Aggression already?

[AliandShooter]

my 10 week old puppy was super sweet when he came him after a couple of days he showed us his true colors lol. He’s biting everything so I’ve redirected him to chew toys and that’s worked okay but he gets these bursts of excitement where he keeps trying to jump on the couch where my girls sit to watch tv and bite them I correct him and give him a toy and he’ll play with it for a bit and go back to trying to bite them especially since our 2 year old doesn’t stay still I try to put him in time out and he started barking at me and luging at me trying to bite me so now he’s sitting in his crate whining 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Nope, it's not aggression- it's normal puppy play. Winnie used to do that all the time when she got overstimulated. Sometimes she was even growling a lot when she was biting and I truly thought that it was aggression, too. 

Unfortunately, puppies are kind of like 2 year olds, and they feed off of each other's excitement. The more your 2 year talks in it's normal high voice and moves quickly (like a normal 2 year old), the more your pup is going to get excited. And, vice versa. The key is to teach the pup what is appropriate play with humans, and what is not. You are on the right track- keep redirecting... and redirecting...and redirecting! 

[Laura and Angus]

This is a perfect response! I'd just add that it might be helpful to do some separating at this stage, as well. Having the puppy blocked into specific areas for very structured/supervised play times with you and the little one. I'd do more free play when your 2 year old is napping or out of the room, but otherwise, this is a tough stage during doodle puppy time...

Consistent redirection/training/positive reinforcement and you'll get there! Our hyper and stubborn doodle was a total nightmare as a puppy - we really could barely enjoy him - but now he's the most wonderful, goofy, snuggly buddy (he's 3). Everyone who meets him just loves him, but to get our guy to this point has taken constant training since we brought him home at 10 weeks. Doods are smart and many are so hyper that they do need very consistent training/redirection when younger to grow into the wonderful buddies that we all know and love. 

Some additional advice: we created a "time out" spot for our doodle - if he got too rambunctious and bitey we would gate him into the kitchen and ignore him until he calmed down and then we could take him out and try again with play. We often had to do that many times in a row. A time out spot is also helpful for you when you're getting tired/stressed/chewed up.

[Stacy]

I love those first couple weeks when a puppy comes home. They're all sleepy and sweet. They're very much still babies. Then they grow a little more and you have a real puppy.

I don't think this sounds like aggression. This sounds like normal puppy behavior. And don't get me wrong, it's incredibly challenging. But what you have to remember is that he's a baby. He doesn't know the rules of the house. Have you ever seen videos of puppies playing with their litter mates? They push and bite and roll over one another. He thinks that your family are his new litter mates.

Puppies need a lot of stimulation and directed play. No, you can't chew on my hand, but you can chew on this toy. 30 seconds later, no you cannot chew on my foot, but you can sit for a treat. Maybe start teaching him to fetch. A tired puppy is a good puppy. But then the reverse is also true. A really tired puppy is a terrible puppy who needs a nap.

Don't worry, they grow up eventually. There were times when I wasn't sure it was going to happen. I thought I watched Katie every second, but I would turn my back and she had chewed the corner off another pillow. And teething was the worst. I was so much tastier than anything that was appropriate to chew on.

But then one day I woke up and realized that I could walk down the hallway without her hanging off the back of my pants. It definitely doesn't happen overnight. And, if I had it to do again there are things I would have done differently. I would have had higher expectations instead of excusing all of her behaviors as just being a puppy.  But if you put the work in now you will have an amazing companion. That part lasts so much longer than the naughty puppy stage. 

[Binny P]

Echoing what others have said, sounds like you are dealing with puppy zoomies, not aggression. Our dog, Burt Reynolds, would turn into a tiny shark demon in the evening -- just absolute nightmare who would lunge, bite, snarl -- you name it, he would do it! It took my partner and I *a lot* of patience to just calmly pick him up and give him a little time out when that would happen. I really think it is like kids -- they get overtired and can't self regulate yet so just start to go a bit nuts. We also introduced high-value chews like Bully Sticks at that age -- they were the only thing that would keep his attention, other play toys were instantly discarded when he was too hyper. 

Try not to act out in anger or show any response. Just calming pick him up and put him in his crate or in a fenced off area. We used a play pen structure in the living room a lot so he could be near us but couldn't go nuts and would give him a stuffed kong or a bully stick. Also, as others suggested, we kept a toy in our pockets at all times to shove in his mouth when he went to chew on something that wasn't his (my arm, the couch, the cat, etc). He often wasn't as interested in the toy, but we just kept at it. 

It gets better. I promise. Burt Reynolds thankfully grew out of that stage pretty quickly, though when we were in it it felt endless. Now he is almost one and never behaves that way (though he can still be a bit nutso when we leave doggy daycare, but just wanting to pull at his leash and bark, not the lunging biting etc!).

[Laura and Angus]

Ha! Burt Reynolds...that's amazing :) 

[AliandShooter]

Thanks everyone I’m trying to remain calm and he’s in a carafe with a stuffed king right now I’m trying g the time out thing and will be getting puppy gates soon just a little concerned because He barks and lunges at me with his teeth and also started humping my leg 

[Binny P]

Good! Glad you are putting some new systems in place. 10 months ago, when Burt was 2 months old, I was certain we had brought home an aggressive monster who was certainly going to maim people. Couldn't have been more wrong. I completely understand your concern -- we read about these lovely sweet dogs, and then the puppy comes home and barks, bits, lunges, snarls, growls, etc etc etc, and it seems like maybe we got one that is broken! But he isn't -- he is just a toddler who is overtired and having a fit. Think about your kids on their very worst night, when they won't stop crying or won't sleep or are throwing their food off the table while pummeling you with their tiny fists. Now imagine them with tiny sharp teeth. That's your puppy :) He will grow out of it -- just set a good frame for him to learn and it will drastically improve over the next few months!

[Laura and Angus]

Oh man, it is a tough phase. I literally had to change into crappy sweatpants and long-sleeves whenever I got home cuz I got tiny holes in all my clothes. Just stick with it - you can say "No"  or "No bite" (don't yell but say it sternly) and then just calmly put the pup in time out for a break. This is important because they have to learn that biting stops the playtime immediately. Keep at it...puppy will get with the program soon enough. 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Laura- I had "puppy pants" that I changed in to after work, too- old heavy corduroys that were virtually indestructible! It was soooooo aggravating when Winnie would literally be hanging from my pants, skirts, nightgowns, etc. and my arms were riddled with bite marks. I remember one particularly bleak moment.... my husband told me that I was talking in my sleep - saying "No bite" over and over! It's funny now, but at the time it was literally driving me crazy! It's nice to be on the other side of that madness, isn't it?

Hang in there, Areli! It WILL get better! There will come a day when you realize that your land shark is growing up and turning into a very respectful dog... :-)

[Laura and Angus]

Oh my gosh SAME! I wore specific sweats/sweatshirts - andthat really helped. We had a lot of tiny "shark-bites" all over our arms ...little stinker. Your experience sounds a lot like ours ;) Thankfully all the hard work and training paid off and - aside for the occasional eating of corners of random furniture or my yoga mats because he's mad we're not giving him attention. 98% of the time he's a cuddly, goofy, wonderful dog at 3.5 years old.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

I remember when you joined this site- Winnie was about 6 months older than Angus. I was fresh out of nearly going insane from the whole "puppy experience" and I had so much empathy for you! :-)

[Stephanie Crisp]

I can ONLY speak to our experience.  Our goldenbaby is 5 months old and she has calmed down so much already.  I had to remind everyone to stop squealing and going crazy when she would nip and bite because she thought it was a game.  Once I finally taught our daughter to be more stern and redirect, it got a lot better.  Now, she still chews and her favorite thing to do is to pull the blankets off of you so you will play with her but if she got into a crazy fit I would take her for a LONG walk and when we would come back she would lay down and go to sleep.  It does get better.  Also the other thing someone told me was to put peanut butter on our fingers if they are trying to bite fingers so it teaches them to lick instead of bite.  He is sooooo cute.  Hang in there.