Puppy biting help!

[PinkDragon14]

So my almost 8 week old lab chocolate lab is biting. When I say biting, I mean EVERYTHING. It has gotten so out of hand that everyone has nicknamed him Jaws. My arms are covered in red scratches and I am constantly moving him away from the couch, shoes, etc. I've read the sticky and a few other threads on here about puppy biting, but I can't seem to find anything that works for him. I'm looking into purchasing bitter apple spray to put on the couch, legs of furniture, and my hands (yes, that will STING!). Are there anymore ideas that I haven't tried yet? Here's what I have tried:

No bite (he gives me a look and bites harder)
Closing his mouth and telling him not to bite
Distracting with other toys (works for about 10 seconds and then he's back to me)
Folding the lip under (this has been the most successful one I've tried)
Putting in "time out" so he can settle down
Pressing down on his tongue (gently, of course)

One of my friends suggested filling a spray bottle with water and squirting him with it when he begins his rampage. Not sure how well that would go over though, as labs LOVE water.

Any help is appreciated!!

[Tanya]

how long have you had the puppy?

no technique is going to work immediately. Pick one, stick with it for a few days, consistantly and everyone. but note that saying "no bite" really means nothign to the dog - they don't speak english I recomend the "yelp in a high pitch voice and turn away" or "trade for a toy" techniques.

Make sure dogs gets plenty of age appropriate physical and mental exercise as well. If these "rampages" come at regular times (try to note this information down day to day) then maybe you can do a premtive strike but bringing them out to play right before that. OR maybe it's because they are over-tired in which case you want to force them to nap before that time (while you shoudl never force a dog/punish a dog in their crate you can put them in with a yummy treats to chill and rest).

This is the most comon question asked, I will try to post some links to responses the to problem.

ETA: I just read your first post - four days ago you said he was the calmest eastiest puppy Has he decided he's nice and at home now and showing his "true puppy colors"

[Tanya]

This thread is stickied at the top of the puppy training section: https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...py-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...questions.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...nt-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...ow-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...ting-site.html

[Meeps83]

It sounds like he really wants YOU. I'd get up and walk away and ignore him. Let him know you aren't playing. We tried much of what you have done, including the yipping like a hurt puppy, and it seemed to get him more excited. If we physically moved away from him and ignored him he would get sad and look for a way to please us, which was usually sitting. We taught him sit immediately and just worked from there. I'd also look into a puppy class, but I'd wait a few more weeks until he has had at least his second set of shots. There's nothing wrong with watching youtube videos to teach him other things in the meantime!

Maverick knows a ton of commands using both hand signals and voice. Each has it's appropriate use. It sounds like your guy is worked up and wants to do something. You might want to try training simple commands. They are never too young to learn!

[PinkDragon14]

how long have you had the puppy?

no technique is going to work immediately. Pick one, stick with it for a few days, consistantly and everyone. but note that saying "no bite" really means nothign to the dog - they don't speak english I recomend the "yelp in a high pitch voice and turn away" or "trade for a toy" techniques.

Make sure dogs gets plenty of age appropriate physical and mental exercise as well. If these "rampages" come at regular times (try to note this information down day to day) then maybe you can do a premtive strike but bringing them out to play right before that. OR maybe it's because they are over-tired in which case you want to force them to nap before that time (while you shoudl never force a dog/punish a dog in their crate you can put them in with a yummy treats to chill and rest).

This is the most comon question asked, I will try to post some links to responses the to problem.

ETA: I just read your first post - four days ago you said he was the calmest eastiest puppy Has he decided he's nice and at home now and showing his "true puppy colors"

Oh, the first day was amazing. He was so calm, gentle, and just wanted to cuddle. Long story short, he was sick (vet thinks it may be worms - he's on some meds now) and now he's feeling much better...and just wants to be a biting machine *facepalm*. His rampages I think come from being over excited. He does it with his toys as well. He'll grab his stuffed alligator and sprint around the room, growling and rolling around on the floor. The worst is when you're part of the rampage - he grabs your skin and tries to drag you. Oh well, I guess he's got a lot to learn.

This thread is stickied at the top of the puppy training section: https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...py-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...questions.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...nt-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...ow-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...ting-site.html

Thanks!

[PinkDragon14]

It sounds like he really wants YOU. I'd get up and walk away and ignore him. Let him know you aren't playing. We tried much of what you have done, including the yipping like a hurt puppy, and it seemed to get him more excited. If we physically moved away from him and ignored him he would get sad and look for a way to please us, which was usually sitting. We taught him sit immediately and just worked from there. I'd also look into a puppy class, but I'd wait a few more weeks until he has had at least his second set of shots. There's nothing wrong with watching youtube videos to teach him other things in the meantime!

Maverick knows a ton of commands using both hand signals and voice. Each has it's appropriate use. It sounds like your guy is worked up and wants to do something. You might want to try training simple commands. They are never too young to learn!

A few minutes before I posted this thread, I decided to try the "getting up and walking away". He followed me and sat in front of me with that sad look on his face (pretty much what you described!) I've been trying to set aside some time each day to focus on training. He caught on very quickly to "sit" and "down". I'd like to begin boundary training, but from what I've read, 10 weeks is the ideal time to begin that. I just wish he could run around in the yard freely!

[teej89]

This thread is stickied at the top of the puppy training section: https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...py-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...questions.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...nt-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...ow-biting.html

https://www.lab-retriever.net/board/p...ting-site.html

haha I love how my thread got posted. THANK GOODNESS he's outta the landshark phase now. I don't miss it.

And like others have said pick one and stick to it. I did the lip and then the toy distraction while telling him no.

Also if it's just before his bedtime he's probably just really tired and needs to go to bed. Boomer would always go bat crap crazy right before bedtime.

[zd262]

Hi PinkDragon! Your avatar picture is adorable

Bubba is just over 3 months and was a biting machine. I recently had to go out of town unexpectedly and left him with his trainer. Of course he's never bit her (all of a sudden the perfect angel when we get to class), but she taught us a couple key things and he's been better since we've gotten him back. The most important thing we learned is that every interaction you have with him, when you put your hands on him, should be a calm interaction. I frequently get down on the floor with him and do "puppy massage". It's really important that everyone in the family follows this calming interaction protocol. The only time that Bubba is allowed to get over excited is when we're playing with toys. When the toys go away, it's time to calm back down.

The lip curl didn't work for us and made him bite more. We talked with our trainer about other corrections we could use. If you're going to use corrections though, I suggest you talk to a trainer because they'll give you good guidance on how to do so appropriately.

In terms of biting other stuff (not you), we put him in his x-pen. This keeps him safe, saves our stuff, and also acts as a bit of a punishment for him because he hates it.

[Snowshoe]

A fenced yard would really help, if that's the reason he can't run around the yard freely. What about some other safe place? He's not fully vaccinated yet, but me, I took my puppy out to places few other dogs would go anyway. Some were not fenced but young puppies don't go far from you. This was in addition to playing out in our fenced yard. Free play really helps use up some of the energy that goes into biting.

[PinkDragon14]

Hi PinkDragon! Your avatar picture is adorable

Bubba is just over 3 months and was a biting machine. I recently had to go out of town unexpectedly and left him with his trainer. Of course he's never bit her (all of a sudden the perfect angel when we get to class), but she taught us a couple key things and he's been better since we've gotten him back. The most important thing we learned is that every interaction you have with him, when you put your hands on him, should be a calm interaction. I frequently get down on the floor with him and do "puppy massage". It's really important that everyone in the family follows this calming interaction protocol. The only time that Bubba is allowed to get over excited is when we're playing with toys. When the toys go away, it's time to calm back down.

The lip curl didn't work for us and made him bite more. We talked with our trainer about other corrections we could use. If you're going to use corrections though, I suggest you talk to a trainer because they'll give you good guidance on how to do so appropriately.

In terms of biting other stuff (not you), we put him in his x-pen. This keeps him safe, saves our stuff, and also acts as a bit of a punishment for him because he hates it.

Thank you! I've tried putting him in his crate when I catch him on one of his "this couch really looks good I want to bite it and rip it up" rampages, only to have him scream and bark pretty loudly. I may look into getting a trainer soon, as I'd love some one-on-one guidance with training/tips/etc.

A fenced yard would really help, if that's the reason he can't run around the yard freely. What about some other safe place? He's not fully vaccinated yet, but me, I took my puppy out to places few other dogs would go anyway. Some were not fenced but young puppies don't go far from you. This was in addition to playing out in our fenced yard. Free play really helps use up some of the energy that goes into biting.

We have about 1.5 acres, but only the patio/pool area is fenced in. We're looking to move in the next year, so we really don't want to install a fence that will only be used for a short period of time. What I started doing yesterday is having him run (slowly and gently, of course) next to me on his leash and we circle the perimeter of the house. That usually tires him out a bit and gets his energy level to a manageable one.