Snippy Puppy

[Lisa V.O.]

We have a 11 wk old goldendoodle. We got her when she was 8 wks old. She is teething, but she always wants to chew on us. When she wants to play she snips at our legs or hands. She wants to tug at out clothes. She'll play with our 6 yr old son for a little bit then she gets too excited then wants to play rough. What can we do to get her to stop? I can't take her to a trainer yet, because she hasn't had all her shots yet.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

This is what 11 week old puppies do. Have a toy ready for when she starts nipping at clothes and hands. In other words: redirect her play. Your going to have to teach your 6 yr old proper play as well. Swinging toys around, tug of wars...all things little ones enjoy doing with dogs...is only going to create more excitement and nipping in the pup.
Training should have started the day she entered your home. " leave it" will be the best command you can teach her.

[Lisa V.O.]

Thank you for your response. We did start training her as soon as we got her, but it's still a work in progress. My son doesn't rough play with her at all. I don't leave him alone with her. She has so many toys, but likes us more.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

That sounds great. Training will be a work in progress for the next 12/13 years . LOL...just like our kids ;). Not to worry...the nipping thing will pass.

[Lisa V.O.]

I know right training for years to come. I actually think training the pup is easier than training my son, lol. She is really a good puppy. She uses the doggy door. She goes potty outside most of the time ( a few accidents). She sits when i tell her ( again most of the time) She shakes her paw to shake our hand. It's really just the nipping. I won't leave my son alone with her yet, he is still young and so is she.

 

 

[Wendy and Myla]

I think the nipping/biting is the worst part of puppyhood - even though you expect it when you get a puppy, most people don't realize (or forget) how intense it is and how much it hurts! and I know that I took it personally - lol.  I know it seemed like all we were saying to Myla is "no teeth" or "ouch"!!!  Training is key, don't give up and make sure that she knows that it is unacceptable behaviour - believe it or not, it will end - usually when the pup is around four to six months old but she still has to be taught that it is unacceptable.  It is a tough stage to get through, especially with young children - good luck! 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I always found controlling excitement was the key.  Often when we play with puppies they get overly excited and that's when we're more likely to see those behaviors.  At the first sign of that I would stop all play and the pup would go into the crate for a brief period to calm down.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I agree with Jane.  Tone it down a bit when things get too exciting. 

Children can escalate a puppy's excitement.   A quiet time for both of them will tone this down.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I agree: your son doesn't even need to be playing hard or intentionally exciting the pup. I know Enzo gets all excited at the sight of a " little person" or hearing their voices. She loves kids and an opportunity to play is not one to be missed! ;)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

It sounds like a healthy puppy

You have several more months of Snippy to Go and just about nothing you do will stop this behavior.   It's a God Given Characteristic and we certainly cant change Mother Nature.

My suggestion is to find some positive training videos to get you positively through this trying next few months.  

'All Dogs Go To Kevin' has youtube videos and Jane, Guinness and Murph, posted another trainer (?) in the Puppy Madness and Training Groups

Try to get through this time with a positive attitude. No punishment, no treat, no training ( except training for you) will stop the Madness of puppies.  

This too shall pass

[Jordan & Daisy]

We also had trouble with this but enrolled her in puppy classes anyway despite the fact that she wasn't fully vaccinated. Her socializing and play biting with other puppies helped a LOT. The other thing we worked on was not getting excited OURSELVES when playing with her i.e. talking very excitedly, petting her excitedly. I learned this from the Dog Whisperer lol. When you want them to be calm, you have to be calm. I know this can be hard with children! It worked wonders on Daisy though.