Puppy biting, aggressive?

minda · 27-01-2010, 17:40

Hi I got a black lab puppy about 3 and a half weeks ago and his biting is out of control. I have tried the time outs, and they have not worked, I have tried sharp "NO" and that has not worked, I have also tried to hold his muzzle with a sharp No but still nothing, I have tried a shrill cry and time out, but all I seem to get in return is him jumping on me trying to bite me even harder, or he will go and rip something up while growling. I have also tried putting him in his crate for a little while, and none of this has worked. I am frustrated, he bites me so hard he draws blood and I dont know how to get this to stop. Oh I have also tried using a can with pennies in it, it seems like everything I do only makes him angry and I am not sure how to remedy this. If anyone has an answer It would be highly appreciated.

**Kymmy** · 27-01-2010, 17:50

How old is the puppy? Is he teething? Does he have stuff he is allowed to chew on (whilst teething he will want to)

Best to restrict him from places you don't want chewed, get a anti-chew spray for other places (or try sprinkling pepper or chili onto no chew things)

Simply though chewing to a puppy is something they need to do, it's part of growing up. You yourself have to be responsible for keeping an eye on him, keeping him occupied and being a good owner/parent

As for chewing you normally a small smack on the nose and a good firm NO should make him realise that he's gone too far

haydnwalker · 27-01-2010, 18:03

I would agree with Kymmy - after raising a puppy from 9weeks old myself, stuff to teethe on is an absolute must. Also does he show his teeth before biting you with growling and a raised tail or is his tail wagging? Teeth/Growling/High Tail indicate aggression and dominance while wagging usually just means he's playing.

If its dominance thats the issue, try standing over him (holding him him between your legs) - it shows that you are the more dominant animal. There other techniques that can overcome this but shouldn't be attempted really without consulting a professional dog trainer first.

Labradors aren't usually known for biting and are usually quite compliant animals.

You need to give him different things to teethe on. Plenty of Rawhide chews and there are also things that you can put in the freezer (much like what you can get for babies) for puppies to chew on.

Also - one thing to note is - you can't really tell off/tap the nose of a dog who's done something wrong out of your line of sight as they don't really remember what theyve done...and to them you've tapped them for no real reason. Correction needs to be done as soon as the action takes place.

**Kymmy** · 27-01-2010, 18:08

Our youngest (GSD/HUSKY cross) was two at the end of last year, he still chews, gone through 3 hot water bottles since December

At least now he's stopped on all furniture, cables (my USB headset cable is patched in 4 places

) and anything else and his chewing is restricted to empty lemonade bottles (we gave him a full one one time, shaken up..that was fun

) bones and as already mentioned hot water bottles (made from the same rubber as his toys!!!

haydnwalker · 27-01-2010, 18:14

At the Moment we have a Cavalier King Charles, and shes about 18months but after her teething finished she stopped chewing...apart from the odd bit of cardboard and one of my wifes sandals...She knows that chews/bones/toys are hers and the rest of the house is ours

v0id · 27-01-2010, 18:33

A rolled up newspaper to the mush

rogerdraig · 27-01-2010, 18:37

when he goes to bite you ( works best if its your hand to start of with ) stick 1 or 2 fingers ( depending on size of puppy ) towards the back of its mouth ( dont choke it ) far enough to make it gag and back off or hold down its tongue with your thumb with your fingers under its muzzle till it backs off

praise it when it bites the things you dont mind it biting ( toys etc )

doesn't work for every dog and you might have to do it over several days and helps if there are more than one of you doing it but it should learn that biting humans isn't fun

you may take a few teeth marks to start off with but it should help

Console_Crazy · 27-01-2010, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by minda

Hi I got a black lab puppy about 3 and a half weeks ago and his biting is out of control. I have tried the time outs, and they have not worked, I have tried sharp "NO" and that has not worked, I have also tried to hold his muzzle with a sharp No but still nothing, I have tried a shrill cry and time out, but all I seem to get in return is him jumping on me trying to bite me even harder, or he will go and rip something up while growling. I have also tried putting him in his crate for a little while, and none of this has worked. I am frustrated, he bites me so hard he draws blood and I dont know how to get this to stop. Oh I have also tried using a can with pennies in it, it seems like everything I do only makes him angry and I am not sure how to remedy this. If anyone has an answer It would be highly appreciated.

Hi,
I myself have a golden lab (18months old now) But he went through a stage of biting and jumping up and in general just being really naughty but only towards my mum. It was getting my mum down to the point where she said he needs to stop or else he will have to go. We tried behaviour classes...didn't work.....smacked him on the nose and said NO....didn't work, long story short we tried everything possible and we were at a loose end at what to do until my dad phoned a pet trainer and she recommended buying a spray called pet corrector in a little red can. I believe most good pet stores will stock it, best 7pound spent. One spray on there back and they stop right away and recognize they are doing something wrong.

Maybe give that a go if you are still struggling?

27-01-2010, 19:27

A tap on the nose does the trick.

Bulky · 27-01-2010, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by v0id

A rolled up newspaper to the mush

I agree ..... use a free newspaper it will not cost you a penny , Zak was one who would mouth rather than bite, it got to the point where if i reached for the newspaper he was good as gold , you pupp will grow out of it i'm sure , at what age was he taken from his mother ? if its too young this can cause problems .

minda · 01-02-2010, 15:20

Hi this is minda in reply. I got him at six weeks, and I noticed that the two times I went over. the mother was not around the puppies I believe that they were only around the mother when they were feeding. I am looking into some training. The chewing has slowed down, but the biting well it just keeps getting harder and harder. Yes his tail is high and not wagging when he is growling, but he doesn't bare his teeth.

haydnwalker · 01-02-2010, 15:26

It seems like he's trying to assert his dominance over you, so trying to roll him onto his back as a matter of course (not while he's biting) might work, to show your dominance over him.

webcrawler2050 · 01-02-2010, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by minda

Hi I got a black lab puppy about 3 and a half weeks ago and his biting is out of control. I have tried the time outs, and they have not worked, I have tried sharp "NO" and that has not worked, I have also tried to hold his muzzle with a sharp No but still nothing, I have tried a shrill cry and time out, but all I seem to get in return is him jumping on me trying to bite me even harder, or he will go and rip something up while growling. I have also tried putting him in his crate for a little while, and none of this has worked. I am frustrated, he bites me so hard he draws blood and I dont know how to get this to stop. Oh I have also tried using a can with pennies in it, it seems like everything I do only makes him angry and I am not sure how to remedy this. If anyone has an answer It would be highly appreciated.

My kitten bite / bites like crazy, aparantly, its down to teething. I got her something hard as hell to bite on and low and behold those little baby teeth popped right out and she stopped biting!

**Kymmy** · 01-02-2010, 18:56

One word of warning, whilst he is biting hide the rubber ducks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/w...re/8490998.stm