Help! Horrible play biting

[Sarah Kuiper]

Ugh, I'm feeling so defeated and down. Roomba's behavior has been really bad lately. It's the play biting that is really getting to me. It's the worst with me (the one who plays with him most) but I'm covered in bruises. I'm sure it's non-aggressive play. When home I can shut him outside and allow a "calm down" time, but when at the park playing ball or something I don't know what to do! It looks like I'm being attacked, usually after throwing a ball that he didn't notice, and he's asking me to throw something :( I do work a lot, so I understand he would have a lot of energy, but I don't know if I can take this much longer. I am looking / feeling pretty battered!

So far I have tried ceasing play (doesn't work away from home), holding muzzle & smacking my hand saying "no bite", and a spray bottle (which he thinks is a game and asks for a drink... ) I'm so lost. 

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin was a land shark as a pup and much worse with dh than me. I was the alpha b**ch lol. Truly a time out in the bathroom is what we did. At the park, leash him up, fold your arms across your body and look up to the sky. Once he calms for a minute, resume play.  Good luck. They do grow out of it eventually. Be leaderful. Look up tethering. There are many discussions on it and it really works wonders in establishing leadership and tiring them out.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Winnie used to do that EXACT same thing. Whether I was taking her for a walk, or trying to let her run off leash, she always turned it into a biting and "attacking" game. I used to dread taking her outside because it was never even remotely fun- it was always pure frustration. Two things that I did really helped. I carried a rope toy in my pocket, and the second she started her "crocodile imitation" I put the rope toy in her mouth. That kept her teeth off of me while I calmly made her sit in front of me- both of us facing the same direction, with my hands on her shoulders. While I was doing that I was telling her "Settle." Once I felt her body relax, I praised her, gave her a treat and let her up. Sometimes she would start right back in and I would have to do it again. And, when I played ball with her, I always dropped the leash instead of taking it off of her. That made it a lot easier to "wrangle her in" when she was being naughty. It took a lot of practice, but little by little the behavior went away. And, I will say that it got a LOT worse for about a week before it got better.

My husband used to hear me saying "No bite!" in my sleep when Winnie was younger. We can laugh about it now, but I clearly remember how frustrating it was at the time. Hang in there- it Will get better! :-)

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Both have great advice.  The teeth on you are an invitation to play and some puppies really are landsharks.  Teach sit and settle or down everyday many times a day.  You want it to be really automatic response.  Sit is the easiest for nearly all puppies.  The you can use "sit" to refocus him immediately when he goes into landshark mode.  It is also helpful to have soft toy or rope toy nearby all the time until this stage passes.  Refocus Roomba with toy instead of hand and a well known command.  You will move past this, we promise.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I noticed a different post where you mention that Roomba is alone 8 - 10 hours during the day and is crated at night.  Dogs this age need lots of exercise and Doodles especially thrive on the attention of their "people".  I really think he must be very frustrated, and this is how it is being manifested.  Is there any way that you could hire a dog walker to give him a good walk mid-day?  In addition to that he is going to need work and leadership.  I don't know what type of training program you're doing with him, but at least thirty minutes a day is very important for a puppy....exercise for their mind and body.  Instead of this type of play in the park which seems to get him into this overly excited state of mind, try walking him in a disciplined way first...stopping regularly and having him sit.  Then playing ball can be a reward after the training walk is finished.  Please don't allow the play biting to continue because it will only reinforce the behavior...if you can't redirect him then stop, leash him, and leave.  Also, see Adina's post on the front page Discussions about the Doggy Dan Training scheduled for Sunday night....his program and insight might be very helpful to you.

[Sarah Kuiper]

I actually was able to find someone to come walk him during the day a couple times a week. We just got neutered over here so are still on the "low activity" plan for a few days, but I do think that the walk will help! I was able to water the webinar and found it very interesting! I'm going to start timeouts in the bathroom (we were doing an outside time out - this was probably to interesting of a place!) and cease the loud "no bite" and reaching to hold his muzzle. I'm still not sure about what to do when he's out on a walk (he drops a toy in favor of me)... except maybe taking a few nasty bruises while I attempt to tie him to a tree? Finding a really long tree branch for him to chew one end of as we walk got us home last time, but I'm not sure if that sent the right message? Thanks guys, I seriously appreciate the advice! 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so glad that you have a dog walker mid-day.  When you're walking and he starts the biting, have you tried turning right into him and taking a few steps in the opposite direction and then turning back and calmly resuming the walk?  They really don't like it when you walk into their space and it quickly reminds them that they need to be focused on you.  Fill the training walk with lots of stops and starts and changes in direction.  Are you letting him carry a toy on the walk?  That will divert his focus from you and creates a level of excitement. 

[Sarah Kuiper]

I am glad that I found him too but he can only come 1-2 days a week ( I work 4 days) :( I did today try turning into him and it didn't seem to make much different. he jumps into me to bit at my arms. I tried walking him in a tight circle around me and that seemed to work after a minute (i was so dizzy!) If I wasn't wearing a long sleeve coat I still would have been pretty marked up though :( ... Tomorrow I try again. 

[Sarah Kuiper]

Do you think coming home for lunch would be worth it if it meant being gone a longer total time? 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Do I remember correctly- you live in a more rural area that doesn't have a doggy daycare? Do you know any other dog owners in the area that you could have play dates with?

That was the other thing that really helped with Winnie's mouthing/play biting- letting her get out all of that puppy energy with other dogs. And, I think it helped her realize that it was OK to play using her mouth with other dogs, but not with humans.

If you can, watch more of Doggy Dan's videos. I really like his overall philosophy. When Winnie was little I took advantage of the "3 day trial for a dollar"and watched hours of the videos. :-) 

[Sarah Kuiper]

You are correct. I did find a kennel that would do Doggy Daycare for $12 a day but I don't know if he would prefer to be home able to wonder the kitchen/laundry room over a kennel? The kennel does have outdoor play time though. The dog walker I found (currently comes (1-2x a week) brought another dog to walk once, but I don't think they had and free "play time" because the other guy was probably 8 pounds.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

At this Doggy Daycare the dogs are in a kennel most of the time....with just some outdoor play time?  If that's the case I don't think this will help much.  If the majority of the time he is able to socialize then it sounds like a great option...along with the training, of course.

[Sarah Kuiper]

He says they are let out 4x a day. I'm visiting the place today so I'll ask how long each outing is for.