Help!! 14 week old Goldendoodle snapping at the kids

[Jeri]

Like everyone else we are dealing with the puppy nipping/biting when she's playful or has extra energy. Of course it hurts and it's been tough for the kids. It has improved a bit for me and my husband but she's still very rough with the kids. It had all been playful until this last week... Usually she was just playing too rough and I undersfand her needing to learn bite Inhibition. She still plays nicely with the kids at times too but in the last week she has also snapped at all 3 of my kids aggressively! Once was when my 9 year had attempted to pull her away from my other dogs food dish... Understandable, she was protecting what she thought was her food. The second time she had found her way into one of the kitchen cabinets and my 16 year old had to get her out... She snapped at her! Again, I think she was protecting her food or what she felt was hers in the cabinet. Another time the puppy was sitting on a step chewing on her bone (in a high traffic area in the house) and my 16 year old came by and gently patted the dog on the head as she walked by and she snapped at her a second time! Just now my 7 year old was trying to get into the bathroom (we keep the door closed because the puppy finds mischief there). The dog was trying to push her way in too and snapped at my son! In all of the instances the dog growls, barked, then quickly snapped/bit the kids! One of the kids was bit on the face! The extent of the injuries were minor. All minor scratches that didn't last long, no broken skin, although she has broken skin with the playful nipping. My question is why is this happening now?! I felt like things were improving and she was starting to listen better when I intervened when she was nipping at the kids! She does still play and shows lots of love for the kids but I'm worried now about her snapping at them again! My 16 year old baby-sits for the younger 2 when I've been at work and it worked beautifully for at least 5 weeks! Then I come home Friday and it seems like the dog is suddenly so disrespectful to my oldest child! FYI, my oldest is very soft spoken and non-threatening. I know the puppy probably is trying to take the alpha role. Does anyone have any tips? Is this a bad sign that my puppy will not work out with my family?

[Dawn and Molly]

I was upset when we went through this and another doodle owner posted that they went through it too and it turned out o.k.  It made me feel better.  Molly has gotten better and is good with the kids now.  I  just want to be supportive and tell you to not give up hope.  I hope it all works out for you and your adorable doodle!

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Please don't feel bad. A lot of us have benefited from trainers. It doesn't make us or our doodles bad.
You are just training for the adult dog you want in your family. The training is really for us humans :-)

[Becka]

I agree with what others have said--it's OK to need the professional help. Many if not most of us have turned to trainers when our puppy's behavior is alarming. Your puppy looks to you for guidance and the trainer is there to help you learn how to provide that guidance. Please don't feel bad.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Another suggestion is to join the on-line dog training group called Doggy Dan.  He promotes the Golden Rules of leadership and has videos demonstrating the training.  These might be very helpful as you could watch them as a family and the kids might be able to see what they could and shouldn't do and you can all be on the same page. Doggy Dan has a link here where you can join for a few days for a dollar or two and at the end of that time you can join monthly, quitting at any time.

[Jeri]

Thanks! I will definitely check this out!