Five days in and we are truly in love!

[Melanie Brazier]

Our little man is home and we are one happy little family! Our puppy Rielly has settled in so well. He has taken to his crate amazingly well. (We owe a big thank you to the breeder for starting the process for us.) He has had one accident since being here and is already using the bell we hung by the door. Not sure he really understands what he is doing with the bell yet but I'm rolling with it. And now he has slept right through the night in his crate for three nights in a row without a peep! To good to be true right. I am waiting patiently for the puppy crazies to set in.

All that said he loves to chew and bite. Especially my 11 year olds feet. I think he thinks they are toys. We have tons of toys and things to chew on but he has chosen those feet as his favourite things! Any advice on dealing with the biting would be great. I know it's a puppy teething thing but any advice would be wonderful.

So in love!

[Dexter Doodle]

So cute! You are off to a great start! I don't think it is too good to be true. I thought the same every time something good happened. Dexter wasn't as quick as your little guy, but used the bells at 12 weeks and hasn't had an accident since. I took him out constantly for the first two months though. Once Dexter slept through the night (around 12 weeks also) that was it too. Is it funny that he is 7 months and I still feel like I may jinx it by saying it out loud?!

My guy has been mouthy from day one. He still gets mouthy when he is overexcited or is trying to get you to play. He never bites down hard or hurts us, but we still work on it. We offer him a toy, tell him "no bite" and praise for not biting. I did notice that when teething slowed that he also slowed with it. I think he is getting molars now and it picked up a little. I do feel consistency and age will work eventually!

Best of luck with your little man!

[TYoung]

Our baby is only 15 weeks and has been a dream as well...so lucky :)  She slept through the night by her 3rd night (she was 8.5 weeks old) and has been successfully using the bells for a while now.  Like you, I still worry it's too good to be true and am constantly looking around for pee in the house.  Hadley gets mouthy too...but I notice she is more so with my younger kids (7 and 10) than with me because I really yelp sharply when she does it to me.  She instantly stops (surprised by the noise) and tries to change it.  They are soooo smart!  Im constantly amazed.  I also say "no bite".  Anyhow, the other thing I do is that I will literally take my hands away (in a large motion so as not to be missed) and put my hands behind my back and just look at her for a moment.  She doesn't like that because she wants me to be touching her.  I do this when she jumps too.  With my large gesturing, Im telling her, "I won't touch you until you settle".  She sits right away (from jumping) and or stops mouthing/biting.  I then touch/praise her immediately.  She's getting much better with both.  The kids on the other hand, she loves biting on the legs to get their attention.  They need to get better about the yelping but they struggle with it forgetting to yelp all the time.  Their instinct is to jump onto the furniture to get away and laugh.  She thinks that's a game perpetuating the nipping.  Her little sharp teeth get caught on clothes snagging stuff (ugh).  My older son (15) has yelped enough that she doesn't nip at him anymore, so I see that the yelping works with her.  I hope this long response helps :)  Good luck!  He's super cute!  That face shot is too adorable for words.  

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

He is sooooo cute! He reminds me of Rip at that age. That's great that you're off to such a great start. The nipping though - it's actually not teething yet (that starts around 4-6 mos) but it's energy/excitement and play. Do you have small antlers or other chew toys? I'd squeak a toy and distract/replace the feet for the toy. Or if he seems really persistent, reduce the energy by telling everyone NO talk, NO touch, NO eye contact with puppy until he settles or even thereafter. Ignore the undesired and calmly treat/praise the good. It's hard to remember to treat the good sometimes. Have fun with him and enjoy! So sweet!

[Marilyn and Sherlock]

I had a Springer do that.  I even tried bitter apple on the toes..... didn't work...... finally realized when my socks were on, he didn't do it..... socks was my answer...... he grew out of it shortly.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Awe. He's adorable!

My Gracie is 15 weeks and she is just now not biting toes. She actually licks them now. Lol. Our hands she will still get once in awhile, but we tell her No. Very firmly. She's not timid, so that works for her. Just be consistent. Give him a toy to chew on instead.
Oh, Gracie also likes to nibble on my husband. Just with the tips of her teeth like a love nibble. She does it in the morning when she first wakes up and in the evening when she gets to have time with him. It's Very endearing.

Enjoy your little guy!