Puppy biting and snipping non stop

I have a headstrong little guy too. He bites/nips/growls/jumps.... as I speak he just put a nice little hole in my sweatpants. He is 11 weeks now. I usually get cuddle time in when he's tired and I force it on him because he's just too fluffy not to... even when he bites. For some reason the "OW" and turn away doesn't completely work. He usually just goes for my hair, arm, leg... etc. Once when he broke skin he backed off... (Sigh)

I usually just try my best to redirect him and we are actually starting training lessons tonight.

But hearing you guys say they grow out of it for the most part- makes me :biggrin2:
 
both my tobias aqnd my bambi nipped like that at first. i very gently held their snoot together and said no and then gave them kisses all over their snoot. they both stoped nipping after a short time.
 
Sir Bradley said:
I have a headstrong little guy too. He bites/nips/growls/jumps.... as I speak he just put a nice little hole in my sweatpants. He is 11 weeks now. I usually get cuddle time in when he's tired and I force it on him because he's just too fluffy not to... even when he bites. For some reason the "OW" and turn away doesn't completely work. He usually just goes for my hair, arm, leg... etc. Once when he broke skin he backed off... (Sigh)

I usually just try my best to redirect him and we are actually starting training lessons tonight.

But hearing you guys say they grow out of it for the most part- makes me :biggrin2:
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And oh boy are those little puppy teeth ever sharp! Sadie's bite inhibition was always good, even as a pup but she did break skin once. It was sort of a freak thing, I reached for her as she jumped at me and one of her k9's went into my finger. I howled and she stopped and looked alarmed, like "What did I do! What did I do!" Boy did that ever hurt!
 
same issue...with socks and fingers

liked to grab onto socks and pulls on them. Not as bad, when she bites into the toes and I yell ouch. She liked to open her mouth wide and aim for my fingers and nibble on them but they are sharp like needles so I say NO. Likes to grab pieces of paper and walks off with it. Tears it up if she is not caught. She has always dug a bare spot on the grass. Ohh, she shakes in the car while driving and climbs up to my shoulders.
 
3dmodeler said:
liked to grab onto socks and pulls on them. Not as bad, when she bites into the toes and I yell ouch. She liked to open her mouth wide and aim for my fingers and nibble on them but they are sharp like needles so I say NO. Likes to grab pieces of paper and walks off with it. Tears it up if she is not caught. She has always dug a bare spot on the grass. Ohh, she shakes in the car while driving and climbs up to my shoulders.
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How old was your pup when you got her? The intensity of some of the behaviors you are describing sounds like maybe she didn't have enough time with her doggie Mom and littermates before she was taken from them. Those initial 8-10 weeks with Mom and littermates are critical for a pup to learn not to bite too hard...and broken skin is too hard a bite. Just as with a human child, puppies are not born automatically knowing acceptable behavior.

Now YOU are the "Mom" and you have a big role in needing to set the boundaries for your pup as to what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

It sounds like your pup has free run of the house and also while in your car. She needs physical boundaries. A large crate or play pen when you can't be watching her so she doesn't chew things that could be dangerous or even fatal (like electrical cords) and a crate for riding in the car. Her shaking and climbing up your shoulders in the car is an indication that she is overwhelmed and afraid. It is dangerous for you while you are driving and dangerous for your pup and you if you get into an accident. Buy a small crate for the car and have her ride in it...she will feel safer in a confined space and you will be MUCH safer driving without distractions.

In situations where you know she is going to start nipping and chewing on you or something else she shouldn't be chewing...execute a "trade" by giving her a safe alternative item to chew on..there are a lot of safe chewing toys for pups and a little PB or something else that is smelly and yummy spread on the chew toy should redirect her chewing. Until you show her what is OK to chew and what isn't...she doesn't know the difference. If a trade doesn't stop her...then EVERY time she nips your hands, feet, etc., she gets picked up instantly and put in her playpen and you walk away and totally ignore her for a few minutes...the message being "you nip, the fun is over".

A puppy is a huge responsibility and a big "time sink", but the time spent up front to get them on the right track is repaid a hundred fold by having a truly enjoyable lifetime companion.

Trini
 
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