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boards puppy experts need advice again

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  • 19-01-2011 6:38pm
    #1
    ashblag
    Closed Accounts Posts: 376 ✭✭


    My little lad his nearly 14 weeks now...he has in the two week become increacingly mouthy...in that my hands,shoes,clothes all end up in his mouth.

    It's worring now. Have quite a mark on my wrist from last night. Thing is I dont know if he's doing it being aggresive or if he thinks it's playing?
    His tail is wagging all the time whilst he's doing this,he does it to others in the house but mainly me.

    He is well socialised with people,and has a few "play dates" with my friends 3dogs every week. Has two 20min walks a day.

    Is it possible he is spending too much time with me?(he's with me all the time untill bed time) Should I give him time out for a few hours during the day?

    I'm feeding him Pro Pac dry puppy food.

    Sorry for the long post:(


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    #2
    lorebringer
    Registered Users Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭lorebringer


    Puppies need to learn to control bite and to restrict themselves from biting down hard onto someone/other dogs etc. They learn this from other dogs (usually their liter mates) by them squealing and stopping play. To get your puppy to learn not to bite you too hard you need to do the same thing - when the pup bites too hard let a high pitched noise (like a squeaky "ouch") and stop play for a little bit. Return to play when they pup is calmer (usually only takes a minute or two, if even that). Get everyone who is interacting with him to do this so that he knows it's not ok to do it to anyone. Your pup will learn, pretty quickly, that biting people hard hurts and they won't play with him if he does it.


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    #3
    koneko
    Registered Users Posts: 10,304 ✭✭✭✭koneko


    Completely normal puppy behaviour :)

    He needs to learn bite inhibition. A few different methods out there, and to be honest I've found different ones work on different dogs.
    A quick screech/yelp when he bites often works. Or playing with him, if he bites, stop the play session and stand up.
    Give him things to mouth instead, like a puppy kong.

    It'll probably be a bit frustrating but he will definitely learn, and it's all completely normal :)
    The only problem is puppy teeth are so small and sharp! :D


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    #4
    Tucking Fypo
    Registered Users Posts: 177 ✭✭Tucking Fypo


    Good link here for you to have a read.

    http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/teaching-bite-inhibition


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    #5
    ashblag
    Closed Accounts Posts: 376 ✭✭ashblag


    thanks for the replies..should have added this little guy was an only pup, he had to be taken away from mama dog when he was 3weeks and was hand reared, so i suppose he has never learned.

    I can sense even at his age he is trying to be dominant.

    And yes those little teeth are very sharp, my hand looks awfull.

    On the time out thing, he wants to be up with me all the time..which is lovely but i cant get any house work done and he's not really getting his naps during the day. My dad said to put him in his bed for an hour or two to have some alone time? I cannot be with him 24/7? Hope i dont sound awfull!


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    #6
    ashblag
    Closed Accounts Posts: 376 ✭✭ashblag


    Tucking Fypo wrote: »
    Good link here for you to have a read.

    http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/teaching-bite-inhibition

    thanks i'll have a study of that


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    #7
    Cherry Blossom
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 6,939 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cherry Blossom


    ashblag wrote: »
    My little lad his nearly 14 weeks now...he has in the two week become increacingly mouthy...in that my hands,shoes,clothes all end up in his mouth.

    He's teething and will be until he 5 months old. He can't help chewing but you have to teach him what he can and can't chew, make sure he has plenty of toys that he can have a good chew on, a lot of the best ones are free and which ones work vary between dogs - some 'free' ones include the cardboard tubes inside toilet roll etc. an old rag with a few knots tied in it, a small empty coke bottle with the lid screwed on really tightly to make sure he can't get it off and something that rattles inside.

    Try to be consistant in taking anything he shouldn't have away from immediately and tell him 'it's not yours' immediately show him one of his own things, he will eventually learn that everything that is given to him is his, everything else isn't.
    ashblag wrote: »
    On the time out thing, he wants to be up with me all the time..which is lovely but i cant get any house work done and he's not really getting his naps during the day. My dad said to put him in his bed for an hour or two to have some alone time? I cannot be with him 24/7? Hope i dont sound awfull!

    Get yourself a dog or baby gate so you can leave him in the next room but he can still see you, make sure the bars are close enough together that he can't squeeze through or get stuck if he tries it.


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    #8
    tk123
    Registered Users Posts: 14,024 ✭✭✭✭tk123


    If you can match him with a pup of around the same age and size it'll help with bite inhibition and rough play. We're lucky cos there's a dog in the park thats only a month older than our guy and around the same size - he's a red setter and our guy is a golden retriever so they've play at the same level etc and tell each other when they've gone too far. Are there any puppy classes in your area you can take him to? Our guy goes to daycare too and its worked wonders toning down the rough play.


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