Puppy Biting - advice required!

Hi everyone! This is my first post! I will introduce myself properly soon, but meanwhile I have been reading the Puppy Training section, regarding biting. I particularly am interested in responses regarding this: "Your puppy will probably continue to bite, but his bites should now be 'softer' as he's beginning to learn how much bite is enough to allow the fun to continue, and how much bite will stop play..." This is an excerpt from the article, and what I want to know is this...Harley IS still biting, but at 14 weeks, is beginning to soft bite/mouth my hand - should this also be stopped? I don't actually mind him doing this, but, of course if allowing this sends mixed messages, I can appreciate that it will confuse Harley!

Some owners allow biting in play as it is natural. Most owners who know they will be around kids etc don't. It is entirely your decision.

Personally as long as they have learnt bite inhibition I'm happy to let daisy mouth a bit, as part of play.

Darcy has learnt when it's acceptable bite during play and how far she can go, I very rarely have to say no

It's a personal decision. We stopped my old boy's nipping completely, but then he started to softly 'mouth' when he was getting a fuss. Didn't bother us at all & we let him do it, but he wasn't allowed to do it to strangers - we'd just say "Ah, ah!" if he tried to do it & he'd stop.

Hi Mandy and welcome!

As Caryll says, it is a personal choice, but at 3 months Harley is doing very well in learning to soft bite/mouth when playing or being petted. It may possibly get more forceful when he starts teething, so don't get disheartened - he won't be too old to disregard the sharp yelp (from you) and turning of the back, and then give something soothing to chew instead of your hands!

Like everyone has said it's your decision

Otis doesn't mouth now unless he is pretty excited, in which case we only have to tell him no, kisses and he will start licking us. We don't want him to mouth as he does come in to contact with children so we have made the choice to stop him from doing it as much as we can.

So it's up to and what you comfortable with - Sounds like he is doing pretty good for 14 weeks

We experienced this with Marley as I'm sure a lot of others have. She learned very fast that it was not cool to bite and now all she does mouth. Just hang in there as you will have to go through it again when teething starts.

Vinnie only mouths also when excited in play I allow so much but a firm "No" and he stops. Sounds as though its improving greatly

One thing I recommend is that you stick with the methods and don't expect the results to be quick. I believe that as with people dogs learn at different rates. Bacon took and extremely long time to improve with his biting. Just don't get frustrated and rest assured that it will get better!

Regarding play biting, I allowed Bacon to continue play biting even after his bite inhibition phase was done. I regret this decision as he now thinks that he is free to play bite everyone including my house guests, children, etc... I know realize that a staffy that play bites is not welcome by most people! Now i'm working on not having him bite so often and it's much harder to remedy as he is older. Just a personal opinion and not the law. Some people may have good experiences but if I had to do it again I would have nipped play biting much sooner.

Good luck with the training!!!

At that age I stopped ALL mouthing and biting.. But now at 11months we allow play biting/mouthing as she is quite aware of how hard is tolerated (most the time ) and she always stops on command..