feel like a broken record. When you are sitting at my kitchen table she jumps up in between your legs and I swear she is gonna bite you in a spot that isn't appropriate. She just bites!!!!! I NEED HELP!!! I really don't know what to do. She will be 14 weeks on Friday and if this doesn't stop with the biting us, she can't be a part of our family. And that breaks my heart. I am not a quitter! I can handle the jumping on cabinets because I pray that that will cease one day but this biting just not so sure of. My husband and i were both raised with dogs and this behavior is very UNLIKE the puppy behavior we experienced. PLEASE ADVICE NEEDED!!! And when she sees us she is so happy, but within minutes of us petting her she bites. We have a calm house, we are a loving family, this just doesn't mesh with our personalities!

[Becka]

Like pretty much everyone else who has commented, I had a very nippy and biting puppy who is now a very polite, sweet, loving dog. Between the ages of 12 weeks and 17 weeks were probably the worst, and I just had to be very consistent and also patient. I got a lot of helpful suggestions, and you've already gotten a lot of good advice here, but I wanted to add that one thing that really helped curb Sadie's biting was making sure she was getting a lot of exercise--a LOT. Almost as soon as I started taking her to the dog park regularly, the biting stopped. And in case nobody has sent you to this link yet, here's even more good info:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/compreh...

Good luck, and please don't give up yet.

[Richard Crowe]

IMO, it is natural for a dog to nip as it evolves from the puppy stages.   That is how the dog establishes dominance or submissiveness in the litter which evolves into the position in the adult pack.   I have never had a dog that didn't try this to one degree or another.   Even Holly, who is the most gentle and non-alfa dog on the face of the earth tried the nipping early in her puppyhood.   We squelched that conduct, gently but firmly by tapping her nose and stating, "NO BITE!" in a firm voice.

 

Molly seems to be asserting herself as the pack leader.  That is something that needs to be curtailed. Some dogs are inherrently more alfa than others. You and your family HAVE to be the leaders of your pack or your relationship with Molly will not be positive. Perhaps a good training program might help - not the group training that occurs in the PETO courses programs but, very possibly a personal trainer.  That is expensive but, it seems like the whole family should be involved.

 

I just read a comment on another forum that is pretty accurate...  "If you don't train your dog, you can't get angry at it for wetting on your shoes!"  Or angry at it for biting, for that matter.

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Spud nipped ( it does seem like biting as they get older-it's Not). He did it until he was 8 months old.
Some one told me something when my infant sons were the worst babies a mother could ask for.
These babies, the colicky babies, the too active babies, the babies who do not nap.....grow up to be sensitive and intelligent children.
I found this to also be true with my Spud.
He was very active. Became much too excited during play. Very difficult to settle.
He has grown to become an extremely intelligent dog, active, and fun.
Use this time to get this BABY lots and lots of exercise. You owe this to the dog. Use this time for positive reinforcement.
If it gets too exciting for him, give him some quiet time in his crate. Give yourself some quiet time away from the puppy-so you can handle him calmly.
Enjoy. I really do wish I could trade you right now.

[F, Calla & Luca]

She is a mere puppy and the do this sort of thing. As soon as it occurs remove her from the situation and let her calm down making it clear this is unacceptable. Since I did not have an upstairs crate when Luca was a puppy I eventually learned to keep his collar on, put him on  a leash and tether him to a doorknob. He would settle down after a couple of minutes and take a nap. Soon he was a loving puppy again. When you are eating or need a break, put Molly in her crate. All puppies nip to some degree at this age. Neither of my two dogs would dream of growling at me now much less nipping even though I put pills down their throats, gel on their teeth etc. Make sure Molly has a collar on so you have a "handle" for her. If need be keep her leash on but only if you can see her so she doesn't get caught on something. You can always step on a leash to sort things out. I knew none of these things when I got Luca as a pup, not ever having had one before.

[Julie, Izzie & Max]

It sounds like a typical puppy.  She is still a baby at 14 weeks.  Both of ours went through this exact thing.  Max was the worst at nipping and Izzie was bad to jump up on everyone.  They are three years old now and have not nipped at anyone since they were probably six to eight months old.  I don't have any new training advice to give.  Everyone has given great advice already.  Training just takes time.  She doesn't know yet how to play appropriately with people.  She is still playing the same way she did with the other puppies in her litter.  Good luck.  I'm sure it will get better.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

You are getting excellent advice, I would add if someone hasn't already, to remain calm, don't yell and put her in the crate, not just for this but just for some rest. At 14 weeks she is just a baby and just hasn't learned. Because our doodles are so smart I think a lot of times we think they understand when they really don't.

The leash thing during dinner is what we did, she stayed where she could see us but not come in, we did not want her begging or demanding anything, if she barked we put her in the crate.

Daisy also did counter surfing for a very short time, we just corrected her with a down and a yank - we were able to do this cause she was on a leash.

Good luck, she sure is beautiful.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

I will just add that Zack nipped (bit) and jumped as a young puppy. I had holes in me.Every time he did it I put something else in his mouth. I walked around with a nylabone in my pocket. When he was too wound up he went into the xpen for some down time. The biting slowed down as he got older and completely stopped when his adult teeth came in. I am STILL working on the jumping.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna's nickname was "land shark" when she was a baby and through her teething stage. 

There are differing opinions on whether this is a good idea, but if ignoring Luna didn't work then we occasionally did the "Alpha roll".  Basically we (gently) pinned her down on her side, putting our hands on her shoulder/hip like a bigger dog would do to assert dominance.  She wouldn't be allowed to get up until she accepted the control and calmed down (only took about 5-20 seconds).  She would then immediately be let up with lots of praise and we would resume play.

I would only recommend this as a last resort if ignoring the puppy, strong "NO!" and redirection (with something else to put the puppy's mouth on) are not working.  Those things (even in combination) didn't deter Luna when she was super bitey, so we found the Alpha roll appropriate at those times.

[Nelson, Rufus & KO]

Don't underestimate the fact that she is likely teething. When she is calm, try doing some gentle gum massage while holding her jaw in a position where she can't bite. It is soothing and a great trust/bonding exercise for both of you.
Stick with her, it will get better.

[yr07pel41k5g]

Have you tried beingthe Alpha dog and really getting firm with her ??? Sounds like you need to take control

If I am being blunt please feel free to tell me I have several doodles and while each have loving sweet temperments

there is one that was little more agreesive and boy did I stop that quick

 

and I tunred her over on her back and sat on her or over her and let her know I was the Alpha Dog

 

she never after that time ever lunged at me again or put her mouth on me

 

Some traineres do not believe in the lip treatment but I do and I have stopped many a puppy from bite

 

I have always after many attempts to say NO turned inside of Lip beack and piched it and I can tell you the Puppy never resented me for it but respected me and loved me and after 15 yrs of raising Doodles never had one bite since

 

Good luck and get firm and see if that works, if not there are other probelems going on and could be pyscologial

sp ??

 

Marcia

 

Bay Lake Doodles Florida

[yr07pel41k5g]

sorry mispelled bunch words

 

but if she is Puppy she will tame down but only with firm hand

 

Never put her in her crate if she has been bad

 

She will learn to hate it

 

I have had many a puppy and even trained service dogs and more

 

Just turn your back and ignore her and if that does not work

 

Sit over her and be direct she knows you are afraid of  her

 

and that is not a good thing

 

Marcia

 

 

[Chelsea and Bailey]

I also wanted to add that Bailey was awful at teething until at least close to 5 mo of age, and  the only reason that I think I fixed it that fast was because I had a lot of spare time to teach her.  Also every time she nipped I sternly said NO, put my hand in her mouth and held her lower jaw-firmly but not to hurt. I have told many young puppy owners this trick and it seems to work very quickly, they hate it.

 

I would also just like you to remember that they feel your frustration. So try to stay calm and assertive while doing the teaching. Easier said then done, trust me, I know. I remember sitting on the floor in the hallway just crying one day because I was such a wreck over training, I thought I was an awful teacher and that I was ruining her chances at being a good dog, (I laugh at that now). I just had to take a step back, realize it takes TIME, and ENERGY, and CONSISTENCY to create a well rounded dog. She wasnt born with manners, just like we werent.

 

Finally, try to talk to your son. Teach him what activities are good with her, how to discipline/ignore her when doing the wrong things, and what he needs to do when around her.  If as a family you are roughousing and acting excited, that will most definetly pass to her. This will also help him to understand that she is not doing this to hurt his feelings, but because she is a baby and does not know any better/needs guidance. She will most likely be his "buddy" but everything is all still new, she has no idea who to follow. Just like with people, "friendships" take time, they dont happen overnight, rules need to be established in the relationship and trust needs to build on both sides. I didnt feel like Bailey was my buddy until she was 8 months of age.

 

I hope this helps some, and I hope that your son feels better over the situation so that their companionship can move forward on a positive note!