Mutha-trucking biting!

[Bridget and Lupin]

I've read any and all posts/threads/etc on puppy nipping and biting and I'm still feeling at a loss.  As of tomorrow Lupin will have been with us for 3 weeks and she's nearly 11 weeks old. For the first week or so if I'd yelp she'd stop dead, but lately it just winds her up more.  Same if I say NO/OFF/Knock it off!  Her jaws just snap snap snap that much faster.  I have HAD it with 12 hypodermic needles jabbing into the tender flesh at the back of my knees and I tell you what, when she wraps her jaws around my ankles it doesn't feel like a playful "nip"...no it does not.  It feels like a balls out bite.  I'm having some success discouraging her jumping up by standing still, crossing my arms and ignoring her.  I tried to do that with the biting, but please.  I can't stand still for that.  Does the fact that she gets more bitey when I say No indicate some sort of deeper behavioral issue?  Does she have a screw loose?  :-)  Has anyone dealt with a puppy like this?  If so, what worked for you?

[Tait & Finn]

Finn is 14 weeks old and still nips. I tell him, very firmly, no bite!! I have also, from the very beginning, taught him the word "gentle" so when he's biting I tell him to be gentle and its slowly working. When I am laying with him rubbing his belly and telling him what a good boy he is, I also say "gentle" to try to get the point across, that is what gentle is. It helps too when he and the cat, Johnny, are roughhouseing. Good luck

[Katrine]

Bridget, it gets better, eventually! Are there any puppy socials in your area that you could take her to? It would be good for her to socialize with other puppies and find out her limits/boundaries with them. When Stella would bite we would have a toy handy to shove in her mouth. You could also try having her gnaw on bully sticks or antlers. Again, it wlll get better. Her adult teeth won't be as sharp to boot. Hang in there!!

[Bridget and Lupin]

Thanks....you just reminded me that I'm taking her to a puppy social tomorrow morning.  I had this nagging feeling I had something planned but couldn't remember what!  :-)  I always shove a toy or a bully stick at her and tell her if she wants to chew she should chew on that.  So that level of biting sounds normal to you? 

[Katrine]

I'm glad you are going to a social tomorrow! It will be good for her plus it will wear her out. I do think it's normal that she bites, she probably considers you her litter mate. Continue to work with her as best you can and be patient. You might consult with a personal trainer and see what they suggest. A little guidance might be helpful for you now. I did get a trainer early on and her advice was great. Good luck! 

[Bridget and Lupin]

I'll talk to the trainers at the social tomorrow.  She is also enrolled in puppy school but that doesn't start for another 2 weeks.  *sigh*  Thanks for the input. 

[Vivian & Mojo]

Everything you said that Lupin is doing my Mojo did when I brought him home at 8 weeks old. I was heartbroken, bleeding and sore from the bites, my clothing was torn to shreds and he even bit my breast really badly. I tried everything suggested and it only make him more wound up and determined. What did work somewhat was him playing with other dogs and getting him into training mode with clicker and treats when he started biting. I was starting to dislike and fear him and just wanted to cuddle him but he was to wild. Slowly I built a relationship with him and got some cuddles and kisses but he still nipped at 6 months. I was working on gentle mouthing and he did understand but still treated me like a litter-mate at times.  A friend recommended Pet-corrector, its a harmless spray that makes a hissing sound. It stopped him right from the first time and when he tried again I just held it and the sight of the red can made him stop. If all else fails you may want to look into it and its very inexpensive. Mojo is 1 year old now and doesn't bite at all so hang in there and good luck. http://www.amazon.com/Pet-corrector-50ml/dp/B005JVANVG

[Bridget and Lupin]

Thanks so much.  I feel exactly like you did...I want to cuddle her and love her and its really really difficult at the moment. We have holes in our clothes too...well, the boy and I do....she just doesn't go after the huz like this. I can't afford to be replacing clothes nonstop.  I just ordered the Pet corrector.  Digits crossed.  I've been using a spray bottle of water when it gets to be too much, and it stops her but it really p***** her off too and I figure its only a matter of time before that doesn't work anymore either.   

[Luna's humans]

We also had issues with Luna biting when we brought her home at 8 weeks. My wife and I went to work with bloody, cut up hands, and clothes that were torn from her crazy behavior. She is now seven months old and she still bites a little. We put her in puppy training and have been working with her, but the biting still persists. I, too, hope that it stops very soon for the both of us!

[Sharae & Winston]

The yelp method just doesn't work with some puppies, case in point- mine. I tried perfecting my yelp and doing it over and over when he was nipping and all it did was rile him up and get him more excited. Finally, I told my trainer it just doesn't work and they kept telling me it's because I wasn't yelping "correctly". Well they went to demonstrate the correct way and they saw first hand how he reacts and said "you're right, he's just one of the ones it doesn't work with". Not everything works with all puppies. Or else maybe they both have screws loose ;)

We were instructed that every time he nips or bites to put him in his crate for a time out, and by time out I mean no more than 3 minutes. It gets very annoying having to get up and do it every 2 mins lol, but believe me they catch on quick. It only took a few days and the nipping was much much less. Now when he does it once in a while we will direct him into a sit-stay. Hang in there! Winston is about 7 months and its not too bad, he mainly just mouths us when he gets excited.

[Stephanie Summers]

It sounds like you are describing our puppy. Murphy was a biting maniac at 11wks. My legs were all bruised from his bites. My husband was worried that we wouldn't be able to keep him and even our vet thought he had a dangerous behavior issue. As you described, verbal reprimands just make him snap more. I read everything and tried everything. The only thing that helped was time-outs in the crate. It was a lot of work to put him in time-out so much, but it helped. Murphy is now 4 1/2 mos and we can finally enjoy him.

[Susan and Pippi]

Pippi is almost 11 months old now, and no longer bites or nips, but she was a monster when she had those baby teeth. I had a special pair of shredded pants that I wore around her. I don't know if what I did to stop the nipping was an "approved method'" but it helped us. When she put her teeth on me, i would firmly but gently hold her mouth closed, look right into her eyes, and say, "No mouth." I think it was effective, and she doesn't seem to be scarred for life. . . Now if I could just get her to stop jumping on people.

[Sarah Bennett]

My pup is 11 weeks old (well in 2 days) and this is what was recommended to me.  I've only done it for about 4 days, but I think he's beginning to get it...or at least I hope so.  He seems to be nipping less during "normal" times, but when we rough house, he's still a nipper...